The Hand Of Love

Jago and Nicki. :)

Dog Snow

What's dog snow? Its snow with enough structure to keep the dogs up on top and not wallowing and flailing. This is important because flailing malamutes don't have fun, are suspect to injury and we end up retreating back to the rig. What brings this up? Its June 2nd and we ski toured today. Early in the morning it was perfect dog snow, Crust Snow. They stayed right on top and we could go places. Ingram Creek specifically. This is unusually late for us to continue skiing with the dogs, we normally quit in sometime April, dreading the month where there is too much snow to hike, and too much poor quality snow to ski. By the end of the month, the dogs are going nuts and I am tearing my hair out.

What happened? We set a record snow total this year, so lots and lots of snow. We had a long succession of cloudless nights where the snow could set up firm and solid. Its colder when the nights are cloudless, and even when it doesn't get below freezing...there is something special which happens to set the snow up.

Today, when we woke up with a bluebird skis, we stepped into action and headed out the door as early as possible to ski. We started skiing at 7 am and by 11 we were pushing our limits. Four hours of fun.

Valley on our way up to Ingram Creek

Jago doing the honors of pulling me. Just about ready to drop into Ingram Creek. That's the Eddies ski site, directly behind her, with the 20 mile drainage in the far distance.

Valley sitting pretty. Turnagain arm, Blueberry knob, and the 20 mile all behind her.

We were out early enough from the ski we could go hiking down the road at the North Johnson trailhead . A bi-modal day. Skiing in the morning, hiking in the afternoon.

Happy Number 12

Today marks Jago's 12th birthday, what a better way to celebrate it than to go out hiking on a sunny day.

Its been a wonderful 10 plus years together, its amazing how we've changed for the better.

We've spent so much time together, I can't imagine what it would be without you.

Thanks for a great life. You've changed our lives more than we can ever think of. All of us benefited including countless malamutes.

While I can't believe another 12 years is possible, I do think we'll enjoy what we've got in grand style.

Will Mother Nature Cooperate with Old Man Winter?

p>Here is is May 6th and we are still skijoring. Pretty neat considering the dogs are off the snow usually by April 15th. Usually its so soft the break through and its a real drag to take them out. But this year we've had lots of snow, record breaking. With the cold nights its held up long enough to enjoy skijoring much alter than we usually do.

Our foster dog Ox giving us his best

Valley up by Rabbit Lake

We really are insignificant in the landscape of things.

Sooo, will Mother Nature cooperate with Old Man Winter so we can ski into June?

Jago

We haven't gotten out with Jago alot this year. I am not entirely sure why. Its been a great snow year. One of the best winters ever. When it turned sunny after a 4 or 5 inch powder storm, we took advantage of it and went skijoring with Jago.

She loves to run, and its fun to watch her run loose. A little powder spray is good for everyone.

And even if we've been here a bunch of times, we are still insignificant bits of the landscape at times.

On our way home, taking a break and catching another view. A tired malamute is a good malamute. And a good girl Jago is.

Great Frontier

A weekend of cross country skiing in the sun left us with images of the great frontier we live in.

The Brown Bears are out in Anchorage

The Brown Bears have emerged from their dens and are out on the prowl. They are known to be mean and angry when they rise out of their dens, so in telling you this, we hope we can alert you to the dangers out and about town. Keep an eye out and use the Boy Scout motto..."Be Prepared"

Rocket spies the grizzly walking across the living room floor. He looks like he is going to engage it.

He does! he starts out the battle with a forepaw strike and the bear tumbles down.

Rocket engages it again and takes it to task. This bear has a real struggle on its hand.

After a winter without food during hibernation, he's no match for a Polar Bear dog. Too weak to even put up a fight, Rocket spits the bear out the side... the malamute wins again. Better luck next time Mr. Grizzly Bear.

Fun in the Sun

We've had a real nice month of sun, powder and cool temps. Its been a remarkable stretch we've been able to enjoy the fun in the sun.

We started this day out by breaking trail in 15 inches of light powder

Like many places in Alaska when its sunny there are great views

The effect is always the same, we have fun! Who couldn't in weather like this.