Sunny Weekends

Skate skiing at Mendenhall Glacier

 When the sun is out, YOU too, need to be outside.  That is common knowledge in Southeast.  The problem occurs when the sun stays out for so many days, and you fill them with hiking and kayaking, and more hiking, that you almost hope for a rainy day just so you can be content with sitting still.  It seems every weekend has been nothing but sunshine this spring, so Ben and I have stayed busy, squeezing in every minute of adventure we could in the sun.

Ben on his teles

  For Ben’s big 3-0, we traveled to Juneau for a weekend full of “shredding the gnar” (aka skiing – for anyone not familiar with ski lingo).  As typical, the hospitality was amazing—Lindsay picked us up at the airport (which I might add was a true sacrifice—we arrived in Juneau at 6:45 AM on a Saturday!) and then drove us up to the mountaintop to ski at Eaglecrest. We were able to trek up to Pittman's Ridge above the highest ski lift for views of Admiralty Island and the bay.  It was gorgeous!  The only thing lacking was fresh powder (due to the aforementioned abundance of sunshine- turns out there are benefits to precipitation).

Up on Pittman's Ridge

Ben starting to head down from Pittman's Ridge

The skiing was still a blast, though, and the snow was fairly decent as the sun warmed the slopes as the day went on.  After waking up at 4AM to get on the early plane, and skiing all day long, we were pretty wiped out by 6 PM.  But the fun kept coming. That evening in Juneau, we were treated to a DELICIOUS enchilada feast by some of Lindsay’s friends, Katie and her husband, who are quickly (we hope!) becoming our friends as well!    We crashed at Lindsay’s that night, dreaming of smooth turns, our skis carving against the mountain, and the spring sunshine warming our bodies. 

We awoke to (not surprisingly anymore) another sunny day.  It was recommended by the Juneau crowd to go skate skiing at Mendenhall Lake.  We couldn’t reject the recommendation when our friends Tristan and Jess offered to let us borrow their skate skis.  Even better, they are both about the same size as Ben and me, respectively, so everything fit perfectly!  To add to this great deal, they gave us their car for the day to get out to Mendenhall.  Does it get any better??  Do people get any nicer??  These were the questions going through our head as we drove out the road to the glacier. 

Despite our senses and common sense telling us NOT to go on a “frozen” lake with temperatures in the high 40s and pools of water starting to accumulate in places, we did anyway because “everyone else was doing it.”  There were many people out walking on the lake, cross country skiing, and skate skiing. If all these Juneau people felt so comfortable, it must be safe, we reckoned.  Probably not the smartest choice, but thankfully we didn’t have to regret our decision.  The lake, true to everyone’s recommendation, was perfect for skate skiing.  

We skied around the lake, skirting the impressive icebergs, and then ate lunch right at the base of the Mendenhall Glacier.  Not a bad view.   We ended the weekend by going out to dinner with Lindsay, Tristan, Jess, and Phoebe and probably laughing harder than we had for awhile from the entertaining Juneau crew.  Thanks to all of our Juneau friends that made this trip so memorable! 

Birthday Boy

 

Although there have been many more weekends of fun to report on, the last one I will add to this post was this past weekend.   We were invited on a Hunter Family trip up Mt. Edgecumbe, which means we must be doing something right to get that prestigious invite.   Readers will not be surprised, but the day was……SUNNY.  Nothing but blue sky!  The trip started auspiciously with our arrival on the shores of Kruzoff Island.  We were greeted by 45 seals swimming in the bay, whale spouts visible nearly every few minutes, and many, many seabirds floating in the emerald green water.  It is the end of the herring season in town, so the marine life is still quite abundant.  It was hard to leave the beach behind, but we gathered up our energy and made the trek to the peak of Mt. Edgecumbe.

