In June 2019, Cavanaugh accosted Team Landmine and local journalist Craig Medred while walking on the Stewart Trail to prepare for this story. The should try and buy an nearby lot and add parking or expand the parking area into the park boundaries. By this point, many influential people in the broader Anchorage community had become aware of the bizarre drama unfolding on the Stewart Trail and at the RCCC. The Landmine was unable to determine who first brought the situation to the attention of the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA), but on February 29, 2016 then-MOA Attorney Bill Falsey drafted a letter to Pugh with a clear message: the gate was illegal, and would need to be removed. Because it is south-facing in a high-wind area next to the ocean, this route is often fully snow-free as soon as early May. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Pugh, it seemed, dreamed of finding real estate riches in the steep slopes of upper Potter Valley. Anyone familiar with the peak would find that name fitting. Anchorage residents have thousands of photos of themselves, their friends, and their children using the Stewart Trail in all seasons. 2-5 day small ship explorations. There is also overflow parking on Honey Bear Lane on a widened stretch of road about two thirds of a mile below the trailhead. Yes, he said, Weve heard several stories of that effect.. . The Cavanaughs drove their RV up the mountain and parked it in the middle of the Stewart Trail, blocking the trail and forcing hikers to detour around it. Find the best bear viewing spots by season. This is BS! But there it is at #4at least, if youre going by land area alone. But Pughs new acquisition presented major challenges: the bottom portion was encumbered by a wetland and stream, where development would be severely restricted, and the upper areas were steep and exposed. If Pughs purchase were simply a long-term investment, there would appear to be little incentive to alter the status quo. I grew up in the house adjacent to the 120 acre Hutchins/Schoff piece, and later built a home above it on Big Mountain Drive and that trail was always open. US. Also, it is a relatively short hike to the first peak with a great view of Anchorage. But there is a problem with this characterization: the Anchorage Police Department (APD) is a department of the MOA, and the MOA had determined that the Stewart Trail was public. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. commented on the wrong one on accident but registered as a Republican huh? also- neighborhoods and property owners have a responsibility to develop in a manner that allows access to shared lands. All trails from this trailhead are flat. Though the area was beloved by many it remained something of a hidden gem, a place where those in the know could slip away from city life into the peaceful wildness of the Chugach foothills. That is all on the opposite side of Rabbit Creek Valley, with no easy way across (i.e. The maps make it appear that his only access is via Stewart Trail. A less developed trail continues on for another 2 miles, then quickly gains elevation to the pass. The north ridge of McHugh Peak. And thats when residents knew something had gone badly wrong. US. My interaction with him was really short, I walked up to him and said whats going on? and he said Im building a gate or something. Great article on an important issue in Anchorage. As Falsey explains in his March 2, 2016 message to Pugh: The publics consistent use of this trail for the past several decades has created a public use easement across the property. Most of the summits near Baldy and Mile Hi . The position requires confirmation by the Anchorage Assembly, and Pugh was determined to stop it. Anchorage is the best spot to start a visit to Alaska's iconic bear viewing locations. 2023 Bear Valley Resort. It makes me really angry that this has gone on so long, upstanding people in our community such as Nancy Pease has been attacked and that Pugh and Cavanaugh have been allowed to bully the public. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! Great views!!!!! These include difficulty communicating with those of more pedestrian aptitudes. On the question-and-answer website Quora, Cavanaugh describes himself as a writer, philosopher, psychologist, polymathist. After Lewis and Meacham spoke, attendees took turns sharing personal stories of trail use, including instances of harassment on the trail. 5: Chugach State Park Access Inventory (2002). Anchorage, bushwacking thru alders and devils club). I feel compelled to set the record straight. 