16

This year there are 16 weekends in the summer. Memorial Day marks the first weekend and Labor Day the last weekend of the summer. You can see our first weekend of the summer was great.

Great views up Turnagain Arm from the Gull Rock trail.


Jago seems happy with the weekend.


Rocket loves running on the trail without a leash.


After which he had to swim a lap to cool off.


And we can see all that running and swimming causes a funDog and the funhog to nap.


Here's Nicki and Jago hiking.


Valley and I decided to spend Memorial Day hiking up Falls Creek and getting up on South Suicide. It was Hot! so we spent a bunch of time in the snow.


Great Views of the scenery around us.


A great way to end the weekend. Valley seems happy with it.


Ok, only 14 more to go!

Last Call

We are like Brett Favre, we can't leave the sport alone. here we are on dawn patrol down in Turnagain Pass for probably our last run on snow with the dogs this season.



These are my "workhorses" and my best friends. How much gratitude can I show them, when they bring this to me?


Tincan ski site in early morning sun.


Looking happy as we stop for a break.


Last run of the season...heading home.

As always you can click on the picture to enlarge.

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.