Photos: Ski train treats participants to sun, skiing and polka

Updated: June 24, 2016 Published: March 13, 2016

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The Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage ski train departed Anchorage early Saturday morning, Mar. 12, 2016. The train travels to Curry, a historic roadhouse north of Talkeetna, where skiers and snowshoers disembark for four hours of outdoor fun.

Hundreds of skiers, snowshoers and party people piled aboard the ski train on Saturday for a day-long trip to the former railroad resort town of Curry, now a ghost town.

Participants were treated to clear blue skies and temperatures that never dipped below freezing.

"Normally I'd give you all a speech about hypothermia," said a ski patroller delivering a safety speech over the train's PA system, "but today I think I'll just remind people to put on sunscreen."

The train stopped for four hours in Curry, a once-booming railroad resort town that is now better known for a quarry that supplies granite for the railroad, and of course the ski train.

On the return trip, participants danced to the sounds of a polka band and snapped photos of Denali, which loomed tall and clear for much of the trip.