Interior Alaska Climbing
Rock, Ice, and Alpine Climbing in the Interior. Feel free to add pictures of rock, ice, and/or alpine routes.
Parks Highway Ice
The Parks Highway generally follows the Nenana River south from the town of Nenana as it cuts through the western side of the Alaska Range. The many drainages that feed the Nenana as it flows between Healey and Cantwell hold a number of short but fun climbs. Parks Highway ice climbs are generally shorter and easier than their counterparts along the Richardson Highway, but the approaches are much shorter and easier to negotiate. These are generally high volume flows that tend to come in a little later in the season. The great thing about climbing along the Parks is the temperature is often 10 degrees warmer than Fairbanks (whereas temps along the Rich are 10 degrees colder).
Fox Creek
Fox Left |
Fox Center |
Fox Right |
Topping Out on Fox |
Aedan |
Helping Out |
Dragonfly Creek
Rapping to Base | Upper Dragonfly |
Center Dragonfly |
Right Dragonfly |
Upper/Lower Falls |
Sheep Creek Falls 1 |
Johnny Cash Falls
Sunrise Nenana River |
Johnny Cash Falls |
Folsom Prison Blues |
Nenana River |
Sunday Morning |
Folsom Prison |
Folsom Prison |
Anchor |
Richardson Highway Ice
Ice climbs along the Richardson Highway are the opposite of those found along the Parks: bigger, steeper, and generally harder to get to. Nearly all of the major drainages along the highway south of the Army's Donneley Training Area hold some amount of ice. The climbs here tend to be low flow ice, and form up a little earlier than climbs on the west side of the Range. Skis and snowshoes are helpful when there's enough snow on the creeks. Expect a one to three hour approach for most climbs.
Darling Creek
Start |
Start |
Darling Creek |
The Curtain WI-III |
Curtain Close Up |
Curtain Profile |
Delta Mountains
I haven't been able to explore the Deltas much...I've only passed through a couple of times. The area holds an incredible number of routes.
Delta Mountains |
Delta Mountains |
Gulkana Glacier |
Gulkana Trail |
Ciara |
Ciara on Bridge |
Delta Mountains |
Sunset in the Deltas |
Sunset |
Angel Rocks
Angel Rocks is probably as close to a local crag as you get around Fairbanks. It's located about 50 miles northeast of town along Chena Hot Springs Road. It's probably a better hiking destination than climbing area, but given the limited amount of accessible rock in the area you take what you can get.
APR 07 |
Main Rock |
Main Rock |
Scrambling |
Valley |
Interior View |
Grapefruit Rocks
There are two distinct climbing areas at Grapefruit - East and West (sometimes referred to Upper and Lower). This is probably the easiest and most accessible climbing in the area - located about 40 miles north of Fairbanks. Predominately short, bolted sport climbs.
Falcon Rock |
West Grapefruit |
South Ridge |
Left Tower |
White Mountains |
Interior Alaska |
External Links
Alaska Ice Climbing
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