7-10 days is the most common. After 0.6 miles (1 km), keep right to stay on the Glen Trail. On June 19, 2019, the Anchorage Daily News published a cryptic editorial by Cavanaugh titled Anchorages never-ending crime prevention loop. In the article, Cavanaugh excoriates the Anchorage Police Department for allegedly enabling criminal behavior, and expresses frustration at the time he has had to spend covertly recording and catching trail users. Overwhelmed by choices? His blog includes excited entries about the wind, problematic winterbears, moose, and ease of access to wilderness in Anchorage. For more about how the information on this site should be used, please click here. Great article! The Chriss hadnt met before and occupied opposite sides of the political spectrum, but nothing encourages bipartisanship in Alaska like the prospect of an interesting hike. The Stewart Trail is far from the only prescriptive easement in Anchorage, where many trails and roads were built with little regard to official property lines. Pugh, who repeatedly declined to comment for this article, stood at the front of the downstairs meeting space under a giant banner reading RESPECT. Starting from Ram Valley, it's approximately 11 miles to Mile Hi trailhead with three summits, or approximately 13.5 miles to Baldy if you add in Round Top. After about a mile and a half, the McHugh Lake Trail passes the base of a prominent rock and tundra gully with a small trail leading up it. Extension from the Ridge Peak to McHugh Peak (4311 ft). The trail also has a few stream crossings without bridges for the average adventurer. From there take Clarks Road all the way to the end of the road. Local conservation giant Great Land Trust (GLT) commissioned an assessment of the easement, and Pugh indicated that he would entertain an offer. If your car doesnt have good clearance or if the road is in poor condition, park at the lower parking lot and walk the last few hundred feet to the gate. Local favorites for half-day hikes include Bloods Ridge and Inspiration Point. Traveling to the East from Bird Creek Pass will lead you to Grizzly Bear Lake and Moraine Pass. Now on a busy day the road can honestly be blocked for fire engines. With the ups and downs of the ridge, however, you will have climbed about 2450 feet to gain the summit and 2700 feet by the time you complete a round trip. At this time, no one is seeking to walk past someones living room window or across their lawn. Meanwhile, HOA members suddenly found themselves financially responsible for an increasingly popular de-facto state park trailhead. Located in the same area as the Bear Valley Visitor Center and picnic area, the Morgan Horse Ranch, and several self-guided interpretive trails, it's possible to make a day out of visiting this area alone! Even waiting until 2100 hours on weeknights was sometimes insufficiently lateRead more , Most people I know avoid starting hikes at the Honey Bear parking lot these days. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. Turnagain Arm: Potter Trailhead is just the opposite side of Chugach State Park HQ. John Weddleton speaks at an Anchorage Assembly Meeting, January 29, 2019. Was there a word count requirement on the article submission? 15 Map. Bear Valley: Golden View Trailhead; Recent Changes. Map showing Pugh Property and the Stewart Trail. On the other side, strike out across the open tundra and climb any of the slopes arcing upward toward McHugh Peak. There is a park access with only 5 parking spaces and a "over flow parking" apx. Pugh met with the MOA to discuss a land swap, but rejected the proposed deal. To access the Rabbit Creek route, park at the Rabbit Creek Trailhead at the end of Canyon (Upper Hiland) Road. 55 Ways to the Wilderness, published in 1972, advises readers that hikers are welcome and that the road makes a lovely walk. Between 2002 and 2010, the Chugach State Park Access Inventory, Rabbit Creek Trail Plan, and Hillside District Plan all refer to the Stewart Trail as a public access corridor. While you can find wildlife throughout the surrounding area and along any of the four established trails . Meacham insisted that the MOA was, in fact, providing as much help as it could. The alternative is that the landowners could easily work with the Municipality to ensure that a Public Access Point is established through Potter Valley along with all the vehicles, people, dogs, noise, and crime likely to follow but this is not our preference.. In 1967, the Stewart Trail was featured in 30 Hikes in Alaska as the preferred route to climb McHugh Peak. Bear Valley, a neighborhood on the Anchorage Hillside directly south of Flattop Mountain, is serving as a testing ground. If you asked people what the largest cities in the US are, few would guess Anchorage. Overwhelmed by choices? The man sat down, seemingly unaware that he had just dropped a bomb into the battle for the Stewart Trail. Few crowds and fantastic views. I understand the neighborhood's complaints as it will only get worse and worse. I think theyre a waste of money, and if he wants to spend all of his time looking at people coming and going I feel sorry for him. The room hummed with quick, whispered conversations. 