FAQ 1: CAN I DRIVE TO THE TRAILHEAD AND HIKE FLATTOP BY MYSELF? Yes. If you own, rented, or have a friend with a car, you don't need our service. Save money by driving to the trailhead yourself and hiking whenever you want. Don't forget to bring a $5 bill to pay the self-serve parking fee and avoid the risk of a $50 citation.
FAQ 2: HOW MUCH IS A ONE-WAY SHUTTLE WITH MY BIKE? Some people, especially locals, have access to a car but they also have a bike that they want to ride downhill from the trailhead. You can avoid the hassle of retrieving your car from the trailhead by taking the shuttle with your bike one way for $15.
FAQ 3: IS THERE A CANCELLATION POLICY AND DO I NEED TO GIVE A DEPOSIT OR CREDIT CARD? We do not want a deposit or credit card so there's no risk signing up. Weather and travelers' plans change. On our end, we need seven people to sign up. Most people sign up the evening before or the morning of the day they want to hike. If you reserve a seat before that, please call or stop by the bike rental to reconfirm it. Also, check-in no later than 15 minutes before departure to avoid losing your seat.
To help us keep this flexible policy, please call to cancel if your plans change.
FAQ 4: WHAT KIND OF FOOTWEAR IS BEST? A hiking sneaker with good tread is best. A light hiking boot is also good. As you can see from the photos, this is a well-maintained trail with firm footing. Where it is steep, there are railroad tie steps and solid rock. Heavy hiking boots will really slow you down. So too will tennis shoes with no tread because you're might slip. A heavy hiking boot trumps other footwear in May and early June when it is muddy and there's melting snow.
FAQ 5: WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? Light layers that you can peel off as you heat up during the hike. We advise that you overpack, assess the weather when you get to the trailhead, then leave behind in the van what you don't need. Many people prepare for all kinds of horrible weather but when they get to the trailhead or shortly after they start hiking, realize they overdressed. The most important piece of clothing to bring to the trailhead is a breaker or rain jacket. And shorts. And hiking sneakers with good tread.
FAQ 6: CAN THE SHUTTLE PICK ME UP SOMEWHERE ELSE ON THE WAY UP TO THE MOUNTAINS? Perhaps. Most hotels in midtown are on the route out. We ask that you walk to the fountain on the southside of the library; it's a pleasant spot to wait. Also, sometimes people rent bikes in the morning but can't make it back downtown in time for the 1 p.m. departure. In that case, instead of driving past the library, the van will take Minnesota Drive to Raspberry Rd. After putting your bike on the back of the van (it holds up to four bikes), we're all off to the mountains.
FAQ 7: WILL YOU RUN SHUTTLES AT DIFFERENT TIMES FOR LARGE GROUPS? Yes. Give us a call or send us an email and we'll get it set up.
FAQ 8: WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SHUTTLE SELLS OUT? We start a wait list for a 2:30 departure and if we get seven people to sign up, run back-to-back shuttles.
FAQ 9: IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO GET TO FLATTOP IF LESS THAN SEVEN SIGN UP? Yes. In addition to making up and splitting the $$ difference to equal seven people, there are at least five other ways to get to the Flattop trailhead.
First: If there are 4-6 people wanting to do the Hike/Bike Combo the Shuttle will bring you to the trailhead one way with your rental bike then promptly return downtown. Cost: $35 per person.
Second: If 1 to 3 people signed up and you're willing to cab up and ride a bike back, we'll introduce you to the others who want to do this too. You can split the $45 one-way cab fare and we'll rent you a bike for the discounted price of $15 (until 6 p.m.). We will help you load the 1-3 rental bikes in the cab and brief you on the return routes. After the cab brings you to the trailhead, lock up the bikes and hike. After the hike, ride them downhill back into the city.
Third: Pay a taxi $45 to bring you to the trailhead and $45 to bring you back.
Fourth: Bike the 13 miles to the traihlead, hike then bike back. It's very difficult because the elevation gain from downtown to the trailhead is 2,200 feet; most of it in the last four miles. (You need to be in great shape.)
Fifth: Bke 10 miles to the intersection of Hillside Drive and Upper Huffman then hold up a cardboard sign that we will give you that says "FLATTOP TRAILHEAD." Since every other vehicle in Anchorage seems to be a pickup truck, since almost everyone that passes this spot is going to the trailhead, and because people who like to hike are friendly, it will probably take less than 10 minutes to get a lift for the last three (super steep) miles to the trailhead.