Max’s Mountain as seen from Glacier Creek .
By Marc Donadieu
Glacier City Gazette
Max’s Mountain looms over Girdwood. Scaling its heights is an engaging, physical challenge. The unofficial, 1½-mile trail of unrelenting steepness must be embraced if one wants to reach the top.
The summit of Max’s Mountain checks in at 3,302 feet, and the trailhead starts at about 300 feet. With about 3,000 feet to ascend, it is an approximate 2,000-foot elevation gain and loss per mile.
The fantastic panorama along the way is worth the physical punishment doled out to one’s thighs. Think of it as an endless staircase to a better place. The hike is a local favorite that is gaining popularity.
The outing begins at Virgin Creek Trail. To get there, take the Alyeska Highway to Timberline Drive and follow it until the road ends and park.
The mountain also sports two names.
On the United States Geological Survey map, the name is Bauman Bump, a moniker used by few. According to summitpost.org, “Ernie Baumann was one of the skiing enthusiasts who emerged from the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division after World War II. He scouted many peaks in Alaska and was probably the first to identify Mt. Alyeska as a good candidate for a ski area.”
The locally preferred name, Max’s Mountain, was derived from former U.S. Ski Team member Max Marolt. He was flown up to the summit via helicopter and then raced down on skis to beat the flying machine to the finish line. In an April 15, 1963 Sports Illustrated article on the National Alpine Ski Championships held at Mt. Alyeska, there is mention of the Marolt’s feat.
Roy Terrel wrote, “Max Marolt, a visiting Coloradan, achieved geographic immortality by bumming his way to the top of a neighboring mountain via helicopter and skiing down its side; they promptly named the mountain after Max.”
Loverne Burcee’s True Tales from the Top of Mt. Alyeska has a brief mention of the feat that gave the mountain its popular name. Long time Girdwood resident Eddie Gendzwill recalled the event saying, “There was a skier named Max Marolt who made a bet with fellow skier Locke Jacobs that he could beat the helicopter, piloted by Link Luckett, down from the top of the unnamed mountain. There was 13 feet of snow, and Max had a straight shot down! He beat the helicopter by a mile, and from that day on, it would be forever called Max’s Mountain!”
Be aware that the trail up Max’s Mountain is slippery at its best conditions on a dry, sunny day. There were multiple spots were one’s footing simply gives way in the thin, damp soil on not quite vertical ground. This condition becomes more of a concern during the descent.
Bring plenty of water because other than Virgin Creek Falls, there are no other sources. Blueberries tend to be plentiful along the way when in season. Seeing black bears around the trail is not unusual. There were a lot of mushrooms around the trail, and some of them were rather large.
The trail quickly reaches Virgin Creek Falls, a popular destination for its tranquility and lushness. It’s a short side trip you may wish to take first rather than upon the return due to the fatigue you will likely feel. After you have taken in the falls, it’s time to elevate your heart rate and exert your quadriceps, one steep step at a time.
At the lower elevation, there is an abundance of thick trees reflective of the world’s northernmost temperate rainforest, particularly hemlock and spruce. As one ascends, the trees’ girth gets thinner and placement slightly sparser. The first views of the Kenai Mountains, Turnagain Arm and Girdwood are near the tree line. It’s a preview of upcoming perspectives that improve with altitude and the change in vegetation zones.
The tree line ends at about 1,900 feet after passing through some scrubby, twisted brush that has been abused by wind and weather. From here, one can see the layout of Girdwood below and prime views of the surrounding mountains, which had a delicate touch of clouds.
The only feature obstructing a 360-degree view was Max’s summit, which is imposing at that elevation with 1,400 feet to ascend. The trail in the alpine section of the mountain is straightforward and demanding. After a bit more trudging, we reached the summit and took in the views.
The hike down presents its own rigors. Thighs were constantly straining to resist the pull of gravity and hike too quickly on a slippery trail, which could lead to a bad spill if not careful. There were a number of spots where it was easier and safer to crabwalk down. After giving our legs a final ration of abuse, we were back at our vehicle and thoroughly exhausted. The hike took about 4½ hours, which included a 45-minute or so break at the summit.
Would you like to see Max’s Mountain and say to yourself, “I’ve been up there,” and smile?
Yudi Peak is to the left with Yudi Glacier in the center and Pipit Peak to the right, all above the Girdwood Valley floor.
Girdwood Paraglider Stu Green runs off of the summit of Max’s Mountain to take a scenic glide to the valley floor.
This article was sponsored in part by Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area.
