Days are Getting Longer, Iditarod is in the Books!

Bout time we get around to sharing with everyone.  Winter is still hanging on with a few inches of snow dropped last week and more expected this week.  On the other hand, it has been BEAUTIFUL for the past 2-3 weeks with brilliant sunshine and days so clear we've been seeing Mt. McKinley from our living room over 250 miles away!

In early February, I got to spend a week in Portland for work.  While there I took in my first NBA game with a fraternity brother from WSU and spent a night with my buddy Luke and his wife Jen after Luke and I watched the Cougs get dominated by the Ducks in the new Matthew Knight Arena (very nice facility by the way).  Unfortunately, on the last day there I got the tragic news that my Uncle Fred passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in northern Idaho.  I was very thankful that Alaska Airlines allowed me to detour through Spokane on my way home.  It was nice to be able to spend a couple days with family during this difficult time.  We were all able to find peace in the comfort of knowing full and well that Uncle Fred knew the Lord.  On a more personal note, it dawned on me that he is the first close family member to get to see Mariah again.  I can just see her greeting him at the gates of heaven with a big hug!  Please join me in keeping Aunt Cherri and their kids/grand kids in your thoughts and prayers as they come to terms with this sudden tragedy.

Recently we've had a young bull moose hanging out in the front yard.  In fact, one morning Manny woke us up after he had discovered the intruder outside the living room window.  He was VERY interested in the moose and it is possibly the first one he has ever seen.  A few days later I was walking with him down the street and we saw the moose along side the road browsing.  We were about 20 feet away before Manny saw him but even after me deliberately pointing out the moose, he still wasn't concerned in the least.  Knowing that he has no interest in chasing moose makes me much more comfortable with taking him out on trails this summer.  Speaking of Manny, he has certainly won over this family and is often the life of the party when we get together with friends.  He is quite the crowd pleaser and has such a great personality.  Cara still seems to be his favorite though.

Following my second week of training in Portland, we had the opportunity to take in our first Fur Rondy festival here in Anchorage.  This event is touted as the largest festival in the state and consists of many fun and unique events that authentically Alaskan!  We watched a few rounds of the Yukigassen (Japanese for "Snow Battle")National Championships.  Granted, it was the first and ONLY tournament in America but the winner does get the opportunity to represent the USA in the world championship in Japan next winter!  While the circumstances were misleadingly "Big Time", it was a cool event, reminiscent of a paintball war with snowballs substituted as ammo.

Apparently the history behind Fur Rondy (Rendezvous) is that years ago Alaskans would gather for a big festival to buy, sell and trade their goods.  The majority of the goods traded were furs, hides and antlers.  As seen in this photo, the fur auction is still thriving.  It was very tempting to bid on a $50 tanned fox hide but I just couldn't figure out what I'd do with it!  Cara didn't appreciate the fact that I was even considering buying a fur.  Beaver, wolf, coyote, badger, fox, mink, wolverine, muskrat, you bet, they're all here and can be bought if the price is right!  The people watching at these events was priceless as many bring out their best fur clothing and most ornate fur hats.  Full wolf and lynx heads adorning people's heads were definitely seen.  Oh, and I should mention that trapping is alive and well here in Alaska.  I'm hoping to connect with someone who runs a trap line close to Anchorage so I can join them for a run up their line and experience the life of a trapper!

The start of the Iditarod sled dog race is also a major component of the festival and all I can say is 'wow' when it comes to those dogs.  We spent the morning and afternoon in downtown Anchorage for the ceremonial start and really enjoyed it.  In fact, as I was walking around taking pictures in my Carhartt coat I was frequently mistaken for a race official and somehow found myself within the 'no public access' area without being questioned.  One official asked "so how many teams we got left?"  When I glanced down the street at the teams waiting to start, quickly counted for and turned to him with a "looks like four to me" response, he realized I wasn't supposed to be in there, oops!  He was really cool and let me stay in close to the teams and just asked that I don't get in the way of the teams.  I guess I looked like I belonged, much to Cara's embarrassment!

Due to inconsistent snowfall between Anchorage and Willow, the official race start was moved to Willow and occurs the day after the ceremonial start in Anchorage.  Since we enjoyed the day in Anchorage so much we decided to spend that Sunday afternoon watching again.  We were able to access the trail about a mile from the starting line and had awesome trail side spots we could watch and encourage each musher as they set off on their 1100 mile journey to Nome.  The day was a sunny, warm winter day and our BBQ picnic at the car completed a great afternoon.  Sled dog racing is something everyone needs to experience.  Seeing man and dog work in such unison is truly something to behold.  These dogs LIVE to run and race.  Their excitement in anticipation of the imminent race is contagious and seemed to fill the air.  These dogs were yipping and jumping around much like professional athletes prior to competing on their sports biggest stage.  

Fur Rondy and the Iditarod are such a unique part of Alaska that we would like to invite anyone interested to come and experience it with us next year.  While the fishing is out of season, winter in Alaska has so many great attributes that most people don't realize.  If you are like us, you probably think its a barren, cold, and miserable place in the winter.  Our experience has shown that there are so many cool winter opportunities, that we'd highly encourage you to consider bucking the trend of summer tourism and visit during this special time of year.

Well, I am in full-on planning mode for this year's hunting season (I know, its still 5+ months away but I'm a little anxious okay?!) and recently found out I was lucky enough to draw a permit to hunt Kodiak Brown Bear next fall.  I'm anticipating a caribou/moose hunt in Aug/Sept and then shifting my focus to this special opportunity on Kodiak in early Nov.  I'll be sure to keep everyone posted on the outcomes of these hunts, not to mention the many fishing outings that will occur in the meantime.

Cara is on vacation as I write this visiting our good friends Dan and Annie in Minnesota for their spring breaks.  Sounds like she is having a great time and is enjoying the mere 15 degree temperature differential.  Most all of our friends are going to or returning from Hawaii right about now but Cara chooses the 45 degree Minnesota!  Hopefully I can get her to post something about her trip when she returns this week.

We hope and pray that everyone is doing well.  We definitely miss all of you and would love to hear from you more often (I know, its a 2-way street, we'll try to be better about calling more!).  Spring is just around the corner with daily melt offs and warming temps.  We're excited for the upcoming summer and the adventure opportunities it will provide along with the many guests it will bring.