KENAI RIVER CANYON PACKRAFT TRIP ( SEASON OPENER), KENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, APRIL 18, 2025

KENAI RIVER CANYON PACKRAFT TRIP (SEASON OPENER), KENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, ALASKA, APRIL 18, 2025

PARTICIPANTS:

 Doug A.     Laura F.

Jim B.         Stephen F.

Trevor D.    Dylan H.

Jason F.       Wally H.

It was a beautiful day for the first packraft trip of the season.  We took our time paddling through the canyon rapids before stopping at the Picnic Table Campsite.  That's where we ate lunch and examined the wreckage of a drift boat which had probably been there all winter.  Then it was back on the water for a short paddle to Skilak Lake.  We cruised along the edge of the lake for a half mile before landing and packing our gear in backpacks for the hike out Hidden Creek Trail.  It was a fine day indeed.

Jason at the put-in (Jim's Landing).  Ready to paddle.

Laura and Jason in their brand new packrafts.

Doug uses his paddle to push off from shore.

Dylan takes a break while others empty water from their boats.

Jim examines the wreckage of a wooden drift boat.

Packraft hors d'ouvres which consists of a Wheat Thin cracker topped with canned cheese, and a smoked oyster.  Super delicious.

Trevor enjoys a cup of coffee and a good laugh while visiting with Stephen.

The group at the edge of Skilak Lake.  All packed up and ready for the hike out Hidden Creek Trail back to the vehicles.

Hiking out.

On our way back to the vehicles.

ENGINEER LAKE CABIN, KENAI NATIONAL WILDLFE REFUGE, ALASKA, APRIL 14-15, 2025 (REDUX)

 ENGINEER LAKE CABIN, KENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, ALASKA, APRIL 14-15, 2025 (REDUX)

PARTICIPANTS;

Wally Hufford

Elizabeth Hufford (Mrs. Huffy)

AUDIT OF EVENTS:

Hike into cabin, cribbage tournament, prepare Spicy Ginger Beef Over Rice Noodles for dinner, raucous concert, stargazing, relaxing morning, hike out.

Mrs. Huffy at the trailhead with her loaded backpack.  Ready to make the hike to  Engineer Lake Cabin.

You might recall that we were at Engineer Lake Cabin just a couple months ago.  It was so much fun that we decided to go again!  This time the lake was free of ice so we had to put everything in our backpacks and hike in.

Once we got setup we began the cribbage tournament right away.  Shockingly, I won the first game.

Mrs. Huffy on the cabin porch.

The view out the door of the cabin.

The cribbage tournament began right away.

For dinner we were looking forward to a recipe that we had seen on a YouTube video a few months ago.  The guy on the video made it look easy and even cooked the entire dish in the vestibule of his tent.  Things didn't go as simply for us.  After what seemed like hours of slicing and dicing we finally started the actual cooking over a single burner backpacking stove.  The pan barely contained all the ingredients and every time I stirred things around bits and pieces fell out onto the table.  After simmering for a good long while it was ready to eat.  And, I do have say, it was worth the effort because it was delicious.

Slicing ginger, red Thai chili, and garlic for the Spicy Ginger Beef Over Rice Noodles recipe.

Watching the meal simmer on a single burner backpacking stove.

Mrs. Huffy thought it was delicious.

After dinner it was time for another game of cribbage which Mrs. Huffy won handily.  Then came the evening's main event.  A huge concert which shook the walls of the cabin.  Each of us had created a playlist of ten songs and we played them using my camouflage JBL speaker.  I must say it was probably the best concert ever held at Engineer Lake Cabin. 

The camouflage JBL speaker pumped out the tunes for the evening concert.

