ENGINEER LAKE CABIN, KENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, ALASKA, MARCH 18-19, 2024

ENGINEER LAKE CABIN TRIP, KENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, ALASKA, MARCH 18-19, 2024.

TEAM:

     Doug Armstrong

     Wally Hufford

     Miko (doggo)

     Penny (doggo)

Since our trip to Engineer Lake Cabin last year had been such a success, I had been looking forward to making another journey to the cabin at Engineer Lake.  I was checking the cabin availability on the internet with regular frequency and noted there was an opening on March 18th, which fit nicely with my work schedule.  Mrs. Huffy was going to be out of town at that time, so I contacted my buddy Doug and we began making plans for the trip.

The goal of the trip was to simply enjoy the wilderness and hopefully relish some good springtime weather.  It would a sub-24 adventure between days of work.

Arriving at the parking area we happened to meet the previous occupants.  We all stood in the sunshine and enjoyed a pleasant chat about their stay at the cabin.  They were from Homer and this was their first trip to a Public Use Cabin.  

As the conversation continued Doug and I began to unload sleds and gear from the truck and prepped for the short walk across the lake.  The path was packed down and we easily made our way to the cabin in a little over 20 minutes.  We stashed our gear and set out to collect some firewood--a task that was made easy with Doug's chainsaw.  We loaded up the woodshed in no time and soon decided to take a hike along Seven Lakes Trail.

Engineer Lake Cabin.

Doug Armstrong arriving at the cabin.

Doug starts the chainsaw in preparation of collecting some firewood.

Melting snow on the wood stove.

This is the sign at the Seven Lakes Trail/Engineer Lake Cabin trail junction.  We passed it as we were hiking toward Hidden Lake.

We made our way from the cabin to the Seven Lakes Trail a short distance away.  Once we were there we hiked through the burn area toward a short side trail which led to Hidden Lake.  After taking in the views we returned the way we had come and soon found ourselves back at the cabin where it was time for afternoon beverages.  The hike had been about 2.5 miles in total.  The pups had a great time running around.

MIko posed for the camera.

Penny posed, too.

Doug sat on a bench in front of the cabin for afternoon beverages.

Following beverages we each made our dinners and ate them while sitting on the porch.  The evening was grand with clear blue skies and warm temps.  However, once the sun began to descend we moved inside and filled the stove with wood in order to keep the oncoming evening chill at bay.  We loaded the stove once more before going to sleep which kept the cabin comfortably warm all night.

We lit a fire on Engineer Lake ice to burn some dead branches

The next morning we made a leisurely breakfast and basked in the rising sun as it peered through the front windows.  After eating we began to pack up before making the short walk back to the truck.  

Heating water for morning coffee at the cabin.

Doug and Miko hike across Engineer Lake pulling a sled.

And...that was it.  The trip was about 24 hours in duration and had we enjoyed perfect spring weather the entire time.  I went back to work and started looking forward to my next adventure at Engineer Lake.  Which can't come soon enough.

GLOBAL FAT BIKE DAY 2023, EXIT GLACIER, KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA, DECEMBER 2-4

GLOBAL FAT BIKE DAY 2023, WILLOW PUBLIC USE CABIN, EXIT GLACIER, KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA, DECEMBER 2-4, 2023

The Kenai Fjords National Park sign near the Exit Glacier Cabin.

For the second year in a row we celebrated Global Fat Bike Day by pedaling our fat bikes to the Willow Public Use Cabin at Exit Glacier.  This year we stayed for two nights.  The posse included myself, Jim Bennett, and Doug Armstrong.

Jim and Doug ready to ride fat bikes to the cabin.

Doug and I met Jim at the gate crossing Exit Glacier Road.  After loading the bikes and sleds with gear we began pedaling toward the cabin.  The ground was barren of snow, but the road had a glaze of ice on it so our sleds could glide along.  Once we got closer to the cabin there was more snow on the ground.  Although it wasn't very deep, it was frozen solid as concrete and we were able to easily pedal over the surface without sinking.

