Morgan Horse Trail

 I was only planning to go for a short walk with the dog.  I didn't bring my backpack figuring we'd only walk a short distance.  I wanted to just check out the ski trails.  They were awesome and I wished I'd brought my skis.  The dog was enjoying the walk so we kept on past the groomed trails and started following along the Morgan Horse Trail.  I was only vaguely familiar with the trail since many years ago I had walked it from the Matanuska Peak Trail back to the Lazy Mountain Trailhead after climbing Matanuska Peak via Lazy Mountain.  I figured it ended at Smith Road or at the Matanuska Peak Trail.  But to my surprise I found it continued on past Smith Road.  I finally reached the end of it at Maud Road.  What a nice trail it was too.  I was really glad the dog didn't decide she was too tired because we still had to walk all the way back through the snow. Our short little stroll turned into nearly 5 miles.

Pioneer Peak from the trail

Archangel Valley Ski

It's hard to stay away from Archangel Valley when the weather is nice and the snow is good.  Today was another perfect day to ski out to the Reed Lakes Trailhead.  As usual, Baby ran along ahead for about one mile, then started begging to ride.  So I put her in my backpack and we were on our way again.  The snow was really nice and well groomed so we stayed mostly in the ski tracks.  Baby pulled me back from the spot where we turned around.  She always loves to run back. 

 

Archangel Valley Ski

Another beautiful bluebird day for skiing up at Archangel Valley.  The snow was perfect.  Baby ran along ahead for about one mile then started trying to climb up my leg and begging to be carried.  She seems to be good for about that distance when the snow is deep.  So I tucked her into my backpack and skied to the Reed Lake Trailhead, where I turned around.  Just before the bridge, snow machines are allowed on the trail.  They really make a mess of the groomed trail so I tend to turn around there.  Soon after turning around, I felt Baby squirming to get out.  It's funny how she loses interest and thinks she is cold and tired on the way out, but once I turn back, she's suddenly not either cold or tired.  So hooking her retractable leash to my backpack waist belt, she pulled with all her might and we skijored all the way back to the car.  You don't often see someone skijoring with a chihuahua and we got some odd looks from passing skiers. 

Cross Country Skiing on Campbell Track

 Drove to Anchorage to ski with my friend, Diane and of course our dogs.  My dog wasn't terribly interested in the idea because it wasn't to her satisfaction, temperature wise.  So she spent most of our little 3 mile trek riding in my doggie backpack.  She seems to enjoy riding there and watching what is going on behind us. I think she is looking forward to spring!

Eklutna Lake Ski

 An absolutely gorgeous day to cross country ski out on frozen Eklutna Lake, with Baby, the chihuahua. The dog got kind of cold so ended up being a passenger in my backpack for part of our trip. But for being in the middle of February, it was really quite a lovely warm day.  Snow machines had made nice trails on the frozen lake and I found them to be the best places to ski.  Off the trails the snow was pretty deep and not too easy to ski.  Once I turned around to head back Baby started to squirm.  That's her way of telling me that she has had enough with the riding and it's time for her to get back on her two feet.  So we skijored back to the car along the same route I had followed on the lake.  

Peters Creek Trail

 This was a beautiful hike with my friend Pam.  My dog was not quite as happy as I was about it , so once again she was a backpack rider all the way to the spot where we decided to turn back.  I wasn't feeling too good myself.  I just seemed exhausted, which is very unusual for me on a fairly easy hike like that.  I had my first Covid-19 shot just two days before so Pam and I both came to the conclusion that it was having some sort of influence over my energy.  Normally I feel like I can walk indefinitely.  But not today. I was quite happy when we turned around.  I was also happy that Baby got tired of riding and wanted to do her usual sprint back to the parking lot.  Taking 8 pounds of dog off my back certainly didn't hurt! 

When we got back to Palmer, I realized I had dropped one of my very expensive Kahtoola spikes by the place where we had parked.  When I bought some new ones in Wasilla and found out they now cost $70, I decided it was worth the 22 mile drive back to the trailhead to see if I could find it.  To my delight, some kind person had found it and hung it on the trailhead sign.  I was happy to be reunited with it.  I had wanted to get a second pair, so I didn't mind that I ended up buying the new pair.

Gold Mint Trail

 A beautiful hike with Baby along Gold Mint Trail.  It was pretty cold so Baby was a rider in my backpack heading outbound. But she got restless at the turnaround point and raced me all the way back to the car. She gets cold when heading out, not knowing for sure how far we will be going.  But once I turn around, she knows the way and sprints like a cheetah on the way back.