Only in Alaska....

Hard to top this story but this should help explain why Squirt (known to some as Eagle Bait 1 or EB1) rarely gets to go outside by himself.

I Stand Corrected.

Yesterday, I commented on the 57 inches of snow.
I mis-spoke.
As of 10pm last night (AST) we have received 74 inches.



Thank goodness we purchased a snow thrower (with a headlight)!

Ode to the 4-Runner

Two and one-half years ago, we purchased our Toyota 4-runner and have really enjoyed cruising around in it. The gas mileage is OK for an SUV. It is roomy, has get up and go, a towing package good for anything available to tow, a pedestal for Squirt to sit and navigate from along with 4 wheel drive. (The salesman couldn’t understand why we needed 4WD in Houston.) We have taken good care of it by changing the oil and rotating the tires on schedule, following the unwieldy warranty maintenance requirements, washing it regularly with extensive detailing twice a year. (Well - it was clean in Houston - a little harder to do in the tundra with 57 inches of snow, mostly below freezing temperatures and the associated road grime.)

And then the unthinkable happened…

Tuesday, we were rear ended by a child of approx. 17, late to school from lunch and driving too fast in in the snowy conditions. I have no idea how fast he was going on impact. It seemed really fast to me but I am probably a little jaded towards the whole incident. Luckily, I saw it coming and warned Robert by creatively saying "Oh S$#)" just before the collision. I don't remember doing that. All I remember is thinking "we are going to get hit". Everyone walked away with no injuries and while the GPS for some reason flew from the dash to the back seat it survived. However the poor little 4-runner now has a banged up rear end. Visual inspection shows the hatch will have to be replaced (will it ever seal again?), the bumper and the plastic on the tail lights (the bulbs survived and are still working). Both police officers commented on our car and how well it performed. One officer was very surprised it came through without more damage. Thank goodness it is still drivable as the Camaro isn't really a winter weather car. The Ford F-150 that hit us didn't fare as well and isn't drivable.

Part of me felt sorry for the boy. You could see the varying realizations going across his face and through his actions. The initial shock, the "I caused this", concern for others, "oh crap I'm in trouble", "oh crap, I'm really in trouble - I'm not going to get out of this one". It was very tough for me to not comment/lecture, etc. on driving, safety, risk and time to grow up, or not make tacky comments about some of this actions BUT having been a teenager at one time in my life - albeit a very good one (as I try to keep my halo from choking me) - I could ALMOST relate to some of his feelings. Plus, we were right on the road to school so he had the pleasure of getting a honk, wave or carloads of teens stopping to talk as they were headed back to school. It took the police about 20 minutes to arrive (very fast considering the number of wrecks this time of year) so there were lots honks, waves and visiting for him.

I was pleasantly surprised at the concern fellow Anchorage citizens showed. One lady immediately offered up her name and phone number as a witness and several cars made the effort to stop get out and ask if everyone was OK or if anyone needed a cell phone. Coming from Houston with the increased crime rate and the dangers of talking to any strangers, it was a very nice change.

We have filed the insurance claim and are in a holding pattern to hear back from them. As with the granite saga, I am sure this will provide fodder for a few days over the course of the next few weeks…

Starting with our rental car when we get it...

My Winter Slope Trip

I have been to the Arctic Circle in January when the sun doesn’t come above the horizon.

I left on Monday toting approximately 70 lbs of arctic gear and flew from Anchorage to Deadhorse. My gear bag contained a parka, bib overalls, heavy boots, arctic mittens and a balaclava made of wool of course, all of this in the height of fashion. (No – not really.) My gear is supposed to keep me warm at 30 below in a 30 mph wind for 30 minutes – it is heavy. It also contained my overnight bag. I was spending one night so I had two complete outfits packed just in case we didn’t get back due to fog. My travel ensemble consisted of Under Armour, jeans, sweater, winter coat, head band, work boots, and leather gloves. You guessed it! I was overdressed for all of the indoor work we did.

Unfortunately, because of the time of year, we flew every flight at night and I was unable to see Denali or the Brooks Range coming or going. There wasn’t any wildlife wondering in our paths either. We landed in Deadhorse without any problems, got on the bus and started our hour long trek to Kuparuk. We passed by the start of the TransAlaska Pipeline and several other well sites. Temperatures were approximately -10 to -6 with fog and blowing snow.

The control centers and drill camps are very nice inside for the conditions that rage outside. The cafeterias are always open, and there are lounges, weight rooms, movie theaters and libraries for when the crews aren’t working their shifts. I toured some of the facilities including a drilling rig and we took time to drive to the Bering Sea. It was covered in ice and I didn’t get to dip a toe into it this time.

