White Mountains

Winter Trails Safety The White Mo1mtains National Recreation Area has over 200 miles of winter trails offering a variety of challenges a11d scene1y to cross-co1mtry skiers, skijorers, dog n1ushers, snowmachiners, and other experienced wi11ter travelers. Know Before You Go Prepare for tl1e unexpected. Even when planni11g for a day trip, always be prepared to spend the 11ight. Equip1nent problen1s, bad weather, or unexpected inishaps can leave you stranded far fron1 help. Trailhead parking areas are marked with large 11ighway signs. Trailhead displays provide info1n1ation on the general area, b1it are not a replacement for tl1is brochure or topographic 1naps. The trail ro11tes are intennittently n1arked with reflective trail 1narkers and have directional signs at trail junctions. I111nost treeless areas, trails are marked with tripods. Topographic maps for the White Mom1tai11s are available from the Map Office located on the University of Alaska Fairbanks can1p11s. File a Trip Plan with a Friend Always make sure someone knows: • when you plan to leave and rehlill • where you are goit1g •the color, type , ai1d license nun1ber ofyo1rr vehicle • what survival gear you are taki11g Trail Conditions The Bureau ofLa11d Ma11age1nent (BLM) atte1npts to keep the trails packed tlrro11ghout the winter, but trail conditions can change on a daily basis. Saine trails can be difficult to follo\v i11 ce11ain weather conditions. Yo11 should always carry topographic trail maps a11d a compass, a11d be prepared to break trail. A weekly trail conditions report is available from the BLM-Alaska Web site (address below) or by calling a recorded inessage at (907) 474-2372 . Emergency and Survival Gear Be s1rre to caiTy at least the following: • d1y n1atches and fire sta11er • metal cup for boiling water and extra food • sleeping bag, ground pad, and space blanket • spare socks, gloves, hat a11d face inask, snowshoes • n1aps, co1npass, and first-aid kit • axe or handsaw and sharp knife • eq11ipn1ent repair tools a11d spare parts Unpredictable Conditions Plan for cold weather, 11igh winds, deep snow, ai1d unexpected changes in weather. The te1nperatures in the White Mo1mtains inay be as 1n11ch as 25 degrees colder than it1 Fairbanks! Be alert for conuno11 b11t often hidden hazards such as thin ice, open leads, and overfto\v. Cover photo: Caribou Bluff Cabin, I Ox 12/t, sleeps 4 Bureau of Land Management Fairbanks District Office 1150 University Avenue Fairbanks, Alaska 99709-3844 Local: 907-474-2200 Toll Free: 1-800-437-7021 www.blm.gov/ak Winter Trail Use Cabins Backcountry Etiquette Winter trails in the W11ite Mo1mtai11s N atio11al Recreatio11 Area are sl1ared by inany types of ltsers such as dog m11shers, skiers, skijorers, and snown1achiners. Several cozy log cabi11s have been b11ilt at sce11ic locations along the White Mo1mtains \Vi11ter trail syste1n to erth.ance the safety and co1nfort ofyo1rr wi11ter adventure. The Alaska Spirit Motorized Use The area is ope11 to n1otorized vehicles, including snown1achines, with a Gross Vehicular Weight Rating (GVWR) under 1500 po1111ds fro111 October 16 to April 30, except as noted below. Cost and Registration Public recreation use cabins must be reserved i11 advance and paid for at the time yo111nake yo1rr reservations. Shelter cabi11s are first-con1e , first­ served. Reservations can be n1ade in person at the BLM Public Info11natio11 Center in Fairba11ks at 1150 University Avenue or by telephone at (907) 4 74-2251 or 474-2252, if you are using a credit card. • Windy Creek and Fossil Creek drainages close on April 15 because of critical wildlife areas. • The Ski Loop Trail ai1d Sununit Trail are closed to all 1notorized vehicles. • Research Nahrral Areas are closed to all motorized vehicles at all ti111es so tl1ey ca11 be preserved in a 11atural state for future research. Contact BLM for an OHVArea Designation Map for inore details. Non-motorized Trails The Ski Loop Trail begins and ends at the Wickershan1 Dome Trailhead at Mile 28 Elliott Higl1way. This moderately challe11ging, five-mile trail starts on Sun1mit Trail and cli1nbs above timberline for views of the Alaska Rai1ge and Mount McKit1ley. The trail descends through a forested area before co1Ulecti11g with Wickersham Creek Trail. Wickersham Dome, an alpine area suitable for off-trail skiing and ca1nping, can be reacl1ed via the Ski Loop and Summit trails . A small, 10-foot by 10-foot trail shelter is located about 81niles fro1n the traill1ead. This cabin is minimally fi.m1isl1ed