Sunday, April 13, 2008

Enjoying Alaska

Us up northers here aren't ready for the snow to go anytime soon. My green beans and zucchini might be, but the humanoids in the house are not. You can tell this is the first winter for most of the folks in this house. They screech for joy when the white stuff starts coming down. We had some more of it this past week and I thought I was going to visit the ditch for the first time this season ... made it home tho' without ditch diving. :) gets the caboose ride on the way in ... with all the sleds.
Today we went up the mountain to play. Was so much fun! 10 folks (Tia and up in age) plus 1 little baby, 5 snowmobiles, sleds and snowboard. Was a magnificent day!
Tia gets to ride up in the sled with the sleds. On the way back she hopped on the back of a snowmachine. This is NOT the way to ride. Mighty bumpy back there.
Wally's Taxi Service ... the only way up the mountain after a fun ride down.
Anna's getting warm!
Brock is getting good on the snowboard.
More laughs and screams than a ride at Disney Land!
We spent some time at the first spot and then moved on to a much better one. Nice snow that was deep. Steeper sledding and boarding hills, and more fun for daring snowmachine drivers.
Absolutely incredible!
Taking a rest ... we had hot chocolate at the first place ... I think we've found food again. :)
Always a Dr Pepper along for Jari.
Kevin & Jari cutting a corner. Kevin had a video camera along and got some good biffs on it. Camera just doesn't do this place justice. Impossible to catch these mountains. My kids' expectations of "sledding" have become quite high.
The clouds started rolling in. The light was getting horrible. Though bright enough to see, you couldn't differentiate one hill from another ... bad news when you're moving along quickly. Started snowing when we hit the parking lot and was still snowing when we got home. Nice wet stuff that should freeze nicely for the morning drives to Anchorage.
I think we can all see why our kids love it here and maybe we're not quite ready for winter to be over yet. Maybe we'll get one more day of this ... the mountain already has much less snow on it ... won't be long before more boulders are poking through the snow. 'Tis fun!

6 comments:

Kuoppala and Inlaws said...

Looks like fun. Would be fun to come and celebrate winter fun with you.

I know I'm getting sick of the snow, but if I focused more on having fun in it, would probably like it to stick around longer.

Heather

Kuoppala and Inlaws said...

Looks you are adjusting to life in the Arctic much better than I expected, coming from the tropics and all. Enjoy the snow as long as you can and remember a few years down the road how much you enjoyed it. Best wishes to all. #9

Kuoppala and Inlaws said...

The "few years down the road" is what I wonder about. Will see what kids think of it then. Jari probably won't tire of snowmachines and I still haven't done one lick of cross country skiing this year. Am saving that one for next year. Hoping to find a good deal on skiis somewhere between now and then. :)
-a

Kuoppala and Inlaws said...

Looks like tons of fun!
~jen~

Kuoppala and Inlaws said...

The pictures are great and it looks like a good time! I still can't believe that it got to 100 degrees here today, and you are still enjoying the snow everywhere else!! crazy!!
This past weekend was a lot of fun...my mom turned 60 in March, so all of us sisters and sisters-in-law went up to Heber to my sister's cabin. It was so relaxing and we laughed so much! Us Kuoppala girls should do that sometime.
Jenny

Kuoppala and Inlaws said...

In the far north, where babies grow up snowmobiling on backpacks and hiking outside from the time they are a matter of days or weeks old, i would guess the culture doesn't allow anyone to quit having fun in the snow. ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY!!! It is insipiring to me. There is so much to do outside if we could just get out the door and do it...

I am in favor of a girl's outing Jenny. Would be fun to try pull something together. Ideas?
-b