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Suicide Peak, Southwest Ridge
by Shawn Lyons, ADN, 6/28/92 "Gems of the Chugach"
This is a rock scramble with a view, but like the first hike in the list it is not very accessible, especially given the continuing dispute over land ownership in the Rabbit Creek valley. Start on the Rabbit Lake Trail. You'll have to find someway around the undeveloped Miller property that blocks the trail. Those who risk trespassing will find themselves in the midst of a well-publicized land dispute. The Millers have fought the park over maintaining public access. They don't want anyone setting foot on their property and have threatened to prosecute trespassers. Once at the lake below the mighty Suicide twins, turn right, cross the valley and climb the steep slope to the top of the ridge. This is a much easier ascent than trying to go up the scree gully between the two peaks, and it offers spectacular views of the McHugh Creek drainage, Indian, Turnagain Arm and the Kenai Peninsula far, far below to the south while the entire eastern and northern horizons bristle with rock- and snow-covered mountain. On a miserable day, you can also grit your teeth in the face of storm winds and watch the storm clouds rumbling up the length of Turnagain Arm, a sure sign of impending rain in the Anchorage Bowl. Once, at the height of summer, I had a pair of rain pants torn apart by the wind as I literally crawled and dragged my way across this pass (i.e. the wind funnel) between the two summits. It wasn't, needless to say, a day that brings back fond memories, though I did manage to somehow make it back to my own bed late that night, for which I am thankful.
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