Crow Pass Trailhead

Welcome, bold adventurers and scholars of human endurance, to the Girdwood trailhead of the legendary Crow Pass traverse. As we stand here at the edge of the Chugach National Forest, preparing to enter the vast expanse of the…

As we conquer the initial, lung-burning switchbacks through the dense lower forest, the tree line begins to thin, revealing the sweeping, dramatic V-shape of the valley. Approximately one and a half miles into our grueling…

Pushing past the final, steep benches of the upper valley, the terrain levels out briefly, granting us access to one of the most stunning and coveted locations in the Chugach State Park: Crystal Lake. Sitting in a high alpine…

Departing Crystal Lake, we face the final, aggressive incline to reach the physical and psychological apex of our journey: the summit of Crow Pass itself. Standing at an elevation of 3,617 feet, we are fully exposed to the raw,…

The descent from the pass thrusts us immediately into a new set of topographical challenges. As we drop in elevation, following the newly formed waters of Raven Creek, the expansive alpine vistas are replaced by the…

We have arrived at the psychological and physical crux of the Crow Pass traverse: the Eagle River ford. Approaching the riverbank, the true scale of the challenge becomes apparent. …

Having survived the freezing ordeal of the Eagle River ford, one might assume the trail would relent. However, the Alaskan wilderness possesses a cruel sense of irony. …

As we push through the final five miles, passing the backcountry sites of Twin Falls and Rapids Camp, the harsh character of the trail finally begins to soften. The path widens, the muddy ruts are replaced by solid, compacted…