and does not have a woodstove. Areas above ti1nberline are often very windy, so go prepared. Reservations 1nay be 1nade up to 30 days in advance. Stays are lin1ited to three consecutive nights per cabin. Weekends, holidays, and spring breaks are peak use times. Reservatio11s are from noon to noon. Rangers will issue citations to people usi11g cabit1s witho11t reservations and proof of payment, so don 't forget your cab;n per111il! Road-Accessible Cabin The BLM n1aintains the Fred Blixt Cabin at Mile 62.5 Elliott Higl1way. Contact tl1e BLM for details. Firewood and Water The BLM atte1npts to supply tl1e cabins \Vith firewood, but 1nakes no guarantees. Firewood is scarce at some cabi11s; carry firewood with yo11, cut some alo11g the way, or be prepared to cut wood ltpon yo1rr a1Tival. Be sure to cut only dead trees . Cut standi11g trees at ground level so stun1ps do not pose a hazard to trail users. Please replace all the \Vood you bu1n, a11d leave a supply of d1y kit1dling and wood in the cabi11 for the next person. The only sources of water are melted snow a11d creeks. The Accommodations All cabins have a cooking area, table, b111iks, ai1d a nearby 011thouse. All cabit1s have a woodstove except the Sununit Trail Shelter. TI1e cabins are of different sizes and design, a11d the n111nber of people they can sleep va1ies . The BLM eq11ips eacl1 of the cabins with tl1e following: • propane cookstove • fire extinguisher • propa11e lante1n • broom and dustpan • axe and bow saw • outdoor thermo1neter • shovel • cabin logbook The BLM cannot e11sure the co11dition of these ite1ns. Please do not remove them fro1n the cabin, and notify BLM if they are broke11or1nissing. Please leave the cabin clean and ready for the next user. The following iten1s are not provided, so be sure to bring: • propa11e ca11isters for the cookstove and lantern •personal ca1nping, cooking, and survival gear • spare lantern mantles ai1d candles • two, AA-sized batteries for the s1noke detector • Replace the firewood you burn-use only dead trees . • Leave dry kindling in the cabin and fill the lantern and cookstove for tl1e next person. • Bu1n all food scraps and paper, including toilet paper-ha11l out all non-bu1nable trasli. • Remove food fron1 cabins-it attracts lmwanted anin1als. • Ensure the fire is out, clean the cabin, and close the door, windows, and shutters before leaving. •Leave all ELM-supplied items in the cabin and notify BLM if things are 1nissing or broken. • Dogmushers: clean ltp after yo1rr dogs and dmnp waste materials far fro1n the cabin. •Do not shoot within one-quarter mile of the cabi11s. •Respect the privacy of those \vho have reserved a cabin--don' t ask to sl1are the cabin, and camp at least 011e mile away. • Do not dishrrb trappi11g activities in the area. • Ca1np at least 25 feet away fro1n the trail. Do not camp or b11ild fires on the trail. • Operation of moto1ized vehicles, includi11g snow­ 1nachines, while intoxicated is prohibited. Rules of the Road • When meeting head-on, snown1achiners should p11ll off the trail and nm1 their engines off to let dog tea1ns, skijorers, and skiers pass. • When approaching fro1n behind, snowmachiners should slow down and wait until the traveler it1 fro11t signals that it is okay to pass. • When dog tean1s want to pass, skiers and skijorers should 1nove to the side of the trail and restrain their dogs . • Slower m11shers should move to the side of the trail to allow faster dog tea1ns to pass. WDuoG@ ~0rnrnGGJorn0 ~ s.~~-a~~a National Recreation Area \V,\'l)fj~[? illru~D0 ruUL@l ~[§)~[]i'Q Colorado Creek Cabin 12 x 16/1, sleeps 4 Fred Blixt Cabin MP 62.5 Cabin Colorado Creek Trail head MP57.1 •m 61.IHfil'I Campground r.;'! fJ rfil1 Wickersham Creek Trail Shelter Davidson Ditch MP 57.3 fJ!]jj Eleazar's Cabin Lee's Cabin Cripple Creek Campground MP 60 I.Ii r.;'! rfil1 Summit Trail Shelter U.S. Creek Trailhead MP57.3 ~ mD fJ I.Ii rfil1 The U.S. Creek Road and the Davidson Ditch turnout are not maintained during the winter. McKay Creek Trailhead MP 42.5 II m~ me fJ llirfill Cabin •m Miles Crolvberry Cabin 16x 16/1, sleeps 6 • "'"' .c Chatanika e Wickersham Dome Trail head imu• MP 27.7 miliii MP 27.9 Mileages given are the shortest distances between cabi11s on BLM­ 1naintained trails. Miles are rounded to the nearest whole nun1ber. !?! mrd H ~rfill Respect private property near the Wickersham Dome Trailhead. .,.< Do not navigate from this map. .,.• 'I-' Cht1tu11tr­ Cleary Summit MP 20.3 Legend r.;'! 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