Good Alaskan fun!

          This time of year, most dog mushers are gearing down from the long winter.  Dogs have been run hard all season and races are done for the year.  They are not run as much on these warmer spring days and begin to go stir crazy in the dog lot.  Occasionally, you've gotta just let 'em run!

         We had the good fortune to meet Lois and Eric Gnoble, who run Camai Kennel in Eagle River, Alaska and Tupper Lake, NY.  Lois is super friendly and invited us out to go mushing with them and their dogs.  The have 22 dogs in their lot and their daughter Alea runs a team through the winter at various races across Ak and the lower 48.  Wonderful family, and we took them up on their offer this last weekend.

         They pulled several sprint sleds out of the back of their truck and we began to harness and hook dogs to the sleds.   I figured the invitation had meant come along and ride in the sled, but as we got the dogs ready, it became apparent they intended to give us the opportunity to mush the dogs ourselves.  How exciting!  The kids were a bit nervous about steering the sleds, but once assured that the dogs knew where they were going, they relaxed.  And then, they were off!

          By the look on Jess's face, I think you'd be safe to say she enjoyed it.  Harriet was concentrating and encouraging the dogs.  "Come on boys, hike, hike"!  Griffin and I rode together on the sled with a few more dogs up front.

     There was also a smaller loop that the kids got to go on by themselves on a smaller sled with a single dog.  All the time talking to the dogs, encouraging them, and kicking a leg behind the sled (like a skateboard) to help them up the hills.  They were both naturals!

Often included in the bigger sled dog races around the state are smaller races for the younger folk and the Gnobles offered to let Harriet and Griffin run their dogs in a few of the events next winter - something to look forward to!

King Winter - and the Iditarod

     King Winter is indeed reigning over the Northland with an iron fist.  Anchorage has received 123.7 inches of snow since October according to the official weather station at the airport.  We got another 4 inches last night.  If it snows another 5 inches in the next 2 months (?), we will break the all time record for snowfall set back in 1954 with 132.8 inches.  That's 11 feet in town!  Of course, the snow has settled, but even then, its 6 feet deep in the back yard!  The snow banks in the front are towering 10 feet tall.  Alyeska Resort, at the end of Turnagain Arm is reporting 746 inches of snowfall since Oct. 1st -  62 FEET of snow!  Honestly, it's humbling - and beautiful.  

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     The 40th running of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race began Sunday in Willow, Ak.  There is a ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage the day before and all mushers hook two sleds up to their teams, carry a lucky few (they actually bought the opportunity at auction) in the sleds, throw out dog booties filled with candy to the kids, and high five all the spectators for a short run through town.  With my parents, we took the kids out to watch and had a blast!   We've each chosen a few of the mushers to follow along the way.  Every day we get updates on where they are at present, how long it took them on the most recent leg of the race,  how long their rest stops are, how many dogs they are still running, etc.  This has been exciting for all of us!

The official restart is the next day but is no less of a party!

     I let the tired family stay at home and drove to the cabin in Willow.  From there, I could ski across the lake and through several swamps to get to Long Lake where the mushers come through.  It was an absolute zoo!  Hundreds of snow machines crisscrossing the lake, ski planes landing and unloading fire pits, ice fishing shanties, cases of hot dogs and beer.  The noise was deafening and the exhaust thick.  I saw several riders wearing helmets with ventilator masks integrated into them - interesting.  I skied the length of the lake and got some very interesting looks!  A few years ago, a local politician referred to folks up here in the Matanuska Valley as Valley Trash and it seems that it stuck and many are proud of this distinction.  

     It's all in good fun and everyone is excited to watch these dog mushers as they launch off on an 1100 mile journey to Nome.  They will cross some of the harshest, most remote country that Alaska has to offer, often on a "trail" that has been obscured by snow and wind.  Sleeping little, the fastest will make the journey in 8 or 9 days.  The dogs just love to run - I know how they feel!

