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Hatcher Pass, once again, came to the rescue last weekend. No matter how often I go to this magical Mat-Su recreation destination, I am dumbfounded by its beauty. And Easter Sunday was no exception. The steep peaks were surrounded by achingly bright blue skies, and the roads were dry and clear. With little wind and temperatures hovering in the high 20s, the conditions were perfect. Pick your activity -- skiing, sledding, cycling -- this is the place to be now. Sunday's plan was spring skiing mixed with a little bit of sledding for fun. Our gang had an appointed meeting time of 10:30 a.m., with hopes that the majority of Southcentral Alaska would be singing Easter hymns at that time of day and we'd have the place to ourselves.While I enjoy skiing, the cycling is what called. So before meeting with the gang, my husband dropped me off with my mountain bike along Palmer-Fishhook Road. He laughed, shook his head and said, "Have fun." I wondered what he meant by that cryptic comment but shrugged it off and decided to enjoy the solitude.Southcentral Alaska's pavement has been buried since October, so the unexpected conditions were a welcome sight, paired with regret at not removing the bike's studded tires or, better yet, bringing the road bike instead. Where was the ice? The flowing snowmelt across the road? The broken glass and gritty shoulders? Within a mile of pedaling, I began taking off layers, realizing I'd overdressed but still wary of what conditions lay ahead higher in the pass. Big chunks of ice had melted across the Little Susitna River, and the muffled gurgle of running water served as a "welcome to spring" calling card. After a winter of indoor trainer riding, I welcomed the challenge of pedaling against the real-life incline of Hatcher Pass. The fresh air and beautiful surroundings added infinitely to the day, and while meeting up with the gang was the goal, the momentary solitude of the cycling renewed my appreciation for Alaska's beauty. I began making a mental list of days and times when I could come back with my road bike and ride like this again. A car passed now and then, but for the most part Hatcher Pass was blissfully quiet. Getting to the Motherlode Lodge was surprisingly easy, but I noticed a jump in my heart rate as soon as I rounded the bend and began climbing the steeper grade leading to Hatcher Pass Lodge and Independence Mine. Thoughts of my husband's comment at the start of the ride returned: Was this what he was referring to?Nearing the parking area for Archangel Trail, a black dot zigzagging down the mountainside caught my attention. Another followed the first, and I slowed just enough to take in the graceful performance of telemarkers enjoying a gorgeous day with an entire mountainside to themselves. To the right, the distant whine of snowmobiles made their presence clear, along with the stench of their exhaust. Those riders, too, surely were enjoying this postcard-perfect day. Finally reaching the Independence Mine parking area, I pedaled to our car, parked alongside about a dozen others. People and dogs milled about, getting ready for skiing or sledding, but it was relatively quiet and crushingly gorgeous with the freshly groomed trails and the "Little Switzerland" feel of the chalet-style cabins of Hatcher Pass Lodge. Our friends stood by the sledding hill, where our kids were in the process of playing. The others had gone skiing up through the trails around the mine. Again I thought of my husband's comment at the beginning of my ride and wondered at yet another possibility of its intent: Why would I be riding when this perfect skiing day awaited at the top? Either way, you can't go wrong at Hatcher Pass now. The snow won't be around much longer, but those tired of it can find great conditions too.