Tourism and recreation opportunities are adding benefits for visitors and locals

By Jamey Bradbury

hile cruise ships will bring decidedly fewer tourists to Alaska this year, other tourism sectors have projects underway that are sure to attract visitors to the state while benefiting local economies.

Skeetawk is a far cry from the single tow rope that used to take Hatcher Pass skiers to higher elevations in the ‘30s through the early ’60s. The 501(c)3 nonprofit now boasts a triple-chair lift that ferries winter sports enthusiasts 325 feet vertically up the mountain.

Described as “Alaska’s newest and most rugged ski area” by Skeetawk General Manager Scott Patridge, the ski area has been a community-driven effort. Many contractors donated either time or material, or offered discounts on services to make the build happen. The project’s largest donating contractor, AGC member Alaska Professional Construction, “was instrumental to getting the first phase built, with discounted labor and materials, from the very first slab of concrete for our snowcat shed, to the lift towers, excavation, and grading, to sponsoring the Glacier Bear ski run with a cash donation,” says Hatcher Alpine Xperience volunteer engineer Max Schillinger.

Palmer-based New Horizons Telecom, meanwhile, used its towing expertise to lead the bolting and setting of the lift towers with a Black Hawk helicopter—a service provided at no cost to Skeetawk.

“A lot of these companies understand we’re doing this for the community, so they’ll write off a little here and there,” says Patridge.

Before he joined the Skeetawk project, Patridge worked at Alyeska; for years, he’s heard skiers from Palmer and Wasilla lament the fact that there was no Hatcher Pass lift. Skeetawk aims to fill that void: With Phase 1a of the build complete, the area offers access to about 30 acres of terrain and several ski runs, the longest of which is about half a mile long.

The facilities include a ski shop, a snowcat shop to house equipment, and a 1200-square-foot yurt where skiers can purchase tickets, merchandise, and items from a snack bar.

Phase 1b, a five-year plan that will cost between $5 million and $7 million, will expand the ski area by about 1,000 vertical feet and add a quad chairlift.

“We’re looking to secure some of the budget through grant and federal funding initiatives so we can jump into these next phases,” Patridge says.

Much of Phase 1a was funded through the Rasmuson Foundation, Mat-Su Health Foundation, Alaska Community Foundation, and other generous donors.

It’s all been worth it: Skeetawk saw roughly 800 skiers per hour this first winter season. During the summer, Patridge envisions Skeetawk offering lift-assisted downhill fat biking and lift access or drop-off for mountain bikers who want to visit the planned Alaska Long Trails project that would link Seward to Fairbanks. “In two, five, ten years, this could be a serious mountain biking hub for connecting to other areas like GPRA (Government Peak Recreation Area).”

Other summer activities offered at Skeetawk will include wilderness first aid classes, an annual Blueberry Ball with bands and food trucks, and, potentially, camping.

“Our board definitely sees us as a viable spot for more events and a convenient place for folks who can’t drive far to ski in their back yard,” Patridge says.

The project has come this far thanks to additional contractors and partners like Airport Equipment Rentals, Tutka LLC, Dirtworks Inc., Steppers Construction, Remote Alaska Solutions, and others. But as the ski area enters its next phase, says Skeetawk’s Mountain Director Brian McGorry, “We have a lot of pending infrastructure that will require all of the best folks in the region to support.”