Good as new...sort of

Not to jinx myself, but I think I am recovered from my head cold. To answer a question posed by Diane, head colds suck anytime but when its beautiful outside they doubly suck.

Weather has been perfect the past week. Highs into the upper 60's (we may even hit 70 today) and lots of sun. As in 16 plus hours of sun. Everything is drying out and greening up. while there is still a bit of chill in the air when you get up, it is gone quickly. Still making a fire in the morning but its mostly for show. Oh yeah, the short pants are being worn daily!!!!!!!!!!

I am excited about my third summer in Alaska. Lots of cool stuff planned. So stay tuned.

Snow is going fast

Staying busy the past few weeks getting ready for a summer of big adventure I hope. Speaking of hope, spent the weekend of April 17 camping and hiking in Hope Alaska with about 25 diehards from the Anchorage Adventurers Meetup Group (aka Rainbow People). Lots of fun but I came down with a really bad cold. Fever chills and lots of congestion. Seems like I'm over it now so no biggie.

Lots of sun last week in Big Lake and more is expected this week. Snow is gone in all but a few places locally. Farther north, in Denali, the snow cover persists as I learned last week on a quick trip to the park. Planned on driving the park road which is allowed prior to the buses starting their runs but new snow shut the road down.

Brrr

Still a little cold. 23 this morning but the sun is out hooray.

Goodbye to Winter

Spent the Easter weekend at the Yuditna Cabin on Eklutna Lake, about 35 miles from Anchorage, Alaska. Pulled in a sled load of stuff on a trail that was mostly ice which made for easy pulling. The occasional stretch of bare ground we crossed was the opposite. In a few weeks if not sooner, the ice and snow will be gone completely. Time to put the sled away.

Champ had a blast as Kaya, a friends lab, accompanied us on this trip. Kaya has a fancy dog bed/bag while Champ had the old piece of foam that he shares with Lester, Bear and whoever. Every chance she got, Kaya lay on his bed rather than hers.

We had ham, garlic roasted potatos, green bean casserole, and brownies, a real Easter feast. Came home to a late afternoon snowfall. Not sticking as the temps are above freezing for most of the day now.

While I made it through winter with the firewood I cut last summer, it was touch and go for awhile. I decided to buy a cord of wood so I'd have some for the occasional evening fire and campfire wood for summer. Spent yesterday getting that stacked on the deck. So I'm set for the Alaskan summer.



Headed to Hope with the Anchorage Adventurers Group. About 40 of us plan to camp at Porcupine Campground Friday and Saturday, hiking and biking the area. It will be the largest gathering yet for this group. I have visions of the Rainbow People gatherings we used to hear about from time to time.

Sunshine and Earthquakes

Have had spectacular sunny weather for the past six days. Highs are going all the way up to 45. WOOHOO summer will be here before long. Hit the ski trails yesterday at Hatcher Pass. Did alot of falling down but had fun. Champ did his usual thing, peed on everything that needed peeing on.

Had a nice earthquake yesterday about noon. A 4.58 on the good old Richter scale. Alaska is just full of surprises this year. Volcano eruptions, earthquakes, I guess a tsunami isn't out of the question.

Fooling around

Can't believe its already April. Time to start making plans for all the summer fun things. May try to drive the Haul Road all the way to Prudhoe Bay, way north of the Artic Circle. There are numerous places to camp along the way so you could take your time and get a real taste for a different part of Alaska. Also will spend a week in Wrangell St. Elias on a fly in trip to IceBerg Lake in July. And then theres always Denali National Park. Planning is half the fun.

Happy Birthday to Kellye!