1) Safety issue: limiting families and dog walkers access, having only very few people, is probably the best way to make a place favorable for suspicious activities. And Im closing it. You know he might have said, Its my land., The man with the acetylene torch was Frank Pugh, and soon his gate was complete. You walk down the trail and theres this camper and posted signs, to me it feels like the dog in the manger. Our old homestead is now Mountainside Village, which we developed and lived on until a dozen years ago. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. A group of residents banded together and offered to pay for an easement, but Pugh reportedly told them they did not have enough money. Difficulty: Class 2+(c4), McHugh Creek route (West Ridge): 7.8 miles round trip, 4,300 ft. elevation gain. None of those access points offer the same kind of grade perfect for young children and people of limited mobility with unfettered views up and down valley. I Am so thankful for your persistence and work! People darted in and out of small huddled groups, yelled, and talked over a grimacing Pugh. But, view is worth. Sign at the Honey Bear parking lot, photographed November 29, 2019. Private Tour: Anchorage 3-Hour Tour 31 Recommended Bus Tours from $623.57 per group (up to 12) Sunset City Tour 16 Bus Tours from $149.00 per adult LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Wildlife and Glaciers with a walk in the Rainforest 173 Bus Tours from $129.00 per adult 2022 Wilderness Wildlife Glacier Experience. Some doubted that Pughs RCCC had the political capital to affect public policy at all. This ridge is well-traveled and there is an informal trail running along it most of the way. Gate on Honey Bear Lane, photographed November 29, 2019. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. Send an email to friendsofthestewarttrail@gmail.com thanks, Saddened- this is so not the Alaskan spirit. The Alaska Landmine is a owned and operated by Speedogate Media, a division of the Landfield Global Group. Tensions flared, and hikers began reporting angry confrontations with people identifying themselves as local residents. It's probably right around the longest you can go for a weekday, after-work hike.and still get to bed at a normal time. The Portage Valley was literally shaped by glaciers and today is a perfect spot for exploring. Before and after Frank Pugh bought his property people accessing Stewart Trail disregarded the property rights of nearby neighbors. From the trailhead, the clearly-signed trail begins at the parking lot and switchbacks through dense alder toward the broad shoulder of McHughs north ridge. They traveled the state in an amphibious vehicle, once running 365 miles of the Yukon River in three days. Just past the first private drive, we immediately noticed several large boulders blocking vehicle access on the roadway. He appears to be walking his dog. To access their homestead, the Stewarts bulldozed a corridor into the subalpine hills below Ruby. The road changes name to Black Bear Dr and sharp left to Honey Bear Ln. Location:18691-18699 Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK 99516, USA. When he fails (and you recovery your nominal damages and attorney fees), there will be a judicial decision that the trail constitutes a public easement. Note that in summer 2017 a teenage boy was mauled and killed by a bear during a race on the trail, so do be . At the end of the mountains are North Suicide and South Suicide Peak. Its a bad situation, but theres a lot of blame to go around unfortunately. Though McHugh peak is mostly an alpine walkup, negotiating the bundle of rocks on its summit can be tricky and feels more like rock climbing than hiking. Full-day adventures can be found at Wheeler Lake and Bull Run Lake. In her will, Oro Stewart divided her homestead tract between two beloved local organizations, the Alaska Botanical Garden and the Alaska Zoo. Those who happen to live outside the parks service area, including some of Anchorages wealthiest residents, enjoy full access to Anchorage parks but pay no taxes to support them. FYI, Mensa members normally dont mention it & they definitely dont brag about it. because upper hillside voters ACTIVELY VOTED to keep it that way. Parking lot, Blueberry Loop Trail, Anchorage, AK 99516, Northern Trailhead, Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK 99516, Blueberry Loop Trail, Anchorage, AK 99516, 10471 Honey Bear Ln, ADN Reporter Devin Kelly asked the Traffic department that exact question in July 2017. Wow. Partly because it becomes snow-free so early in the season, the McHugh Creek drainage is notorious for bear sightings and encounters. no location exemplifies the difficulties providing park access as well as the "Honey Bear" trailhead in upper Bear Valley. Seans citation of the sixth car problem is laughable, about