A Romantic Valentines Day Weekend

The title's purpose is simply to assure the people who know me that I have not forgotten Valentine's Day occurs annually on February 21. I am ready this year.

Because my lovely wife is away for a good portion of January, February, and March, fitting in the UAF recreation course Introduction to Ski Mountaineering seemed like a good idea. Also, going to snow covered places like the upper Castner Glacier and Mount Silvertip look to be pretty spectacular endeavors.

The Castner Glacier is a pretty spot even when it's not snow covered.

In order to participate in ski mountaineering activities, safety and health must be priorities. To borrow a statement from Toyota president, Akio Toyoda, "The people who [ski mountaineering], who cares about [ski mountaineering classes], I'm a little bit worried while they are [skiing], they feel little bit cautious. But believe me, [ski mountaineering classes] is safety." With those primary concerns directing all mountaineering endeavors, I learned today how to:

- build snow anchors for safety

- find buried climbing partners with avalanche beacons for safety

- use simple tools to recognize slopes that are between 30 and 45 degrees that are likely to avalanche for safety (38 degree slopes are "nature's middle finger")

- use an ice axes to slow and stop uncontrolled descents down steep slopes for safety

- and to use a compass and map for safety

The photo below includes mountains that could be visited for safety.

After class I attempted to wander around outside for most of the rest of the daylight hours. It was a good practice staying warm in the out of doors for a relatively long period of time.

This required winter camping preparations for health and safety.

Winter shelter in kitchen: setting up shelter for first time in safe conditions is safety.

Map of Alaska: knowing terrain is safety.

Pack prepared: planning gear list is safety.

Loosening up before departure: stretching is safety.

Getting excited: enthusiasm is safety.

Arrive at campsite on frozen lake in late evening: knowing conditions is safety.

Campsite located between tip of peninsula and western shore of lake: knowing location is safety.

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Campsite prepared by stomping down snow with skis: taking pictures of everything is safety.

Set up shelter: strong and anchored shelter is safety. Also, this shelter is not wind worthy as shown. It is quite wind worthy with appropriate anchoring that allow for tightening down straps attached to the anchors. A five inch aluminum deadmen (strong) anchors in granular hoarfrost snow conditions is not ideal for tent anchoring. Improvements to be made in future adventures.

Preparing a warm drink. Notice commitment to health and safety: health and safety is safety.

Relaxing comfortably in the shelter: rest is safety.

Enjoying warm drink in shelter: hydration is safety.

Unused ginger peach green tea packet: camping partner is safety. (Unstated but primary purpose of post: convince lovely wife that winter camping is enjoyable.)

Enjoying sunset from shelter: being outside is safety.

Packing up to return home: heated apartment waiting after first attempt at winter camping is safety.

Returning home:...

Using handrail is safety!

Successful vapor barrier sock: post-adventure gear performance analysis is safety.

Dinner: 60% of saturated fat and 72% of sodium for day is health and safety.

Conclusion: winter camping = fun and health and safety.

Likely future conclusions: ski mountaineering = fun and health and safety.