Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Seward, AK May 4th

At 8:30 AM the call came in.  "Do you want to go to Seward for the day?"  Yes.  "Can you be ready in an hour?"  Yes.   Annie K was heading there for work and needed a driver for a vehicle that was coming up on a barge from Seattle.  My skin was still recovering from the beating it just took in Whittier and the sun was blazing again.  Screw it, that's why they make SPF 60.

I've attempted a line in Marathon Bowl twice and failed both times.  I had hoped the third time would be a charm.  It wasn't.  8 days of blue-bird had turned the snow to mank.  I got up about 2,000' above town and starting setting off wet slides.  It was only going to get steeper and scarier.  I was solo so back to the trailhead. 

The snow will eventually consolidate in Marathon Bowl and when it does, the 4th time will be the charm.  Check this area out if you find yourself in Seward before mid-July.  

Getting there:
The trailhead is called the "Jeep Road" and is a the "tee" junction of 1st and Monroe in the residential part of Seward against the mountains.  The trail splits often.  At the 1st junction, go left, after that it is all rights.  Look for "waterfall" signs.  After crossing a long bench, the trail winds up through a gully and into Marathon Bowl.  It is a buffet.  Gorge yourself.

Sorry for the lack of photos. 

No comments:

Post a Comment