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Hut-to-hut · Chugach State Park
Eklutna Traverse
A long glacier traverse across Chugach State Park, from Eklutna Lake to Eagle River or Girdwood, by way of three MCA huts.
- Season
- Snow season or summer, and both are serious. MCA notes a winter snow ramp sometimes makes getting onto the Eklutna Glacier easier, and in summer rockfall off the Mitre makes the lower glacier dangerous.
- Distance
- MCA's hut distances: Eklutna Lake parking lot to Pichler's Perch 16.5 mi, Pichler's to Hans' 8 mi, Hans' to Rosie's Roost 5 mi. From Rosie's it's 18 mi out to the Eagle River visitor center, or 5.5 mi to the Crow Pass cabin. Glacier miles change every year.
- Elevation
- Pichler's Perch 4,550 ft, Whiteout Pass 5,250 ft, Hans' Hut 6,000 ft, Blackout Pass 6,250 ft, Rosie's Roost 3,900 ft (MCA). Total gain isn't published, so check the source.
- Huts
- Pichler's Perch, Hans' Hut, and Rosie's Roost, all MCA huts inside Chugach State Park
- Booking
- MCA huts can't be reserved. Serenity Falls Hut at mile 12 of the Lakeside Trail is a State Parks hut you can reserve.
- Avalanche center
- CNFAC Chugach State Park weekend outlook. This is not a daily forecast.
Overview
The Eklutna Traverse crosses the Eklutna, Whiteout, and Eagle glaciers in Chugach State Park on a chain of MCA huts that dates back to 1964. State Parks notes that the three huts are inside the park and that MCA maintains them under MCA's rules.
This is a full glacier expedition. MCA says reaching every hut takes glacier travel skills. It also warns that the lower Eklutna Glacier has retreated sharply and now has deep crevasses, undercut bergschrunds, moulins, and steep ice.
Huts and cabins
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Pichler's Perch
MCA's first hut, built in 1964 on the Eklutna Glacier, 4 mi past the last bridge. Sleeps 8–10. It has a 2-burner stove (bring white gas) and a lantern. Pack out human waste in compactor bags, or use the yellow barrels at the hut.
Source: MCA: Pichler's Perch (includes the Eklutna Glacier access hazard update)
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Hans' Hut
On the Whiteout Glacier, 3 mi south of Whiteout Pass. Sleeps 8–10. MCA warns that parties often get stuck here in bad weather, so bring enough food to wait out a storm.
Source: MCA: Hans' Hut
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Rosie's Roost
On the Eagle Glacier, about 3.5 mi above its toe. Sleeps 8–10 and has a 2-burner stove (bring fuel). MCA notes you can charter a flight from Girdwood to reach it.
Source: MCA: Rosie's Roost
-
Serenity Falls Public Use Hut
At mile 12 of the Eklutna Lakeside Trail, and the usual start of the approach to Pichler's. Sleeps up to 13. Wood stove, so bring your own wood.
Source: Alaska State Parks: Serenity Falls Public Use Hut · Alaska State Parks: fees by park facility
Rules, permits, and etiquette
- MCA requires a signed waiver on file before you use the huts.
- Every Eklutna Traverse hut runs on a waste-barrel system. Bring trash-compactor bags and follow MCA's posted instructions. If the barrels are full, email the huts team.
- Bring your own stove and backup shelter.
Access, trailheads, and fees
- Start: Eklutna Lake, reached from Mile 26 of the Glenn Highway. The Lakeside Trail runs to the Eklutna River bridge near mile 12. State Parks lists a $5 day-use fee for the Eklutna Lake facilities, and an overnight stay takes two days' parking.
- Exit: MCA describes a route between Rosie's Roost and the Crow Pass Trail via the Eagle Glacier and Glacier Lake. Glacier Lake is on the Nature Center side of the Eagle River ford (State Parks), so walking out to Eagle River Nature Center doesn't need the ford, but heading over Crow Pass to Girdwood does. Air charter is the other option.
- Getting onto the glacier: It depends on conditions and changes every year. Read MCA's Pichler's Perch page, which includes the Wayne Todd hazard update, before you plan.
Hazards
- Crevasses and steep ice. MCA's update warns the Eklutna Glacier is thinning and full of crevasses below about 4,000 ft. It advises steel crampons, two ice tools, a rope, and rappel gear, and strongly advises roped travel on the snow-covered glacier.
- Avalanche terrain. MCA says to avoid the steep slope just below Pichler's Perch because of avalanche conditions and a big crevasse. CNFAC only puts out a weekend outlook for Chugach State Park, not a daily forecast.
- Rockfall. In summer, rockfall off the Mitre makes the lower Eklutna Glacier access dangerous (MCA).
- Whiteouts and storms. Hans' Hut sits at 6,000 ft, and MCA says parties often get stuck there. Bring extra days of food and fuel.
- River fords on the exit. If you exit over Crow Pass to Girdwood, you ford Eagle River, a cold glacial river. See the Crow Pass page.
- Bears. This is bear country at both trailheads and in the valleys.
Avalanche: before any snow-season trip, check our avalanche conditions page and the full CNFAC (Chugach State Park outlook).
Skills you need
- Roped glacier travel and crevasse rescue for the whole team
- Steep ice, crampon, and ice-tool technique for the lower glacier
- Whiteout navigation with GPS waypoints
- Avalanche training and rescue gear, and the experience to make your own snowpack calls
Gear
MCA's own gear list for the lower glacier is steel crampons, two ice tools (or one tool plus a sharp axe), a rope, ice screws, V-thread material, a harness, and a helmet.
Our lists: Backpacking kit · Avalanche gear
Map: huts, cabins, and trailheads
Hut points only, from MCA, State Parks, and USFS coordinates. No route line is drawn, because the lower glacier route changes every year. Basemap: USGS The National Map. Don't navigate with this map.