Since I moved to Alaska in the winter of 2012, the mountains have been calling me.I became an outdoor enthusiast fairly quickly and soon found myself on a quest to step beyond the tree line and seek the pristine air of high altitudes. 2 years ago, while doing some research, I came across a mountain that stuck with me. Pioneer Peak massively rises above the town of Palmer, in the Matanuska valley, at an elevation of 6,398 ft. Luckily, the Pioneer Ridge trail can get you to the top in a matter of hours, avoiding the struggle of off-trail scrambling. However, it is no easy stroll. With 6 miles of steep climb and very few switchbacks, it can quickly turn into an exhausting experience for the uninitiated hiker. The challenge made it even more exciting and after a few weeks of physical preparation, we made the 4-hour drive to the nearby campground on a beautiful spring day. From the information we gathered, it takes more than 10 hours to complete the hike and so we decided to spend the night and start early in the morning. 
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