...wilderness mechanics

THE ROUTE:  From the end of the pavement at Capt Cook State Park, along the pipeline right-of-way, through some woods, and over swamps and lakes.
TERRAIN:  Snow covered woods and swamps.
DISTANCE: 34 miles RT.

Jim and Shane try to get the track to turn.

Trying to loosen the track.

The track of Jim's snowmachine dug right down into the snow when he started pulling the other snowmachine.

As mechanical things are apt to do, they break down at inopportune times and inconvenient places.  We were a long ways from the end of the road this afternoon on our way to Snag Lake when one of our machines quit moving.  The engine ran fine but the clutch wouldn't engage.  After trying to get things to work and realizing it wasn't going to happen we decided to tow the machine back.  That's when we found out the track wouldn't turn.  Bad news.  It wasn't going anywhere.  We marked the location with a GPS and decided to leave it and come back later with more tools and equipment.

Fortunately we made one last attempt at moving the track before we left and it broke free.  We hitched it to another sled and started back toward the pipeline right-of-way which turned out to be several miles away.  Once back at the pipeline trail the going was easy and we made it back to the parking area in about 20 minutes. 

It took four of us to lift the disabled machine into the back of a truck and just like that our adventure was over.  Just another day in paradise for us...wilderness mechanics.

...Saturday afternoon at Stormy Lake

THE ROUTE:  Stormy Lake boat ramp road, across outlet of lake, through woods, and swamps.  This is one of our favorite places to ski.
TERRAIN:  Snow covered road, lake, and swamp.
DISTANCE:  2.4 miles RT.

Kids, pups, and skis...a recipe for great fun!

Crossing near the outlet of Stormy Lake.

Alex digs a pit in the snow for our picnic using a collapsible shovel.

Danni and Emily try out the sitting area.  We place our skis upside down in the snow and then put a space blanket over them.  It worked perfectly.

The picnic scene.

Lori helps Danni with the mustard.

THE CREW:  Lori, Laura, Danni, Liz, Emily, and Alex (not pictured:  Wally).

Sunny skies and warm temps for the past few days have had everyone hankering to get out and enjoy the abundant snow which has accumulated over the winter.  So we put our skis on the car and drove for Stormy Lake where we met up with Lori, Alex, and Danni.  We skied down the hill to the boat ramp where we crossed the ice and entered the woods on the other side.  It wasn't long before we were cruising across untouched snow around the edges of stunted spruce to a spot out of the wind in the full force of the sun when we decided to stop for a picnic.  Alex dug a pit so we could sit on the edge of it and dangle our legs while I started a fire to cook hot dogs and 'smores.

Everyone was in shirt sleeves and we all commented on how warm it was as we gobbled the food--sharing some with the pups, of course.  After eating we stood around the remaining flames and basked in the warmth of the sun.  Nobody was anxious to move. 

Following a good rest and some great conversations we packed up and skied back to the cars.  We made plans to go out to dinner at Acapulco's later in the evening and then to the Brown Bears hockey game.  It all followed a great...Saturday afternoon at Stormy Lake.

...skiing at Trail River Campground

THE ROUTE:  Trail River CG road to Trail River CG.
TERRAIN:  Groomed trail the entire distance.
DISTANCE:  3 miles RT

The Hufford girls pose at the sign near the entrance to Trail River Campground.  The snow was probably 5-6 feet deep on the level.

Mrs. Huffy skis the Trail River Campground groomed trails.

Emily turns and looks back as she skis the trail.

We stopped for a picnic on the edge of Kenai Lake.  It was great to eat Girl Scout cookies and apples in the sunshine.

Laura carried Emily's skis on her backpack when Emily decided to finish the trip on foot.

We have been talking about skiing the trails at Trail River Campground for most of the winter.  They are maintained by the Seward Nordic Ski Club and are kept in prime condition.  So, we loaded the truck this morning stopping at Louie's for breakfast before making the drive to Moose Pass and on to the campground.  When we arrived we had the entire place to ourselves for most of the morning as we enjoyed skiing, taking photos and videos, and a picnic at the edge of Kenai Lake.  Other skiers showed up as the afternoon progressed and we visited with some of them as we cruised around the campground loops.  After soaking up the sun we made our way back to the truck happy that we had been...skiing at Trail River Campground.

...spring skiing



THE ROUTE:  Parking area at Stormy Lake Overlook, down the embankment to the lake, along the shore of Stormy Lake, groomed trail through woods to lake with bear bait station, return.
TERRAIN:  Embankment with deep snow, snow covered lake, groomed trail.
DISTANCE:  3.5 miles RT.

Mrs. Huffy skis along the edge of Stormy Lake.

Mrs. Huffy on the groomed trail.  It was an extremely nice trail.

Animal tracks cross the lake.

Mrs. Huffy takes a break.

Enjoying some spring skiing.

It seemed like a perfect day for skiing.  The sun was bright and the air felt warm.  We loaded the skis and drove for the Stormy Lake Overlook where we parked the truck and eased our way down a steep embankment to the lake through some extremely deep snow.  Once we were at the lake's edge we locked into our bindings and glided along an old snowmachine trail which we followed to an opening where we found a beautifully groomed trail that went through the woods eventually popping us out at the lake with a bear bait station on it.  We took a short break and wondered who could have groomed the trail. Then we found our way back to Stormy Lake and the embankment leading up to our truck.  The last several hundred feet were the most difficult of the trip due to the steepness and depth of the snow.  But with a little persistence we made back, happy we had gone...spring skiing.

...riding snowmachines to the Swanson River

THE ROUTE:  Island Lake to the Swanson River.
TERRAIN:  Snow covered lakes, streams, swamps, right of ways, and wooded areas.
DISTANCE:  ~45 miles RT

Jim surveys the scene on a lake without a name on our way to the Swanson River.

There weren't any tracks in front of us once we hit the Swanson River.

It was a beautiful day for a ride on the snowmachines.  Being in no particular hurry, Jim and I left at noon and made our way through the snow toward the Swanson River.  We stopped and talked with some friends at Wik Lake and eventually rode toward Halbouty Hill.  After taking in the scenery from atop the hill we skedaddled through the woods to a lake without a name and over some swamps to Gooseneck Lake.  We weren't far from the Swanson River at that point and we took off through the woods to find it.  Eventually the woods became impenetrable and we got both machines stuck for the only time during the entire trip. 

After digging out we followed some old tracks and hit the Swanson River just a few minutes later.  The tracks disappeared and we had untrammeled snow down the river to the powerline.  It was fun careening from side to side of the river in a nature made half-pipe.  We got off the river where the powerline crosses and followed it a short distance before getting back on some swamps which we screamed across one to the next all the way to Timberlost Lake and back to the pipeline.

Then it was a quick ride back home in plenty of time to get ready for a party at the Zimmerman house.  All in all it was a great day...riding snowmachines to the Swanson River.