Lighting Government Peak Trails

Like a swift military sling-load operation, 101 light poles were each lifted by helicopter in the Government Peak Recreation Area parking lot, June 14, and lowered into narrow sonotubes along 3.5 miles of grassy ski trails.

The helicopter picked and placed each light pole in about three minutes. Crews on the ground attached a pole in the parking lot near the chalet. Crews on the trail reached up and bear-hugged the pole into sonotube with ease.

The air lift operation “was absolutely top notch” as described by Sean Nelson of Yukon Electric. Yukon worked with Soloy Helicopters and Electrical Power Constructors to make the work run smoothly.

Electrical trenchwork is done. “Pulling wires and connecting them with the poles is the next step, said Mat-Su Borough Environmental Engineer Mike Campfield the project manager. “We’re lighting up 3.5 miles of trails and we’re dropping the poles in using a helicopter,” Campfield said.

The project is expected to be completed in early August. This year, 2016, will be the winter of night skiing at Government Peak.

Watch the video:

Mat-Su Borough Public Affairs wrote the two grants.

“This is truly transformational,” said Patty Sullivan, Mat-Su Borough Public Affairs Director. “The Mat-Su Borough has never really had a lighted night time recreation area. And this just adds to what’s going on at Government Peak. We’ve got bike trails, horse trails, snow trails, and now lighted winter trails. It’s going to be incredible for everybody who wants to withstand the cold, dark, wind-blasted winter.”

Mat-Su Health Foundation awarded a $390,000 grant. Rasmuson Foundation gave a $200,000 grant for both trails and the chalet fire suppression & kitchen upgrade project. The Susitna Loop was added to the light project after a $25,000 contribution from the Mat-Su Ski Club in a “Light the Susitna” fundraising effort. The Borough funded some $200,000 for trail work and lighting on this project.

Construction Project Manager David Steadman managed the chalet project.

The lights will be activated by a photocell to turn on when it gets dark. A timer will shut them off at closing time. Trail users have grown each year by the hundreds since the recreation area opened. Many have been skiing by head lamp. The new lights will increase safety by improving trail visibility. Nearby moose are plentiful. Lighted trails also make exercise at night more enticing, which is expected to enhance the health of many.

Video by Mat-Su Borough Public Affairs. Music by Stefan Hinman. For more information call Public Affairs Director Patty Sullivan at 861-8577 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.