Alaska By Helio Courier

Good day. It has a been some time since I last graced the blogosphere with my presence! I suppose I just needed a good trip, or renovation project on which to report. Last week, Russell and I embarked on a week long adventure to the far reaches of the state, accessible only by plane. Here is a short photo-log of our adventure:

Following a day of rain and low clouds in Anchorage, we got out of town on Friday evening and flew up to Talkeetna. Jerry Shearer picked us up and took us to Shearerwood forest for a nice evening of dinner and games with Dana, Jerry, and Greg. I guess we will start roughing it tomorrow!

We took a few things with us!

The before our adventure picture.
We flew north to Nenana and then on to Bettles, where we got some information about flying in the Gates of the Arctic. There is a nice landing strip on the upper North Fork of the Koyukuk, so we headed that way for a couple of days.

The Great One above the clouds on the way from Talkeetna to Nenana.

Ice cream in Bettles!

Our river bar campsite on the North Fork of the Koyukuk.

Breakfast with bugs and my intrepid pilot.

Hiking up river.

A view of the area at 12:30am.

OSHA approved maneuvering to check fuel levels. Thanks to our entertaining campsite friends from Fairbanks for the help.

Two days later, we spent an afternoon waiting out thunderstorms in Bettles, before we flew up the Alatna River Valley. After much circling, low swoops, and conversation, we decided there wasn't a firm and long enough bar to land on (that we could also take off from). We abandoned our Alatna aspirations, and made for the Kobuk Sand Dunes. The Dunes provided myriad spots to set down, and we landed near the southeast edge, where fresh water was available, and we could easily make a fire with dry wood.

The Kobuk Sand Dunes.

Our camp in the dunes.

The dunes were strange and amazing.
Our Kobuk morning began with a short hike up a large and sweeping dune. We then flew to Kotzebue for fuel. After some deliberation, weather checking, and a chat with the ranger at the NPS center, we decided to head south to Serpentine Hot Springs in Beringia National Park. Serpentine did not disappoint! An ample airstrip, bunkhouse, and bathhouse awaited us. It was delightful to cook, eat, and play some intense cribbage matches in the bunkhouse, and away from swarms of bugs.

The amazing tors of the Serpentine Creek valley.

We saw LOTS of caribou antlers-- 21 on this hike to be exact!

Intense competition for the last Baby Ruth.

A view of the bunkhouse and bathhouse next to the springs.
Following a couple of great nights at the hots springs, we bid Serpentine adieu and headed east. We flew over an enormous lava flow (who knew?) and made a quick stop in Galena. We continued east to Nenana for fuel, and then had a lovely flight across the pass at Denali and back home. Time for Moose's Tooth and beer. A wonderful trip in the books!

The lava fields stretch on in front of the Helio.

Back at Merrill in Anchorage.

Aleutian Abode: Before & After

Time flies... particularly when you get a real job and buy a fixer-upper first house. What do you know, it's been over a year and I figured it would be good to do a little before and after of my glorious Aleutian abode.

Living room before, note the sweet wallpaper

Living room after

Living room before

Living room after, including my new Jøtul wood stove

Hall and bathroom before

New laundry station and bathroom after

Master bedroom before

Master bedroom after

Master closets before

New master closet

Yucky bathroom before

Nice bright new tile in maritime themed bathroom

Kitchen & dining before

Kitch & dining after

Former meth lab?

Now home to many bikes, skis & a waxing station

The old garage area

More storage, and my fabulous book page floor

Life in Fast Forward

Oh, hello there. I guess it's time for another update! Since I last wrote:

Cross Season I had a fabulous time racing cyclocross last fall. I still say this is the most fun you can have on a bike. I ended up third in the overall, and won my first race. Nothing like having a plan and executing!

  Suffering at APU.

On my way to the win on a cold evening at Kincaid.
Taiwan In February, I decided to head to Asia for Chinese New Year. I got to meet my nephew, Zachary, and just relax for 10 days in warm weather. We ate lots of delicious food, traveled to Tainan, and played many games of crazy eights. It was a great trip. too bad there is not still a direct flight from Anchorage to Taipei.

  Being Aunt Laura.

  With Andrew, Maggie, and Zachary.
Ski Racing I missed out on a few of the Anchorage Cups this year; however, I did do the Hickok in the rain, and another bitter cold Pias. Both were great fun! Then the tour produced some sparklingly fast times, and I'll take my 2:36 PR, yes I will. The Oosik was another brilliant Talkeetna day, that included several hours of cranking the double-pole, crashing on the Kanady's couch (again), and drinking at the Fairview. A weekend not to be missed!


