Are We Crazy?

Joel and I just bought a book titled "Outside in the Interior". It's a book filled with over 50 hikes, bikes, skis, and floats that are fun to do in interior AK. It's a dangerous book for us to have. This past weekend Joel and I decided to do a long hike....one that would take more than one day and we'd backpack. I have never backpacked before, so I was a little intimidated. 

     Often times when we talk about going hiking I get a little scared of what could happen (I get this from my mom's family line I think), bad weather, BEARS, etc. It seems that I think of these things and then see if these excuses will keep Joel from wanting to go. When deep down I really do want to go, and if we didn't I would end up hating myself. I mean, who wants to stay cooped up in their apartment all weekend because they're scared of raindrops, mosquitoes, and big, furry, vicious, man eating BEARS....not me! 

Early last week Joel and I set the goal of hiking the Chena Dome trail. Its a 30 mile trail that gets to almost 4,500 ft. Once above the tree line, the trail is all ridge walking with an occasional dip into the tree line. I kept an eye on the weather as the weekend approached, and the forecast called for isolated thunder storms, isolated rain showers, and gusts of 30 mile per hour winds. Perfect for ridge walking! When we were past the stage of Julia not finding any legitimate excuses, such as the WEATHER, we packed up and went to bed ready to leave early the next morning. 

On Sunday we woke up, packed the car, and headed to mile post 50.5 on Chena hot springs road. We were hiking by 10:00. The beginning of the hike starts in a forest that was burned a few years ago and by mile 3 we were above the tree line. 

This a place we a took a rest a little after the third mile

This little guy we saw near mile 5 or 6. We heard him whistle before we saw him, and I could swear he was a human. His whistle was impressive. No use for the bear spray. 

This is me hiking on the ridge. As you can see, there is no sign of thunderstorms and rain.This might explain the sun burn that I got on my legs and arm. 

 

Here is Joel, it may be on the summit, but I am not sure. It was a beautiful day! 

This is the trail shelter at mile 16.75. If it is empty when you get there, you can sleep in it. If its full you can camp. We were kind of happy that it was empty because it seemed like the Ritz to us in comparison to the tent that Joel carried (which we didn't use). We slept like babies for 10 hrs. 

Day 2

On the second day it was again sunny skies and hot. I set a grueling pace and wanted to truck on. Joel and I reached the steepest part of the trail and I wasn't going to let up on the pace. Joel figured that up this hill he was sweating a drop a second off of his head. He asked me to take these pictures so that he could show his students and ask them if he sweats 1 drop per second, and 20 drops is l ml, how many ml does he drop in a set amount of time, such as 20 min, the time it took him to hike the steepest part.   

About the title of this post. Both the days that we were hiking one of us sporadically said, "Are we crazy?" and the other would answer, "Yeah, but it's okay." I think after 30 miles we were confident in the idea that we're crazy and okay with it!

I was really glad when we got back to the car that day. Joel and I both have some impressive blisters to show for the trip. By the end of the trip I realized that though I can come up with all of the things that could go wrong while hiking, once I get on the trail with my husband, life isn't so scary, and I am just where I want to be. That is "showing Joel where the bear went through the buckwheat." (Coulter language for kicking his butt). 

Donnelly Dome

Last Thursday was Joel's last day as a teacher for the 08/09 school year. I went to work with him and helped him organize his classroom and the medicine (ooops, the chemical) cabinet. I don't know why, but all day we were calling it the medicine cabinet and I thought it was funny. 

Anyways, after the work day we drove south east on the Richardson highway to a hiking trail that goes up Donnelly Dome. I think Donnelly Dome is a bit funny looking because as you drive down the Richardson you see this tall green cone shaped hill (dome) with the background of the tall white peaks of the Alaska Range. With that perspective you look at Donnelly dome and think it's going to be a joke of a hike. Well, it's not!

You can't see the Alaska Range because of the weather, but I promise it's there. 

From the top of the dome looking east you can see a bunch of kettle lakes, and a ridge that starts the beginning of the Alaska Range. The road is the Richardson Highway. Joel and I were wondering why the kettle lakes come to such an abrupt end. 

I thought this was a good picture of Joel. I love my husband!

I don't remember the name of these flowers, but mom LOVED them on the way home from AK last year and so I had to take a picture of one for you, mom. In the background is more of the Alaska range. The weather was really cool that day. We got sprinkled on a little, but watching it move over the mountains was very fun. 

I told Joel that if I beat him to the top then he had to buy me ice cream in Delta Junction. He made a face at me and then said "fine". Not a "fine" like he didn't think it was possible that I beat him, but a "fine" like a "we don't need ice cream" "fine". I think he thought I forgot about it as we hiked up, but if any of you know how coulterish I am, then you know that my belly thinks before my brain. I reached the general area of the top before Joel but didn't mention anything. Then there was a little area on the top of the dome that was higher than the rest because of a rock pile etc. Joel and I walked toward it and he grabbed my hand and so we walked hand in hand. As we spent time looking at the view Joel said, "We'll I guess since we tied I'll have to buy myself ice cream too". I was thinking, "Thank goodness, now I don't have to share mine with him!"

A Day in Denali

Joel and I woke up early Sunday morning to make the 2ish hour drive down to Denali National Park. We checked the weather (Brilliant sunshine with a high of 60), and we could see Mt. McKinley from Fairbanks (which already made it a spectacular day). 

Can you see McKinley? I promise its there!

We were still in awe of McKinley's greatness after spending the whole day in its presence.

And we saw wildlife to boot:

25 caribou 

 

At least 5 Ptarmigan 

(The switch from winter to summer plumage)

8 Bear

(2 of which were spring cubs; so cute!)

And some beautiful landscape

Savage River, Denali National Park  

By the end of the trip, through biking and hiking, we gained a greater appreciation for Denali,

And look forward to our return in the future.

A question for the green thumbs! (AKA MOM's?)

As my friends depart for summer vacation I have inherited some new items including a spatula, a garlic press, some mystery spices, a bunch of plastic containers that I will recycle when the special day comes, and most importantly, house plants. 

The problem is, I don't know what one of them is and I was hoping you could help me. So here it is! 

Peggy, I thought of you all day when I saw it because it was mothers day, and the flowers are pinkish/purple, which I know is one of your favorite colors. 

If anyone knows what it is let me know, and then I can figure out how much light and water it likes.

A soup day...err week

The Weather lately reminds me of November in Michigan: cold, and windy, with rain splatter on the windows. Today is a day where it takes motivation to leave the house, and when November you hope that the rain is going to turn to sleet, and then to snow, but at this time of year you'll cry if it does. 

To make it all better, I made soup. 

Joel has been wanting chicken barley soup for a while now and so I thought that with the extra time I have from NOT studying, I could make it for him.

I made this last night, and we have LOTS of left overs. I put some in individual containers for Joel to grab and take to school. I think by the end of this week, he could be sick of soup. I know, I know, sounds IMPOSSIBLE for Joel.  

Here's my lunch today, the candle is helping me cope with the weather.