Jim riding his fat bike and pulling a sled toward the cabin.

It took us about an hour-and-a-half to pedal the seven miles to the cabin.  That included several rest stops along the way where we took many photos and enjoyed the views of the mountains.

Willow Public Use Cabin at Exit Glacier with fat bikes on the porch.

Upon our arrival we took our gear inside and parked our bikes on the porch.  The cabin has a propane heating system that keeps everything toasty.  The lights are powered by a solar panel (look closely just

below the peak of the roof and you can see it) which kept things nice and bright.

Jim had a small stereo speaker and a playlist of really good music that we listened to for most of the afternoon and evening.  We also held an Andy Griffith Trivia challenge and chose topics of conversation which kept us awake until 10:00 PM.  Which is way past old man bedtime.

Early morning in the cabin meant puzzle time on the cell phones.

In the morning we got up and made breakfast while working  daily puzzles which had been downloaded on our phones.  There isn't any cell service at the cabin so Doug was bummed that his Wordle streak was broken. 

Filling water containers.

Even though the cabin has heat and lights, there isn't any running water.  Instead, we took several containers to a nearby stream where we filled them with ice cold water and took them back to the cabin.

Pulling a sled of full water containers back to the cabin.

A good supply of water.

The stove/oven in the cabin.

After procuring water we decided to spend the remainder of the day hiking to the Exit Glacier Overlook and the then back down the road to the bridge over the Resurrection River.  The weather was gorgeous and although the sun never hit the lower parts of the valley it lit up the peaks and ridges almost making them glow.  It was really beautiful.

Sunlit mountain.

Another sunlit mountain.

We woke up early on Monday morning and ate breakfast.  Then we packed our gear for the ride back to the vehicles.  The conditions were the same as when we rode in so it was a fast trip due to the downhill gradient of the road.  We arrived at the vehicles, loaded our bikes and gear, then drove back home.  It was a great adventure and we're already making plans to return for Global Fat Bike Day 2024!

DENALI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA, SEPTEMBER 6-10, 2023

Denali didn't make an appearance until the morning we left.  Then it was strikingly majestic.

DENALI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA, SEPTEMBER 6-10, 2023

ATHABASCAN (DENE') LAND

LOGISTICS:

     We left Nikiski and drove to Eagle River where we spent the night.  The next morning we stopped at the Eagle River Fred Meyer store on the way out of town and shopped for the supplies we would need for the trip.  Then we made the drive to Grizzly Bear Cabins which is where we stay during our annual foray to Denali National Park.

The scenery was so beautiful Mrs. Huffy couldn't take her eyes off it.  

Day 1:  (9/6/23)

     The week after Labor Day is traditionally the time we go to Denali National Park.  We've made this little trip enough times now that it's routine when we head out the door and up the road.  It has become customary to drive from our house in Nikiski to Eagle River where we spend the night before driving to the park.  We did just that.  

    And, while we were in Eagle River we decided to visit a restaurant called Jalapeños Mexican Restaurant and Cantina because we had seen its many ads on TV.  We also knew it was a spot where we could get a margarita in remembrance of Jimmy Buffet's passing.  Margaritaville was a good place to be on a rainy evening in Eagle River, Alaska.

    The next morning we stopped at Fred Meyer on our way out of town to pick up some supplies for the trip. It was the typical fare of convenient breakfast foods and some sandwich makings for our lunches.  I honestly think we could keep the same shopping list from year-to-year because we always get the same thing.  Actually we probably don't even need a shopping list.  We've done it so often we have the items we need memorized.

    After shopping we got in the car and poured some juice in the carburetor.  We were bound for Denali National Park.  Listening to Elton John and The Tragically Hip we cruised down the road making the typical stops for fuel and rest breaks.  

    In no time we were turning onto the park road and headed for Savage River.  Motoring along we gained elevation as the remnants of the previous night's snowstorm crept down the mountainsides, closer and closer to the edge of the road.  Near the Vista Parking area the snow was on the road.  The bushes were weighed down and bent over with the weight of the snow.  We walked down Vista trail a short way and had to turn back due to a deep puddle covering the trail.