Tuesday, we headed to Alpine via a Twin Otter aircraft as the ice roads weren’t complete. We landed on a gravel and snow packed runway. The sky was absolutely clear and glowing a nice pink color at midday. I took the picture above from an ice road to a drilling rig. Ice roads are exactly that – a road made of ground up ice and then sprayed with water. It is just like standing/driving on a skating rink. Now where did I leave that Zamboni….

I hope the picture conveys what the tundra looks like. (I took it about 2 pm.) This area receives less than 6” of precipitation a year and it is flat. Distances can be deceiving, especially on clear days, similar to Las Vegas (without the people, smog, lights, traffic, buildings, etc.) It is very easy to think a facility is a short distance away. There is snow everywhere, but very little accumulation. It is dry enough that it simply blows from point to point and back. Every time we traveled anywhere, it was with arctic gear. If we weren’t wearing it, it was in a compartment somewhere. Weather changes very quickly and to breakdown can be deadly if you aren’t prepared.

As the day came to a close, because it had been clear, the temperature was definitely getting colder. I believe it got down to -35 that night. I missed it though as we headed back to Anchorage returning by 8 pm. Of course it was snowing here - as it is now.

A Few Winter Pictures...

From the top of Alyeska looking back at Cook Inlet. Girdwood is at the bottom of the mountain.
Squirt on the sidewalk
Our front entry (note the K-State rock placement)
Squirt on the deck
Our driveway across from the garage....I didn't know I had reflective stripes on my boots! :)

Tales from the slope are coming soon!

Our First Tsunami Warning...

Friday nights is the only night we attempt to sit down and watch a TV program (except for professional football and the occasional college game). The show is Numbers and we enjoy it. Whether or not we watch has a lot to do with whether we remember it is on prior to the start. If it was any other night of the week, we wouldn’t remember as Friday stands out because we don’t go to work the next morning.

Last night we did remember and were getting everything ready…lap throws, popcorn, drinks, TV on, etc., when suddenly the TV went black and a bright red banner appeared announcing we were in a Tsunami Warning. There was an 8.2 or 8.3 (depending on which newscast you watch) earthquake off of Russia or Japan (depending on which newscast you watch) and a Tsunami may be heading our way.

Hadn’t thought of that type of event. I’ve blogged about volcanoes, earthquakes and wild carnivorous animals and what we are supposed to do in various situations but Tsunami’s hadn’t really crossed my mind. (Which is actually pretty sad considering the one that hit the Alaska coastline in the 60’s killing people.) As the warning updates came across, I realized they weren’t really sure if anything was going to happen. Since a tsunami in the open ocean looks like any other wave, there is no sure way to know something is going to happen until the water nears the coast. Then it is too late to evacuate.

What would we do? Our house is over 6 miles from the coastline and 400 ft above sea level - I don’t think we would have a problem here. At work, even though we are downtown, our building is still several blocks from the coast and above sea level plus it should be relatively sturdy. If we are at work, my plan is to stay in my office (on an upper floor) and get my camera out. Oh – and obviously at both places – hit the internet to see where the earthquake was and what warnings have been issued. I found this NOAA site last night http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/eventmap.html specifically dealing with West Coast and Alaska tsunami warnings. (How did we ever get timely information before the internet?)

Luckily, last night’s earthquake didn’t cause any tsunamis and we are in the clear this morning. And today there isn't a cloud in the sky and warm - 35 degrees. Who ever though 35 would be considered warm.

BTW - I'm headed to the slope Monday. That should provide some interesting fodder.

It was a tad cold this week....

Yep - it's been cold this week. Today it actually warmed up to 25 and I was very glad to see it. Monday had -15 for the low and with a high of -6. It was a beautiful sunny day though and we went south to Seward. I forget how fantastic the drive is until I make the journey each time. The mountains are so majestic and crisp. The snow appears so very white (even with the snow machine tracks running half way up the mountains). Sadly, I am unable to accurately describe the beauty of the area. You should come see it!

So much for waxing poetically…on the drive down we stopped at Alyeska taking time to ride the tram to the almost top of the mountain checking out the scenery. Due to the cold temperatures, the windows in the tram were iced over but the view from the top is spectacular. I was very surprised at the number of people still skiing and snow boarding in these temperatures as the top of the mountain was significantly cooler than the bottom. Luckily there is a café and you can sit inside and warm up between running outside to look at different valleys and views or skiing down the mountain. I'm guessing a max of one run down the mountain before a trip indoors to warm up was required.

