I'm so ready for spring to mean outdoor activities without being bundled up and no snow or ice. Last Sunday we drove to Palmer and saw people using the Glenn Highway bike trail. People were riding bikes; others were jogging and walking. We have talked about biking between Eagle River & Anchorage but haven't done it yet. On the way back into town we checked out the Hiland Road trail access and parking lot. It looked like lots of people were using it. We also checked out Davis Park, where the trail originates in Anchorage. This end of the bike trail was still covered with packed snow and not at all inviting. So, eager to start the bike riding season and with Monday off work, we decided to pack up the bikes Monday afternoon and try our first adventure of the season. We waited for afternoon so any water that froze on the trail overnight would have time to melt. The temperature was in the mid-30s when we headed out.
At the Hiland Road trail access.
Ready to head out.
Not far into the ride we found the only serious patch of ice. It was on an uphill stretch and I walked the bike part way. Once we got past this section we rode more than five miles, past the Arctic Valley/Fort Rich gate, to the next road entering the highway from JBER before turning around. The majority of the trail did not have snow or ice on it. Some sections were definitely wet. I made sure to stay far enough back to avoid the shower coming from Alan's fender!
We could still smile at the end of the ride. We enjoyed the sunny afternoon and a welcome opportunity to spend time outdoors again! Maybe we'll even have an opportunity to ride more of the trail when it's in better condition.
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