Saturday - Turnagain Pass = Eddies

According to Matt, "best ski day of the year"; which is saying alot for a guy that ski's over 60 days a season....


Celebrating the ability to ski killer powder on a sunny April 4th, we headed to Turnagain Pass. It was my third time skiing in the pass, Gretchen's first. Matt recommended Eddies, so off we skinned thru the woods.

The uptrack


Eddies bowl in the background

One of a kind untracked virgin powder for the taking!!!!

Doggie train

Jack attack doing that cute dog look

Nice.

ripping the heck out of some killer knar knar pow

gretch in the zone droppin the knee in some awesome untracked killer freshie pow pow

Skinning out.

Dog faces ready to exfil back to the patrol base for some steaks and beers, and dog chow

BFF.

Friday - Turnagain Pass = West Cornbiscuit

Mount Redoubt Blows Again

{Independence Mine with Redoubt Ash cover}

After months of Mount Redoubt going from Oranqe to Amber to Red and back to Orange then down to Yellow, it finally erupted this past week.

The initial eruptions sent ash north and north/west totally missing the Anchorage area, most ash fell within the Willow/Swketna/Chitna/Talkeetna area.

Later in the week Mount Redoubt erupted again blowing ash due east onto the Kenai peninsula.

Then, Saturday afternoon Anchorage got its due, spewing ash 65,000ft into the area, the winds just right blew ash north and north east onto the Turnagain/Anchorage/Matanuska area.

While leaving REI this fine dust fell all over us and our cars. It only fell for 2-3 hours, the light dusting really wasnt enough to worry about, but locals were still donning cloth masks and covering their vehicles parked outdoors.

{Microdot covered in ash}

These photos were taken today at Hatchers Pass.

We hoped to get some turns in, but decided with the dusting to ski another day, slightly worried about our dogs tramping thru the snow covered volcanic ash, but also concerned about getting the smaller than sand particles into all our ski equipment.

{Marmot Peak}

{El Dorado Bowl ash covered}

Happy Seward's Day!!!

March 27th, No Work, Seward's Day!!! Lets go skiing.
Jack and Jasper scouting the route.

Marmot before heavy clouds moved in and killed vis

Spring sales + nice tax return = fat new ski's!!!!!!!!!! (BlackDiamond Kilowatt's with BD O1 Telemark Bindings)

Dog faces kicking up the knar pow on the descent back to the car

Day Hike with OCF

Last Saturday I went for a 7 mile day hike with friends from OCF (Officers Christian Fellowship). I met up with Lloyd from OCF, and Eric from Joy Lutheran. I think the cold scared everyone else away, so we hiked out Crow Pass trail from the Eagle River Nature Center.


The warmer days have started melting the Eagle River.
Jack and Jasper playing their usual chase games.

Eric cleaning the clumped snow from Zena's paws.

March 15th, Are you still skiing wherever you are? we are....

Another amazing day in the backcountry. Bluebird skies. Ankle deep champagne powder.

In celebration we skinned up "MicroDot" for some tele turns. (or as Matt calls it, "MicroBump"; sticking to the lower slope angle)

Iditarod 2009 - Official Start Willow, AK and Crystal Lake, AK

We decided to truck up to Willow, AK this year for the official "re-start" of the Iditarod 1049 mile sled dog race to Nome.
Jam packed rows of people cheering on over 60 mushers out of the starting gates.

Matt and Meg watch from Crystal Lake.

We were lucky enough to crash a party at Terri and Stephen's cabin to catch the teams several miles from the starting gates crossing the numerous lakes surrounding Willow and the Susitna River drainage area.

The best way to keep warm is too fill up with a nice local micro brew!

Bush plane fixed with ski's takes off from the lake

It's going to be a long 1000 miles for some of these teams...

definition of a lazy dog

this is an example of how i feel every morning, "just hit the snooze... i dont wana go to work!"

Bluebird Ski Day with the D80

Bluebird day up at Hatchers. Air temp around 30. Not a cloud in the sky, great slope angles, good friends, crazy dogs, it was a good Alaskan day in the Backcountry.

Friends Matt, Mark, and Kurt getting ready for first descent.
Matt rippin up the first descent.

Mark, droppin the knee, freeing the heel!

Kurt gettin in his turns.
So Kurt, how much crap can you strap to the outside of your pack?

Going, goin, gone.
Matt gettin his second descent of the day

Dogs doin cheetah flips as Matt passes out Chex mix for trix.