Wednesday, February 27, 2008
My New Ride
The Burton Supermodel, a board that LOVES the powder. It feels like you're surfing down the slopes on a wave of champagne powder!
New Haircut
Gretchen's New Haircut!
All you need to do is grow out 12 inchs of hair, and you too can send it in to "locks of love", a nonprofit organization making wigs for cancer patients from donated hair samples.
Reindeer Run
I recently participated in the inaugural Reindeer Run also known as "The Running of the Reindeer". Many of you may have heard of the infamous Bulls of Pamplona, where they charge down crowded streets, while hysteric people try to out run their buddy in hopes of not being stuck by the horns. Well let me tell you, this is much worse. Bulls have nothing over Reindeer, those little beasts with crazy horns are viscous. Enjoy the photo's below, stay tuned for video footage of the carnage.
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Another Day At The Office
Wishing my job was to snowboard all day, oh well, its still a thursday and I'm playing "hookie".
Notice the helicopter just to the right of the highest summit, dropping some "heli-skiers" off for an amazing powder run down Alyeska Peak.
Sunset over the Turnagain Arm as seen from mid-mountain.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
I C E
The Seward Highway, named one of America's most scenic byways, runs south out of Anchorage enroute to the seaside village of Seward, bisecting the Kenai Peninsula. These photographs were taken last saturday while coming home from Alyeska Resort.
Sunday's Nature Hike: aka "Places We Play"
South Fork of the Eagle River; aka Hiland Drive; aka Chugach Mountain State Park
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Hollywood and the Dog House
Ok, so normally this blog is for all intents and purposes a photo album, essentially just here for your viewing pleasure... But there are two quotes from films released in recent months that I really like, and wanted to share, encase you haven't seen either of the two films.
From the film "JUNO", this quote was said by Mac MacGruff, father of main character Juno. The context is; Juno is distressed over life and love, being a pregnant 16 year old, confiding in her Dad.
"In my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person will still think the sun shines out your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with."
And lastly, this quote is from the film "INTO THE WILD", said by Rob Franz, an elderly man befriended by Chris McCandless, also known as Alexander Supertramp, while wandering across the desert southwest. In the scene, Chris instigates Rob until he follows him up a steep trail overlooking a gorgeous desert setting. Rob tries to begin a dialogue with Chris over what was wrong with his childhood, where his family is, what he's wandering for, then ultimatly tells Chris he would like to adopt him. Then Rob says,
"When you forgive, you love. And when you love, God's light shines upon you."
Do you know the difference between Straw and Hay? Cause there is one... Having grown up in suburban Fredericksburg, and not rural farm country, I didn't know. Honestly I still probably couldn't tell you today what the difference is, but there is one. I recently purchased my first bail (or is it bale) of Straw. Being an ignorant surburbanite for most of my natural life, I asked for Hay, and was told, "we don't sell hay, only straw". Umm, okay, I'll take that then. Either way, straw has become a wonderful bedding for the husky's doggie house in the backyard, which up until it was installed, remained vacant. Now the dogs love chillaxin in the dog house, though they still have't tried to squeeze in there together.
Ta Ta.
Cheers.
From the film "JUNO", this quote was said by Mac MacGruff, father of main character Juno. The context is; Juno is distressed over life and love, being a pregnant 16 year old, confiding in her Dad.
"In my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person will still think the sun shines out your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with."
And lastly, this quote is from the film "INTO THE WILD", said by Rob Franz, an elderly man befriended by Chris McCandless, also known as Alexander Supertramp, while wandering across the desert southwest. In the scene, Chris instigates Rob until he follows him up a steep trail overlooking a gorgeous desert setting. Rob tries to begin a dialogue with Chris over what was wrong with his childhood, where his family is, what he's wandering for, then ultimatly tells Chris he would like to adopt him. Then Rob says,
"When you forgive, you love. And when you love, God's light shines upon you."
