Anchorage Hillside Ski

I was really excited because my friend Diane and I decided last night to go ski on Portage Lake.  That is an amazing place at any time of year.  But in winter you can often ski all the way to the glacier.
But when we got to Portage our hopes were quickly dashed.  They haven't plowed out the parking area by the Visitor's Center. There was a narrow road to a side door but it was impossible to get past the giant snow berms to reach the lake.  We also tried checking out the parking lot by the tunnel entrance.  It was slightly plowed but it seems to be a very steep cliff to get to the lake from there.  In addition the wind was howling and it was starting to snow.  We abandoned that idea and turned back towards Anchorage. 

On the way we stopped in Girdwood and tried to find the Winner Trailhead.  I think we found it, but parking was a different story.  It was pretty confusing,  So we just continued back to Anchorage and skied the Nordic Ski Trails by Hilltop Ski Area.  The snow there was perfectly groomed and great skiing.  We were happy to finally find a place to ski.  Diane's dog Tobi was the happiest of all.  She howled, barked and whined the entire trip, knowing we were heading somewhere fun.  But I think she was beginning to give up since it took us such a long time to finally get out of the car..

Tobi & Me

Tobi & Diane

Matanuska Moose Range Trail

This place is an incredible maze of trails.  First I followed the groomed main trail to the lake.  From there I followed a snow machine trail to the right that seemed to follow the same route from the Boycott Black Friday ultras that I ran in November.  But it apparently turned away from that route and I found myself totally lost, or so it seemed.  I had taken some pictures and it appeared that I was close to the same place where I took the pictures, but I was clearly not on that trail.  I found myself in a wide open area totally packed down by snow machines.  Just when I decided I was hopelessly lost I found two guys on snow machines.  I asked them where I was and they pointed into the trees where my original trail was.  Soon I ran into a guy on a bike who had just come from that trail.  I followed his path back to the main trail.  Then I realized the wide area I was on, was actually the lake where I had made my turn to the right.  Instead of continuing to the right, the trail I had followed had actually veered off to the left and took me right back onto the lake.  When I got home and saw a map of that trail system, I quickly understood why I got lost.  It is a crazy mass of trails.

But the snow was great and the day was beautiful.  I plan to do a lot more exploring out there.  I'll be sure to take a map with me next time though.  Maybe following random snow machine trails isn't always the best plan!

The Maze of Trails!

Archangel Valley Ski

A gorgeous day to ski at Archangel Valley.  I started out checking out the Palmer Rail Trail to see if it was good for skiing.  I found it was barely OK for walking or snowshoeing, but certainly not OK for skiing.  It was totally drifted with various snow conditions from deeply rutted by walkers, to hard pack steep drifts.  I gave up after about 1 mile then decided to go up to Hatcher Pass instead.

Along the Palmer Rail Trail

I found the conditions much better up at Archangel Valley and I skied to the creek and back for a nice 5 mile trip.  It was one of the most beautiful days I've seen up there.  So sunny and clear.  The snow was snow-machine groomed, and a little choppy.  But it was quite nice if I stayed in the tracks made by other skiers. 

Palmer Happy Run

It's been snowing heavily all week and not too conducive to getting out there to run.  Most of my exercise this week has been with my snow shovel. Over two feet fell this week.
I was not sure how motivated I was about doing the Happy Run tonight either.  The sidewalks are not all plowed and it's also very cold and windy.  But just knowing there are other people out there also running, I forced myself to get out there and join them.  I really don't actually join them though.  I'm so much slower than the two or three others who actually run the full 5 mile long runs that I always start 20 to 30 minutes early in hopes of getting to the finish before 7pm for the raffle they have at 7.  So far, even starting early, I still haven't made it by 7.  Tonight I was close but it looked like the Palmer Alehouse, which is the finish line, was closed.  There weren't any cars in the parking lot and it was dark inside.  I'm not sure what that was all about.  Maybe if I had left at the normal start time, I would have known.  But I don't really care about the raffle.  I was just happy that I forced myself to get out there and run.  It was tough in places because there is so much snow on the roads and trails.  It seemed a bit dangerous when I was forced to run along the busy highway in the dark, hoping a car doesn't lose control on the ice and take me out!  But I made it back to the finish in one piece.

It was beautiful and clear all day and even after sunset it stayed fairly light most of my run.  I look forward to running during the day instead of worrying about cars. 

Palmer Happy Run

I really had to do some serious talking to myself to get out there tonight.  It was brutally windy and 20 degrees.  I did the 5 mile run and left a little early, hoping to finally get to the finish before 7.  But I didn't leave early enough so as usual, it was after 7 when I finished.  But I really don't care.  It was tough running mostly on ice and drifted snow, in the dark, with a 30 knot wind. The section along the Airport Road was the worst and I even considered giving up.  It was blowing straight into my face and sometimes it was hard to move against it.  But the rest of the route wasn't too bad.  I was glad to get back to my car, but also very happy that I got out there to run. I've been much too lazy lately.

My picture didn't turn out too well in the dark and blowing snow!

Eklutna Lake

I found a little bit of ambition and drove up to Eklutna Lake and skied the Lakeside Trail all the way to Bold Creek and back.  I had the entire place to myself. Not another car in the parking lot.  There was several inches of new snow and the temperature was not too cold, plus it was bright and sunny.  Perfect skiing conditions. I was getting pretty tired by about mile 8, but I love when I have time to go all the way to Bold Creek.  Such a beautiful place!

Archangel Valley Ski

A fantastic day to ski the Archangel Valley Road. I skied to the Reed Lakes trailhead and back.  The snow was so perfect with about 6 inches of new snow that fell last night.  It was nice to get out and ski.  This week has been hard for me because I'm still quite worn out and exhausted from the Mt Aconcagua climb.  I'm having trouble drumming up ambition.  But today was wonderful.