One of the many large groups of seals (all those black dots) hanging out in the bay feasting on herring

There were a few notable differences between this trip and our previous one in February:

Hanging out on top-- enjoying the lack of wind

-       We had an abundance of daylight this time—no need to run up the mountain to get back by dark

-       There was actually some snow on the mountains—we needed snowshoes

-       Due to the snow, we were able to glissade all the way down the mountain—quite the ride

-    There was a lack of wind, THANKFULLY, this time at the summit!  Much different than in February

-       The bears are out and starting to be active again—we got a call on our VHF radio from the captain of the boat coming to pick us up, alerting us that just down the beach from where we were standing (precisely where he wanted to pick us up) was a bear.  We were quite surprised since we had all been running around on the beach enjoying the abundant marine life.  I was always taught the adage, “Never turn your back on the ocean”, but as it turns out, in Sitka anyways, it does pay to at least turn your head to the side to look down the beach…..thankfully the bear ran up into the woods and we were able to safely get on the boat without trouble.

The ice on the post from back in February is quickly melting away...this one crashed to the ground right after I took this picture

 

Chena leading the way with Jessica, Bob, and Matt making their way up

Me doing a beautiful handstand on top...not really....I wish.  This is the talented, Jessica

The Hunter Crew

Starting the descent

Back on the beach waiting for our boat pick-up

Chena, finally tuckered out after a long day of hiking

We are so thankful for the invite from the Hunters to join them and can’t wait for our next trip to Kruzoff!  This weekend it is looking like its supposed to rain, which could finally give us a chance to relax and lounge around….but you can never trust that Southeast weather….it just might be sunny again!  

Spring Already?

Kayaking in Eastern Channel 

I would love to know how the middle (upper) sea lion got to the position he is in

Where did the last 3 months go???  So much has happened, it’s hard to know where to start. After my parents left, Sitka became sunny, dry, and cold for nearly 2 months straight.  It was a good thing that Ben and I moved to the interior last year and acquired some warm, down puff jackets, because our rain jackets and extra tuffs sat in the closet forgotten for a very long time!  In fact, on the first day of rain after a couple months of sun, I didn’t even want to go out and walk Chena after work because it seemed so gross out.  I had to snap myself out of my sun spoiled stupor and remind myself that walking in the rain is what we Sitkans do…and we don’t even think twice about it. 

January 4th- we thought it was finally starting to turn to winter on the mountains....

We were excited about finally seeing snow.....

But by January 26th, the mountains once again looked (and felt) like summer.  Note all of the short sleeves and shorts and lack of snow

The Routon family on a warm summer like day at the end of January

Ruthann loving the warm mountain top adventure

Patrick, Jessica, and Matt wondering where the snow is...

Ben soaking up the sun

Kristin, Sam, and Chena on the boat ride to Kruzof Island

We eventually started to gain some snow on the mountains, but it hasn’t amounted to much.  The positive side of snowless mountains is that it has opened up some adventure opportunities that would not normally be possible this time of year.  We decided to take advantage of the non-winter weather and hike Mt. Edgecumbe for my 30^th birthday.  Sam, Kristin, Ben, Chena and I left the harbor at the break of dawn (which isn’t really very early on the last weekend of January- 9:00AM). 

Ben and Chena enroute 

Running up the trail

Even though the day didn’t necessarily look or feel like winter, we were still reminded that it was by the lack of daylight.  To make the ascent possible, we had to run and fast hike a good portion of the trail to be back by dark.  We didn’t stay long on the summit because of the biting wind, but the views were amazing.  I had never summited Mt. Edgecumbe on a clear, blue sky day.  The 360 views  were astounding, allowing us to see all of the jagged mountain peaks of Baranof Island and beyond as well as the immense Fairweather Mountains to the north.   

Up the steep side of Mt. Edgecumbe

You could tell from the trail markers which direction the wind has been blowing

Kristin and Sam at the summit

On the boat ride back to town, the sea was bath-tub calm with the setting sun casting an orange glow on the water.  As we zipped back towards Sitka, two whales swam in the distance, each spouts’ mist appearing peach colored against the pastel  sky.  The sun glimmered off their backs and I found it hard to comprehend the immense beauty all around me.  We waved at the sea otters that we passed floating in their kelp beds, always appearing as if they are waving back with their little paws raised just above the water.  Sitka provided a very amazing day to help me celebrate my 30^th.  And I must mention, the spectacular human company on the trip made it even better! 

