Crust-joring

Its the doggie equivalent of crust skiing :) Today we headed out Center Ridge then up the valley floor to the face of the true Tincan Creek. The dogs love it because they stay on top, and I like it because its pretty damn fast. Center Ridge was crust but unfortunately the valley floor from Kickstep Mountain to the true Tincan Peak wasn't so good. That portion hadn't gone through a melt freeze cycle.

here we are starting out up the valley.


Scenery looking better, have to don the glacier glasses and spread some sun lotion at this point.


Starting to break through just a bit here, so we are losing our crust and soon will gain the wind.


ok time for a break. If you saw my beer belly, you'd be wondering why they aren't panting.


More dog driving.


Downhill I let the dogs loose so I can ski without falling down and they can have a bit of fun.




Any day now I expect the snow to soften enough the dogs won't be able to get out with me, but so far so good!

Another Edition of "A Valley in the Mountains"

Valley loves to be in the mountains. Valley in the mountains go like hand in glove.

She seems to be happy to be let off and run. There she goes...

Rocket seems pleased with the move.

As we ski, Valley is content to run along side.


or happy to run with us.

That's ash from the Mt. Redoubt volcano on the snow she's running on.

That's Valley in the big valley floor.


Where's Waldo, I mean can you spot Valley?



She's not one to be left behind.


Doesn't she light things up with that smile of hers?


Another great day with our special girl.

April Powder Brings May Flowers?

gotta love a day of fun in the sun, when there is fresh snow, and a
good base underneath for the dogs to walk on. What could be better?


Big Landscape makes the dogs seem so small.


Here it is April 18th and there is still fresh powder snow.


Which they seem to enjoy as much as I do.


It was a hot day for the dogs, even though the temperature hovered around freezing, the sun made it tough on them.


The dirty spots in the snow is ash from Mt. Redoubt. No doubt that
snow will melt soon. If you click on the picture, you'll have a better view.


Always happy to take a break, aren't they?


Nearing the end of a great day.


The end of the dogs ski season is near. They have 92 days of ski
touring or joring on the snow this season. They love it!

Woosh!

Rocket and I skijored out from Glen Alps, out the powerline to near the Ptarmigan Pass and returned in 45 mile per hour winds (70kmh) and falling--blowing snow. It sure felt good heading back home out of the wind.

A Fine Day for an Outing

A mighty fine weekend for an outing. 3 days of sunstorm at the Denali View Chalet Lodge at Kroto Lake.


Valley, Denali and Hunter.

Consolation Prize

Since I missed my spring ski trip with the dogs, we've been going out daily after judging the forecast for weather and ashfall. Here are some pictures of our daily jaunts.

Here we are going up to Hidden Lake on Monday


On Tuesday we tried McHugh Peak.


Wednesday we skied locally in the trees with the high winds...nothing like 60 mph winds to throw a guy to the ground.

Thursday we skied to Williwaw Lake

Back in the Neighborhood

Hey, look who's back in the neighborhood! Came back early this year.

Thar She Blows

Mt Redoubt, a volcano you can see from our house, exploded last night and this morning. We were alerted to its explosion by friends calling and emailing, they received the news before we did since we were asleep.

Here is a picture from our front deck from last week.

Telemark skiing

We love to telemark ski on the weekends. We've never really been able to take Valley because we never trusted her off leash, and she's terrified of new people and skis. Today was her big day. We skijored her to the top of the ridge, let her loose then skied down the skin track watching her closely as she followed behind. She is still scared of skis and people but running free is so healthy for her.

A Rocket in Powder

Hatcher Pass is one of the most beautiful places to visit on a sunny day. Stunning. Rocket and I were lucky enough to catch it on one of those days. It was cold, you'd think after over 30 years in the northland I'd get the temperature thing down now wouldn't you LOL.





I must have tired Rocket out because he quit right here, took a powder break so we headed back.


Once we started heading back there was no stopping him. the guy has a reserve unmatched in other dogs.

A Valley in the Mountains

Valley's big day off leash with both new people and skiers. When let off leash she took off running, happy to stay in front and check up to make sure we were coming. (Click on the picture to enlarge).


When she had to break trail in deep powder she smartly decided to follow in the back and let us do that for her. Here she is carrying on a conversation with Kristen. Perhaps they are catching up with each other, its been since April since they've seen each other. I know its not about food, Jago(Babe) isn't interested.


It was a windy and snowy day but she is hanging with us following in our track.


Valley prefers the comfort of a tree well when we take a break. That's a smart move too, its out of the wind and appropriately shaped for a malamute.



You know the wind is blowing at least 15 mph when its moving snow, its likely blowing much harder, probably in the neighborhood of 35 mph. I always squint and secretly talk swear words when my face is being pelted with wind driven snow. I've found it doesn't make any difference when you squint with one eye "open" and the other closed or both eyes "open". The wind and pelting snow don't bother Jago, probably because I have a Clif bar in my hand.


Jago loves to run, or somebody opened their lunch sack.


Saint Nicki doing the Pied Piper thing.


You can't beat a trip when Rocket is dog tired. He didn't even make it back to the car before he fell asleep. Now that's having fun!

Mal Rescue Alaska

Ha! That would be Maltese Rescue of Alaska. This is me with Wimbley at Alaska SPCA. I stop by and walk dogs but for about a month Wimbley has been there to greet me and he's kind of captured my heart LOL. He's the only booter I've really gotten attached to, having the right mixture of wild dog, fundog and love dog to get me to like the guy. We've had alot of fun playing together like tug of war, bite hand, tossing him in the air and hanging out and petting. Occasionally he gets in my coat and we walk about. Wimbley goes to his forever home tomorrow, that's what rescue is all about. Glad he's got a good home but I am going to miss him.

Mountain Majesty

You never know how the mountains are going to please you when out skiing. Clouds don't always mean obscuring beautiful peaks.



Its great getting up high, even if its cold. Not much around so you can let the dogs go and run. Nothing is more fun for the dogs than to give chase to each other!


and peal out...


Even when they are far away they come when they are called.


and run they do!


Looks like Valley had a great day too!


(as always you can click on the picture to enlarge)