Ice Park 2009

Thursday night we decided to ride into town and go check out the Ice park. This is another locals event where everyone gets together and carves ice statues and figures. There are several different categories that you could enter, single block, and multi-block competition. The had made some ice slides for the kids and mazes and tunnels for everyone. You know I have seen some pretty cool stuff in my life but seeing what these people have turned big square chunks of ice into is amazing.

Here are the pics and videos

 

This was an awesome experience for me. The hot chocolate was good and the sights were breathtaking. Hope you enjoy the pics.

Chatinkia Days 2009

I was able to attend this events that apparently has been several years running. It consists of a bunch of locals from around the Fairbanks North Star Borough who appreciate the outdoor winter activities. The was great food, hot chocolate, and the smell of snow machine exhaust in the air. Great way to spend a weekend. This was first time at the event and i promise you next year I will be building my own outhouse to race down the road with the rest of ‘em. Yeah you read that right, the people build their own custom outhouse’s, attach skis, and then race to the bottom of the hill. The snow machines tied up and had their own kind of fun playing tug of war. The winner being an Arctic Cat M1000 Mountain Sled. The green one in the videos.  I am posting links to see the videos and all the pictures that i was able to take. I hope you all enjoy them. The human bowling was all kinds of interesting.

The Pictures and Videos You Want To See

That should take you to where you can view all the fun we got to have today.

Critters in the Neighborhood

You know back home we had to worry about raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, the very occasional bear, deer, and local dogs. Well up here in Alaska we have a little different concerns up here. This was a calf that was in my neighbors yard on the way to work this morning. He stands about 6 feet tall an the hump on his shoulders.

This is the Cow(mom) just a few feet away from the above pictured calf. She stands almost 8 feet tall at the hump in the shoulders. We have learned that Moose have a tendency to roam through you yard at any given time. They are for the most part harmless and unless they are startled. Once startled they kind of run in the direction of what ever it was that startled them, be it your dog, your truck starting in the morning, you calling your dogs in. I have two different ones on my front porch but couldn’t get to the camera fast enough to get some pictures of them. 

But on a different note, the days are getting much warmer. Its averaging around 20 to 30 degrees above zero now. Which is awesome. More snow, more daylight, and more days to ride the snow machines. Nothing like fresh powder under a rocking Skidoo Rotax 800 mountain sled. Wish you all could go for a ride with me sometime. Maybe one day it will work itself out.

I got to take a ride last week through Denali National Park. Holy crap what a beautiful ride. I was a little rushed for the trip as it wasn’t planned, a friend wrecked her truck and needed a way home so off i went without the camera. But man I don’t think a camera would capture any of this. But I am heading out there again sometime soon so I will remember to take the camera and show it to you all as best as i can.

 

Take care and I will see you again soon

The Man At Work

Time To Travel

Well the time has come for me to head back home for a few weeks. My Dad has been battling cancer for a couple years now. He has beaten it once, but now it has come back to get even. Well it has taken its toll on him and he is getting down to the last few weeks. I am unsure how I am going to handle all of this, I am a little scared about it all. It’s terrifying to say the least. He is a strong willed man that comes from a strong family with big hearts and unending kindness. We have all been praying for him and I am sure the prayers have been heard and will be answered in Gods accord. He will do what needs to be done. I just don't want my Dad to suffer anymore. He has been through enough in his life, granted he brought most of it upon himself, but not this. Life just seemed it necessary to bring this last battle to him. He has worked his fingers to the bone all of his life and done amazing things with is hands. He has been a carpenter all of his life, and I wish I could show you some of the things he has built with is own hands.  I don't know what else to say about him other than I love him and I am going to miss him very much when all is said and done. I just hope I have made him proud.

I am going to be heading back home for a few weeks to deal with everything that is about to happen and hoping that there will be a few good times I can spend with him before he is gone. I have never been a sentimental person at all, but this hits deep, it’s my Dad. Any advice is welcome to how to deal with this.Ii am clueless. Best wishes to you all and I hope to hear from you soon.

Man The Weather Sucks

Well as most of you know the weather up here has been on a roller coaster. It has been extremely cold and now its back to kind of warm at like –10 up to 10. Everyone is fighting off colds and dealing with bad sinus’s.  The roads keep freezing and then thawing and then freezing again. We are gaining 7 minutes of daylight each day. The sun is averaging coming up sometime around 9 – 10 am and going down around 4-5 or so. Still not quite used to that idea. Everyone is burning up the trails and roadsides on their snow machines. Man I am so jealous of them, I want one so bad. But there is some good news, I think I am about to be taking a trip out to Summit or Eagle River to do some snow kiting. For those of you that don’t know what that is you can check it out on www.youtube.com . Well folks i am going to run for now. Talk to you all again soon.

Checking In

Well things are starting to turn cold again. The average temp is back down to 20's and 30's and daily getting colder. Which in my opinion is good. The snow is starting to fall again. Roads are easier to drive on. Traffic is moving faster. The mood has lightened. Its  just good. So I hope you all are doing well with your days and nights. Just had to stop in and say hello and see who all is there to talk with. Hope to here from you all soon.