Do you know the difference between Straw and Hay? Cause there is one... Having grown up in suburban Fredericksburg, and not rural farm country, I didn't know. Honestly I still probably couldn't tell you today what the difference is, but there is one. I recently purchased my first bail (or is it bale) of Straw. Being an ignorant surburbanite for most of my natural life, I asked for Hay, and was told, "we don't sell hay, only straw". Umm, okay, I'll take that then. Either way, straw has become a wonderful bedding for the husky's doggie house in the backyard, which up until it was installed, remained vacant. Now the dogs love chillaxin in the dog house, though they still have't tried to squeeze in there together.
Ta Ta.
Cheers.
Alaikoom 'assalam.
~Samuel
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Ski 4 Women
FACT: Almost 75% of Alaskans have experienced or know someone who has experienced domestic violence or sexual assault.
FACT: Alaska's statistics on domestic violence against women are among the highest in the nation.
FACT: Alaska's statistics on domestic violence against women are among the highest in the nation.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Hatcher's Pass: The Talkeetna Mountains in Soft Light and Backcountry Style
They were visible from Anchorage and Eagle River today, nearly an hours drive north, and we found ourselves enjoying the Talkeetna Mountains. A small chain of mountains found north of the Chugach Range and south east of the Alaskan Range. Home to Hatcher's Pass and Independence Mine State Park, this is one of my favorite places to play within 60 minutes drive from home. On a good day you can see forever, on a really good day you can see with clarity only found on HD or Blueray....
Jasper had another Ski-Jouring lesson today, taught by Gretchen; while Jack tagged alongside taking notes.
It is true the sun rises in the East, and sets in the West. BUT, in Alaska it always seems to set in the South during these winter months of limited sunlight, providing amazing illumination on the surround peaks and valleys, also called Alpenglow.
Thanks to our friends Mike and Michaella we were finally able to get a photograph taken of ourselves in action. Enjoy!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Powder Dayz
My legs are screaming for a rest day after two amazing days carving the deep powder at Alyeska. As my ski partner called it Friday, the "Champagne Powder" was like carving lines through a cloud. 
Sunrise on the Turnagain Arm, driving south east down the Seward Highway; recently named one of America's most scenic drives.
The best part about winter sports in Alaska, we still have three more months of Snowboarding left this season!!!
Sunrise on the Turnagain Arm, driving south east down the Seward Highway; recently named one of America's most scenic drives. The best part about winter sports in Alaska, we still have three more months of Snowboarding left this season!!!Thursday, January 24, 2008
Stay At Home Doggie Dad; aka Thursdays Ascent of Baldy Peak
As a result of 14 months in Iraq, we've earned a couple four day weekends since coming home Thanksgiving day. And since Gretchen still has to work five days a week, 9-5; my days home are spent entertaining two husky pups. Today we took a short day hike up above 3,000ft on Mount Baldy Peak, overlooking Eagle River and the Cook Inlet Anchorage area.
Jasper and Jack both enjoyed ascending and descending this rather steep peak, which was almost entirely snow covered . Jasper loves to bound up and down the slopes, feeling the snow crash below his feet, and the chilly Alaskan winter breeze in his face. Jack still follows closely behind me, not quite sure how much freedom he truly has. On occasion will break from my heels to chase after his older brother. Today Jasper found someones lost "Yak Trax" in a snow drift, and the two of them ran up and down the mountain playing with this new toy.
Unfortunately husky pups have a hard time snapping summit shots of their owners, so here is a self portrait.
As always good times were had by all, on this glorious Alaskan Winter Day. We were chased off the peak by incoming snow storms over the bigger Chugach Mountain peaks to our west.
Jasper and Jack both enjoyed ascending and descending this rather steep peak, which was almost entirely snow covered . Jasper loves to bound up and down the slopes, feeling the snow crash below his feet, and the chilly Alaskan winter breeze in his face. Jack still follows closely behind me, not quite sure how much freedom he truly has. On occasion will break from my heels to chase after his older brother. Today Jasper found someones lost "Yak Trax" in a snow drift, and the two of them ran up and down the mountain playing with this new toy.
Unfortunately husky pups have a hard time snapping summit shots of their owners, so here is a self portrait.
As always good times were had by all, on this glorious Alaskan Winter Day. We were chased off the peak by incoming snow storms over the bigger Chugach Mountain peaks to our west.
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