Alaska Mountain Running
Mountain runners have their choice of unique events in and around Anchorage. Photo: © ATIA
The mountainous terrain in and around Anchorage, Alaska, beckons athletes to explore. Well-marked trails etched in rugged mountain slopes lead to beautiful meadows and awe-inspiring vistas.
Mountain runners have their choice of great events. The Crow Pass Crossing, held each July, is a 28-mile cross country run with an elevation gain of 3,888 feet, a 1/4 mile crossing of glacier-fed Eagle River, and an excellent chance for wildlife viewing (black or brown bear, moose and bald eagles) in addition to breathtaking scenery.
The just-right route for runners too tame for Crow Pass but too wild for urbane marathons is the Bob Spurr Memorial Hill Climb held in June. The climb, a one-way, three-mile ascent of 3,400-foot Bird Ridge south of Anchorage on the Seward Highway, is classified as a good race for most fit runners seeking a moderate challenge.
Festivalgoers can sit back and relax in blueberry paradise while mountain runners scramble up and down the slopes of Mount Alyeska at the Alyeska Classic Mountain Run held in conjunction with the annual Alyeska Resort Blueberry Festival. Beginning from the Alyeska Tramway, the 2,000-foot, 2K uphill climb finishes at the top with an option to take the courtesy tram ride down or continue on to complete the 4.5K round-trip race.
The Crow Pass Crossing, the Bob Spurr Memorial Hill Climb and the Alyeska Mountain Run are part of the six-event Alaska Mountain Running Grand Prix series. The other Grand Prix races are: Wolverine Mountain Run, Mount Marathon, and the Matanuska Peak Challenge. Register and find detail at www.alaskamountainrunners.org.
Alaska Mountain Runners (AMR) is a non-profit organization located in Anchorage, dedicated to the promotion and development of mountain running throughout the state.