    We made the drive back toward Grizzly Bear Cabins and checked in at the front desk.  It only took a few minutes to stow our gear in the Cheechako cabin (our favorite) and that was when we realized we'd forgotten to pack the cribbage board.  Which was kind of embarrassing.  Because we had never left it behind.  These trips are known for the cribbage tournaments we play.  

    Mrs. Huffy immediately commented she had the New York Times crossword puzzle downloaded on her phone and we could use them in lieu of playing cribbage.  It was all we could do.  The string of traditional Denali National Park cribbage tournaments was broken.

    Once we got over the disappointment of the missing cribbage board and had eaten dinner it was time for the evening moose patrol.  We put binoculars, cameras, and some warm clothing in the car and drove toward Savage River once again.  

    Moose patrol is the primary reason we go to Denali at this time of year.  The moose are rutting and they are often very close to the road.  So we drive back and forth waiting and hoping for a moose or two to make themselves visible.  None did on this evening.  But it was just the first moose patrol of several evenings.  We knew things could only get better.

The scenery is vibrant this time of the year.

Bright colors with a snowy background.

Day 2:  (9/7/23)

    We ate breakfast while working on the New York Times crossword puzzle.  As we heated up some water for coffee, tea, and oatmeal, we tried to figure what words would fit in the puzzle spaces.  Following breakfast we drove out to Savage River once again hoping to spot some moose along the road.  But, we didn't expect much because it was a little late in the day.  We didn't see any moose, but we appreciated the spectacular scenery and returned to our cabin for lunch.

    That afternoon we took a hike along the Triple Lakes trail.  Conveniently it's just across the bridge over the Nenana River from Grizzly Bear Cabins.  We hiked along as the clouds were breaking up and the sun began to appear.  About a quarter mile from the trailhead we looked up to see a person standing stationary in the middle of the trail.  He didn't move out of the path and it was obvious he wanted to to talk.  We soon found out that his name was Micheal and he was from Bulgaria.  He had spent the summer working at one of the local hotels but hadn't gotten out hiking very much.  He said he had difficulty finding people to hike with and was terrified of having an encounter with a bear.  So, safety in numbers, so to speak, we took off down the trail as a group of three.  It was fun and our conversation covered topics ranging from Lambourghinis to Bulgarian politics.

    Liz and I had decided that our destination would be a lake where we would turn around and go back to our cabin.  Micheal was unsure about going further by himself, but we assured him that it would be just fine and he took off down the trail on his own.  After parting ways we walked back to the cabin under big puffy clouds and sunshine that actually felt warm.

Mrs. Huffy and the New York Times crossword puzzle on her phone.

    Once back at the cabin we straightened everything up because we were having company.  Things had to look presentable because our dear friends Dave and Sharon were joining us for dinner and moose patrol. They were visiting from Virginia and on a commercial hiking tour of Alaska.  We were extremely happy they had a free evening and we could get together.  We ordered some Red Curry and Drunken Noodles from a Thai food truck in the Grizzly Bear Cabins parking lot which we complimented with Yellow Eye IPA's.  All this happened while sitting around the tiny table in the Cheechako Cabin sharing conversation, laughs, and memories.  It really was nice.

    After we finished eating we prepped for the nightly moose patrol.  I think it was the first one Dave and Sharon had ever been on.  Loading our binoculars and cameras in the car we were all set for the evening ritual of driving back and forth on the Park road hoping a moose would show up and make it all worth the effort.  

    As we drove along we had just passed the rutting moose sign when a cow moose appeared at the side of the road.  Looking up the road further a young, gangly, bull crossed the pavement and walked into the bushes.  We pulled up and got a good look at him even though he was partially hidden by vegetation.  It was a good start to the evening, but we knew there could be more ahead so we drove onward.

