...Headquarters Lake skate ski

The Route: Circumnavigation of Headquarters Lake. Distance: 2.71 miles. Terrain: Snow covered lake.

Laura, Emily, and Mrs. Huffy enjoy the weather and a picnic on the edge of Headquarters Lake. Note the big bag of Cheetos.

Mrs. Huffy and our skis.

Laura tries out the classic tracks. Emily cruises across the snow.

Mrs. Huffy skate skis across Headquarters Lake...with a garbage bag attached to her belt. Leave No Trace.

Ha! A full backpack, camera, and GPS. Be prepared!

We took a skate ski to Headquarters Lake near the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge headquarters this afternoon. We had a picnic on the edge of the lake and the weather couldn't have been any better. We had a great time going around the edge of the lake. In fact, it was a great day for a...Headquarters Lake skate ski.

...early morning outing

The route Gabby and I skied this morning...most of it in the dark.

Gabby and I took an early morning foray to Stormy Lake today. When we were backing down the driveway around 5:30 AM, it was pitch black. Very dark. I was certain by the time we got skiing we would have plenty of light. So, I didn't take a headlamp. Big mistake. At the parking lot I fumbled around with bindings, backpack straps, dog snacks, and GPS settings I couldn't see. I finally got everything together and off we went--crossing the lake in the dark. We made it to the other side and entered the woods, which were even more dark. I slipped and slid along listening to the sounds of Gabby running back and forth through the dense brush. We made it to an opening just as the morning light was beginning to appear. We skied across the swamp and turned back toward the boat ramp knowing there would be a bushwhack before us. Fortunately it was finally light enough to see and after 20 minutes I had used my skis to chop and hack a path back to the edge of the lake. From there it was a dash across the ice to the boat ramp parking area and then the drive home. The end of an...early morning outing.

...Tsalteshi skate ski

The sign at the beginning of the ski trails. A trail map sign.

Mrs. Huffy skate skis down the trail.

Okay.

Mrs. Huffy skis the shortest trail to school.

The past couple of Saturday mornings we have been skate skiing on the Tsalteshi ski trails near Soldotna. They are well maintained and great fun. There are many rolling hills and sharp corners as well as long open stretches. Lots of variety. So, it's always fun when we go on a...Tsalteshi skate ski.

...another ski tour to Gooseneck Lake

The Route: Stormy Lake Overlook to Gooseneck Lake and back.

Distance: 5.3 miles.

Time: 3 hours, including picnic.

Terrain: Snow covered road, lake, swamp, 200 yards bushwhacking.

Gearing up for the ski to Gooseneck Lake.
A picnic on the edge of Gooseneck Lake.

Doug and Lori emerge from the bushwhack zone.

Mrs. Huffy looks forward to skiing on the wide open swamp after emerging from the bushwhack zone.

Booking it across the ice of Stormy Lake on our way back to the truck.

The back of the ski truck loaded with gear.

We have been skiing a lot this week. Conditions have been great with warm temps and partly sunny skies. This afternoon Liz, Lori, Doug and I put on our skis at the Stormy Lake Overlook and skied out to Gooseneck Lake for a picnic in the snow. It was great cruisng through the swamps and over lake ice. We just had one short segment of bushwhacking which wasn't too bad. The trip was 5.3 miles according to my GPS, a good distance for...another ski tour to Gooseneck Lake.

...on the wild side

Mrs. Huffy cruises across a snow covered swamp on the wild side of Stormy Lake.
Gabby, Emily, and Mrs. Huffy on the move.

Mrs. Huffy stashed a couple of treats for the girls in her backpack--Pixy Stix!

The Hufford girls on their skis.

It was a perfect afternoon for a ski. Warm temps and sunny breaks through thin clouds. We had been planning the ski so the weather was a bonus. We loaded the truck with kids, skis, backpacks, dog kennel, dog, and Pixy Stix. All the ingredients for an afternoon of fun. In no time we were gliding across Stormy Lake destined for the snow covered swamps and spruce trees on the opposite side of the lake from the highway. It was like entering a whole new world. It was quiet and the sign left by the wildlife let us know we were in a wild place.

We followed ski tracks we had made on previous trips until they stopped and we had to make our own trail. After a while we stopped for a break and the girls ate the Pixy Stix which had been stashed in Mrs. Huffy's backpack. Reluctantly we turned around and headed back to the boat ramp happy for the brief reprieve we had...on the wild side (of Stormy Lake).

...Girdwood

Emily and Carol pose at the Moose Meadow Park sign.

Carol and Emily at the beginning of the ski.

Skiing and visiting.

Carol gives Emily some pole placement pointers.

Emily skis the tracks while Carol skate skis.

This guy was riding a Pugsley bike. It's built for riding on soft surfaces like snow. Note the HUGE tires.

A team of sled dogs went past us, too.

Emily enjoyed a chocolate dessert at the restaurant after a day on the snow.

We went to Girdwood to do some skiing. Emily, Carol, and I stayed on the cross country trails, while Liz and Laura hit the slopes of Alyeska. The weather was beautiful and we saw all sorts of different trail users including: skate skiers, classic skiers, bike riders, walkers, runners, and sled dogs. After a day on the snow we finished up with dinner at Jack Sprats. All in all it was a good day to be in...Girdwood.

...Gooseneck Lake ski tour

The Route: Stormy Lake to Gooseneck Lake.

Distance: 5.5 miles.

Time: 3.5 hours (including picnic).

Terrain: snow covered lakes and swamps, some dense woods.

Mrs. Huffy on Stormy Lake right after we got started.

Adjusting the backpack.

Self portrait on the swamp behind Stormy Lake.

Mrs. Huffy poses next to a ladder/tree stand most likely built by moose hunters. You could see a wide area of swamp from this vantage point.

Adjusting the iPod on the trail.

Mrs. Huffy, tough and fearless Alaskan wife, about to enter the bushwhack zone of dense trees and brush.

Mrs. Huffy emerging from the bushwhack zone.

A beaver lodge on Gooseneck Lake.

The view of Gooseneck Lake from our picnic site.

Mrs.Huffy enjoys a picnic while sitting on a space blanket 'picnic table' on the edge of Gooseneck Lake.

Girl Scout cookies. We ate lots of these for dessert.

Gabby the ski hound.

Mrs. Huffy makes tracks on the return portion of the ski tour.

Finally, we are back at the truck after a great ski trip.

For about the past ten days I have been planning a ski tour from Stormy Lake to Gooseneck Lake. Mrs. Huffy said she was game, so I started looking at maps and satellite images from Google Earth to determine which route would be the easiest and most direct. I had several ideas when we left the Stormy Lake boat ramp area, but nothing solid. Turns out were able to follow snowmachine tracks, which made the going much easier, until we got to within about 3/4 mile of Gooseneck Lake. Then we had to do some bushwhacking before crossing the final swamp and arriving at the lake.

Once at the lake we found a spot out of the wind and set-up a picnic lunch which included a significant number of Girl Scout cookies for dessert. There was a beaver lodge nearby which we gave a good looking over before we left.

We cut through some different swamps on the way back and ended up on the very far end of Stormy Lake. We skied across the lake, past some ice fishers, and then back to the truck. We got back to the truck tired, but already planning another...Gooseneck Lake ski tour.