49th State Motor Tours

02/17/2023

Brown and white specks dot the land in the winter. Some of them move....

11/19/2022

Itching for powder for miles! Soon folks, soon. 😉

07/30/2022

Alluring North Photography came out on the trail with us recently to capture the faces that make 49th State. This is Jerimiah.

Born to an avid off-roader, Miah has been bouncing down trails since the wee age of 4 years old. His early start in backwoods adventuring imparted him with a super-hero- like sense of direction, deep understanding of local wildlife and the ability to find his way back to civilization from almost anywhere. Living minutes from the Knik trailhead, Miah considers it his second home. His mountain-sized grin and knowledge of the valley quickly earned him a spot in the 49th State family.

07/25/2022

What a gorgeous day to ride! is sparkling!

07/18/2022

SHEEP! "Look at those horns," chuckles Tim. Yeppers! It's a beaut! Love seeing what awaits us a Wolf Point!

07/15/2022

Alluring North Photography came out on the trail with us recently to capture the faces of 49SMT. Introducing Latrael.

The Trail. We joke that Latrael is French for “The Trail.” The truth is this nickname is fully earned. “The Trail” is one of the very few that can keep up with Brian. Always moving. Always willing to lend a hand. Born to ride. Latrael is a cornerstone of the 49SMT family. As comfortable on a sled as he is on wheels, if you ride with us in the summer or winter, you will likely see his smiling face.

07/14/2022

Ear to ear grins never get old!

07/13/2022

(thinks about all the salmon quesadillas that can be made this year and smiles) NOM NOM NOM!!

Bristol Bay sets all-time harvest record (and it’s not done yet)!

The 2022 cumulative sockeye salmon harvest in Bristol Bay thru July 11 now sits at 46.6 million fish and is the largest harvest since commercial fishing began in 1883. This eclipses the previous harvest record of 44.3 million fish set in 1995.
Current inshore run projections are tracking above the 73.4 million preseason forecast which would be the largest inshore run in the history of the fishery.
Cumulative sockeye salmon escapement in all rivers of Bristol Bay is 13.8 million and all rivers have met or exceeded their sockeye salmon escapement goals with the exception of the Togiak River which is projecting to meet the goal.
The department would like to take the time to congratulate the fleet, processors, supporting industry, and communities of Bristol Bay on their efforts this season and being part of this historic achievement
Photo © Mark Emery

07/11/2022

AWWW!!!! Look at the lil baby!

07/11/2022

Summer polar plunge

07/09/2022

Alluring North Photography came out on the trail with us recently to capture the faces that make 49th State. We'll be sharing them over the next few weeks. First up is Rich!

Mr. Manager. Born in the Lower 48, Rich found Alaska decades ago and knew he was home. Knik Valley is his preferred hunting and roaming grounds. We’re pretty sure we could drop him blind-folded anywhere in the Valley (with or without gear) and he’d show up again within a day or two. Rich is also one of the few that was present for the inception of 49SMT. It took a few years to convince him he’d love talking to people so much. Now, he keeps everything on track and running smoothly. If he isn’t your guide, he’ll likely be helping you get fitted in gear, launching tours, or keeping Brian and Cedar in line.

07/07/2022

Re-found one of my favorite photos. Brian took this on his cell phone. Amazing what a great eye can bring to a photo!

07/04/2022

Overall great news! Sad to learn that the motorized chunks of the trail, including the Susitna Valley Winter Trail, weren't funded this round. But, happy to hear that soon there will be more options to explore the outdoors in this amazing state.

Big news! 7 (yes, seven!) Alaska Long Trail projects are included in the enacted FY2023 state budget, signed by Governor Dunleavy yesterday! Alaska Trails and our Long Trail Coalition partners are grateful to all of you who spoke and wrote in support of the trail. Especially grateful to the state legislature and particularly Senator Bill Wielechowski and Senator Tom Begich. We also appreciate the Governor's recognition that this trail is a great new opportunity for outdoor recreation in Alaska.

Congratulations, Anchorage Park Foundation, Anchorage Parks and Recreation, and Chugach State Park!

Here is the list of funded projects (projects 8-14 on the map):

Alaska Long Trail Anchorage to Mat-Su Reconnaissance Study $300,000
Alaska Long Trail Urban Braid -- Anchorage Moose Loop $800,000
Glacier Creek Bridge - Replacement for Hand Tram $1,200,000
Arctic to Indian Phase 1 Trail improvements $20,000
Crow Pass - section rerouting and improvements $1,500,000
Peters Creek Upper Trail & Bridge $30,000
Turnagain Arm Trail Maintenance and Extension $370,000

8 other Long Trail projects in other areas of the state (including motorized and multi-use trails) were vetoed by Governor Dunleavy as part of his $400M budget cuts, but hey - we see this as a glass half-full!

https://omb.alaska.gov/fiscal-year-2023-enacted-budget
https://www.alaska-trails.org/the-alaska-long-trail

07/02/2022

Wanna have lunch tomorrow? We know a great spot! Gorgeous view and the service is spectacular!

06/29/2022

Miles to . That's the beauty of Knik.

06/28/2022

Amazing how a few drops of water on the lens completely changes a photo. Almost feels like we are in a miniature world.

06/25/2022

Kickin' up a dust storm out in Knik Valley on this beautiful day. Bring on the rain!

06/18/2022

Hit the trail with to capture the crew in action. Here's Rich showing his b@d@$$itude.