    The road was noticeably quiet and we began to speculate there must be a moose somewhere that had all the vehicles stopped.  This turned out to be true, because it wasn't long before we found a cluster of cars, trucks, and busses, in what could only be a moose jam.  We got closer and parked on the edge of the road.  Ahead we saw a crowd of people so we walked toward them.  They had huge camera lenses, spotting scopes, binoculars, and other moose watching paraphernalia all pointing out into the taiga.  Suddenly, there he was...and he had some very large antlers.

    Looking out a couple hundred yards we saw a large bull moose just standing there.  It seemed like he was just appreciatively lingering in the cool evening air.  Every once in a while he would take a couple steps and alter the direction of his interest.  Although we couldn't see them it was obvious there were some cows around and he was monitoring their movements.  We took a good long while watching that moose through our binoculars and taking photos with our phones.  

    It was just as fun to watch all the people with their expensive optic gear maneuver and adjust for the best viewing/photographing positions.  Everyone's attention was riveted to that moose and every move it made.  It was quite the phenomenon.  After a half hour or so we decided to get back in the car and see what else we could find.  We drove out to Vista before turning around and passing through the moose jam again on the return trip.  

    We kept driving and before long we spotted the young bull moose we had seen earlier.  He was unabashedly attempting to gain the attention of a cow, although she was pretty much ignoring him.  He chased all round the area making a big scene.  He would run back and forth, then suddenly stop and stand at attention.  The cow, on the other hand, was singularly focused on eating

    Best of all, though, when we rolled down the car windows we could hear all the moose sounds that were being made.  We could even hear the sound of the cow as she ate the vegetation along the edge of the road.  It was dang awesome.  The bull eventually disappeared and we decided it was time to head back to the cabins.  I think we all agreed it was a very successful evening moose patrol.

We encountered a young bull moose trying to impress a cow just a few hundred yards beyond this sign.

This is the young guy right here.

A short while later we saw this fellow.

Day 3 (9/8/23):

    This was the day we had reservations to ride the bus to East Fork in hopes of spotting some wildlife and appreciating the fall colors.  We also planned to hike in Igloo Canyon.  The ride was excellent and we made it to the East Fork, which is as far as the busses go these days due to the construction at Pretty Rocks. This is where we turned around and headed back to Igloo Canyon.  That's where we got off at Tattler Creek.  

    We basically spent a couple hours walking down the road and had a picnic while sitting along the edge of Igloo Creek.  Looking around at the colorful sides of the canyon, the clouds, and the sky, I felt like I could've stayed there forever.  Every thing was perfect.  I know these kinds of places are permanent, but our time in them is temporary.  So, grudgingly we flagged down a bus that had room for us and hopped on.  In a couple hours we were back at the bus depot.  The only wildlife we saw were two caribou on a hillside near the Sanctuary River.  They were so far away I didn't even bother to take pictures of them.

    Upon returning to our cabin we found a bag of gifts from the Reisling Family, owners of Grizzly Bear Cabins.  We were totally surprised and appreciative of the card with kind words and the hats they gave us. They said they appreciated the fact that we had stayed with them for so many years.  Liz and I both thought it was a very charming gesture and we appreciated it very much.

    That evening we went on moose patrol again and were we ever in for a whopping good show!  Just like the evening before the road was very quiet which meant there was a moose jam somewhere. We drove along and found it in the same general area it had been in the night before.  We pulled our car off the road and parked before walking toward the crowd of people gathered along the edge of the road.  

    As we got closer a huge bull moose stepped out of the bushes and nearly straight into some people.  It crossed the road passing within inches of vehicles and made its way to the other side. Taking a few steps into the brush it stopped and put its antlers into a rather large bush.  Then it shredded that bush into nothingness in 28 seconds.  It was honestly one of those times when you are so focused that you're kind of transfixed with astonishment and unaware of anything else.  

    A few seconds later the bull began walking away from the bush and disappeared into the landscape.  Our timing couldn't have been better.

