...skiing at Alyeska

It would be difficult to imagine Spring Break without a trip to Alyeska for some downhill skiing. So, last Thursday we went and there was plenty of snow. Snow by the foot. Major storms had been dumping the stuff in the area for days. But, as we pulled into Girdwood the sun was coming out from behind the vanishing clouds and brightly reflecting off the miles of pure whiteness. Better conditions could not have been ordered. We even had to declare a sunglasses alert.

So, we skied the day away and spent the night at the Alyeska Resort Hotel, then returned home the following morning. Spring Break was complete because we had been...skiing at Alyeska.

...the cabin at Point Possession

The builder and his cabin.
A night view.
The gear sled.
Fishing on the lake.
Playing in the sun.

Six snowmachines, three sleds, and ten people left the pavement at Captain Cook State Park for several nights at a cabin 14 miles away. The trip in was smooth and the only mishap involved a broken hitch which was remedied by hooking the sleds of gear in tandem to one snowmachine. No problem.



Upon our arrival a fire was started in the wood burning stove and the kids ate snacks--lots of them. Then we took a trip to the lake where we fished for an hour and even spotted an otter crossing the ice. After a spaghetti dinner it was bed time.



The next morning was bright with sunshine and following breakfast burritos we made our way through the woods to the edge of the lake where everyone basked in the sun. After a few minutes it became clear that we were going to stay put for a while and the following conversation ensued:







"We could use a beach blanket down here...and I wish I had a Diet Coke."







"I'll drive the snowmachine back to the cabin and get you a Diet Coke."







"And get some juice pouches for the kids."







"I'll have a bottle of water--and why don't you bring one of those boxes of Girl Scout Cookies back, too?"







So the morning went. In between sips of Diet Coke, juice, and water we took turns swinging on a rope suspended from a tree near the lake's edge. Then we would eat a Girl Scout Cookie. Then talk. Then just look around. Then take another sip. We even started a fire which seemed like a lot of work to keep going. But, we kept it burning until all the nearby wood was gone. Then it was back to the cabin for lunch.



In the afternoon we built bunk beds in the upstairs and celebrated St. Paddy's Day with a steak dinner. The kids made ice cream for dessert by playing soccer with one of those ball ice cream makers and it tasted just like maple nut (sans nuts) because we used syrup in the place of sugar. It was really good. After that the kids went upstairs and got into the new bunk beds to watch a DVD while the adults played Yahtzee.



The next morning the crew ate pancakes and played a game of tag football at the gravel pit. Then it was time for part of the group to head home, hoping soon to return to...the cabin at Point Possession.

...thru Turnagain Pass

Welp, we took a trip to Anchorage last weekend and it was snowing heavily as we drove over Turnagain Pass. In fact, the snow was stacked higher than the cab of the truck. Deep stuff indeed and more coming down. Lots of it. Still, some of it was melting which meant standing water on the road and potholes--many potholes--many BIG potholes. Made for an interesting drive.

Eventually we made it to Anchorage where we checked into the hotel and then went out for the best pizza in Alaska at the Moose's Tooth. We all had fun and Grandma MJ treated. Thanks Grandma MJ! Hope you are reading this.

The remainder of the weekend was spent shopping, swimming, and checking things out in the big city. When it was time to return to Nikiski we had to drive back over the mountains and, of course, it was snowing as we drove...thru Turnagain Pass.

...of extreme tubing

There probably aren't a lot of places you can spend the first Saturday afternoon of March screaming down a hill on an inner tube, but Ohlson Mountain Extreme Tubing near Homer, Alaska, is one of them. First of all, you get in the truck and drive for an hour-and-a-half and when you pull up to the place you actually say to yourself, "This looks like it's going to be kinda fun." And, as it turns out, you're right.

After a brief instruction/safety speech from the owner you line up to take a ride down one of five lanes. It's an exhilarating, albeit short ride, to the bottom of the hill where you grab the leash on your tube and haul it over to the lift attendant. The attendant hooks your leash to the lift and up you go. Then you do the same thing all over again...and again...and again. Before you know it two hours have gone by and it's time to drive home.

So, that's how it goes and really all I know...of extreme tubing.