Alaska Living

Friday, February 16, 2007

Catching Up A Bit





Here are some photos of the work Steve and I did over Christmas on the cabin..new stairs, counter, shelves, and we mudded the front wall-here's hoping that it sticks. (Thank You St. Steve). Below, Tay Tay (Die Die-John) Toolie as a senior--they grow up so fast. Tay Tay was my 6th grade student in Savoonga (one of my first ski teamers) and became a very special young man to me (even living with me in Akiak for most of his 8th grade year). I was able to see him this December in Anchroage while he was competing in the state wrestling tourny. He is a very special young man with a great heart, who has become a leader in his community, one of the few village kids who has passed the graduation test for the state this year, and is planning on going to college at University of Anchorage next year. I'm very proud of him. Oh, yea, top pic, here is a photo of my new wheels-2003 Subaru. Not a truck, but get's 28 miles per gallon, helps saves the planet, enough room for my dog and skis, and I can still camp in it. (Photo taken outside of my new friend CityMouse Dan's" house-in background-Anchorage AK).

Global Warming Project-Horseshoe Lake, Denali Park







The 4th and 5th graders at Healy are the youngest group in Alaska participating in what is called the ALISON PROJECT which is a snow and ice study for the International Arctic Research Center. This data will be used in determining Global Warming and it's effects on our planet. Our class heads down to Denali Park to collect data twice a month, this data is then sent to scientists. It's great teaching in the classroom of life--these days are a lot of fun.





My first Christmas is Alaska. My friends Mark, Karen, Josh and I decided to try for a little backcountry skiing around Paxton, AK. We rented a park service cabin, took the snowmachines to haul all of our gear in, and explored the area. Coverage was a little thin but can't beat great friends and good times. We also ended up driving over Thompson Pass to Valdez in a blizzard which ended up being 2 feet worth of white goodness that burried our trucks in Joshes driveway and closed the pass behind us..we were stranded in Valdez for two days (with good food and good friends and our whole Christmas vaca before us..twas rough).