Sunnahae

Hi there!

As you may have read previously, I was traveling for work in Southeast Alaska.  The flights are long and bumpy and make a lot of “milk run” stops at various airports where some passengers get off the plane and other passengers continuing on to other destinations are forced to sit and wait on the plane.  It makes for a very long day of travel (10 hours, just in Alaska). For this reason, I am always happy to have a hike planned for when I am finally free of the confines of an airplane and can stretch my legs and get my blood circulating.

While I was on Prince of Wales Island, I had free time to hike up a popular local trail called Sunnahae, in Craig.  I’ve hiked it before, but not while there was snow.  This time, I came prepared with my hiking boots, microspikes, and pack.

City of Craig

The beginning of the trail has an immediate incline, so hikers get a taste of how the trail is going to be - right from the get-go.  There are a multitude of switchbacks that weave through the large rainforest trees; the trail is well maintained and easy to follow.  I googled the hike and it is listed as “strenuous” but I don’t think it is, if hikers go slowly and take lots of breaks.  It isn’t a technical trail, simply steep. 

After all the switchbacks, the trail turns into a series of flights of stairs; from the base of them, they seem to go on into eternity.  The view from the top of the stairs is worth it, though, and there is a little waterfall tucked around a corner.

This little thing greeted us at the top of the stairs.

Then the ‘new trail’ begins and makes a slow incline along a wide path through the alder trees.  We could see that some weather was blowing in and sure enough, a blizzard swept up behind us and enveloped us in fluffy, beautiful, white flakes.  It made taking photos a bit difficult.  The trail became increasingly more challenging as the depth of the snow increased and eventually the trail was a tiny footpath of packed snow with deep, enveloping snow on either side of the trail.  One false step would mean a boot full of cold snow.  I was really happy to have my microspikes, because the trail was pretty slippery.

Eventually, at the top, we hit clouds and couldn’t see the view below us, which was disappointing for all the effort we’d put into the hike, but it was still exhilarating to be up in the clouds with the snow falling and the crisp air smelling of cedar trees and the ocean.

Ptarmigan tracks

Wing prints

Snow - ski pole deep

As we descended, the snow ceased and the sun came out from the clouds, making the views of the big trees and the ocean glorious.  The entire hike was fantastic and totally worth the 5 miles of thigh burn.

Pointing out landmarks

Craig

Working on his pose.