This moose came out of nowhere and was suddenly right on the road near a group of people.

After shredding a bush to smithereens he took a look around to survey the scene.

Then he swaggered into the brush.

This person had built moose viewing platform on the top of his rig.

Mrs. Huffy poses aside the bus we rode into the park.

At the East Fork where the busses turn around and go back to the park entrance.

The water, rocks, and snow of the East Fork.

Mrs. Huffy and the fall colors in Igloo Canyon.

The Grizzly Bear Cabins sign.  We have stayed here for many years when we visit Denali National Park.

Day 4:  (9/8/23)

    The morning started with breakfast and a drive to Healy for fuel and a stop at the Three Bears store where we picked up some bananas.  Returning to the cabin we packed a lunch and got things ready for a trip on the Savage River Shuttle bus.  We planned to ride it to Savage River and hike the Savage River Trail which would be a new experience for us.  Just as we were about to board the bus Liz got a call on her cell phone.  Her mom was in the Emergency Room.  After a flurry of phone calls and several hours later everything was fine and we were back at the cabin.

    We made a trip to a local restaurant where we had some delicious meatloaf and key lime pie for dinner before heading out for the final evening of moose patrol.  We drove back and forth on the road several times before it got too dark to see.  We didn't find any moose, but that was alright because we had already had several very successful evenings.

    We woke up early the next morning and called Liz's mom to check in.  Everything had returned to normal so we packed up and hit the road.  The drive home was straightforward and along the way we stopped in Anchorage to take Emily grocery shopping before completing the trip to Nikiski.

    That was it.  Our post-Labor Day trip to Denali was complete and another summer was history.  But, of course, we'll be back after Labor Day next year.  Of course we will.

The many colors of fall in Denali National Park.

A rainbow over Denali country.

ENGINEER LAKE CABIN TRIP, KENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, ALASKA, MARCH 2-3, 2023

ENGINEER LAKE CABIN TRIP, KENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, ALASKA, MARCH 2-3, 2023

THE TEAM:

Austin Baumeister

Elizabeth Hufford

Wally Hufford

LOGISTICS:

We met Austin at the West Entrance of Skilak Loop Road just before noon.  The road hadn't been plowed and the snow was deep so it was an adventurous drive to the Engineer Lake parking area.  Once we were there we loaded our backpacks and sleds before snowshoeing across the lake to the cabin.

Approaching Engineer Lake cabin with food and gear.  (photo courtesy of Austin Baumeister).

 

We have visited the Engineer Lake Public Use cabin on a number of occasions.  Mostly just stopping in to check the cabin and read the journal entries that have been made by various occupants.  Each time we are there we comment on how it would be such a nice place to stay and promise ourselves that we will make reservations for a visit very soon.  

Well, after umpteen years of saying that we finally did it.  Early March would be a good time to go as the daylight has extended itself by then and the mid-winter temperatures should have moderated enough for us to stay thawed out.  Besides, our friend Austin was keenly interested in making the trip and he had that week off, so reservations were made and preparations began.

A very warm and hospitable cabin.

It didn't take long for us to snowshoe across the lake and arrive at the cabin.  We immediately got a fire going in the wood stove to get the structure warmed up as quickly as possible.  Then we unloaded our excessive amount of gear and food.  Even though we were spending just one night the counter was piled high with enough food for a week.  

With everything stowed away we decided to do some ice fishing.  Austin and I marched out on the lake and found a place where it looked like someone had fished before.  We briefly discussed how this must be a good spot and Austin used his ice auger to drill two holes. He made it look easy, but the ice was thick.  It was a massive effort.

Austin used an ice auger to drill a couple of holes through the ice so we could try our luck at catching a fish.

We stood around for a couple hours, or longer, waiting for a fish to bite.  We were about to give up when suddenly out of nowhere Austin hooked into a substantial fish!  He reeled it to the top of the ice, we took a couple photos, and released back through the hole into Engineer Lake.  Of course, we couldn't stop while the fish were biting and about 10 minutes later Austin caught another one.  We must've been happy with two fish because not long after we decided it was time to return to the cabin for dinner.

