21 FALL 2023 VOL . 05 / ISSUE 01
SNOWGOER . COM 22
Utility sleds are a necessity for people who live in the Alaskan outback .
Our group of men and women included 30-somethings and retired folks . There was a doctor , several small-business owners and a former factory worker . Some of our adventurers were quiet and reserved , while others were boisterous and outgoi ing . Everyone had a story to tell , a lesson to learn or a unique skill to use that made the trip even more memorable for someone else .
What we discovered was a seemingly endless land of wide rivers , mysterious glaciers and vast frozen swamps that were our powder-filled playgrounds . The warm people who served as our hosts contrasted this rugged backcountry .
Riding point to point , with our luggage hauled in a sleigh behind a utility sled , we stayed in a different remote lodge each night . Our adventure covered five days , four nights and 400 miles in a loop that started and ended about two hours north of Anchorage .
In hindsight , though , we realized we barely scratched the surface exploring the nation ’ s largest and most sparsely populated state .
This eclectic group was all smiles after enjoying days of moderate weather in the Alaskan backcountry .