Weekend with the Masons

We finally made it down to Delta Junction to hang out with Ellie & Jeff and the boys. Both Sam and Wyatt have grown so much since we last saw them last fall!

Dave & Jeff did some boy things outside

ice fishing with the munchkins

and then Ellie & I left them in DJ and headed back to Fairbanks for a night with the ladies.

here they are, wondering when we'll be back again.

We met up with some other gals and participated in the 2nd annual Barctic Ma'am Competition.

It's a spin-off of the Arctic Man Competition which is a race for teams of two competitors that 'tests the strength of an athlete and the horsepower of a snowmobile. Courage and training are essential elements of this team of snowmobile and skier. The Arctic Man is one of the World's Toughest Downhill Ski races, and an exciting snowmobile race, all in one. The skier begins at a summit elevation of 5,800 feet and drops 1700 feet in less than two mile to the bottom of a narrow canyon where he meets up with his snowmobiling partner.'

Our version consisted of bikers towing rollerbladers, scooters, and skaters from bar to bar.

There was no elevation gain. No training involved (well, a little - I took a practice run on rollerblades the weekend before because it's been 15 years since I went rollerblading and ate it on the gravel) and some courage (mostly in liquid form) to deal with the gravel on the sidewalks.

the following photos were taken by Adrian.

Getting ready to go:
Brook 'Gusty Gambler' and Katie 'Roller Skatie'

Ellie 'Clobberella' and Su Na Mee

the gang at the finish

Adrian 'Mity Bump' and Clobberella

victory lap in the parking lot
(photo by Dave Shaw)

It was wonderful to spend time with the Masons and Ellie with and without the munchkins!
hopefully it won't be another 6 months before we get to spend some time with them again.

Magic Light Show

Aurora activity has been really weak this winter. I had pretty much given up all hope to see them this year. On Monday and Tuesday night, we were treated to quite the show in the sky! The first 2 photos are not the best - didn't have the aperture set correctly the first night. On Tuesday night there was an amazing band of light that stretched across the sky from one end to the other - just magical! I don't know how else to describe it!

Images from Tuesday night

I think this one is my favorite

Big dipper through the aurora

Angel Creek Cabins

Some friends came up from Seward in March and we headed out to the Angel Creek Cabins. Our only ski/cabin trip this winter, unfortunately.

Ann, Jill & me. Waiting for Dave to load up the snow machine.
(photo by Mandy)

Dave loading up the snow machine. He sledded everyone's packs out to the cabins.
I despise the snow machine but it can come in handy this way.
(photo by Mandy)

the sun was out full force!
(photo by Mandy)

it was about 3 miles out to the lower cabin where Mandy, Jill & Ann were staying.
We stopped there for some hot drinks, lunch and some warmth.
Left the dogs outside. The labs wanted in. always need to be where the people are.

We stayed at the upper cabin with Amber & John, which is another 3.7 miles on the trail.
The cabin was frozen when we got there. Didn't help that we had just gotten back from Hawaii the week before. I was freezing my butt off.

views from the cabin

upper cabin on the left

I ski-jored with Emma out the next day.
(photo by John)

marten tracks

we only stayed one night, everyone else stayed another night.
John took this awesome photo of the northern lights and the lower cabin.

So nice to have friends from Seward come up to visit!
It's the first week of April now and the snow is melting quickly.
Spring is finally here!! I'm ready to start biking and trail running!