Hatcher Pass

I had heard there was an abandoned gold mine in a place called Hatcher's Pass.  I googled it, and saw pictures of wooden structures giving in the weather and time, and peaceful green alpine meadows.  It was May, and a gorgeous sunny day, so I decided to do a road trip.  Spring was everywhere...until the road turned upwards.

I'm going to start with "the victory shot" of the day.  This was my favorite photo.  A red roof against the white and blue of a pristine mountain valley.  It's probably my favorite because it wasn't easy to get.

This photo explains the day a bit more.  As mentioned earlier, it was a bright sunny day when I started this journey in my running shoes.  This us about the halfway point.  You may notice an absence of road.  This is because my car is outside of the view and it was a long, uphill walk in rather deep snow, which was fortunately packed on a path for skiers...but off the trail I think I might have just fallen through like a sinkhole.

I had to face serious mountain beasts, like this jedi marmot armed with a twig and ready to smack me down.

The irony of the sign was not lost on me.  As a first time visitor to the area, it was somewhat ironic to find a roadsign after an rather vigorous and lengthy snow hike.  Apparently, if you're normal, you wait a few weeks and just drive up/

Another thing the normal people in the area were doing...skiing.  Normal people show up here with skies.  I may not be normal, but I am most certainly determined and I struggled all the way to up to the old mine, ski-less, in my running shoes.  I may be a little stubborn.

I did eventually concede that a closer inspection of the buildings would simply not be possible on this particular day.

And I even found the parking lot...confirming there would be a summer road somewhere.

My stubborness paid off though, and soon people figured "hey, if that crazy lady is walking up there so can we."  And so i was rewarded with passing a few small groups on the way back down, including this little pug.  It was quite a journey for me, so I figured this little pug was a super athlete.  I asked if I could take his picture, and when I leaned down I said "Hello little mountain dog!"

He rewarded me with a stoic pose, looking back down the mountains.  And as I left, his owners, tickled pink, could be heard exclaiming about their amazing little mountain dog.

I also encountered what appears to be an abominable snow mosquito.

And I almost missed this well camoflauged snowbird.  It may be an arctic ptarmigan, but I'm not sure.  I quite recommend Hatcher Pass...but maybe a little later in the season!

A little New York By Christmas Night

Lo and behold, another unfinished post, started a good 6 months ago.  The pictures were already uploaded, so will share a little New York City lights!

There's something magical about a few days in Manhattan!  The bustle, the times square lights, it's a city that always feels alive!

Walking towards Times Square (in uncomfortable shoes, if I recall).

Harry Winston's at Christmas...it looked rather luxurious.

The windows reminded me of a pattern of jewellery :)

Then there was this quasi-gothic looking hotel front, The Peninsula as I peered down a side street.

All of the stores has their Christmas lights up.

I kind of loved this one wrapped like a present.

And of course, there is always the late night glow of the hot dog stands.

Nothing says New York like a random vent of noxious gas lighting up the night.  This was just around the corner from Trump Tower.

We couldn't believe how many police were out and about.  After counting 11 cars in under 3 blocks, I thought New York must really take safety seriously.  And then we came on the mobile ops unit.

Yeah, they were all assigned to watch Trump Tower for the President Elect.  I asked one police officer how he felt about so many officers assigned to watching federal government employees.  He gave me a look, but didn't answer.  As for the protesters, by this point, there was one lone dude with a sign.

The famous Tiffany's.

Saks 5th Avenue Christmas window,

They actually had my favorite windows this year.  Very striking.

Very Vogue in fact.

The front windows of course had moving, animated figures.  Always impressive!

And it was a nutcracker theme of course!

The main characters below.

And near the Rockefeller center are some of my favorite Christmas decorations.  The giant tree ornaments!

I couldn't remember where I had seen them on my last visit, so we wandered quite a while to find them!

Mental note...check across from Radio City Music Hall first next time.

The last ones, I love the 3 deer.

Jaycena -- 8 years

I know a lot of people are missing you today, each in their own way.  We miss you every day, of course.  But I guess we mark March 28 as day 0 of days without you.  8 years.  2920 days spent knowing what has been lost.  That knowledge will stay with us all of our lives.

So I try to focus in on remembering what was.  That you were fun -- you made your friends and family smile.  You not only shared in the happiness...you were usually central to it.  You created laughter and memories as you went along.  You were a catalyst in creating so many memories for so many people.

You were growing up into an amazing young woman.  We are left to imagine the finer details, but it's clear who you were.  You were confident, beautiful, strong, smart, funny, and bold.  You were also kind, sensitive, and caring.  You had so many friends that attest to this fact.

We are missing you a bit extra today.  We are remembering you, Laramie, and Brooke.  Sometimes it's hard to believe the world has had the audacity to carry on and keep turning these years.   I never thought I'd quote a Canadian folk song, but I found myself thinking of a line in a Joni Mitchell song, "We're captives on the carousel of time."  How true.  We would stay forever back in time if we could, but it drags us further from our last hug and our last chat each day.

