Rabbit Slough/Palmer Slough

 I was mostly just curious about the conditions on this creek system. I wore my snow boots with grippers. I quickly discovered that it was fine for walking but would not have been good at all for skiing. It was about half and half ice and packed snow. The ice was very rough, and the snow was heavily tracked from walkers. Bella and I walked about 2 1/2 miles round trip. I ran into 2 ladies on very odd skates that were attached to their cross-country ski boots. I was immediately fascinated as they told me about them. I love to ice skate on the lakes and creeks in winter. But I usually need really good conditions. I stopped at Back Country Bike and Ski, a ski shop in Palmer and asked about them. They are for use on ice that is wilder versus lakes that are plowed and set up for public skating. Of course, I immediately bought myself a pair. I will try them out tomorrow and then look for some good places to use them. They just clamp right on to my ski boots. I can imagine going skiing but bringing them along so I can switch to skates if I encounter large sections of ice. Right now, we have ice everywhere because it has been a high wind and low snow year. I could imagine taking a long skate hike along a frozen creek. It will be nice for Bella too. Most of the popular skating places are crowded with lots of people. But out here on the slough, we mostly had the place to ourselves. She could run loose and enjoy the place while I hike, ski or skate. It will be fun to practice with a new toy!

Skeetawk Ski

 It was 13 below zero when I got up to Skeetawk to patrol today. Part of me wanted to turn around. But going back would take me to the 20 below zero back in Palmer. I had a hard time keeping warm, especially during the early morning work to get the signs put up and all the morning opening chores done. I had hand and foot warmers and still was cold most of the day. However, once the sun broke over the mountains it was a spectacular sunny day. The sun wasn't exactly warm, and I think the high was about +8. But at least the skiing was really good. We seem to have enough snow to make for good skiing, but we could sure use a bit more. I found I did best if I skied about 4 runs or 30 minutes, then scurried back into the tiny Ski Patrol shed at the top of the lift to warm up. It was a good day for everyone, and certainly a beautiful day. 

Settlers Bay Coastal Trail Hike

 It has been insanely cold the last few days. I had to pass on the usual Tuesday hike with the Valley Wanderers because I wasn't feeling well and didn't get any sleep. I was also still a little tired from downhill skiing on Ski Patrol all day on Sunday up at Skeetawk Ski Area. It was gorgeous up there but kind of bone-chilling, at least until the sun came out. 

The view at Skeetawk

The next couple of days were punctuated with 50 to 75 mph winds and subzero temperatures. I did take a quick run around Reflections Lake with Bella on Wednesday. It was very windy and we both needed to run to stay warm. You can get an idea of the wind that day by this photo I took of Pioneer Peak and the howling wind blowing snow off of its summit.

Windy Pioneer Peak

Today I did only a short 2-mile hike with my friend Pam and our dogs. It was 10 below zero but did warm up to about +2 by the time we were done. The little dogs ran as fast as they could to keep warm. we did have to put them on their leashes when we caught them barking furiously at a large moose lurking behind a tree. The moose didn't seem too concerned, fortunately.

This was our route. I didn't take any photos because I didn't want to take my hands out of my mittens, and there's not much to see there, but trees and of course, one moose hiding in those trees.

Moose Range Ski

 It's been insanely windy the last couple of days. 75 mph winds all through the valley. I wasn't sure I wanted to venture out anywhere. But the Valley Wanderers had planned to cross country ski at the Moose Range today, so I joined them. Pam also joined us. It's pretty heavily forested so the trees blocked the worst of the wind. It has also calmed down quite a bit. Sarah was leading and she had some trouble finding the exact trail she wanted. But it was a fun adventure to an area that I mostly had not been before. We went 7 miles total. We ended up coming back along the Linguini Trail that I had skied the last time I was there. It had all been recently groomed, but the wind had covered some of it partially in drifts. But the skiing was still quite good. Bella and Pam's dog had a great time putting in twice as many miles as they ran back and forth up and down the trail. It was a great workout with lots of hills to climb then descend.

