Winter in Alaska

Winter in Alaska? Well, this first pic just about sums it up, I guess. Although, the lower 48 seems to have taken our cold temps for the time being....we are a balmy 8 degrees right now (about ~35 degrees warmer than our first Winter here in 2008).


It's been warm enough to experience some 'wet' snow. Wet enough to build snowmen. Our snow is usually too dry to clump, but this Christmas break the boys were able to build snowmen, snow forts, have snowball fights, and all the things you usually do in slightly warmer climates.


My 'little' black spruce I nurtured from a sapling during our first year here, it's not so little anymore (about ~12 ft tall this year). It added nearly a foot since September (which speaks volumes about our warmer than normal Winter this year).


Frosty - 'a very happy soul'.


An odd lack of wind these past few weeks has left the spruce trees burdened with snow (but we appreciate the lack of wind, and I don't want to jinx it).


It leaves the neighborhood looking like an ice castle.


Jolene found a carved raven this Fall at a school craft fair, and it has been guarding our front door. It's a unique carving, unlike the bears we usually see for sale from chainsaw carvers, and the carver did a fine job as evidenced by how real the bird looks.


Moose walking the frozen flats beneath the bluff.


I took the boys out to Archangel this Saturday to let them get some time in their skis before their Junior Nordic group starts next week. As usual, they took to it quickly, far faster than I can master the techniques.


They still have quite a ways to go before being able to compete, but this year will just be about learning the sport.


Although, by the end of the day, it was readily obvious that I wouldn't be able to keep up with them for long.


There's a moose asleep in the snow behind the boys in this picture, you can see the dark spot between them.


Another moose nearby, also between them in this picture. The weather was fairly warm, right around 20 deg F, and the moose had been munching on willow brush nearby. They were full, and didn't pay much attention to us as we skied by them while they rested in the cool snow.


They didn't even bother to turn and watch us pass by. These two moose have clearly become accustomed to the skiers on Archangel.


Another one nearby, it was also more concerned about other moose than about us passing by.


Archangel, set near Independence mine in Hatcher Pass, allows for some great views on a fairly secluded ski trail. Normally groomed, this week we followed trails cut by other skiers, and cut a few trails on our own. Not much elevation to deal with, so you can work on technique for ~8 miles if you ski the whole route.


You can't beat the peaceful views of a snow covered valley.


Even with only half a hamstring, Landon gets annoyed having to wait for the old man to catch up.


End of the line, back at the parking area, taking a breather before loading back up.

Looking back down the valley towards home.


At home, they forged a trail around our house, through the back and front yard, and maybe later on we'll trek down to the hay flats and break a trail there as well. Will be neat to ski along the Iditarod Trail as it crosses the hay flats.


Looks like I have some caulking in my future. That's frost on the inside of a few windows, due to a small breeze sneaking around the window frame. Every little seam and gap must be filled in each year before the deep Winter freeze to keep the house tight and efficient.


Landon had a big week. He passed his test to get his learner's permit.


He was not at all happy that I made him get a picture in front of the flags at the DMV on our way out.


He also got braces. I was not supposed to post this picture on Facebook, but he didn't say anything about the blog!

Landon also learned that his hamstring tear is not repairable. Grade 2 tear of the semitendinosus muscle. His tear was in the mid-section of the muscle, and was ~50% of the muscle fibers. Since he didn't know it was torn (despite the deformity that resulted in the muscle), he kept playing through the end of the season and in effect rehabbed it on his own over the weeks that followed the injury. He'll have a hard decision to make next year about football, since a re-injury could tear the rest of the muscle and leave him with some adjacent joint instability. As for now, he's cleared for cross country skiing, and might take up cross country running next Fall. Might also still run track this Spring, but probably no running hurdles for him...we'll see.


Our faithful old car made it to 16 years old this past week. Still looks new to me! We'll be grateful if it can stay that way for another 16 years.

The video below is of one of our local Wasilla neighborhoods that joined together and created a neat light show for Christmas. If you tune to the right radio station as you drive through, you can experience the neighborhood's light show choreographed to the song on the radio. It was well worth the drive around the block.