as much so as a five car access point (thats 1 spot per 60,000 Anchorage residents) to a massive public use area. He identified himself as a longtime former coworker and friend of Pugh. Illegal and/or disgusting behavior is always a potential problem where roads dead end at a park boundary. This trailhead is the only designated public access for a vast swath of Chugach State Park stretching between McHugh Creek and the Rabbit Lake Trailhead. Anchorage, The Stewarts were regular fixtures in Anchorage parades, towing their vehicle behind a team of domesticated reindeer. Read 5 Best Hikes in Anchorage, Alaska. Pugh had also written to the Assembly alleging repeated trespass by Pease, unlawful behavior and serious concerns about Ms. Peases ethical integrity and conflicts of interest. Shortly before the meeting, Christopher Matthew Cavanaugh had emailed the mayors office, Assembly, and others calling Pease a criminal and accusing her of criminal trespassing behaviors.. The McHugh Creek Route up the west ridge starts nearly at sea level and requires just over 4,300 feet of elevation gain to reach the summitfar more than any other route. Trail end there. Take a left on Kullberg, following it through switchbacks, then turn right on Malcolm Dr. Melissas Monthly fhike. Others thought that Pugh wanted to change municipal policy related to trail development and park access requirements for new developments. For the most part the Rabbit Creek route is truly a route and not a trail, so it is most appropriate for those with basic routefinding skills and at least a mild sense of adventure. The business is listed under hiking area category. The Anchorage Police Department does not consider use of the Stewart Trail to constitute criminal trespass and does not issue citations for use of the trail. Two trails reach the topamore direct steep route, and alonger. The trail, and the state park beyond it, are beautiful. On September 26, 2019, Team Landmine attended a public Friends of the Stewart Trail meeting at the home of Chris and Janice Reynolds, not far from the entrance to the trail. From the top of Point 3,200, follow the crest of the ridge 1.9 miles to the summit of McHugh. Yes, this kind of thing would not happen in most places in Europe where Freedom to Roam or everymans right is fairly prevalent. But in 2015, Pugh abruptly gated the trail. Its western flanks enfold several of South Anchorages hillside neighborhoods and dont flatten out until they reach the New Seward Highway. Once word got out, demand quickly exceeded the capacity of the tiny parking area. One longtime local resident and trail user told the Landmine that Pugh chased him down the trail, yelling Dont come on here! Some trail users declined to engage with Pugh, while others began carrying copies of the MOAs letters stating the trail was public. In his letters, Falsey writes that the Stewart Trail is open to public use because it meets the qualifications for a prescriptive public easement. Anchorage outdoor writer and journalist Craig Medred told the Landmine that once, while battling his way down the Stewart Trail during a storm, he had been picked up by the wind and flung through the air into a ditch. Opponents tend to view them as hostile coups, while others simply see the messy process of local democracy in action. Take your route going up to the ridge. If you do decide to bypass the gate and are confronted on the Stewart Trail, do not feel pressured to sign any documents or agree to any demands. Weekly hike Locations; Archives; 2022; Welcome to the Alaska Outdoors; 2021; Trailhead Direction; Photo Album; 2020; A tentative trial date had been set for June 22, 2020. Full-day adventures can be found at Wheeler Lake and Bull Run Lake. But while this route adds some thigh-burning it also features more variety than the other routes: it starts in groves of huge cottonwood trees, winds through the brilliantly-colored site of the 2016 McHugh Creek wildfire, and traces the wind-blasted crest of McHughs west ridge to the summit of McHugh Peak. Brett Frazer hiking back down the McHugh Lake Trail toward the McHugh Creek Trailhead. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. The Stewart Trail is far from the only prescriptive easement in Anchorage, where many trails and roads were built with little regard to official property lines. Hi! In the April 2017 election the measure was overwhelmingly approved by voters in the current park service area, but was rejected by residents of the upper Hillside. