Hatcher's Pass

What do you do when it is a Saturday,clear, cold, and -6?  When Bryant suggested skiing at Hatcher's Pass, I wasn't really into it, but I couldn't think of a real reason not to go so I went along with the plan.  Hatcher's Pass doesn't have a ski lift, so there are some runs you can do with a car shuttle and ski down or walk up and ski down.  Since the purpose of us going to ski was to get in a little exercise, we picked the later.

I unearthed my old telemark gear; the boots, poles and skis weren't hard to find as I use them occasionally at Alyeska Ski Resort. What surprised me is that the skins I needed to climb uphill and hadn't used in 18 years were easily found and in working condition. As I hooked the skin to the top of the ski and stretched it down the ski, I found myself traveling back to a time when I worked ski patrol on downhill skis and on my days off, I climbed mountains to telemark ski down. 

Overtime, I lost the desire to invest money and time into skiing and other activities have taken its place.  Yesterday was proof though that it is nice to have the gear laying around the house to get outside and do something.  Given the right set of conditions, I am easily persuaded into a day of skiing both at the resort and now that I've broken the ice, backcountry skiing at Hatcher's Pass is a closer cheaper opportunity.  And, contrary to consumers of the new latest and greatest goods, old gear does still work on the mountains.  I was able to climb up, make some figure eight tracks down on my runs, and thoroughly enjoy the thrill of the downhill, being outside, and just soaking up the scenery.  Here is a short video clip of them mountains:  http://youtu.be/6bm47JBZe4g

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The Long Blog . . .

It's been a long time since I've posted a blog. I guess tonight is as good night as any to go on a long, blog, slog and hit upon some highlights on the last few months.  Winter started out cold and dry.  Other than a little dusting in mid-November, it remained clear and cold for an extended period of time, which is a little unusual because much of the precipitation for Southcenteral Alaska is in November and December. 

Knik River in November

I spent a few weekend days running the Knik River Road and slowly watched the sunlight disappear behind Pioneer Peak and the river freeze over.  In the end of November, Wyatt turned 17 years old.  While he wasn't interested in any sort of party, he gladly ate his cake and ice cream.  


Wyatt's 17th Birthday

We did make it to the cabin once in December.  There was a little more snow there than there was at the house.  We spent the afternoon, clearing the drive and cutting some firewood.  

The Cabin in Early December

By the time Christmas rolled around, our weather changed into its other mode, warm, windy and rainy. Jonathon, his girlfriend Jess, and Autumn made their way to our house on Christmas Eve. 



Christmas Morning

We enjoyed an evening of visiting, opening presents on Christmas, a nice breakfast, snowmachine rides, and an early dinner before they all made their way back into Anchorage.

Merry Christmas

Since we weren't able to rouse Wyatt from his sleep, he's missing from the family Christmas picture. 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

A couple of days later, Bryant, Gus, and I headed down to Mexico for a two week vacation.  We celebrated the New Year in shorts and a sweatshirt.  How cool is that!  I'm becoming convinced that is the only way a New Year can be celebrated.  

This Mexico vacation was different than any of our others.  Instead of exploring the sea, we explored the land.  A northwind blew most of the time we were there which made travel on the ocean pretty uncomfortable.  So we settled into Marina Palmira, and enjoyed exploring the land on bike and foot.

Riding bikes on the trails in La Paz

 Bryant had some mountain bike tracks loaded on his I-phone and we explored all kinds of new trails in the area.  The temperatures were perfect, high in the low 70's and in the evenings it would dip into the high 50's. 

Swimming with the whale sharks in La Paz

We had a couple of calm morning where we toured with the boat in the Bay of La Paz.  We were fortunate on one morning to spot the whale sharks that migrate to this region each year. All of us took a turn swimming with them. A highlight was when one circled around the boat and swam right underneath us.  It was mind boggling to see such a big creature inches from the hull of your boat.    

 

The last two days of our trip we went to Todos Santos on the Pacific side to surf, which was so much fun that I didn't even remember to take any pictures.  We arrived home in the early hours of  a Monday morning on January 14th and both Gus and I were excited to learn two hours later than school was cancelled due to icy roads.  Our warm and windy weather continued the whole time were were gone.   

Our backyard on January 14th, 2013

We did end up getting a couple inches of snow mid-week, so the yard is once again filled with the few inches of snow.  Bryant and I even went cross-country skiing at the new trails up in Hatcher's Pass today. 

That pretty much sums up life in Alaska the last few months.  If you're interested in more Mexico pictures:   https://picasaweb.google.com/jillcaho/MexicoNewYears

November Already?

And in October what did we do?  Other than the usual school and work routines, not a whole lot.  During our clear and cold spell, Bryant and I went on an evening hike to the top of the Butte, which is an short steep hike with lots of rewards.  The moon was almost full and rising, while the sun was setting.  

Bryant built a woodshed earlier this fall, which gave us the mission to fill it.  For several weekends, we went to the property to bring back some wood. Slowly the empty space is disappearing. 



 Even though the snow is holding off, the cold has definitely crept in. One thing we know for certain up here is that it won't be too much longer before we are shoveling the entryway and plowing the drive. 

Guardian of the River and Road

There is about 15 feet between Knik River Road and the Knik River. Much of this riverbank area is lined with cottonwoods and alder bushes.  Friday, I noticed a bald eagle near the top of a cottonwood tree unconcerned with both the traffic and the rain; every so often its head would rotate back and forth between the river and the road.  Fast forward two days. There I am running down Knik River Road and in the same spot is a bald eagle, oblivious to the traffic and the rain rotating its head back and forth. Seems like the fall drizzles has put a damper on its spirits as well. 

Last Days of September

  Pioneer Peak Viewed from front deck at the house

 We woke up Saturday to the snow level at about 500 feet.  Thankfully it didn't take long for the sun to melt it all away.  After dealing with a few house chores, Bryant and I decided to head to the property.  He built a woodshed at the house; all we needed was wood to fill it up.  

King Fisher Lake

It turned out to be a nice weekend.  We enjoyed an evening canoeing on King Fisher Lake, which is about 100 feet from our property line on Mat-Su Borough land and an evening fire with an almost full moon.  Although the frost was heavy in the morning, that eventually melted away and we brought back a truckload of wood to the house.  Now, all that is left is the fun part:  splitting and stacking! 

Fall Reflections