It’s time for Page Two: News that might not make the front page for Friday, January 2, 2026.
Chainsaws are buzzing across the Mat-Su. The December wind storms left trails blocked by fallen trees. Mat-Su Borough trail crews and a dedicated saw team are working to reopen trails to the public.
Mat-Su Borough Recreation Services Manager Hugh Leslie said in a telephone interview that the borough’s ability to clear trails safely is made possible by the saw crew and the parks and trails team.
The grant-funded saw team is S-212 chainsaw certified to remove hazard trees and improve fire safety borough-wide. The team formed four years ago as part of a fire mitigation program. The team also handles emergency response, public safety work, and severe weather recovery.
Parks and trails staff pair with the three-man saw crew on every response. They handle campground access, while the saw team tackles complex and dangerous tree removal.
Crews use four-wheelers and side-by-sides to reach damaged areas. Heavy equipment like skid steers and Bobcats are brought in when needed.
Crews process smaller trees into firewood for campgrounds and chip usable wood on site. Logs too large or too dangerous to process are hauled out to reopen trails. Some trees on the Mat River Trail were so massive that even a chainsaw fitted with a 42-inch bar struggled to cut through them.
This winter has proven difficult. Storm after storm brought tree after tree down across the trail system. Leslie said a major wind event in 2022 taught crews how to prioritize work.
The team focuses on the most used trails first. The saw team tackled the Mat River Trail in Palmer the day after the first storm ended in early December. The trail reopened in three days.
Some decisions are driven by public demand. Leslie received a call from organizers of the First Howl Black Wolf Endurance Race just before Christmas. Crews jumped into action and cleared 60 fallen trees from the nine-mile course in a day and a half. The race was yesterday at Crevasse Moraine.
The Alcantra Trails in Wasilla are cleared and open. Work is now shifting to the Settlers Bay trail system and the single-track routes on Lazy Mountain and Lazy Moose trails.
Leslie notes that many of the most vulnerable trees have come down. This reduces future risk, but it means there’s a lot of trees to remove from trails. He acknowledged that some trail users are frustrated. He asks for patience as the teams are responding as quickly as conditions allow.
Leslie requests that trail users not cut or move fallen trees. He warns that the work is dangerous and best left to trained crews.
Report trail hazards by calling 861-7631. The borough plans to add QR codes to trail signs and its website to make reporting easier.
For now, crews will continue clearing the trails— one fallen tree at a time.
Get your 2026 Mat-Su trail parking passes for $40, or two for $70 online at matsu.gov.
Help shape the future of Government Peak Recreation Area. The borough is updating its development plan. The Borough is hosting an open house on Monday, January 5, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the GPRA Chalet in Palmer. Drop in any time! The original open house in December was canceled due to a power outage.
The borough extended the fee waiver for disposal of construction and demolition materials at the landfill to January 18. Residents can dispose of windstorm debris including wood, concrete, lumber, furniture, and other non-hazardous construction or household debris. This waiver does not apply to businesses or commercial accounts.
Bright Up The Night at the State Fairgrounds continues through Sunday! It runs from 5 to 9 p.m each night. Cost at the gate is $25 per car. Check alaskastatefair.org for updates or to buy an advance ticket for $22.
The New Year’s Eve fireworks in Wasila were postponed due to wind. We’ll let you know as soon as we know when they will be scheduled. There was no update as of this morning.
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This Page Two article was written by Emily Forstner and read by Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Friday, January 2, 2026.