Austin and an Engineer Lake fish.

We had some prepared some taco meat at home using some Sitka Black Tail deer meat a friend had given me.  So, we warmed it up in a pan on the flat surface of the wood stove.  Once it was ready we piled it and all the taco fixings on our plates and dug in.  All of that was followed up with cookies for dessert and then the games began.

Dinner consisted of Sitka Black Tail deer tacos.  They were delicious.

Austin had the youngest eyes in the group so he ultimately had to read the finely printed directions for a game called Bananagrams.  We all tried to follow the rules as best we could while sitting under the light of a headlamp hanging from a hook in the rafter.  We also played several games of cribbage, although we never crowned a tournament champion because the brackets were too difficult to figure out.

Of course there was a cribbage tournament.

Once the games were over it was time for an evening stroll on Engineer Lake.  We put on our boots and headlamps before stepping outside. Looking up we gazed at one of the most gorgeous winter skies you could ever imagine.  It was crystal clear and the constellations were in perfect position.  We could even identify and name many of them.   After marvelling at all of it we began walking.  Every once in a while we would stop to re-stare up at the stars and planets.  

It was one of those moments when you felt like everything was the way it has always been.  We could have been standing on that frozen lake thousands of years ago looking up to see the exact same thing.  It ties a person to time and the cosmos.

Star gazing at Engineer Lake.

After walking on the lake we returned to the cabin and got everything ready for a night of slumber.  We filled the wood stove with wood and let it work up to a good blaze.  Then right before getting into our sleeping bags we turned the damper down so it would burn as slowly as possible, hopefully providing heat long into the night.  All of that worked because the cabin stayed warm the entire night and I didn't even turn the Buddy heater on until 5:30 AM, and that was just for fun because we really didn't need the extra warmth.

When we got up I checked the outdoor thermometer located outside the back window of the cabin.  It read -4 degrees Fahrenheit.  A chilly morning by most standards.  But, all was good inside the cabin where we prepared for the admittedly unimaginative breakfast of oatmeal, banana chips, and coffee (next time I'm bringing bacon and eggs). 

By the time we were done eating the sun was shining full force on the lake and we decided to go out for another round of ice fishing.  The holes Austin drilled the day before had frozen over and we had to use an axe to open them up enough to make them fishable.  After an hour or so with no luck we decided to pack it in.  We headed back to the cabin and began the process of loading up and getting ready to leave.

A last look at the cabin before we left.  We made certain the fire in the wood stove was out before we departed.

This trip was flawless (the exception being not having any bacon and eggs).  From the moment we met Austin at the West Entrance of Skilak Loop Road we fell into an easygoing rhythm that led from one activity and topic of discussion to the next.  

Of course, the cabin and the setting had something to do with it.  Staying in a basic structure heated by wood brings the most important and elemental aspects of life into clear focus.  Then walking out onto the frozen lake in the dark and looking up at all creation can be profound and humbling.  It's quite the juxtaposition if you think about it.  I can't explain it any better than that.

But I do know this--I have a feeling we will be returning to the cabin at Engineer Lake very soon.

GLOBAL FAT BIKE DAY 2022, EXIT GLACIER, KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA, DECEMBER 3-4

GLOBAL FAT BIKE DAY 2022, WILLOW PUBLIC USE CABIN, EXIT GLACIER, KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA, DECEMBER 3-4

THE POSSE:

Wally Hufford

Elizabeth Hufford

Laura Hufford

Doug Armstrong

Posing with fat bikes at the entrance sign to Kenai Fjords National Park.  (photo credit:  Doug Armstrong)

LOGISTICS:

We drove from Nikiski to Seward, Alaska with our fat bikes where we met up with Laura and Doug at the gate across Exit Glacier Road (the road is closed to automobile traffic in the winter).  Once all our gear was loaded on our fat bikes we rode the ~7.5 miles out to the Willow Public Use Cabin which is near the Exit Glacier Visitor Center.  After spending the night at the cabin we rode back to our vehicles and drove home.