Here are the playlists in detail if you are interested:

WALLY

The Wind Cries Mary  (Jimi Hendrix)

No One Knows  (Queens Of The Stone Age)

At The Hundredth Meridian  (The Tragically Hip)

Gild The Lily  (Billy Strings)

Burn It Down  (Los Lobos)

Are You Gonna Be My Girl  (Jet)

Ends Of The Earth  (Lord Huron)

Boulevard Of Broken Dreams  (Green Day)

Boomerang  (Imagine Dragons)

Call To Arms  (Sturgill Simpson)

Wish You Were Here  (Pink Floyd)

MRS. HUFFY

Radioactive  (Imagine Dragons)

Black Muddy River  (Bruce Hornsby)

The Boxer  (Mumford and Sons)

Galileo  (Indigo Girls)

We All Fall In Love Sometimes  (Coldplay)

You're My Best Friend  (Queen)

Adventure Of A Lifetime  (Coldplay)

Mona Lisa And Mad Hatters  (Elton John)

Someone Saved My Life Tonight  (Mumford and Sons)

Who Believes In Angels  (Elton John and Brandi Carlile)

Surrender  (Mumford and Sons)

Following the concert we walked outside to find dusk settling over the landscape.  A few minutes later the sky began to fill with stars and planets.  It was like someone sprinkled star glitter from one horizon to the other and dropped a few planets in for good measure.  It was beautiful.

Engineer Lake at dusk.

Mrs.Huffy gets a photo of the lake just before dark.

Waking up the next morning we built a fire in the wood stove and played a final game of cribbage.  I won!  So, I guess now you could say I am the reigning Engineer Lake Cabin Cribbage Champion.  Believe me...I'm just as surprised as you are.

The winning hand.

After packing up we made the hike back to the parking lot and headed for home.  It was another great trip.  In fact, it was so good we already have plans and reservations to return later in the year.  I just hope my winning streak continues!

ENGINEER LAKE CABIN, KENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, ALASKA, FEBRURY 17-19, 2025

 ENGINEER LAKE CABIN, KENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, ALASKA, FEBRUARY 17-19, 2025

Wally Hufford

Elizabeth Hufford  (Mrs. Huffy)

Engineer Lake Cabin at night.

It was 46 degrees Fahrenheit when we pulled into the Engineer Lake parking area.  Looking out at the lake we could see plenty of meltwater on top of the lake ice, sometimes 2-3 inches deep.  Along the trail to the cabin the willow buds and catkins were bursting forth.  We could even see tufts of green grass in full growth mode.  It most assuredly did not seem like the middle of February in Alaska.

Mrs. Huffy at the Engineer Lake Cabin doorway.

Mrs. Huffy along the trail to Engineer Lake Cabin.

Willow catkins were exploding from the branches.

The cabin in daylight.

After arriving at the cabin we set out our gear and spent the the remainder of the afternoon basking in the warmth of the day.  When it was time for dinner we began the process of making Marry Me Tortellini with Sausage on a single burner backpacking stove...which took forever.  But, it was delicious.  So, it was worth it.

Mrs. Huffy prepares Marry Me Tortellini with Sausage under a battery powered light while the fire in the wood stove warms the cabin.

Although it wasn't necessary for warmth, we enjoyed a glowing fire in the wood stove while we cooked and ate dinner.  Afterward we went outside and looked to the sky which was filled with stars and the usual constellations.  Then it was time for sleep.  The warmth from the wood stove lasted through the night and it was still quite pleasant the next morning.

Willows and constellations.

After a breakfast of coffee, bananas, and oatmeal we decided to hit the Seven Lakes Trail for a hike.  There wasn't any snow whatsoever and the walking was easy.  After we felt we had walked far enough we returned to the cabin where we worked on crossword puzzles, did yoga (Mrs. Huffy), and read books.  

We spent some time reading while we were at the cabin.

Cabin Queen.

Mrs. Huffy hiking on Seven Lakes Trail.

Later in the afternoon we had a cribbage tournament, which Mrs. Huffy won handily.  She always does, so it was no surprise.  When it was time for dinner we warmed up the leftover Marry Me Tortellini with Sausage.  It was even better the second night.

Guess who is winning the cribbage tournament.

Warming up leftover Marry Me Tortellini with Sausage.  It was even better the second night.

The sun on the horizon at Engineer Lake.

Waking up the next morning we slowly ate breakfast and packed gear for the trip back to the vehicle.  The weather was exquisite and we took our time walking while taking in the views of our surroundings.  It was a perfect trip.  Albeit too warm for the middle of February in Alaska.