Slush Cup 2011 & more Moose

Happy Easter to all!

This weekend we went to the Slush Cup in Alyeska Ski Area. Basically its a competition of who can go on their skis across a frigid pool (only 33 degrees!!) . They get judged on air time, trick, and costume. It was a miserable cold down poor at the ski area so we didnt stay too long, but it was well worth watching the event.
Dall Sheep on way back from ski area
Andy Found this moose on his bike just a few blocks from our house. The next day we saw 5 moose in town with Dave and Lila's 2 Kids!

Flat Top Mountain

Last night we headed out for a hike after Kelsey got off of work. Just a 15 minute drive from our house is the trail head to Flat top mountain, used by many people in Anchorage. The hike is very steep and gets you to the top quickly, overlooking the mountains and city in under an hour. It was a hazy night over Anchorage but still very beautiful.

This photo was probably taken at 8:30 ish

This photo was taken around 9:30 or so. The sun takes sooo long to get below the horizon. Its not fully dark in Anchorage until well after 10:30 and daylight is still growing 6 minutes each day!

View of Anchorage Below-you can hardly make out the cities taller buildings

Sunset at the top

Chugach Mountains from the top

Lake Denali ~ Cabin fun!

Day 1-Friday

We arrived at beautiful sunny Denali Lake! What a great day and weekend. We settled into our new beautiful home for the weekend while playing on snowmachines, kicksleds and just enjoying good company, scenery, and weather.

Our home: the guest cabin-so wonderful!

snowmachining on Lake Denali

These are "kick sleds" sooo much fun!! Below is Andy's first time on one with Henry, a fun neighbor boy who we got to know this weekend. Luckily Henry didn't fall, but Andy did!! Click on below to enlarge and check out the fun ride down the hill!

Andy And Henry trying one more time-this time a success!

We stayed up until dark (not completely dark until nearly 1130 pm.) to try and see if the northern lights were out but they were not out. We did get few cool night photos!

Day 2- Saturday
Friends and Neighbors on the lake came together for a snow-machine ride to nearby Swan Lake. After the long ride we headed on Lake Denali for a snowshoe hike and to enjoy the sunshine! We then all got together for a big BBQ and also got to enjoy an "Alaskan candle"!

Dave and Lila: Our gracious hosts!! Sooo nice!

The group on Swan Lake. We had a total of 8 snowmachines and over 15 people! Denali behind us

Kelsey Snowshoe facing Mt.McKinley (Denali)

Found a new friend! Andy and Polly-enjoying the sun! We wanted to take this dog home with us!!

This is an "Alaskan Candle"
Cut 5-6 foot section of a log placed it in the snow. Then you cut two slits down the center of the log, pour diesel down the center and light it! The purpose is so it burns from the inside of the log and outwards and it kept us all very warm for the bbq

stuck in snow....after noon with the sun's help, the snow get soft and punchy!

Day 3-Sunday

Sad to leave Denali Lake but we had a great weekend. Andy woke up early with Dave and other neighbors to go and repair the "summer trail". A bridge on the summer trail was rotten and unsafe so while they can still operate snowmachines, we headed out early morning (while snow is still hard) to go place two logs across the creek.

Morning Alpenglow

Cutting/limbing a nearby spruce tree

Turnigain Arm_Alyeska_Portage

Turnigain Arm-Drive to Girdwood/Aleyeska (less than 40 Miles South of Anchorage) *click to enlarge

Below is a picture of our first Mountain goat we saw along the drive. It was a baby (baby in picture) with its mom (look closely!)

Hike to Hand Tram from Aleyeska ski area

Snow angel!

We arrived at the hand tram only to find out it was out of service!! Dang it! We will be back during the summer to try again.

Portage Glacier/Portage Lake- Glacier is at end of lake, receded a lot in last century!

Hiked out to the Byron Glacier seen below

Hope all is well! Thanks for blogging with us!
Happy Days

Cabin, Snowmachine, Denali

Yesterday was one of our first good weather days we have had since being in Anchorage. Unfortunately Kelsey had to work and Andy got to go play. One of Kelsey's Dad's good friends who used to live in Bellingham, lives here in Anchorage, and suprisingly enough only a 5 minute walk from our house. Dave (Jeff's friend) invited us up to his cabin that he owns about 150 miles north of Anchorage on the parks highway. His cabin can only be accessed by snowmachines during the winter and float plane during the summer when the lake is not frozen (or a couple mile hike in). What a place this was.....his cabin sits on Denali Lake and is staring directly at Mt.Mckinley as well as others. The first sight of the mountain from his cabin was jaw dropping, exciting, inspirational, and UNREAL. The pictures do not do the justice of just how powerful and beautiful the mountain is....

-Click On any Picture in order to Enlarge-

This is Dave loading up gear to be towed out to the cabin (water jugs)

The ride out to the Cabin (through meadows and trees, I was on my own snowmachine)

Dave's waterfront property looking at the lake (now frozen and snowcovered) with Denali in the backdrop, covered up some by clouds

Denali (like I said, pictures dont do a justice) also covered some by clouds

Snowmachine I was riding. This was taken at the natural spring just a mile or so from the cabin. This spring is where they get most of their drinking water as it runs year round despite cold temperature....and the water....soooo good!

Some of our tracks on the lake...sun shining!

Kick chairs...you stand behind them and kick to make it go on the snow...have not tried them yet but we will get pictures when we do :)

This is the main cabin and the wood shed Dave recently built

View of the cabin from the lake

The "guest cabin" sooo cute... has a full bed, and wood burning stove to keep you warm, hoping Kelsey and I will be able to test it out soon!

Main cabin

kitchen: propane stove and fridge, no running water

Family room with epic views....upstairs has master bedroom and 2 other small rooms

Drive home- Chugach mountains...sits behind Anchorage

Cant wait to go back with Kelsey!
Today in Anchorage: Snow is falling lightly, with wind gusts up to 80-90 MPH!!! Yikes!! And its garbage day, garbage is rolling/flying down every street!