  Touring Anchorage.

  Another Beautiful Oosik Day in Talkeetna.
California A small miracle occurred allowing my group of high school girlfriends to all come together in Sonoma for a long weekend at the end of April. It was great to bike, drink wine, enjoy 90 degree temperatures, play on the beach, and laugh, a lot. On the way down I also spent a lovely and relaxing couple of days in Vancouver and Washougal with the family.

  In our Best Bridesmaids Outfits with Kelly, the Bride-to-Be.

  Lovely Ladies Cruising Wine Country.
Graduation I wrapped up my degree this term and got my hood as a master of the universe. I am glad to be done. That is an understatement.

  My Cohort in Counselor Education: Jessica and Elaine.
Triathlons This year I decided that if one triathlon was fun, maybe two would be better! The first of the season was the Gold Nugget, where I managed to sneak in to third. The weather was bitter cold, about 32F at the start. Then I came second in the pouring rain at Eagle River. I guess inclement weather suits me.

  Snow on the Ground for the GNT, May 19th.

  Sporting New Duds for Eagle River.

  Where's My Other Glove? Oh, Right, Down My Shirt.
Life with no plans, everything planned? Now what? Good question. I am applying for a few jobs, and keeping my mind open. I'm enjoying friends, training, and family in the meantime. Also, I'm growing a little rooftop garden and still working full time at AMH. Life is busy, and most importantly, life is good. Until next time,

Eight Months in a Nutshell

Wow. I'm behind in my blogging life. Let's do a highlight wrap-up of the last eight months.
1. Tour of Anchorage - The now infamous moosing, resulted in a total restart of the women's race halfway through Spencer, and some really slow overall times. I guess that makes for a good excuse. I was still pleased with my sixth place, and with hanging with the leaders (despite having my pole yanked off by a master blaster at 12k) until almost Westchester.
  Coming off of Spencer Loop early in the race. 2. Oosik - Love this race! The weather was glorious, the trails were amazing, and it's hard to argue about a one lap 50km classic race. I have never been so trashed after a race in my life, but it was a satisfying kind of destroyed. Talkeetna is a great little town as well. I will be doing this race again next year.
  I really am having fun !   49.7km down, almost home, and not a second too soon. 3. School - I have cranked through two terms since I last posted. They were a mixed bag to put it mildly. I had a professor in the spring that I just loved. He was the kind of educator that made me want to get my PhD in education research and work towards improving systems. But before I do that, I think I'll have to figure out the systems in the ASD with my feet on the ground.
4. Bike Racing - I have been doing a smattering of races, when my school and work schedule allows. I got a Niner Air9 this year, and I love mountain biking! I have a ways to go in terms of my technical riding, but it's a blast. In addition to quite a bit of mountain racing, I raced one triathlon (more on the schedule for next summer), several road races, and soon it will be cross season.
  Finishing the Gold Nugget Triathlon, 21st place this year   Cranking away in the Fireweed.    This mountain biking business is dirty. 5. Dimond - I started my practicum and internship at Dimond High School two weeks ago. Right now I'm in the stage where I don't know what the heck I'm doing, but I'm so happy to finally be working and seeing what it is all about.
6. Sailing - I got the opportunity to do a couple of trips in the last few weeks, and they have helped to just rejuvenate my spirit. I know that smacks of hippy mumbo-jumbo, but sometimes you just need the wide open space of the water and the fresh air. We spent a long weekend with Aunt Patti and Leslie, getting in a little fishing, beach walking, sun, torrential rain, and some farkeling. Then I got to help Randy and Judy break in their new Catalina 36, Xena, which had to have been one of the most glorious weekends of the year. We tandemed a bit with my parents on Raven, who had jettisoned me from their boat, as it was full of Biczyskos & Johnsons (seven people and princess Nellie = a full boat). Last week Dad and I took a mid-week jaunt to Seward. The two days were perfectly sunny, and the wind was always at our back everywhere we went.
  Whale blubber, Xena, and Raven at Sunny Cove.   Randy grilling at Bulldog-- it doesn't get much better than this!   Hiking to the overlook to Eldorado Narrows at Halibut Cove on Fox Island.   A perfect day.    I'm the captain now!!! 7. Zachary - Last, but certainly not least, I became an Aunt on June 21st. Zachary Chen Gardner was born to Maggie and Andrew in Taipei, weighing in at a whopping 9.0 lbs. He's wonderfully healthy and has a full head of black hair that tends to stand straight up. I can't wait to meet him.
  Look at all that hair ! Cutest nephew ever.