Ragu - Dec 30, 2020 5:20 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2001
Howl like a wolf
Soloed up the Powerline trail, and then up the North Couloir... plunge stepping up to my knees up to the ridge line. There was a recent avy slough at the base, but the conditions were solid. With no once else in site and about half way up I heard a wolf (?) howl in the distance, we howled back and forth to each other for 30 minutes... made my day. Great views all around from summit on a perfect day. Downclimbed towards Rabbit Creek, and followed ridgeline all the way back to Flattop.
larch32 - Jun 4, 2018 10:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2015
Flattop/ptarmigan/north/south suicide
Fun Traverse!
kunz82414 - Aug 5, 2016 9:02 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2016
From Rabbit Creek
Nice sunny summer evening from the Rabbit Creek approach.
Ptarmigan is a great, get in shape climb early in the season. You can easily climb it from the trail head and back in an evening. I've climbed the W. Ridge various time, which in my opinion is super classic. I'm also wound my way up the S. Couloir a couple times and have reached the summit block via the N. Ridge (a class4 route). The E. Peak is taller and more difficult, but can be scrambled on the south side easiest.
Oh! And I prefer to bike in via the Powerline trail, which makes a 4 hour trip to the summit and back very possible. Plus it's fun biking the downhill back towards Glen Alps.
Climbed west side, skied classic S-Couloir in great conditions.
chugach mtn boy - Jun 21, 2009 2:42 am Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2009
SW Ridge
With Wesley, North Carolina mountaineer extraordinaire. Stormy all around, making for some dramatic views. This was my first time on the east summit, though I'd been on the west a few times.
For east summit, also Sept. 18, 2010 and Jan. 26, 2014.
colint - Jul 3, 2006 11:55 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2006
north couloir
what a fun couloir that calls from most anywhere in Anchorage. Beats hoofing it up scree for a summer route.
Route Climbed: Powerline Trail to Ptarmigan pass Date Climbed: October 14, 2005
I biked from Alaska Pacific U. to South Bivouac TH, then followed Upper Gasline Trail to Prospect Heights TH, then connected with the Powerline Trail until the saddle that leads up to Ptarmigan. This took 1hour 50 min, I then ditched the bike and hoofed it up to the summit of Ptarmigan over a mixed bag of loose rock and a couple of inches of snow up high. The memorial at the top was sobering, spent five minutes on the summit, due to weather and unease at being solo, then dropped down off the summit to the pass and then my bike on Powerline Trail. The hike took 2 hours 57 min round trip. The ride back to Anchorage was world class, I felt like I was going downhill forever as I dropped down to sea level.....Roundtrip out and back under six and half hours....... I felt like I'd summited Ptarmigan in great style.... what fun is it when you drive to the trailhead?
Route Climbed: Rabbit Creek to Ptarmigan Ridge to the summit Date Climbed: February 21, 2005
One of the most visible peaks from Anchorage and a 'must climb.' Beautiful views, challenges at times, just great fun overall. I'll run out there and climb it again someday.
Ragu - Dec 30, 2020 5:20 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2001
Howl like a wolfSoloed up the Powerline trail, and then up the North Couloir... plunge stepping up to my knees up to the ridge line. There was a recent avy slough at the base, but the conditions were solid. With no once else in site and about half way up I heard a wolf (?) howl in the distance, we howled back and forth to each other for 30 minutes... made my day. Great views all around from summit on a perfect day. Downclimbed towards Rabbit Creek, and followed ridgeline all the way back to Flattop.
larch32 - Jun 4, 2018 10:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2015
Flattop/ptarmigan/north/south suicideFun Traverse!
kunz82414 - Aug 5, 2016 9:02 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2016
From Rabbit CreekNice sunny summer evening from the Rabbit Creek approach.
guerinak - Dec 3, 2012 3:53 pm
Would like to hike again!Hiked in foggy, wet conditions. Sketchy near the top
Laron - Jun 26, 2012 12:40 pm
climbed both summitsPtarmigan is a great, get in shape climb early in the season. You can easily climb it from the trail head and back in an evening. I've climbed the W. Ridge various time, which in my opinion is super classic. I'm also wound my way up the S. Couloir a couple times and have reached the summit block via the N. Ridge (a class4 route). The E. Peak is taller and more difficult, but can be scrambled on the south side easiest.
Oh! And I prefer to bike in via the Powerline trail, which makes a 4 hour trip to the summit and back very possible. Plus it's fun biking the downhill back towards Glen Alps.
granjero - Feb 7, 2011 7:49 pm
awesome ski runClimbed west side, skied classic S-Couloir in great conditions.
chugach mtn boy - Jun 21, 2009 2:42 am Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2009
SW RidgeWith Wesley, North Carolina mountaineer extraordinaire. Stormy all around, making for some dramatic views. This was my first time on the east summit, though I'd been on the west a few times.
For east summit, also Sept. 18, 2010 and Jan. 26, 2014.
colint - Jul 3, 2006 11:55 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2006
north couloirwhat a fun couloir that calls from most anywhere in Anchorage. Beats hoofing it up scree for a summer route.
ledavis23 - Jan 25, 2006 1:59 pm
Route Climbed: South Side Scree Date Climbed: July 2005Fun hike- the south side is a walk-up, but it would be more fun in winter.
climberben - Dec 26, 2005 5:01 am
Date Climbed: 12 March 1999I nice ski in beautiful weather and good snow!
craigbunten - Oct 16, 2005 5:30 pm
Route Climbed: Powerline Trail to Ptarmigan pass Date Climbed: October 14, 2005I biked from Alaska Pacific U. to South Bivouac TH, then followed Upper Gasline Trail to Prospect Heights TH, then connected with the Powerline Trail until the saddle that leads up to Ptarmigan. This took 1hour 50 min, I then ditched the bike and hoofed it up to the summit of Ptarmigan over a mixed bag of loose rock and a couple of inches of snow up high. The memorial at the top was sobering, spent five minutes on the summit, due to weather and unease at being solo, then dropped down off the summit to the pass and then my bike on Powerline Trail. The hike took 2 hours 57 min round trip. The ride back to Anchorage was world class, I felt like I was going downhill forever as I dropped down to sea level.....Roundtrip out and back under six and half hours....... I felt like I'd summited Ptarmigan in great style.... what fun is it when you drive to the trailhead?
Steve Gruhn - Jun 7, 2005 7:29 pm
Route Climbed: Via Rabbit Creek Valley Date Climbed: 1985Climbed solo to the western summit in June 1985.
I climbed the eastern summit with Debby Hollins in August 1987 via Rabbit Creek Valley to the southeast ridge and descending to Ptarmigan Pass.
I returned to the west summit on June 13, 2005, leading a Mountaineering Club of Alaska group to the top.
I led a MCA trip with Ed Colvin to the western summit on July 6, 2006.
I led a MCA trip with Theo Hunt, John Recktenwald, and Kristyna Branum to both summits on August 9, 2007.
Clintoris - Jun 4, 2005 3:26 am
Route Climbed: Rabbit Creek to Ptarmigan Ridge to the summit Date Climbed: February 21, 2005One of the most visible peaks from Anchorage and a 'must climb.' Beautiful views, challenges at times, just great fun overall. I'll run out there and climb it again someday.