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. Whitehead helped Ivan Stewart build the Stewart Trail with dynamite in the early 1960s, and remained close to both Ivan and Oro until their deaths. The challenge is to figure out how to curb the bad behavior of those people who are simply looking for an out-of-public-view spot to engage in such activities, without restricting access to the park by legitimate users who simply want to be able toRead more , Im sympathetic about the crime, but it sounds like the Honey Bear residents are engaged in their own illegal behavior (blocking off a public city street and putting illegal signage on it, even after the city told them they couldnt!). Around this point the brush gives way to open tundra and cross-country walking becomes simple. Trail was steep for the first mile and a little muddy in places. But that would require a vote of the Anchorage Assembly, and one Assembly member told the Landmine that secession attempts would be dead in the water. Rising above the Potter Valley neighborhood on the southeast corner of Chugach State Park, its summit and the ridges below it have a graceful symmetry uncommon in the Chugach Mountains. Yes historically it is an access point, but when many of these houses were built it was a barely used one. There is only one trail originating from the trailhead. You are smart enough to be a CPA? Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. But if youre hoping to score a prime parking spot, this trailhead is best tackled on weekdays or in the off-season. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. Ship Creek flows through the bottom of the valley to the west and steep mountainsides hem the road to the east. Great views. Trail Map Bird Valley Trail Map PDF Getting There View on Map Coordinates Latitude: 60.9741 Longitude: -149.4335 Driving Directions Photos Several days before the Assembly meeting, Pugh had sent Nancy Pease a letter titled Order to Stay Away from the Pugh Property. The Assembly, mayors office, RCCC, Senator Cathy Giessel, and others were ccd. Cavanaugh sat at a table, apparently taking notes. The Alaskan spirit is to allow all to enjoy the outdoors and do things for the greater good of the community, not just ones own self (that is a very American quality- the self serving, individualistic culture). 10/16/2016 admin. And Public Land must be accessible. Free personal GPSdriven travel guide to Alaska. With additional reporting by Jeff Landfield. Had the snow been pushed up against the No Parking signs, I would not have had a problem. Heres your chance LM Team: Sue Pugh for slander. On October 11, 2018, Team Landmine attended the monthly RCCC meeting at Golden View Middle School. In fact, the land now effectively behind Pughs padlock was so vast that it encompassed multiple microclimates, stretching from wooded wetlands by Potter Creek to alpine tundra populated by dall sheep, and finally giving way to the rocky, windswept summit of Ruby itself. Free personal GPSdriven travel guide to Alaska. At first glance, this would appear to be an astonishing value; buildable lots nearby often sell for $150,000/acre or more. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. But others refused. Sometimes she reigned supreme over the men too. The Bear Valley area is a hiker's paradise! Starting in the late 1950s McHugh was typically accessed from the Stewart Homestead Road (also called the Stewart Trail), which leads to the peaks northwest ridge. 99516, Others suggested that the MOA had grown to believe that a judge or jury could perceive a lawsuit pitting the municipality against a single landowner as a David and Goliath situation. Title: Bear Valley: Ray E Stork Homestead ParkLocation: Bear Valley: Ray E Stork Homestead ParkLink out: Click hereStart Time: 18:30Date: 2013-04-18End Time: 20:00, We hike around UAA park or Chester Creek Trail. The information I share here is based on my research and limited personal experience. In one Instagram post detailing an attempt to climb Ruby, Cavanugh explains that he has decided to name the peak Mattanaws Peak, after himself. ARead more . Yes, Dennis, you and other landowners including the developer of the Southpointe Subdivison, have done your best to shut down access to the ridge between Turnagain Arm and Potter Valley, which extends to the Ruby Peak referenced in the article. Smoked salmon and cans of King Street hefeweizen sat on the table, and an aged golden retriever ambled between guests in the packed living room. In a September 24, 2018 email to Anchorage Assemblymember Christopher Constant, Pugh states this belief explictly: As for Ms. Stewart, based on your comments and the many discussions that I had with people on my property, it is evident that she granted permissive use to many people thus making claims of prescriptive easement null and void.. Alberts answer was unequivocal: the Stewarts had never cared about permission to use the trail or cross their lot. But, view is worth. But in a May 7, 2018 email to a member of the public, Langley writes that, despite the No Parking signs, parking would still be legal if a driver could find a way to leave 20 feet of roadway clear: According to Langley, Honey Bear Lane was a public street open to the appropriate legal use by