The Last Great Race

When I heard that I was going to be able to see the Iditarod in person, I was intriuged. I didn't know much about dogsled racing, and Wes was in a similar position. We just had to go watch the ceremonial start of the race here in Anchorage. The sleds run from downtown and cruise around the city all day before they start the real race outside of town.

There is a big park near the universities in the center of town where Wes and I watched the race without all the crowds.

This is me trying to get a connection to a lady riding with one of the mushers. We tried, but coudn't actually get the high five.

This is a traffic jam on the trail. Even though it was a relaxed race through Anchorage, it definitely showed that some of the teams would not be winning the big race.

Sled dogs are cool. They really aren't as big as I thought they'd be, but they sure cruise right along.

Perhaps a new calling?

I came up to Alaska with the thought that for at least a season I am called into full-time Christian ministry. However, a new possiblity for the call on my life has arisen. . .

Ice bowling, part of the festivities leading up to the Iditarod, has moved its way on to my list of things I may do with my life. I don't think it is a good sign for my character developmet because the best thing about ice bowling is how delightfully easy it is. The pins on the ice will fall over in a stiff breeze, so they stand little chance against a 16 pound ball thrown from half the usual distance.

Judging by Scott's smooth technique, he is also weighing his chances for a future in ice bowling.

Its difficult to know our actual scores because it was not uncommon to knock over more than 10 pins with a single roll.

To the mountains

If you've been to Anchorage, then you know about Flat top. It is a mountain just east of town that is among the most travelled hiking routes in the US. It took us until Febuary to finally get around to climbing it, and it was a really cool experience. These pictures will show that you can really feel like your in the high mountains within sight of downtown. Its pretty incredible.

The mountains just east of town are the front edge of the Chugach range. They get beat with tons of wind. The moutains in this picture look pretty bare because the snow never stays on top once the winds come. Its pretty crazy to see the mountains white one day and brown the next.

I'll answer the question that is in your mind: No, Wes and I aren't really hard core, but this picture may lead you to believe we are. Off to the right in this picture is a glacier that is pouring out of the interior range.

Downtown Anchorage sits snuggly beside the Cook Inlet in the background as I climb up the rocky face of Flat top. The mountain provides a breathtaking view of the city, the inlet and the mountains on the distant Aluetian Islands. I felt pretty spoiled on this hike.

Crazy Ice Sculptures

A few weeks back, Scott, Wes and I went to investigate a park in the middle of downtown Anchorage that was rumored to be the site of a huge ice carving competition. I guess all of that must have been true because we found all these incredible carvings of sea life and various other cool things.

For some reason, when an artist begins to carve into ice there is an incredibly strong call to form this ice into a sea creature like this sea horse. Almost every scultpure was either a shark, dolphin or other funny little ocean dweller.

The blocks for the carving were 3x4x6 ft. pieces of ice from a pond outside Fairbanks. It doesn't take that artists very long to turn a huge hunk into a beautiful form like this swordfish. Notice the continued infatuation with sea life.

This is Scott and I looking like a couple of eskimos or something. I tried to fog up the area in front of my face, but failed and so I just look funny.