Moving time!

Sometimes it seems like only yesterday that Jes and I moved to Alaska. At other times, it feels like a lifetime. Alaska is a truly special and unique place and our time here has been just that. We are heading back to Denver in a little over a week. We leave with a mix of sadness and excitement but most of all, happiness that we got a chance to do this.

All our stuff, well what can fit in the picture, piled up and ready for the movers.

Packing for a week with friends and then a week on the road back to the CO.

Cheers, 

Crow Pass Crossing

Our good friend Ryan came up from Colorado to run in the Crow Pass Crossing race. He and I had run/hiked the trail last year when he visited in July. When we learned that there was a race on the trail, we made plans to run it the next year. The course goes from Girdwood, over Crow Pass, to the Eagle River Nature Center, covering somewhere around 24 miles. The beauty of the scenery can't be overstated, it is simply one of the best trails out there.
The night before we had a pre-race party with some friends.

Ryan preparing for the race...

Jes and some friends made sure we saw encouragement everywhere...

We will overcome the bears!

The morning of the race did not go as planned, in short, we were late. Minor mishaps like having enough gas to get to the start and being realistic about how long it was going to take to get there added up to a rather tense morning. 

By a minor miracle, we made it on time. This is me just after registering and on my way to run to the start line, I am very, very relieved. Jes should be roundly applauded for sticking with us through the morning.

Jes and several friends were at the finish to cheer us on. From left to right, Jenna, Jes, Meghan, and Lindsay. Our friends Bruce and Eric were a bit further down, their cheering was much appreciated. 

Ryan at the finish. Note the large blood stain on his hat. He managed to hit a tree that Bruce specifically warned him about. One tree in 24 miles of wilderness, tree lined trail and Ryan nails it, awesome.

Me, rolling into the finish.

Ryan and I post-race, feeling pretty good. It was a great race on a great day, definitely something to come back for. 

Cheers, 

Powerline Pass (Summer edition)

On Saturday Bruce, Ben, and I ran Powerline Pass, starting in Indian and going north to Glen Alps.

A miles or so down the trail looking up towards the Pass. The trail followed the powerlines most of the way with only a few deviations. 

The Pass.

Look, I'm on a rock!

A snowmelt lake at the base of the Pass.

The descent from the Pass, in the far distance you can see Anchorage. 

Cheers, 

Symphony Lakes

This past Friday, Jes and I took off right after work to drive up to the Symphony Lakes trail. Jes had wanted to do the hike since we arrived but we hadn't gotten around to it until now.

We hiked down into the valley of the south fork of Eagle River. 

Giant flat boulder midway down the trail.

The lakes (Eagle is on of the Symphony Lakes) we ringed by a talus field. We hiked to a high point between the lakes and enjoyed some dinner and drinks.

Jes and Eagle Lake.

Talus and Symphony Lake.

Eagle River and Cantana Peak. 

A great hike, cheers.

Unfinished business

On Friday I set out with Jack and Amber to finish up a run I had started at the beginning of summer. My first attempt at Rabbit Lakes was thwarted by snow on the trail and an impending storm. This time it was different, the weather held off and we made it there and back. A great trail and a great run.

Ingo, Jack, and Amber. 

Cheers,

More Seward!

A couple more pictures from our stay in Seward.

Good beer, friends, and cards.

The start and finishing stretch for Mount Marathon.

Walking up to Mount Marathon to watch the women's race.

We watched the start of the men's race in town.

The Pit Bar at 2:30 in the morning.

Cheers,

The Borshiems and the Harding Icefield

Our sojourn in Seward continued and on Sunday, Keith, Leah and I ventured out to the Harding Icefield hike. Jes was sidelined by a bum foot from her half-marathon exertions. We made sure to take lots of pictures so she could experience the hike vicariously.

There was a lot of uphill but we didn't mind much with the sun out and scenery in full effect. 

Some fellow hikers pointed out that there was something in the trees where Leah is pointing...

...turned out is was 2 black bear cubs playing in a tree. If you click on the image, you can see a large black blob in the center left of the image. That's one of the cubs. 

We reached the midway point. I encourage you, dear reader, to click the image and view it full size. 

From the midway point, we could see the beginnings of the Icefield.

Icefield.

Getting closer to the top.

A pretty flower along the way.

.2 miles from the top, there is an emergency shelter cabin. Quite the setting for an emergency. 

The Harding Icefield, again, click on the image for full-size, it's incredible. 

Keith and Leah.

We enjoyed some lunch and then reluctantly made our way back down. 

Another pretty flower.

The best thing about the hike down was that for the top portion, we didn't have to hike. There was enough snow for glissading and so we slid, tumbled, and basically fell down the upper portions. It was awesome. Keith's tracks lead down the slope and he is the small spec to the left at the base of the hill. A great hike, cheers.