HatchYourTrax

We’ve got a pretty rad update for today.  Tom Murphy sent in some pictures and stories of Hatcher from back in “tha day.”  I thought Hatch could be burly nowadays, but these guys were rockstars.  No plowing past the Motherlode. Avy control in April bowl. Big lines on wooden nordic skis and heli skiing the Snowbird! Hell yeah!

Most of these shots were taken in the late 70′s to early 80′s.  Tom is one of the folks who helped Hap build the A Frame and Lodge up at the pass.  Thanks guys.  You are all legends in my book.

The shot of Howie Powder and Todd Frankievitz is from the “Mountaineer’s Race” which began at the A Frame, ran up Microdot and then back to the A Frame. They placed 1st and 2nd. Howie passed this past summer in a motorcycle accident on the Fishhook.  The weekend before, he rode 33 miles on his unicycle in the 24 Hours of Matanuska Mountain Bike race.  I was privileged enough to meet Howie.  He will be and is sorely missed.  Todd was caught and killed in an avalanche in Turnagain a few years back.  Is this the Todd that “Todd’s Run” is named after?  I’m not sure.  God Bless fella’s.

The next shot was taken at the Snowbird in the mid 80′s.  Seeing a heli there is pretty crazy.  It’s a burly trip to get there now and I can’t even imagine attempting it on nordic skis.  Maybe that’s why they ponied up to get a heli ride?

Hey, it was fast and glorious times in the 80′s…just a different white powder.

According to Tom, there was no plowing past the Motherlode back then and the parking lot was directly in the avy path of Marmot.  Here’s a shot of their buddy’s truck nuked by multiple slides below Marmot and another of someone taking wX observation at the old A Frame weather station.

April Bowl - Providing Brown Shorts since '77

Tom lived at the Independece Lodge for a few years until he and Hap built the A Frame lodge in ’75.  All told, he lived above treeline at Hatcher for 15 years, working, playing and living it up.  Tom, thanks for the history, the great pictures and some interesting stories!

All photo credits go to Don Svela.