{"id":5861,"date":"2021-07-04T22:59:51","date_gmt":"2021-07-04T14:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=5861"},"modified":"2021-12-11T04:33:55","modified_gmt":"2021-12-10T20:33:55","slug":"20210704south-pioneer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2021\/07\/04\/20210704south-pioneer\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 4 of 2021 Alaska Trip, South Pioneer Peak, Jewel of Chugach Mountains"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fourth day of my 2021 Alaska trip and last day in the Anchorage vicinity. I climbed and summited South Pioneer Peak, a magnificent YDS class 3 mountain on the southern bank of Knik River that\u2019s an enchanting sight from much of the Mat-Su Valley. It\u2019s a long day-hike with grueling elevation gains, but this time I was better prepared, mentally and physically, and it turned out to be a much memorable experience.<\/p>\n

\"Pioneer<\/a>

<\/br>Pioneer Peak<\/p><\/div>\n

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This would be my last day in the Anchorage vicinity. Weather forecast was cooperating, so I decided to climb South Pioneer Peak. Pioneer Peaks were two peaks situated right next to each other. While their magnificent presence on Knik River\u2019s southern shore was a constantly alluring sight from nearby towns like Palmer, the trail to South Pioneer Peak was a 22km roundtrip with 2km of vertical elevation gain, the end of which involved YDS class 3 rock scrambling. From the top of South Pioneer, one may opt to follow a traverse down and up to its taller brother of North Pioneer, which involved YDS class 4 scrambling. Like most other hikers, I decided to make South Pioneer Peak my destination of the day.<\/p>\n