But no amount of time can take away all of the special moments you infused into our lives.  Your laughter is a part of our consciousness.  Your earnestness, sincerity, your honesty made small moments an indelible part of our own hearts and souls.  We carry those exchanges with us every day.  The courage you gave a friend with support is never undone.  The happiness deposited in our lives is real and tangible to this day.  In these ways, you are with each of us still.

We love and miss you Jaycena.  We will never forget how truly amazing and special you were.  And you are with us still in so many ways.  Still love you today, forever, and always xoxo

Iditarod 2017

Iiiiiiiit's Iditarod time!  My favorite snow day of the year!  Despite some looming pressure at work I took the day off for one of my favorite things -- watching the ceremonial start of the Iditarod in Anchorage-- touted as the Last Great Race on Earth.  I don't know who was more excited to be there, me, or this dog.  I think it was a close call.

Clearly delighted to be running for Sebastian Verngaard of France

For anyone who has not yet had the pleasure of listening to me explain the story of Balto; sled dog teams were the Pony Express of their day up here in Alaska.  The Iditarod trail is a historic game trail in Alaska.  And Balto is a cartoon my niece used to love about a historic and heroic sled dog relay run in 1925 from Nenana to Nome, where teams of dogs ran 674 miles (1085 km) in 5 days in the deep artic winter night to deliver life saving diptheria anti-toxin to in epidemic stricken Nome (which one might call the end of the earth here).  The first Iditarod was in 1973, an event dreamed up by a historical society looking at centennial events.  It has grown beyond that humble beginning, but to me, it's still all about Balto.

The Ceremonial Start in Anchorage is one of my favorite days of the year.  The actual race will start Monday in Fairbanks this year, due to climate change, but regardless of where the snow allows the race to begin, the ceremonial start in Anchorage is a tradition on its own.  Helicopters hover above shooting the scene for big networks, but the best seat is standing along the trail, cheering on the dogs as they go by.  It was -21C on a Saturday afternoon, and I was delighted to be a camera yielding popsicle.

The dogs are a particular type of dog -- not quite what you might expect.  They are wiry, fiesty, and they seem to love to run.  Many run in little jackets, and all of them wear little booties to protect their feet on the many miles of icy terrain.  It can be a bit of a puppy fashion show.

This well dressed team is mushed by Laura Neece of Michigan.

DeeDee Jonrowe and her signature team of neon pink paws need are basically a trademark around here.  They are truly "Pretty in Pink".

These handsome little fellas with the Hawaiian flare have picked up a little swagger from their owner, Girdwood Local Nicholas Petit.  I got to meet him and pet a couple of his dogs last summer at Girdwood's Forest Fair, so I will be cheering them on for sure.

In black tie formals, the lead dogs are in tuxedo black and white for Alaska's own Ketil Reitan.  Fine looking dogs indeed.

And representing McGrath, Alaska, we have Joe Carson's team lighting up the trails in bold colors and a little red white and blue flare.  I loved that each of his dogs names were clearly on display, as Amy in the lead shows.

And I suppose I should show a musher or two -- this is Ketil Reitan.

 And in matching red booties, we have Ray Reddington of Wasilla's team.  They were particularly bouncy going down the trail.

And the award for most enthusiastic/slightly crazy lead dog goes to Martin Buser's lead dog.  That is one determined looking little ball of fur.

 Believe it or not, sometimes the mushers don't make the turns, as evidenced here.  There was more than one tumble around the 90 degree turn.  The dogs are very gracious about stopping for us poor, less coordinated humans.

Here's another team that lost a musher around the bend. I think the lead dog might actually be chuckling.

 If these two fine looking dogs are looking confident, it's because they run for Mitch Seavy, who has won the Iditarod twice, has 14 top 10 finishes, and are expected to be amongst the fastest teams again this year.

Also on team Mitch Seavy, this beautiful looking dog.

More of Mitch Seavy's team...I swear they were posing as they slowed to a trot for my lens.

This happy, fun loving team is running for another Alaska favorite, Kristin Bacon.  They are eager to make their best time!

And running for Richie Deal in Anaik are these gorgeous little dogs.

Also running for Richie Deal, these two look like they have a plan!

These dogs are enthusiastic about running for DeeDee Jonrowe on Willow.

More happy dogs on Nicholas Petit's team, proud in their Hawaiian lays.

This dog of DeeDee's is literally walking on air.  They do say the dogs love to run, and it certainly seems to be so.

 In all black booties, Mark Selland's team looks toned and ready to roll.

Check out the expression on one of Rick Casillo's dogs face.  I suspect he's the class clown.

This is Jodi Bailey's team -- they came around the corner like lightning and were just loving the excitement of the day.

Jeff King and his team come down the stretch..his lead dogs might be arguing about who just stepped on whose bootie!

Another team to watch -- this is Dallas Seavy of Willow Alaska.  He and his team have won 4 of the last 5 Iditarods.  It's an amazing, challenging, incredible journey.  Anything can happen.  I'll be cheering for them all -- it's truly amazing, and I can only imagine the beauty of 10 days and nights in the open arctic.  Best of luck to all who take part in the Last Great Race on Earth!!

Oh, and P.S.  Alaskans bring their own dogs to the races, because they love it just as much as the people.  Even the littlest amongst us dreams of being a champion :)