If you're anything like me – condolences, by the way – you will be mesmerized by a sight about 1.5 miles short of the parking lot at Eklutna Lake.
Rochelle's Ice Cream Shop, located just off the two-lane road to the lake, is a spell-binding vision to any ice cream junkie. It also doubles as tasty motivation to polish off the hike up and down Twin Peaks Trail: After elevation pains, you can savor sweet gains.
First, though, provided you're willing to work, you can relish the breathtaking panorama of Eklutna Lake, viewed from on high while hiking the Twin Peaks Trail.
An offshoot of the trail pushes even higher to an overlook of the lake, and even higher still to the summit of Pepper Peak, which affords yet another gorgeous view of the lake seven miles long, and also a glimpse of the Matanuska Valley.
There are several trails at Eklutna Lake, including a lakeside trail of nearly 13 relatively flat miles one way. The Twin Peaks Trail, though, requires effort for its payoff.
At about 2.6 miles one-way, the trail is no pushover. While it features some moderate climbing sections, it also includes steep stretches that trigger sweat and heavy breathing. The marginally fit should operate at a gentle pace.
Remember to bring ample water because none is available on Twin Peaks Trail. Carrying snacks is wise too.
Also, be bear aware. A black bear in early August was shot and killed at the nearby campground after it twice in three days attacked dogs and also approached a campsite.
And don't confuse Eklutna Lake, where Anchorage gets its water, with the Eklutna River canyon, where two men have fallen and been killed in the last four months.
Much of the Twin Peaks Trail is very wide – only part of the trail, higher up, narrows close to single-track range -- and all of it features solid footing. No part of the terrain is sketchy.
The first 10 minutes or so hiking through birch and spruce forest is taxing, so be ready to roll – maybe even warm up if you intend the pace of a serious workout. The trail in the first mile is wide enough for folks to walk three abreast comfortably.
Roughly 30 to 45 minutes of brisk walking delivers you to the first bench overlooking the lake. That's a great spot to take pictures, slake your thirst and consider going higher.
We voted for higher. That meant continuing on the trail to the second bench, at about 2,700 feet elevation, and basically the end of the line for most hikers before heading back to the parking lot. The brisk hike from the trailhead to the second bench took about an hour.
The second bench affords views of East Twin Peak (5,873 feet) and West Twin Peak (5,472 feet) – it's another good spot for water and a breather – and leaves an ambitious hiker with options. One offshoot of the trail leads down into a valley and, eventually, a route to the Twin Peaks. Another offshoot to the right of the bench leads higher, and this was the option picked on a gorgeous weekday afternoon in August.
Another 20 to 25 minutes of hiking brings you to a jaw-dropping overlook that serves as a perch to enjoy views of the lake and surrounding mountains. This is about as good as it gets.
Still, more seemed better, so it was on and up to Pepper Peak (elevation, 5,450 feet). Backtracking just a minute or so from the overlook, a small, circular pile of rocks indicated the thin trail up to Pepper Peak. Because the trail is above tree line, it occasionally disappears. No worries – just keep hiking up and you'll regain the "trail'' soon enough. Toward the summit, you'll have to beware the occasional scree and probably grab onto a few boulders to get to the top.
More than an hour of additional hiking was required to get from the overlook to the top of Pepper Peak. And it was worth every drop of sweat and every complaint from the quadriceps. Pepper Peak proved perfect for a rest on a swatch of grass, a snack, a drink, yet another look at the lake and also a glimpse of Palmer and part of Wasilla.
It was all downhill after that – literally. A gentle jog back to the parking lot took about an hour.
Yet the delights of the hike were not complete. On the drive back, a stop at Rochelle's was mandatory, as was the hard-earned, not-guilty pleasure of a cone topped with a sublime scoop of chocolate. In the same building as Rochelle's is a general store, where you can get snacks.
Rochelle's will be open through Sept. 13, then will shut down until the spring. The business tries to open each summer on Mother's Day weekend, so if you can't get to Twin Peaks Trail this season, store it in your memory bank for 2016.
As local hikes go, it's hard to top the view of Eklutna Lake from on high and the motivational lure of a post-hike ice cream cone.
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr
IF YOU GO
Length: Twin Peaks Trail is 2.6 miles one-way, with first bench located about halfway up. Overlook of Eklutna Lake is perhaps another .75-mile, and Pepper Peak at least one additional mile.
Elevation: Twin Peaks Trail gains about 1,800 feet in elevation. Pepper Peak is 5,450 feet elevation.
Parking: $5, or Chugach State Park pass.
Directions: Take Glenn Highway about 26 miles north of Anchorage, take Eklutna Lake exit and follow signs. About 10.5 miles to parking lot.