A dog tag memorial at the top of Gold Star Peak. Photo by Andrea McCormack.
Mount POW/MIA was named in 1999 in honor of those who had suffered as prisoners of war or declared missing in action. It is the largest and tallest natural “living” military monument.
The mountain was renamed from its original name, Anvil Peak, to Mount POW/MIA on veterans day of 1999 thanks to the efforts of Vietnam war veteran John Morrissey and veteran advocate Leo Kaye. More than 80,000 Americans are currently considered missing as prisoners of war or as missing in action according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
Mount POW/MIA is a mountain with no official trailhead and no nearby official parking.
It boasts an elevation gain of approximately 3,000 feet in only roughly 2.5 miles, standing at an elevation of 4,314 feet.
The hike is short but steep, leveling out once before a further hike to the saddle – or the low point between two peaks – of the ridge where the journey continues for another half hour or more to reach the peak.
While hiking Mount POW/MIA on Memorial Day, I made the saddle before the summit in roughly two hours, while my mom reached the summit in about three hours.
After the saddle there are two peaks – Gold Star Peak, then followed by the POW Peak, which flies the American and POW/MIA flags.
According to Military.com, “Before arriving on POW/MIA hikers must also cross Gold Star Peak, where an ever-growing memorial to fallen service members looks out over the Cook Inlet and back across the Chugach Range. “
According to Summitpost.org, “The overall effort is comparable to Bird Ridge, but this is a steeper hike with sketchier route finding.” For my first hike of the season however, I found it quite difficult and did not summit.
For people who are familiar with hiking, it is a relatively normal elevation based hike, and the trail will only improve as the snow continues to melt and the mud dries.
The trail was relatively clear but wet and muddy in some places, and after the first plateau of the trail, the second incline still featured snow and mud that made it difficult to hike given the steepness of the incline.
The lack of dust and burning sun however was of benefit, and the spring weather keeps the trail clear until the brush and plants grow in.
The trail is off the road leading to Eklutna Lake and unmarked. I was pleasantly surprised to find many people hiking – not enough to be considered crowded by any means – but enough that people were always hiking up and down. Because of the mountain’s name and it being Memorial Day weekend, the trail was also a more popular choice.
At the top of the POW/MIA Peak is a memorial featuring the American and POW/MIA flags and an ammo can with a logbook.
Gold Star Peak features a memorial with a growing collection of dog tags, photos and information about the troops captured and killed in Iraq. These features are maintained by Army veteran Kirk Alkire and other veterans who hike the mountain multiple times a year.
More about Alkire’s story can be read at military.com.
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