Twin Peaks Trail

This was a Valley Wanderers hike. Pam also joined us because she took a day off from work. Some of us carried snowshoes because we were pretty sure they would be needed if we went past the first bench overlook. I did use mine and they were very helpful. We packed down the second half of the trail to the second bench, which will be very helpful to the next people who hike there. It was a really nice sunny day, but for some reason, we were the only hikers there. Although we could see a couple of skiers out on the lake from the first bench overlook. The road was not plowed so may have discourage others from trying to drive up there. But it wasn't too bad. I was worried that Bella would need booties but fortunately, she did fine without them. It's such a pain putting them on, they periodically picking them up along the trail as they fall off. It wasn't the kind of snow that builds up snowballs on dogs. It was very cold though and she was shivering by the time we got back to the car. It's a very steady fairly steep hike with a 2000-foot elevation gain. It's one of my favorite hikes just for conditioning alone. But I think it's also one of the most beautiful places in the whole area. I love the view from the overlook. It's magical any time of year. It was about 5 1/2 miles round trip. 

Dan's 87th Birthday Hike

Dan is our hero who proves to us all that age is only a number. He turned 87 today and wanted us to celebrate with him by hiking to the Lazy Creek Bridge that he built. It's a couple miles up the Matanuska Peak Trail about milepost 10,800. It's so cute and is now an important landmark. It was a very cloudy day, and we all hoped we wouldn't end up turning around due to bad weather. But we were mostly out of the clouds, although each step took us closer to them. We even had a few snowflakes. We didn't bring snowshoes because some of the group had hiked up there recently and knew it was possible without them. Pam and her dog, Dahla joined the Valley Wanderers for this hike because it is Friday, our usual day to hike together. It was such a fun celebration with a lot of neat friends. I ended up out in front, pushing with everything I had to try to keep up with Virginia, Chris and Erin. I had to do that because Bella decided that she was going to hike with them. I don't like being too far away from her. So, I got the best workout trying to stay close to those 3 fastest hikers in the Valley Wanderers. Pam and most of the others were together with Dan and Jack following behind. They picked up Brad, Jack's friend, along the way. 

Virgina brought along some decorations for the bridge and some tasty cookies for the birthday celebration. The bridge was decorated by the time Dan arrived. Some of us walked around the corner past the bridge and got a delightful surprise when the clouds suddenly lifted, giving us a view of the snow-covered mountains. We lost that sunshine and beautiful view as we descended back into the clouds and fog on our way down. 

I want to be like Dan when I grow up! I'm not too far behind him. I'll be 80 myself in a few months. I'll have to celebrate with an interesting grueling hike too when that day comes in May.

Back Row: Erin, Brad, Jack, Jo, Judith, Dan, Sarah
Front Row: Me, Pam, Virginia, Jane

Erin's Snowman

Lazy Creek Bridge

Bella

Moose Range Ski

  I enjoyed my recent hike along the Moose Range Trails, so decided to bring my cross-country skis and see if I could find my way on the Linguini Loop. I found that it was nicely groomed and using my AllTrails phone app, I was following the exact trail. But after a while the groomed trail didn't make the necessary turn back towards the swamp shown on the app. I wasn't sure where the actual turn would have been, so just continued on the groomed route. I had no way of knowing where this trail actually went. But I figured I could either follow my own tracks back or take any branch that heads towards the swamp. I figured all routes would eventually connect with the main motor trail. I came to a crossroads and took the fork heading towards the mountains, versus the one that continued straight. This route lead up some gentle hills and through the trees. It finally made a turn toward the swamp area and descended from the hills into the swamp itself. From there, I easily made my way through the frozen swamp and took the main motor trail back to my car. Bella ran along ahead of me enjoying herself as usual. Once on the swamp, she seemed to know exactly where to go to join the main motor trail. It was a fabulous 4-mile ski trip on perfectly groomed snow. Once again, I had the entire area all to myself.