Gus's Snowboarding Adventure

During Christmas break, Gus wanted to try snowboarding, so we both put on a Santa suit for a free lift ticket, rented snowboards and tried out Alyeska for the day.  When I came home with a bruise the size of a softball on my bottom side, my snowboarding career came to  a screetching halt whereas Gus moved on to buying a board and boots with his Christmas money from his dad. 

A couple of weeks later before he even had a chance to use the new board, he broke his arm wrestling with a friend.  Snowboarding was put on hold.  I thought for the season, but the doctor cleared him for regular activity after 12 weeks.  Gus took that to mean he could use his snowboard.  Thanks to our Spring Break snowstorm that refuses to melt, he picked up practicing his new sport in the backyard earlier in the week. 

Check out the video clip: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q1O7SxFZLc

On Saturday, Gus and I drove down to Girdwood so he could spend the day at Alyeska "shredding" up the hill.  And shredding he did. I used telemark skis; "old noodles" according to the lift operator.  I couldn't help but let him know that they still worked just fine even though I had to work a little harder than those with the new, wide, curved skiis.  At about 4:00, I started hinting around that I was ready to go anytime he was as my days of having to be on the hill from the time it opens until it closes could be over.  He didn't bite and I wasn't about to wimp out before him.  Finally at 5:55, the lift operator said, "last run."  We made our way home and of course, now he's begging to go again next weekend. 

Video clip from Alyeska:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLl8Ql_etnE

The Devil is in the Details

We spent the weekend at the property doing the log work on the cabin.  While we were far from working slaves all weekend, we did put in quite a few hours of work and still only managed to peel a few logs, get the outside braced, and 3/4's of a ladder completed for the loft. 

The roads out to the property were bare and muddy, but there was anywhere from 3 - 10 inches of snow depending on where I tried walking.  I did make may way up to the top of the hill to take some pictures, where the next cabin would go if we ever had the time, energy, and money. 

Looking south at the Chugach Mountains

Perfect Spring Weekend

All we had to do for entertainment this weekend was drive the snowmachine out our backyard trail.  The foot and a half of fresh snow from a week and a half ago allowed us the opportunity to climb up the mountain trail and play around on the river bottom.  Beautiful blue skies and temperatures hovering around 40, there was nothing not to enjoy. 

For more pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/jillcaho/MountainTrail

We're Back!

And a good time was had by all. 

  For more pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/jillcaho/SpringBreakMexico

Warm weather here we come!

I can't complain about our winter temperatures this year in Alaska. For the month of February the temperatures averaged a balmy 25 degrees in Butte, whereas 17 is the normal average.  But warmer than normal or not, I'm still looking forward to sunshine and temperatures in the 70's.  Bryant, Wyatt, Gus and I leave for Phoenix tonight, and San Carlos, Mexico it the goal for Thursday.  We'll be back on March 14th.