The Fun Just Notched Up!
Ptarmigan is over 5,000 feet! See Brian B’s Climate Blog. Starting in 2023 all linkups must include the east summit of Ptarmigan to be included in the list below. Or you can forget all these rules and just go into the mountains!
Cosmic Integration in the Chugach Mountains
The mountains above Anchorage are called the Chugach Front Range. These are the tippy western end of the Chugach Mountains, separated by Ship Creek and Indian Creek. This small subrange has 13 summits that rise above 5,000 feet. Connecting these 13 highest summits in a single push is an attractive and lofty goal for Anchorage mountain runners. This Chugach Front Linkup is also known as Cosmic Integration.
While many Anchorage runners are physically capable of the Chugach Front Linkup, the real crux is piecing together a logical route. Finding a fast and less dangerous line between these rugged and complicated summits takes years of research. Venturing on these endless research runs is a mountain runners dream. Ticking off the linkup is just the graduation party.
Running these peaks in summer is one thing. Add winter conditions to the equation and the Cosmic Integration goes to the next level. Then go ski the Western Chugach 7,000-footers in a winter. Step it up skiers!
Cosmic Rules
Start and finish from a car parking lot.
Touch the 13 highest summits. Thirteen summits starting in 2023.
Don’t share your route track with anyone, including me. Your word and your reputation is your evidence. Let’s preserve the adventure component of this linkup! More adventure = more fun!
Linkup Stats
18–21,000 vertical feet, 36-45 miles
History
1990 27:30 hours, Shawn Lyons, Walk About Guide to Alaska, Vol 2.
2006 July 9, 23:13 hours, Trond Jensen and Joe Stock, Trail Runner Jan 2007.
2008 34 hours, Rob Develice and Charlie Thomas.
2008 22:40 hours, JT Lindholm.
2010 22:42 hours, Harlow Robinson.
2012 29 hours, Abby and Stephen Rideout.
2016 22:10 hours, Harlow Robinson and Matias Saari, ADN.
2016 June 25, 27:22 hours, Aaron Thrasher.
2016 July 9, 24:13 hours, Marlo Karjala.
2017 July 22, 18:10 hours, Peter Mamrol and Lars Arneson, ADN.
2018 July 20, 17:43 hours, Adam Jensen and Matt Shryock.
2018 July, 23 hours, Joe Nyholm and Miles Knotek.
2019 June 22, 26 hours, Sophia Tidler.
2019 July 13, 23:50 hours, Julianne Dickerson, April McAnly, Abby Jahn. ADN.
2019 July 18, 14:41 hours, Lars Arneson. ADN.
2019 July 19, 27:36 hours, Keegan Crow and Annie Connellly.
2019 August 24, 15:46 hours, Sam Volk.
2019 Dec 21, 54:40 hours Sophia Tidler, on foot with crampons. Alaska Public Media.
2020 June 20, 21:46 hours, Cole Jones, solo and 18 years old.
2020 June 27, 24:10 hours, Jay Mullen.
2020 July 2, 22:49 hours, Kaeli Stangl and Greg Martin.
2020 July 14, 20:55 hours, Meg Inokuma and Matt Green.
2020 July 30, 16:57 hours, Peter Hinds, solo and 18 years old!
2020 August 8, 19:13 hours, Dane Ketner and Dan Linnell.
2021 June 29, 23:00 hours, Isaac Swanson and Duane Zitta.
2021 July 16, 21:33, Taryn Hunt-Smith and Tsaina Mahlen.
2022 July 2, 26:30 hours, Patrick Niedermeyer.
2022 June 25, 27:00 hours, Deb Kelly.
2022 July 10, 27:36 hours, Gail Taylor and Jen Aschoff.
2023 March 11-12, 36:19 hours, Ben Americus. All 13 peaks on skis. Yeah Ben!
2023 July 1, 23:30 hours, Rachel Topf. Solo unsupported 13 peaks.
Other Media
Charles Woolforth’s May 2018 Outdoor Explorer “The 12-Peak Challenge and Chugach Trails.”
The 13 Chugach Front 5,000-Foot Peaks
Mount Williwaw 5,445’
Temptation Peak 5,383’
Tanaina Peak 5,358’
The Ramp 5,240’
Tikishla Peak 5,230’
West Tanaina Peak 5,200’
O'Malley Peak 5,150'
Koktoya Peak 5,148’
Hidden Peak 5,105’
North Suicide Peak 5,065’
Ptarmigan east summit 5,053’
Avalanche Mountain 5,050'
Suicide Peak 5,005’
Ben Americus on top of West Tanaina before his second sunset of the trip.
Jay Mullen and his Spectre of the Brocken. “That was on Tikishla, first peak of the day, definitely got me pretty pumped up.”
Sophia Tidler taking it to the next level during her 54:40-hour winter solstice linkup. Yeah Sophia!
Julianne, Abby and April on Williwaw at 4am. “Finally clearing!”
Matt Shryrock on South Suicide at 5:30 am. Photo by Adam Jensen.
Matias Saari traversing between Avalanche Mountain and The Ramp
Harlow Robinson and Matias Saari atop South Suicide, their first summit of their tour.
Some of the route is on open ridgelines, perfect for running. Andrew McCarthy on a route finding run in June.
Other portions of the ridge have exposed scrambling. A difficulty of the linkup is learning if each section of the ridge is better traversed or avoided. Fog can help, making exposed portions less fearsome by hiding the abyss for Trond Jensen.
Sheep trails are a luxury for Trond Jensen.
Snow can make the linkup easier by smoothing out the scree and turning descents into glissades.
Finishing in the twilight in the grass and brush. This is a popular time to run into large hairy and toothy critters. Good thing Norwegians taste better than Americans.