Williwaw Loop 20 Mile
Chugach Mountains
July 15
Eliseo Marquez
Craig Sheahan
Jeff Arndt
Rob DeVelice
5 starters
The Williwaw Loop is a favorite of many ultarunners and hikers
in the Anchorage area. The route packs a high diversity of splendors
into a compact space. Crown Jewels are the string of aquamarine lakes
below Mount Williwaw, the 5,445 foot high point of the Chugach Front.
The route starts in forests of spruce and birch on the well groomed
Wolverine Basin Trail. After a bridge crossing of crystalline Campbell
Creek an ever steepening climb of Near Point begins. The trail becomes
ever fainter until disappearing completely into the alpine heather below
Wolverine Peak.
The soaring towers of the Mount Williwaw massif registered mightily
on the wow-o-meter, especially when reflected in the Williwaw lakes. The
intrepid participants of this outing soaked in a full quotient of outdoor
splendor on this auspicious start to the Quintessential series.