I spent my spring break in Fairbanks this year. . . not any warmer or sunnier than normal, but I got to hang out with Leif, and my family. My parents were up from Colorado simultaneously helping out my sister with her new little one (yup, they are adopting a little girl). Her name is Cassey Lynn and she is 5 months old.
So over the course of the week Leif and I spent a long weekend in a public use cabin off Chena Hot Springs Road. One neither one of us had been to before and it turned out to be a relaxing and fulfilling weekend, if not exhausting. We hiked in, breaking trail through the newly fallen snow (anywhere between 5 and 10 inches of the fluffy white stuff) only to find out two things, we are far more out of shape than we thought, and the trail was longer than the map said. We made the 7.25 mile (in our estimation) trip in 7.5 hours!!! Talk about a long day...
But once we made it in and were fed, all seemed better with the world. The next day was spent cycling through bouts of eating, reading and napping... a great day of rest, relaxation and much needed rejuvenation. One trip out to get wood helped loosen the sore muscles, and provided some great wood... who has ever heard of a stove heating a place to 110F !! I was dying!
The trip out was much faster for several reasons: less weight being pulled out, our previously broken trail, more frequent refueling stops and at mile four a real surprise. Those who maintain the trail had come out and had packed the trail... not just with a snow machine, but with a groomer.
We were on a packed highway! The trip out only took us 4.5 hours, and for the last four miles we were walking at a pace of 20 minute miles... a vast difference from two days prior. It was a great trip overall, and I'm excited by the idea of being able to do trips like this more often once I move back...
The other parts of my week were spent hanging with the family out in North Pole.... there is always fun to be had with Onan around.... (pictures coming shortly)