Our home!  

As a late birthday present to me and an early birthday present to Ben, we bought a house in Sitka!  We couldn’t be happier with our new home and have been enjoying the views of the ocean and the mountains from our windows.  Ben and I both still have a hard time believing that this is actually where we live now.  Even on the rainy days, the views are beautiful overlooking the ocean.  We are excited to show off our new place, so start booking your plans to visit! 

A quick jaunt up Verstovia from the front door of our new home (the trail is a short bushwhack through the trees behind our house)

Life is good!

Christmas- Sitka Style

For the first time since we have been in Alaska (excluding my JV year), we made the decision to forgo the often stressful, expensive, and treacherous flying during the holidays and chose instead remain in Sitka.  We definitely missed seeing our families for Christmas, but did enjoy the relaxed “stay-cation.”  

Christmas day started with the sugary aroma of Grandma Thoma Rolls (a Buck, or should I say Schuler, family tradition) baking in the oven.  We realized that Grandma Thoma must have had a large family, as the recipe was PLENTIFUL to say the least.  We delivered many cinnamon rolls to friends, despite our urge to want to eat them all.  After our bellies were filled with the cinnamon sweetness, Ben and I opened presents and quickly realized that even though we have only been married for 1.5 years, we are already that old couple that ends up getting each other the same gifts, without knowing it.  We both were surprised to open up new backpacks for backcountry skiing!  (Unfortunately, it seems they will not be used this year due to our lack of snow…more on that later)

Enjoying the wonderful snow in Juneau

Ben, a graceful skate skiier!  

Cross country skiing near Mendenhall Glacier

The rest of the day was spent socializing at the Adam’s house, hiking Herring Cove trail with the Scotchmers, and then ending the day with a dinner feast prepared by the Hunters.   All in all, a wonderful holiday was had.  The Clark victory* in ping pong against the Hunters was just icing on the cake! 

*In all honesty, we may not have won every battle in ping-pong

 Thankfully, to help ease our family withdrawal symptoms, Ma and Pa Buck traveled to Alaska shortly after Christmas for a winter get-away.  We met them in Juneau for four days, where we enjoyed the snowy, wintery weather.  Our schedule each day quickly fell into a pattern:

1. Wake up and eat the complimentary breakfast at the hotel (and stretch it as far as we could)

2. Chat with the fellow Sitkans staying in the hotel

3. Hit the slopes via some method of skiing (By the end of the trip, Ben and I had cross country skied, skate skied, and downhill skied)

4. Come back to the hotel, tired, cold, and wet and promptly run to the hotel’s hot tub to soak.  You better believe we put to use the purple polka dotted bathrobes included in our hotel rooms for this endeavor (see pictures)

5. Head out to the big city for dinner

6. Return to the hotel to play cards or watch a movie while the snow continues to fall on the mountain tops.

Not a bad routine…

Mom skiing in the winter wonderland

Hot tub time!  

Skiing in Juneau

Herring Cove Trail

We returned to Sitka with my parents, leaving behind the winter wonderland for good.  Sitka was balmy and rainy nearly every day and it has not changed in the new year.

Despite the rainy skies, the Buck parents donned their waterproof gear and hiked Herring Cove ( with a slight detour when we spotted whale spouts en route), the Cross Trail, and Indian River.  

Mom on Indian River Trail

Dad was pleased to make it the Backdoor for coffee and treats not only once, but TWICE!  Our evenings were filled with small town style entertainment- lots of music playing, games, friends, and good food.  What could be better? (Note: For you city folk with entertainment galore, we appreciate you not answering this question…it is intended to be rhetorical….)

One of the rare sightings of the sun!

Mom and Dad- thank you for making the trip up to the “not so-arctic” north!  Memories of fun and family will help get us through the rest of the snowless, rainy winter! 

Raising Chena's paws in victory as we learned she was crowned DOG of the YEAR 2014!