Crow Creek to Arctic Valley
by Bill Wakeland, Scree 8/8?

July 1,2,3, & 4, Crow Creek to Arctic Valley, 40 miles, leader Bill Stivers.  Friday morning it was raining dismally, but eight MCA'ers assembled at 1:00 p.m. none the less, and by about 3:30 p.m. we were on our way up Crow Creek Pass Trail with the weather improving. Dinner #1, or late lunch, was at the Forest Service cabin near Crow Creek Pass, after finding parts of the trail under enough snow to detour in places.

After gaining 2400' elevation at the pass, we had to lose about 1000' along Raven Creek below the glacier before leaving the trail to Eagle River and starting up the sidehill toward a cirque beyond Clear Creek, where we camped at about 9:30 p.m. at elevation 3000' or so. We had already seen a number of sheep and those of us with ice axes were glad we had them. In fact, Don Hanson, leading the way and punching steps across a steep snow gully, showed us how to self arrest when he slipped and started down fast. Our lone lady hiker, Peggy Michaelson, had no ax, and this was her first overnighter with the club, and she showed her mettle on these snow and scree crossings.

We had a good camp site - water was never a problem anywhere on this trip.  All enjoyed watching Stivers down the two-quart pot of stuff he has for dinner. (He needs all of that to carry the gargantuan pack he handles so easily).

Next morning it was, of course, all souped in at the pass over the 5000' ridge that provides a short cut to the Ship Creek watershed.  So, knowing it would clear if we took the long way, but would not if we-waited, we took off traversing northerly and upward toward the point between Raven Creek and Camp Creek, 2-1/2 miles away, as the crow flies. (We traveled a lot farther than a crow would have, especially when finding "easy routes" promised by "Sheep Trail" John Nevin, who seems to breathe easier at high elevations.)

Compensation for the steep traversing came in the glorious scenery as the fog lifted - far superior to the rocks and show scenery going over the top. It was warm and very hot traveling. After rounding the point, and while glissading down a steep snowfield, Mike Miller unintentionally showed us how to do sort of an Immelmann turn on the snow. (The dictionary says this is a maneuver in which a plane makes a half loop then a half roll). Again there was a tricky save by the old ice ax.

After a long drag up Camp Creek, among the flowers and streams, we finally crossed over the 4000' pass into the Ship Creek watershed. We were about two horizontal miles from Camp 1, after using up most of the day and traveling perhaps seven or eight miles. The only one of this group who holds a candle to me in the sweat department is Tom Macchia, who set a new dress standard. He wore very short shorts, but had forgotten gaiters, so he wore yellow chaps, which often did not make it up to the shorts. And to help ventilate his back, but still keep bugs at bay, he wore his shirt backwards.

Descending through snow and rocks toward Northfork Lake, we hit still another interesting snow patch - several of us went around - but after some probing and testing by Mike and Don, Kris Ericksen did yet another maneuver on the snow.  Witnesses marveled at how fast he descended, flat on his pack - whether they marveled over his adroitness or his survival, I'm not sure.

Camp #2 was below the bench and the falls near Northfork Lake at about the brushline, just below a couple of sheep that had fled up a hill as their solitude was shattered.  We arrived at