Back on the road going toward Seward, the lowest temperature we recorded in the SUV was -20. By the time we reached Seward it had warmed up to 10 degrees. Not bad except for the 30 mph wind blowing through. Walking from the car to the restaurant was extremely cold and required several cups of hot coffee to get the insides warmed up. Squirt went with us (not in the restaurant) but had to stay in the car. He spent a lot of time warming the car up for us (thank goodness for autostart :))

Tuesday we went up the mountains behind our house to Glen Alps to check out the view of Anchorage (remember - we had company). Once again it was sunny and clear and Denail was visible (highly unusual). I think it was about -15 when we got there. I had every inch of skin covered from head to foot with something and didn't stay out long. In fact, if it hadn't been snowy and icy underfoot, I would have run back and forth to the car. I am glad it was a short hike. (I am pretty sure I will be a 20 degree or warmer skier…)

Continuing in the tourist vein, we then went to a couple of local museums. While viewing the exhibits, I am continually amazed at what people (both natives and immigrants) accomplished with the tools and resources they had in various places. One section was about pioneers who first came to Anchorage to help build the Alaska Railroad among other things. (Whatever possessed them to come here and live in those conditions? Wait - people ask me that today...guess some things don't change?) Sometimes it would take a year to get a letter to or from someone in the lower 48. There were pictures of people living in tents - nice in the summer (except for mosquitoes) but ugly in the winter. The baskets and the beadwork is spectacular. Even the clothing difference from the natives that lived in the Aleutians versus the natives living farther north was apparent. Absolutely fascinating! I must say I am thankful for the natives and pioneers who lived here in the past. It might not be as nice now if it wasn't for them!

Sunny Tomorrow!

It’s true! It’s true! We are supposed to have two days in a row with no clouds at all. Bright sunshine. I don’t remember the last cloud free day. I am really looking forward to it.

The down side to this is that in the winter this far north, bright, clear, sunny, cloud free skies can only mean it’s going to get cold. Tonight’s low is expected to be -14 with the high on Monday being -3. Monday night is going to be even colder with -17 and Tuesday’s high is forecast to be -6. Good days for road trips.

We aren’t working the next couple of days because we have company. Our first visitor to share paradise with and of course we haven’t seen a single moose since he arrived. OK – we saw one about 3 am as we were coming home from the airport but who wants to moose watch at that time. (You’re right…I would have but I didn’t think the others were up for it.) In fact, it has been foggy and snowy enough we haven’t been able to really see the mountains.

We went skiing locally today. Once again, I started on the bunny hill but after four runs there, I got tired of walking back to the top and was ready to try the slope. The chair lift here is a little different than the one in Alyeska. I didn’t crash getting off (Hooray!) but it wasn’t easy because each time I got off the chair hit my butt before I could get out of the way. (There is probably a message here but I am ignoring it.) I successfully made it down the slope multiple times without falling. The only negative today was the cold. I could spend about 40 minutes outside before I had to go inside to warm up. I think I will do better as a once or twice a week skier for 2-3 hours at a time instead of the marathon 8 hours for two days back to back.

I believe we are going to day trip tomorrow to Seward. With all of the trips to Alaska and even living here, I have never been to Seward while the sun is shining. I hope to break that record tomorrow. Don’t know what is on the schedule yet for sunny Tuesday. Wednesday is going to be warm (29 degrees) and cloudy. Sounds like a heat wave which means Wednesday’s schedule will include shoveling for some part of it! I keep telling myself I’m getting a lot of good exercise!

Oh Look - More Snow!

Yes - hard to believe. In Anchorage, we have recorded 57 inches of snow since Halloween and every one of them is still on the ground. Yesterday I managed to shovel three times and I rose early today to clean off what fell last night. However, the sun is on its way. Tomorrow our forecast is for a low of -1 and a high of 1. (At least low temperatures normally stop the snow!)

While we were gone for the weekend, Squirt had a doggie sitter that took exceptional care of him. He went for rides, met some other playmates, etc. and generally had a good time as far as I can tell. Anyway, upon returning from Alyeska we had snow to shovel. (Anyone surprised?) As normal, Robert headed out the front and I out the back with Squirt. I finish up the deck and Squirt is ready to go inside. Putting down the shovel, I go up the steps to the back porch and find out the door handle has been locked. (Normally we use the deadbolt only to avoid being locked out just like this.) This was a very important lesson to learn and I am thankful it didn't happen in the middle of the night (5:30am).

OK - now I'm in a pickle. The banks of snow around either side of the house to another unlocked door are waist deep (on me anyway). I listen for the snow thrower and go to the side of the house were Robert is headed. Robert can't hear me yell and he absolutely refuses to look up. (You would think someone waiving their arms in an SOS fashion would garner notice - others in the neighborhood did.) I walk around the house to the other side and wave at him down by the front of the driveway. No luck there either. As he moves down the sidewalk I go to the third corner and wait for him to turn around. Surely he will stop, rest for a second and look around at his surroundings.

Nope.