The Willow Public Use Cabin at Exit Glacier.

This trip had been in the planning stages for several years.  I knew of the Willow Public Use Cabin and had been thinking of renting it for a while.  In October I thought we should rent it for Global Fat Bike Day and make a big celebration out of it.  

The cabin is in a beautiful setting and a gem itself.  It has propane heat, refrigeration, and a cooking stove/oven.  The lights are powered by a battery that is solar charged.  We had the lights on most of the evening and the next morning without any loss of brightness.  That's pretty good for the middle of winter in Alaska if you ask me.

Elizabeth, Doug, and Laura pedal fat bikes toward the cabin.

On our way out the riding conditions couldn't have been more perfect for a fat bike.  The snow was packed down and frozen hard.  It was almost like riding frozen pavement all the way to the cabin.  Our tires had studs in case of ice, but they weren't really needed.  Along the way we passed a number of other users on the road including hikers, skiers, and mushers.  Everyone was happy and enjoying the superb winter day surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery.  We made excellent time arriving at the cabin about two hours after we left the parking area.

This dog was named Wren  She was very energetic and had run about seven miles when this photo was taken.  Her owner is the skier in the photo.

This musher was training/conditioning his dogs by having them tow a four-wheeler down the road.

As we pedaled along we took our time stopping regularly for photos and to take in the exquisite scenery.  The low angle winter sun lit the mountains with vibrant color on one side while the other side remained in shadow.  The light was dramatic for sure and a benefit of living in northern latitudes in the winter.

Laura on a bridge with sunlit mountains behind her.

Once we arrived at the cabin we turned up the heat and actually marveled at the deluxe accommodations.  In the summer months the cabin is used to house seasonal hires for the National Park Service, so all the amenities are right there with the exception of running water.  Instead there are several containers filled with water for drinking and cooking.  There were also two bedrooms with two bunks each.  It was as close to fat bike glamping as I could ever imagine.  

Upon arrival at the cabin Laura warmed her toes on the heater.

We played a game of Hearts in the evening.  I got the most points.  That's not a good thing when you're playing Hearts.

The ride back to the vehicles was exquisite.  The road conditions were perfect, the weather superb, and it was downhill the entire way.  (photo credit:  Doug Armstrong)

After a restful night I woke up at 6:00 AM.  Of course, it was still dark outside when I opened the door and stepped onto the porch.  But, looking upward I couldn't believe my eyes.  From horizon to horizon a dazzling number of twinkling stars filled the sky.  It was so beautiful that I stood there staring up in total disbelief and appreciation.  There were many constellations that I recognized, even though I couldn't recall their names, and the utter silence of the wilderness setting added to the perfect stargazing station on that porch.  I stood there for a good long while before I got cold and went back inside for breakfast.

The others slowly roused as the morning moved at a leisurely pace.  We made oatmeal, drank coffee by the mugful, and talked about a number of topics pertinent to the day.  Nobody was in a hurry and the sun wouldn't come up until after 10:00 AM anyway, so we took our time.  

Once it was light enough we slowly packed our gear and loaded the fat bikes.  The ride out was sublime and we enjoyed watching the sunlight slowly illuminate the mountain peaks all around us.  It was just so beautiful.  I don't think any of us wanted to arrive back at the vehicles where we knew the trip would end.

Pulling into the parking area we took one last look around.  Mountains, sky, sunshine, and friends.  Everything was just right.  The trip had been a wonderful success and before long everything was packed up and ready to go.

In a post-trip celebration we drove the short few miles to Seward for hamburgers at the Mermaid Grotto restaurant.  After that it was a simple drive back to Nikiski where we sorted and cleaned gear.  Of course, we also began making plans for our next trip to the Willow Public Use Cabin, which we hope will be very soon.  Who knows, it might even become an annual Global Fat Bike Day tradition.  That would be something great.