80 degree day

        I was going to run a Mediviji half marathon I'd been training for with Aaron.   However with the amazing weather report and one more weekend of summer here in Sitka with my friends before leaving to head south for 6 weeks, I couldn't say no to a kayak to the white sandy beach of Sea Lion Cove 25 miles, one way, north of town.  Before the trip the longest I'd ever paddled at once was with Aaron the day after we returned from our honeymoon.  That day we paddled 12 miles across and back to Kruzoff Island to run up our favorite dormant volcano Mnt. Edgecumbe, so I was a bit intimidated by the mileage of this trip, but nothing I knew I wasn't good for, especially with the dreamy 80 degree weather.  Friday afternoon Ben, Em, Kristin and I launched, leaving Aaron behind to work on our deck at home.

        The sun was up but the wind was too, so the trip didn't end without stories.  And thankfully for our friends Ryan and Kristin were also in route to Sea Lion Cove right as we were about to portage to hide from the wind.  They picked us up in their large 30 ft. aluminum boat  2/3rds through our paddle there, allowing us to make it to the beach on day 2 instead of day 3 or 4.   And what a beach it was, after 2 days of paddling and a 2 1/2 mile hike across Kruzoff we spent and afternoon playing frisbee and lounging on a private beach.  The dreamy weather sure made for a dreamy trip!  Here is the photo journal:

 Aaron busy at work on our deck while we are about to head out frolicking, though it did allow Aaron to run the 1/2 marathon and then he and Sam skiffed out to meet us Saturday after the race.  Then Sam and I switched places, Sam paddled my kayak while I took the boat ride back to town with Aaron. 

 Ben, Emily, Kristin and I at our launch Friday afternoon!  Aren't we tough?  And we haven't even paddled yet.

 The newlyweds Em and Ben out at sea!

 Kristin, the trip visionary and my kayak mate on Friday.  Saturday Em and Ben took the double.

 Sunset on the first night... it was just as lovely Saturday evening.  This photo was taken at about 10pm.

 The trail heading out to Sea Lion Cove, notice two bear cubs in the photo?

 We are still on the hike, hard to take a bad photo!

 Sea Lion Cove, no sea lions, but we did see a Minke Whale and Humpback whales on the paddle over!  Orcas were spotted on the paddle back on Sunday, thank goodness everyone was hauled out on the beach!

 Here is a creek that empties into the ocean that we found on the far side of the beach.

 Tanning in the warm sun, I still have a long way to go to catch up with my down south friends, but it is a start.

Here is the padding crew Monday for happy hour.  They all came over Monday to help us finish the deck and various other tasks.  We are lucky enough to have amazing friends that are willing to help us with our remodel, and look at that beautiful deck! 

No swimming quite yet

A few days ago I pulled Aaron away from installing our new heat pump, in order to go up Starrigaven.  I had high hopes that if the shallow lakes were unfrozen, and we'd be able to go swimming!  On the hike up we were hopeful but not convinced, being early June, often the alpine still has lots of snow.  Sure enough we were still a little early for the swim, but it was still a warm, mostly wind free, frolic up the mountain with my most favorite husband!

Parents visit

No one gets it, until they visit!  When I left for AK for the first time, 4 years 364 days ago, I didn't know that I would stay.  Now 5 years to the day tomorrow, I can't dream of ever leaving.  When I return home to visit no one understands.  To those friends and family who have made the transcontinental very expensive visit however it is a different story.

Last week my parents came up for their 3rd Alaskan visit, the weather wasn't much more cooperative than it had been on their previous 2 trips but the adventures were stronger than ever.  It is always so nice to have visitors here and (hint hint) we pull out the red carpet and make all the stops.

Here are some photos and a brief overview of their trip: 

Monday they arrived via Alaska Airlines on the 11am flight, we skiffed out 6 miles south to Salmon Lake, took a lovely 4 mile hike to the lake, and stopped to watch a coastal brown bear hanging out on the beach on our skiff ride home.

