Ester Dome

Every year Scott (our coach) has us do a series of tests to check-up on our fitness. These include but are not limited to push-up, sit-ups, pull-ups, 3000 meter run on the track, and of course, running up Ester Dome. It's a hill. That is 5km long. 

We raced as a team last week. It had snowed, so our times weren't as fast as usual, but we were in good sprits because we want to SKI!

These are Anna and Tete's backs. They're starting their cool down. Look at the snow YAY!

There wasn't much snow in the valley of Fairbanks, but when Ester dome is covered with this "termination dust" (termination of summer, that is), then we know it's coming. 

The day after the time trial up Ester Dome Aurelia and I decided we'd had enough running and roller skiing, so we went for a ski.  

We drove up to Ester dome again for our adventure. What a view, cool clouds. 

Aurelia

Aurelia and Me

Me

Aurelia pretending to school ptarmigan. If you look hard you might be able to see them. Those little buggers camouflage really well, despite how stupid they seem. This was so funny to us because Einar went ptarmigan hunting that same day and was adamant that there weren't going to be ptarmigan on Ester Dome, so he had to go to Murphy Dome. Silly boy.

Now, today is 42 and sunny. And I am getting ready to go running. 

I guess I can deal with one day less of winter, if I have to.

Nanook Traditions

Starvation Gulch

My definition: big piles of wood burning on campus so that the UAF fire department has something exiting to do. Was that cynical?

I appreciate them really, and would hope they come to my rescue if needed. 

Every year at UAF, different departments and dorms compete to scrounge the town for the most wood pallets. Then they pile them up in a parking lot and start them on fire. The students watch them burn. I think there is some kind of judging going on i.e. what department makes the biggest pile, which pile burns the longest etc. The fire department roams the area to keep the fires contained and the students safe. Here are some pictures from this experience. 

At the site of action

The fires from the hill side

From left to right: Julia, Einar, Aurelia, Anna

What I did with the Blueberries

I made scones. It worked pretty well. I didn't expect the whole scone to turn purple. I think they look like something that might fall from the sky at Hogwarts, the school that Harry Potter and his comrades attend. 

Despite appearances, they sure are tasty. Maybe I'll attempt ear wax scones next, an inspiration from the Harry Potter Jelly beans. 

(That was a joke.)