Teresa Johnson prepared for a hike on Oct. 19 with her daughter Lacey, 5, on the cloudy afternoon, but they refused to let the weather keep them from one of their favorite locales: Mount Baldy. The pair parked in a new lot and trailhead that has been five years in the making after access issues nearly blocked the popular recreation area off for good.

Eric and Lora Reinbol descend after climbing Mount Baldy Friday afternoon. The parking area at the trailhead was recently resurfaced and the trailhead opened, ending a five-year battle over access to the popular trail. Star Photo By DARRELL L. BREESE

"I grew up here and went hiking with my parents when I was younger," she said. "To be able to share the same experience with my daughter that I had growing up is priceless. I was disappointed when access was blocked off, so I am happy that they were able to find a solution to keep this area open and accessible."

Mount Baldy stands as an icon of the local landscape and has been a popular hiking trail for residents since the first settlers came to Eagle River.

But access to Chugiak-Eagle River's signature mountain came in jeopardy in 2004 when a building project on private property land threatened the only trailhead to the mountain in Chugach State Park.

After five years of roadblocks, barricades, no-trespassing signs, negotiations and a voter-approved land swap, public access to the popular landmark is restored.

Under the direction of the Chugiak, Birchwood, Eagle River Rural Road Service Area board of supervisors, the Eagle River street maintenance department completed the final piece of the puzzle with the resurfacing of a portion of Canyon View Drive and Golden Eagle Drive up to the Mount Baldy access.

"It's been a joint effort to make this a reality," said John Rodda, Anchorage Parks and Recreation director. "The local parks and road boards, along with a lot of other people, came together to resolve the access problem and make the new trailhead a reality."

Public access to the area was cutoff in October 2004 when CMM General Contractors applied for a rezone of 40 acres off Golden Eagle Drive, with plans to build eight homes. The longtime trailhead and parking area to the popular hiking area was on that parcel.

Anchorage Assembly approval of the rezone was followed by the construction of a large metal barricade, blocking access to the trailhead.

The landowners said they were more than happy to help, but not at the expense of their development. That led to a series of on-and-off negotiations as municipal and Chugach State Park officials searched for a resolution to the problem.

A deal between the city and a landowner fell apart in June 2005, when the two sides could not come to terms on a lease to keep temporary access and parking open at the traditional trailhead. In August 2005, the parties agreed upon a temporary agreement, but the city continued to search for a permanent solution.

Eklutna Inc., and city officials agreed to a land trade that would make a parcel beyond the existing parking area the permanent trailhead and parking area. CMM officials agreed to provide an easement across their property to the new parking area. But the deal all hinged on voters approving the land trade with Eklutna.

By a 2-to-1 margin, in the April 2006 municipal election, that happened. Voters approved the trade of 80 acres of Eklutna land near the peak of Mount Baldy for 28 acres of city-owned land near Edmonds Lake. The final trade agreement was signed in Nov. 2007, and plans were put in place to begin construction in the spring of 2008.

After two summers of work, the parking area and trailhead at Mount Baldy are now complete.

Eagle River street maintenance foreman Scott Schnell said the last bit of recycled asphalt from the Glenn Highway resurfacing project was used to complete the roadwork.

"We had to build an extension to Golden Eagle and address some drainage issues to finish the project," Schnell said. "We had to cut away part of the hillside and level the roadway, so it took a little while to get things finished. But everything is done now."

Now users can enjoy the area.

Phil Smith, with Midnight Sun Paragliding, is more than satisfied with the new parking area, which is used often by members of his club.

"In the past we were parking on the edge of the narrow road, which wasn't always safe," he said. "Now we have a larger parking area, and that gives us the room we need to load and unload our equipment without having to dodge cars. And turning around is a whole lot easier now as well."

Reach the reporter at darrell.breese.@alaskastar.com.