Tuesday was mom and dad's first and maybe last hike up Mnt. Verstovia.  2 1/2 hours of climbing without a single complaint, okay maybe one or two!  There was still quiet a bit of snow on the trail, and mom's Keens may not have been the best option for footware, but no one would have known!  My parents weren't intimidate by this 2550 ft. mountain and glided up like they were still youth!  That evening we hosted Tuesday Night Dinner, had a nice Alaskan style jam, and casually 4 different Wild Alaskan King Salmon dishes were brought to the potluck.

Wednesday was just a rest day, mom and I worked in the yard and we ate good Alaskan inspired meals.  We also ate at the most delicious restaurant I have ever had the luxury of going to, Ludvigs,  YUM!

Thursday we KAYAKED in the Pacific, it took mom a little convincing, but what a paddle!  We even had a little seal follow alongside our boats.  (I didn't even have to pay him.)

Friday we had another nice hike and some fishing!  Dad and I went out with a buddy of mine jigging for halibut and trolling for Kings, and as the swells on the ocean grew so were the fish that were biting.  Dad pulled in two lean cod and back to the house we went to grill up some darn good beer battered cod.   And though we didn't catch any King salmon we did catch the most surreal Alaskan tale I've had my near 5 years here, no emphasis added.  On the way home, in Dustin's 16 foot skiff we boated straight into a WHALE!  No harm was done to either party and I am just glad we only hit the tail of the whale and lived to tell the tale!

boater

Our new, to us, skiff The Crouton

Fire! Yes, it is still cold here.

Ben kidnapping Emily at Pirate's Cove?

Emily pretending to be a pirate? at Pirates Cove

Me and Kristin hiding from the wind, like our suits? Mustang suits are a must have for AK boating.

Mork, Sam and Kristin at three Entrance Bay

Josephine and Larissa, two of my most favorite Edgecumbe Students this past weekend on a whale watching cruise

Eeew, I've never wanted to be a boater! Boaters have always reminded me of fraternity boys, something to stay far away from. However this Spring Aaron might have somehow managed to talk me into one.

Now here is some background information on Aaron, he LOVES deals, LOVES them! He wakes up every Saturday morning NO FAIL to hit all of the garage sales in town. And when this boat opportunity presented itself, Aaron spent the better part of 3 months convincing me that we needed THIS particular really good deal boat. He would tell me that he didn't want it for him, but for me because he KNEW how much I needed adventure and this would be another adventure avenue! He mentioned how we could go dip netting for reds this fall and we could go fishing for Kings this summer by the hatchery, we could zip over to Edgecumbe, the volcano, and run it to the top on a pretty day, etc., the list went on and on.

And now for a little background knowledge on me, I am a saver that does not really need anything ever! For example, for a while I didn't think we needed a couch in our living room. And I definitely didn't need a boat, it was crazy, where could I not go that I couldn't get in my kayak? But, somehow in the back of my mind I knew Aaron was right. There were so many places that we couldn't go without a boat without taking a week to paddle to, and this boat could double the number of mountains to climb!

So, the end of the story, we went for it, we bought the skiff, since named The Crouton. And we've loved it. Here are some of our photo gallery.

shredding the pow

Sunday's Adventures

Maybe in some parts of the country Spring is coming, but here in Sitka we are still in a white winter wonderland. Last Thursday when I woke up and looked out my window, not only was I greeted with fresh snow, but also by my husband snowboarding down our street. He wanted to try our his new board he said, "nothing like shredding the pow pow before a day of work."

This Sunday when we woke up to another whiteout and fresh base we knew it meant we needed another full day on the mnt., so out we went with 7 of our closest friends (Amber, Arther, Matt, Brian (the featured skier above), Sam (the abominable snowman above), Kristin, and Fae. Boy what a day it was, from sun up to sun down we were making fresh powder runs.

As I type the snow is still coming down... who knows what this weekend will bring!

Party Time!!

Why turn a year older without a PARTY!?

Here are some happenings from Aaron's birthday's main event this past weekend!

Nelson in Kipnuk, AK

Here is a powerful 8 minute video from an amazing student and friend of mine, Nelson, who is now a junior at MEHS, where I teach. This beautiful video taking place in Kipnuk, Alaska, a Yup'ik village brings alive the importance of Alaska native family ties and their strong connection to the land, but also paints a very real portrait of village life and the uncertainty of whats ahead.

Enjoy!