Ak State XC Ski Championships

     The high school xc ski championships are being held this weekend at Kincaid Park in Anchorage.  Bundling up all my old memories of high school ski racing and throwing them in a back pack, I headed to the park to watch and cheer on the racers in todays classic event.
     The boys went off first on a two loop, 5k course, packed with difficult climbs and screaming downhills.  Now, remember, I don't know any of these kids, but that didn't stop me from yelling my head off and racing around the course to see how it all unfolded.

     I enjoy "spectating" in this way as brings me closer to what the racers are feeling themselves.  My palms were sweaty and butterflies tied my stomach in knots as I watched the lead change several times before 1 skier surged off the front.

       In the end, all that was left at the finish line was carnage.  

     The girls race was a 7.5k, one loop course which skied the boys 5k and then added on some demanding sections of double poling.  I watched the start before heading out onto the trails.

The girls stayed together in a tight knit group for 5k before two of them went off the front.  

     In the end, I missed the battle between them at the finish in order to cheer every last skier up the final hard climb of the course.  XC skiing is to Anchorage what football is Gainesville.  The passion they put into their racing was impressive and I love to watch them suffer.    The whole community is behind them and I think they do it as much out of respect for the standard as personal drive.  It definitely got the juices flowing!  So, will I now return to interval training, obsessive ski waxing, and hill repeats.  No.  But, I will let them totally inspire me to rise to the height of my own potential.

Moosey Moose

On the way home tonight, saw a mom and baby moose.   Pulled over and watched from the protection of the car as they munched on buds on the tree branches.  So close we could hear them crunching...

Spit out!

     Finally, we have been spit out the other end of one heck of a cold snap.  About as close to record breaking as you really want to get.  "On the cool side" as the locals might say.  Luckily, during the worst of it, our household belongings arrived and we could make excuses of unpacking to avoid venturing out too often.  We did manage to attend several school functions including an all school skating party at the Westchester Lagoon near downtown.

     We got a great opportunity to get to know the grade 3/4 parents a bit better with the class retreat in Birchwood (north of Anchorage).  Some good socializing followed by a labyrinth walk follow by s'mores around the fire at 18 below!  These here are some hearty folks!

     There are animals frequenting the neighborhood.

     Actually, as I came downstairs to write tonight, I noticed this moose in the back yard!  Resident moose populations are way up due to such heavy snowfall this year.  With so many animals in town, it can become rather dangerous, so we are all on guard when skiing, walking trails, or just putting mail in the box!

     And Bohemian Waxwings.  These buggers roam in flocks and will descend on your trees to strip them clean in seconds flat!  Fun to watch!

     

     And, of course, with temperatures rising back into the teens, we are out and about.  Yesterday we had to break in the Mad River Rocket and so drove to Centennial Park.  This is a small hill we used to ski as kids.  A rope tow would pull us to the top and we would fly down hitting jump after jump.  the rope tow is now disabled, but the sledding is top notch!

     So, with warm fingers and toes, we are now looking forward to a great number of outside adventures.  The Northern Lights beckon us and we may have to drive North for a viewing.  A fresh load of firewood is going to the cabin in Willow this weekend.  Jess, Harriet, Aunt Shelly, and cousin Hannah are participating in an all women's ski race this Sunday!  And there's lots of winter left!  Bring it on!

Purging

     I've always seen moving as a chance to purge your household.  I rarely find myself tied to objects that I collect, but more so to the idea of what they were to become.  Scrap metal as wainscoting, old doors converted to corner shelving, an old red caboose lamp waiting for wire and a base.  But out they go, and I've signed an agreement with Jess that, in the future, if items collected are not used within 90 days from date of collection, they must go!  We'll restart with less and be better off for it.
     As for the purge from community that goes along with a move:  much more difficult.  Friends are not so easily discarded, recycled, or put into the burn pile.   Great conversations and shared moments are the "ideas" of what these friendships are to become.  Just try to leave that behind!  Yuck!
     Moving day is getting forever closer, and we are, for better or worse, plugging through our lists and tying up loose ends.  Excitement is building, anticipation can be both exhilarating and nauseating, at times.  Darkness will be overwhelming, but also waning.  And the light brings days of incredible adventure and exploration!  It's going to be a BLAST!