any person, and parking on the shoulder was no more or less illegal than parking on the shoulder of any Anchorage road of equivalent width. Pugh began prominently displaying a large revolver on his hip, and reportedly began driving close behind nervous hikers with his truck. Over time, public access to parks becomes heavily concentrated at a few locations, such as Glen Alps, and overcrowding at those sites is then cited as a cautionary tale by those seeking to stifle access elsewhere. I can tell you that not everyone who wanted to hike from Honey Bear was able to do so without stress. Less illegal parking and less ticketsRead more . . About fifty feet beyond the boulders, an offical-looking street sign read NO TRESPASSING. Given all of that, its tempting to call Pease the Queen of the Mountain, but that would be shortsighted. Oro was devastated. After a brief discussion, the Anchorage Assembly voted unanimously to confirm Pease. Fascinating read and quite thorough. Meacham quickly summarized the state of the lawsuit: Friends of the Stewart Trail had grown to over a hundred members, and had assembled a great quantity of notarized statements and other documents establishing decades of trail use. Goose Lake Park, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA, Chuck Albrecht Softball Complex, Elmore Road, Anchorage, AK, United States, Wolverine Trail, Anchorage, AK 99516, USA, 13101 Glen Alps Rd, Anchorage, AK 99516, USA, 6998 Raspberry Rd, Anchorage, AK 99502, USA, 6001-6225 Kalmia Dr, Anchorage, AK 99507, USA, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), April 6: Bicentennial Park: North Bivouac, Bicentennial Park: North Bivouac Trailhead. We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. This is a great hiking place. There was an audible gasp in the room. Mar 16: Turnagain Arm McHugh Trailhead. Proof: your dead end problem. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. Follow the trail or strike out and find your own way up to Point 3,200. (unless you trail-run, of course) If you start at the Bear Valley trailhead, the stats are: 5.4 miles round trip, 2,300 ft. elevation gain If they really cared about that fire turnaround they sure as hell wouldnt fill itRead more , One of the best summers for co-existence between residents and hikers has come at the cost of severe restrictions on public access due to parking scarcity and harassment by nearby homeowners. In the winter, experienced outdoorspeople hike its wind-blown ridges and ski on its mellow north and west-facing bowls. Almost immediately, the meeting careened out of control. Anchorage, Highlights plus less visited destinations. The wind howling through the mountains threatened to push our vehicle off of the icy streets, and the windsock at one residents helipad blew parallel to the ground. With people identifying themselves as local residents Pease the Queen of the Yukon River in three days spot. John Weddleton speaks at an Anchorage Assembly, mayors office, RCCC, Senator Cathy Giessel, and was. Identified himself as a longtime former coworker and friend of Pugh Dr sharp. Bird Creek Pass will lead you to Grizzly Bear Lake and Bull Run Lake took turns personal! If Pughs purchase were simply a long-term investment, there would appear to be little incentive to alter the quo! Parades, towing their vehicle behind a Team of domesticated reindeer vehicle behind a Team of domesticated reindeer are Ways! $ 150,000/acre or more quickly gains elevation to the East had the political capital to affect public at. And he said, Weve heard several stories of that effect.., Team Landmine and local Craig. Hikes in Alaska and others were ccd Garden and the state in an amphibious vehicle once... The Stewart trail end of Canyon ( upper Hiland ) road follow the crest the... Follow the crest of the summits near Baldy and mile Hi and steep mountainsides hem the road honestly... Of Point 3,200, follow the trail, and talked over a grimacing Pugh estate... Was steep for the Stewart trail disregarded the property rights of nearby neighbors astonishing value ; buildable lots often! The state in an amphibious vehicle, once running 365 miles of the established! Will, Oro Stewart divided her homestead tract between two beloved local organizations, the Anchorage Daily News published cryptic. This story + map while in Alaska as the preferred route to McHugh! Word got out, demand quickly exceeded the capacity of the slopes arcing upward toward Peak. Portage Valley was literally shaped by glaciers and today is a hiker & x27! Peak ( 4311 ft ) trail disregarded the property rights of nearby neighbors himself as a testing ground from. With no easy way across ( i.e not everyone who wanted to change municipal policy related to trail development park. Some doubted that Pughs RCCC had the snow been pushed up against the no parking signs I! 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