As he walks back toward the drive clearing the sidewalk, I am following him on the second terrace of the yard waving my arms. Finally he looks up and waves and goes back to walking. Then he realizes there must be something wrong as it is too cold just to be waiving to him from the middle of the snow filled yard while it is snowing and blowing.

I tell him I am locked out and bless his heart, he stops everything, rushes inside, takes off his shoes to avoid getting the wood floors wet, rushes upstairs and unlocks the back door. I tell him,"Thank you for coming to my rescue…Squirt's feet are cold and he wants in."

Thud. Thud. Thud.

It's cold in Anchorage again. This morning the temperature had warmed to -0.6 by the time Squirt and I went outside. On the upside, we are gaining light - today we had 5 hours and 42 minutes representing about 15 minutes more light during the day since December 21.

I found out yesterday that December 2006 was the 3rd snowiest December on record. The airport registered 37" of snow and our house on mid-hillside generally gets more due to the higher elevation. I'm guessing we had 8" more. Bonus though - we are scheduled to get another 6" tonight.

Speaking of snow, as I mentioned before, we went to Alyeska this weekend to downhill ski. Saturday started off a little rough though. We were scheduled to meet friends at 9:00 am to drive about 30 miles South arriving in time to unload the cars, get to the ski school, rent any needed equipment, etc. etc. It snowed most of the evening Friday night and we opted to set the alarm a little early in case we had to shovel before we left. If not, sweet - another hour of sleep!

The alarm sounds at 6:30am and I get up to peek out the window. Sure enough there's another 6" on the ground and still snowing. Time to shovel and throw. Squirt and I leave out the back door to do the decking and groom the doggie trails. I hear the snow thrower start up and head down the first sweep of the drive. (I am positive the neighbors were happy to hear the thrower going at 6:45am on Saturday morning!)

Shovel. Shovel. Shovel.

Pretty soon, I notice all is quiet. "Hum. I wonder if Robert is OK? Did we run out of gas? Did he fall on ice? Surely he didn't finish the entire drive and sidewalks while I only did the back deck? I'd better check once I finish up here."

Shovel. Shovel. Shovel.

Finally - finished! I head inside and don't hear Robert anywhere. I check out the window and only one swipe across the drive had been cleared. Squirt and I wander downstairs to the garage and open the door. There's the snow blower tipped over on its' back with Robert kneeling in front of it. Sure enough...Saturday was the day he ran over the rubber door mat with the snow thrower gumming up the rotating blades. He was using pliers to pull pieces of door mat out that had been chewed off. Needless to say he wasn't very happy but luckily nothing broke and he was able to finish the driveway after all. We made it to the meeting place in plenty of time and he kept telling me I really didn't need to blog about this. But how could I resist??? :)

Back to skiing!

We took another lesson on Saturday and mastered the small bunny hill. Graduating to the bigger bunny hill in the afternoon, we continued to ski and some even went on the lift to the green runs. I, however, stayed on the bigger bunny hill and happily played for about 30 minutes at a time. By the end of the first day it was dark (skiing at night really provides some fantastic snow views) and I was tired, sore and apparently over-confident as I was ready to try a green hill. Guess what happens next….

I successfully negotiate to the lift (duck walking with 5' slats for feet is not easy for me and this is a significant accomplishment), manage to get on the chair, don't fall out of the chair, keep my ski tips up for dismount, stand up, flail and fall right in the path of the other skiers getting off of the lift. This was an omen for the rest of the trip down the mountain. I get up and re-attach my skis and head to the "starting line" - which happens to contain the steepest part of the run. I'm starting to have second thoughts about this.

I take off and can't seem to turn as gracefully as I did on the bigger bunny hill and if I don't soon, I am going to go off into the woods. Solution? Sit down - ok - more like crash. I get up, get my skis on, turn around and start again. I make it all the way to the other side of the slope and crash because I can't turn. Repeat once more only this time, crash in the middle of the run for no apparent reason. Luckily this one was my last crash (that I remember - I may have lost count by then) and I made it the rest of the way down the mountain to the day lodge. By this time it was 7:30pm and I was ready to hike back to the car and call it a night. Taking off the ski boots felt really good.

Sunday, getting out of bed was a challenge. I expected my legs to hurt but my shoulders were exceptionally sore from the tow rope. Putting my coat on was rather difficult. I spent Sunday on the bigger bunny slope and didn't try any greens. The only bad part was the bunny slope was too short and the tow rope continued to wreak havoc on my shoulders and arms. Sunday night, I could barely move anything.

I can't wait to get back out to Hilltop this weekend and try it some more!

In retrospect - "Thud. Thud. Thud." was very apt for this column…

Welcome to 2007

Happy New Year! Best wishes to all!

(Once my shoulders heal a little from skiing this weekend, I'll tell you all about it!)