Helios and Solars are two prominent, relatively high, but seldom-visited Kenai peaks. There is a great alpine access trail, but it is open to off-road vehicles several months of the year. After about three miles on the double-track trail, the route is entirely off-trail alpine travel with a short (and easy by Alaska standards) bushwhack and creek crossing. Besides the short boulder problem to reach the true summit of Solars and the 3rd class ridge between the two peaks (discussed later), the creek crossing was the crux of the route in late season with high water. It was knee deep and swift on October 14, 2018.
The choice between trying to stay dry (crossing in undies and barefeet with the risk of slipping or cutting feet on the brushy bank) or just busting it out (and getting pants, boots, and socks soaked) was daunting. After hemming and hawing over the decision for about 15 minutes, I choose to just bust it out. This rendered me with wet and cold feet for the rest of the day. My feet were mostly dry after hiking up the moraine, but once I got into the snow around 5000′ there was enough residual moisture to freeze up my boots for the rest of the day. Bringing a pair of crocs or light shoes for the crossing, and leaving them there for the peakbagging, might be worth it. Otherwise; good gaiters, gore-tex, and quick steps might make for drier feet. In summer, the creek crossing and wet feet would be no big deal and just a normal feature of Alaskan backcountry travel.
The Falls Creek valley features some pretty epic Alaskan terrain, as STEEP slopes rise up from what little valley floor there is for a few thousand feet on both sides. These are big mountains, with very complex avalanche terrain. It seems like a spectacular zone to ski/ride but, considering the entire valley is a terrain trap for at least a few miles, accessing it when the snow is reasonably stable seems like it would be tricky. In the summer, the Falls Creek trail provides access to some absolutely world-class alpine trekking and peakbagging (tons of options for multi-day trips through eye-popping terrain).
Helios, the access moraine, and the upper Falls Creek trail (at the end of the section open to ORVs):
Helios and Solars, looking down the Falls Creek trail and valley at Madson Mountain:
Looking up the Falls Creek valley at the aptly named peak The Unicorn (on right side of valley below the sun):
Kenai Lake and the Trail River as seen from snowline at ~4000′ on the south side of Helios:
The south ridge of Helios with Solars in the background:
125+cm of recent, wind-loaded snow on the leeward side of the summit ridge above ~5300′ (Kenai Lake in the background):
Looking down the SW face of Helios toward Kenai Lake:
Looking down the north ridge of Helios toward Grant Lake (Lark, Merlin, and Shrike peaks on the skyline above the lake):
Peak 5005 in the upper right:
View east from Helios summit with Peak 5005 (center left):
The 3rd class ridge between Helios and Solars:
Solving an icy and exposed boulder problem was required to reach the true summit of Solars:
Looking down the NE face of Solars toward Grant Lake and Helios:
Another look up the Falls Creek valley and at the majestic Unicorn:
Standard Alaskan backcountry carnage (quite the blast crater, as seen in the video, from the dinner party): 
