Skeetawk Scramble Weekend
The Skeetawk Scramble is a three day mountain running event with all races starting and finishing at Skeetawk Ski Area in the stunning Hatcher Pass Recreation Area. Runners will experience all that the southwest Talkeetnas have to offer; incredible views, steep climbs, and impressive ridges.
The 2026 race weekend will take place August 28-30 with events including a youth uphill, a VK, a 12K mountain loop, and a 37K "Skeetawk Skyline Scramble" which is one of four official US Skyrunning races. Runners can choose to run one, two, or all three events over the weekend.
Skeetawk VK
Friday, 8/28
Start Time: 4pm
Kicking off this epic weekend of sweat and adventure is the vertical kilometer. Starting at Skeetawk, runners will climb straight up the new, unrelenting trail that follows Frostbite Ridge to their finish line which will greet them at the intersection of the Blueberry Knoll-to-Government Peak trail after clocking 3 miles and 3000+ft of gain. Our brave Trifecta runners will become intimately familiar with this course as both the 12K and 37K will start them out on the same route. But fear not, as these views will only leave you wanting more. Ages 15+
Skeetawk 12K
Saturday, 8/29
Start Time: 9am
First up on day two of SS is a 12K, 3600' elevation gain and loss looped course. Once again, blasting off from Skeetawk, runners head up Frostbite Ridge to Government Peak, navigate up and down the stunning ridge lines before hooking a right a Halibut Tail for a fast and furious descent back down to Skeetawk. Pro tip, if you need a little pick-me-up on the downhill: keep your eyes peeled for those precious fall time gifts from the mountain gods (aka wild blueberries). Ages 15+
Youth Scramble
Saturday, 8/29
Start Time: 2pm
One of the most beautiful parts of this sport is watching youth fall in love with the mountains in a supportive, safe atmosphere. Ages 14 and under are welcome to join us in the second event of day two, the Youth Scramble. Starting at Skeetawk, these superstars will take off on a 1 kilometer sprint up the beginning of Frostbite, conquering approximately 1,000' ft of elevation gain before crossing the finish line. This is a point-to-point, uphill only course only.
*Parents are welcome to run with their children aged 8 and under. If your child is not comfortable going back down alone, please plan to be at the top (finish line) to help them back down.
Skeetawk Skyline Scramble
Sunday, 8/30
Start Time: 8am
Skyrunnning is back in the USA and the SSS is one of the most technical certified courses in the lineup boasting 37K (~23 miles) and a whopping 3500km (11,500ft) of vert. This challenging route will start at the beautiful Skeetawk Ski Area and begins up the cat tracks and slopes before heading out the back door on newly developed hiking trails up Frostbite Ridge. From there, the grade don't quit as runners continue their ascent to the summit of Government Peak. After cresting the peak, they'll be plunged into a mix of chunky rock, large slabs, and slick, silt packed, mud single track as they traverse the ridge over to Hatcher Pass.
At Hatch Peak the legs get to rest while runners blast down the shale loaded April Bowl trail and continue down Summit Lake road before transitioning to asphalt for one final downhill stretch to the Fishhook/Marmot parking lot.
Don't be bashful as another lung busting climb up packed dirt slopes to Marmot awaits. Once at the peak, real focus is needed to traverse the rocky, black moss covered ridge line between Marmot and the descent at Gold Cord Lake. Time to take in the views cruising down Gold Cord Trail (watch out for tourists and day hikers) and back down to the parking lot at Hatcher Pass Lodge.
Now you can breathe, it's all familiar territory! Just one more quad burning climb back up to Summit Lake and a crawl to Hatch Peak before a little scenic delirious backtrack along the ridge you left many hours before to Halibut Tail Point. Finish line awaits with a final frenzied descent back down to Skeetawk. Ages 17+
CUTOFFS:
10:00AM - Summit Lake (2hrs) - firm
11:30AM - Top of Marmot (3.5hrs) - firm
1:00PM - Hatcher Pass Lodge (5hrs) - firm
3:30PM - Finish (7.5hrs) - soft
Event's current local time: 1:45 PM AK
