Drove 6 hours Anchorage to Fairbanks, then another 100 miles to the trailhead for Tolovana Hot Springs. The windchill must have been -30 at the parking lot, it got a bit better in the trees, but then my gear sled broke. A few MacGuyver minutes later though I was on my way. 8 peeps and 6 doggies, 11 miles up and over the dome in -40 wind chill resulted in my frosbit face, plus frostbit ears, fingers and toes amongst the others. It took awhile to recover, but by the next day and after a few dips in the hot tubs, all was well, and the ski out the next day was -15 but no wind. 9 hours later I was back snug in my bed. QUite the little Alaska adventure if I do say so myself!

We've had snow 21 of the last 24 days in Anchorage, and ALyeska had had sick pow for weeks. Everything is filled in across the whole mountain meaning you can huck off just about anything and land in soft pow, ready for the next drop. The best part is that the snow and reduced visibility keeps people on the runs longer so there has been no lift lines even on a Saturday! Hoping for another few good days before it warms up and everything goes to crap. It always happens every year, it's just a matter of when.

So I got a second studded tire for my bike. Now with no excuses left, I rode to work this morning, it was clear, dark, and about 9 degrees F, but the problem always seems to be getting too hot instead of too cold, as my shirt was soaked after the 25 minute ride downtown. It was fun too, I saw two other bikers, one more prepared than the next. Hopefully I can bike 3 days a week, more or less depending in conditions. My cube looks like a laundrymat though!

It snowed about 6 inches in Anchorage yesterday and it's snowing again today. First tracks on Saturday at Hatcher's Pass off the South side of Hatch Peak, epic powder turns on the way down, exhausting slog on the way back up, but it was worth every step. Hazel had her first day in the backcountry, at 9 months, she's a natural and had no problem keeping up, or bombing off the top to follow me. Good Doggie!

Well we woke up to light flurries in Anchorage this morning. Just a few flakes, but hopefully a sign of things to come. Word is that there's snow to be had a Hatcher Pass so we'll probably head up there next weekend for some turns. It's supposed to snow later this week!

There's snow on the back peaks of the Chugach Mountains. It's been there about a week or so. The rain seems to have abated for the time being, allowing us to have a great weekend. Friday night we saw "Little Miss Sunshine", that movie is freakin hilarious and I recommend it to anyone. Saturday was the ducky boat trip on the Matanuska, sweet class II/III in an open boat, followed by a party at our place Saturday night. Sunday we hiked Falls Creek straight up to Falls Lake for a nice 33 degree swim alongside the snowbanks leftover from last year. We saw about 40 goats grazing on the hill above us, luckily the dogs didn't see them or didn't care. Hoping to bike Lost Lake next weekend if it stays dry...