THIS HIKE WAS SUBMITTED BY ROSS TIMM

Photo by Ross Timm

Difficulty

Connects With

Miles One Way

Miles from
Anchorage

General Vicinity

Season

Description

I decided to take on Pioneer Peak on a HOT (80+), late June day. The hike starts along Knik River Road near Palmer. The mountain appears VERY imposing from the Glen Highway, but you approach it from the back, where there is a long steady climb along a steep ridge. The 2001 edition of the book says the Knik River Road is a dirt road, but it is paved-- that was confusing.

Anyway- you start at 200 ft elevation at the nice trailhead (no toilets or water though). Most people stop either at a picnic table (yes a picnic table) at about 4800 ft (?) or at a saddle at 5200 feet. The books talk all about the picnic tables placed along the way-- they sure are nice distance markers and also make for nice tanning beds! But one book says there are four, one says three. I saw three-- I think maybe the top one is gone now, probably burned by some idiot.

Well, the trail is in the forest at first, then it is in nasty wet alder forest with little creeks. Like a little Alaskan jungle, except I was lucky and it was not too overgrown-- I never touched Devil's Club or Cow Parsnip. It was very muggy however, and buggy. The first picnic table is about a 1/4 up, and it was welcome because it was near the treeline. It just got better from there-- another picnic table marked the transition to thick alpine tundra and then light alpine tundra, then that third one and then it was all alpine ridge walking. But it was REALLY steep the whole way. I consider myself in okay shape and I was dying.

You finally reach the "top" of the normal hike-- a beautiful saddle with some snow still left to refill your water bottles. There is a little direction sign here with the elevation. Problem is, the South Summit beckons any good Chugach scrambler. So it was 5pm, hot as it could get, and I decided to press along the rough ridge to the summit. It was longer than expected, and loose rock with steep falls the whole way. I finally reached the base of the South Summit-- then it was a total scramble to the top-- I felt pretty risk-exposed for being by myself, more so than most of the other day hikes I have done up the likes of Ptarmigan or O'Malley. Maybe it was the near sunstroke conditions. I went through 6 liters of water! Some super cool older lady passed me as I was coming down- just kind of strolling on up!

So, in my book, there is no excuse for not bagging this peak if you are so close when you are at the final "official" point, but I would do it with a friend, and maybe on a cooler day. It was a "Jell-O leg" ride down, which was when I realized how steep and long the initial super long ridge climb was.

Total time 6.5 hours, with many short breaks. The views are spectacular! And you can always look at those imposing twin peaks on your drive back from The Valley and say to yourself-- I was up there, 6400 ft. later!

*****

The following is a contribution from Frank Baker:

As I was several years ago, you might be tempted to follow the col from the south summit to the north summit. If you're not a technical climber, don't do it. It becomes quite hairy rather quickly with serious exposures. I have talked to MCA climbers who have made the north summit (only about 100 feet higher than south summit) and they said it involves connecting into a gully over on the east side. The gully takes you right past Counterpoint, not the true summit. True summit is the one that is flat-shaped on top. I've never spent any time trying to find this gully--getting to south summit has been enough for me. I used to think the south summit ridge looked too hard until, like the trip report writer, I saw an old lady coming down the ridge and figured if she could do it...

The really hard-cores climbers, of course, go right up the north side of Pioneer Peak overlooking Palmer. No thanks!

*****
*****

The following is a contribution from AK_freefaller:

Difficulty_Comments:

This trail is intense from the parking lot to the ridge line. There are few places to rest your legs between accents.

Description:

The hike was great but very tiring. I'm not in the best shape but better than most and it smoked me!! We didn't feel that we had enough juice to make the south summit and back safe so we busted out the cameras and fired away. The views from the ridge line are fantastic!! A great day trip for those who can handle the equivalent of four miles of stairs. Thought the third picnic table would be a great place to throw up a tent and summit the next day. Will give that a try next time!

Warnings:

Bring lots of water and food or alternative energy source.

Etc:

The views of the Knik Glacier and Mt. Baker are awesome. BRING A CAMERA!

*****

Important Information

Only hikers in good shape should attempt, even to the last "official point" -- it is tougher than, lets say, Flattop's second stage (to the second saddle) the whole way, but about 5 times as long. Only hikers who enjoy scrambling with some danger should go past that point! Snow patches were small but still around in late June. Bigger one at the last official point- should give water throughout the summer for the final peak hike (but don't quote me on that!) 

Bring bug dope for the jungle!

Etc.