HIKE

Well thats the new word for "go" when I want Champ to start mushing. He is proving to be a real sled dog. Christmas Eve found us on the Kenai Peninsula headed to the Barber Cabin on Russian Lake, a really nice cabin owned by the USFS. We had it booked for Christmas Eve and Christmas night so the sled was loaded with lots of goodies. About 80 lbs worth and Champ didn't miss a beat pulling it all the way. He was a bit tired as we crossed the frozen lake on the last leg to the cabin but all in all I was impressed. I also felt a tad bit guilty as all I did was drive!

Weather was really mild the entire time. From the mid twenties when we left Anchorage to an almost balmy 40 on our return to the parking lot at the Russian River Campground. Was that rain we felt?

By the way, monopoly is the new gin rummy! Better luck next time David.

CABIN CAMPING

Spent the past weekend out at Nancy Lake State Recreaton area near Willow, Alaska. There are numerous "public use" cabins which can be rented. The cabins are usually pretty rustic but are way superior to tent camping especially in winter.










Friday night we hiked in 4 miles to Lynx lake Cabin No. 2. Started hiking about 3 pm, just before dark! A couple of friends were ahead of us having started earlier in the day so we were looking forward to a warm cabin at hikes end.
When we reached the cabin, no friends and no warmth. They were lost! We started a fire but after a few minutes with no change in temperature, we saw the problem. A window missing a pane. We used Highlands ingenuity to fashion a repair and the cabin slowly warmed up. By the time we backtracked a mile or so to find our friends and then returned to the cabin, it was almost tolerable.



Temperatures Friday night dropped to 25 below. Everything inside the cabin froze solid despite efforts to keep things warm. I was toasty in my minus 10 degree down bag so getting up was hard. But I did and soon we were on our way to James Lake for our Saturday night cabin. The cabin at James lake was paradise comparatively speaking. Best of all, double paned windows and a supply of ready to use firewood.

Sunday's hike out was 8 miles and the weather was chilly but nice. When we reached the truck, the temperature was 0, same as when we started two days before.

EAGLE RIVER

Have been wanting to check out this area for sometime so when a friend rented the cabin at the nature center for Sunday night I was raring to go. Turned out that she couldn't stay the night so I got it free. A real nice rustic log cabin located on the north end of the Crow Pass/Iditarod Trail. Weather was not too cold on the way in Sunday although it got down to zero during the night. We stayed nice and warm inside by the fire. Even had a portable radio to listen to carols. Hiked around the area Monday morning and decided I will return to stay in the yurt a little farther down the trail. Looked cozy. Champ showed promise as a musher so he has earned a new harness and lead for Christmas.

Byers Lake

Made it back to Byers Lake the weekend of November 20 -21. While the temps in the days leading up to the trip were really cold, by the time we left Friday morning heading north it had warmed up to just above zero. Pretty clear as we drove north and could see most of the "mountain." Made it to the parking lot by 2 pm and then a short mile or so to Cabin 2. Lake was frozen pretty solid so we bypassed the trail and cut across the ice. Nice cabin with an awesome view of the Alaska range. Later that night we did a night hike following the trail back around the lake. Just enough to get the blood flowing. Saturday we hiked back to the cars and met some friends in for the day. We hiked the five plus miles around the lake and even tried to climb to the Kesugi Ridge trail high above. We got partway and decided to turn back as it was getting dark. Lots of card playing Saturday night and Sunday morning. Enjoyed a light snowfall and warmer temps as we hiked out Sunday afternoon.




Cool cabin wear for Saturday night!




Champ loves to walk on ice.

View from cabin looking west.