4th of July on Kesugi Ridge

July, 2009: Kesugi Ridge, Denali State Park.

After much indecision about where to spend the three day weekend, Kev and I made a game time change of plans and headed north to Denali State Park for Kev's first glimpse of "The High One" and a point to point, 28 mile route east of the National Park. Meanwhile back at the ranch... our dear governor, Sarah Palin, was giving a rambling speech that ended by surprising everyone, including the Governor herself we believe, with her resignation from her position so she could continue to help Alaskans and not be a dead fish. Whatever that means. So to dear Sarah, Alaska says goodbye while at the same time, apologizing profusely to the rest of the country for allowing her Outside to inflict her unintelligible politics on the rest of the country.

Denali out in full view.

Our own private tarn at out campsite.

Find the marmot in this picture.

Adventures with Trailside Discovery Camp

June, 2009: "Working" in Southcentral Alaska

Mountain biking Johnson Pass on the Kenai with a crew of burly twelve though fourteen-year-olds was one of the toughest trips I have ever done with kids. I was black and blue afterward from wrestling my 40+ lb bike (after it was loaded with a massive quantity of gear) and continually repairing and reattaching panniers/gear/breaks/etc to kids' bikes as they bounced off along the 28 mile single track trail. The trail itself is a lot of fun, though, especially after you make it to the top of the pass and can spend more time riding the bike rather than walking it up hills behind kids who have not yet figured out how to use their gears correctly. Fun times though and great weather; definitely worth coming back without the kids to ride the whole thing in one go!

We made it to the top! I was both amazed and very much relieved as for a short time, I was seriously questioning our ability to complete the 28 miles trail as we pushed our bikes up 45+ degree hills.

Seward All-Girls Kayak Trip: An amazing trip with nine awesome girls down Resurrection Bay to Cains Head State Park. The sunny weather alone made us feel like the luckiest people alive, but calm seas, sea otters, sea lions, and puffins playing along side our boats and the easy going and enthusiastic nature of all of the girls bumps this trip to the top of the best trips ever list.

Lauren and Emily hauling gear to the boats at Tonsina Point

Kayaking south to North Beach

Sunset at the old army pier at North Beach

The Porcupine and Spruce Glaciers on the east side of Resurrection Bay as seen from North Beach.

A beautiful Thursday heading south around Cains Head to South Beach. Not the best paddling form, but at least they are in sync!

My fleet of paddlers with Seward in the distance... I feel like a proud mama!

Spring in Yosemite

So... finally updating the blog with photos from this spring/summer/year etc. Enjoy!

Trans-Sierra bike ride with Toby and Andy. Despite the hail and the lightning crashing all around us somewhere around May Lake, was an awesome ride with a good 20 miles of downhill from 8,000 ft to 2,000 ft to finish in El Portal. Whoo hoo!

Backpacking in Tuolomne with Dena, Patrick, Naomi, Meg, Katie and Kevin over Memorial Day weekend.

Dena and Patrick next to the Tuolomne River.

Waterfall on the Tuolomne River just above Glen Aulin.

Best part of the weekend might have been the pie at TPR on Monday afternoon. Hmmm... Pie...