Table Top Mountain

Fairbanks has been having great weather this summer. Yes, the entire state has been on fire and that has made for some smokey days in the 'banks, but in general, it's been a terrific summer. Days at the lake, paddle boarding, kayaking and most recently a lovely hike in the White Mountains.

My friend Hilary, her dog, Cedar, and I tackled Table Top. Getting out of town was an endeavor all on its own. We returned her husband's cell phone to him at work, dropped her son off at daycare and lastly got coffee. I'm impressed with all we did pre-coffee. It is not easy to answer a three-year old's questions sans caffeine. We should have had a pre-coffee coffee but therein lies the dilemma: how do you think clearly about coffee when you haven't yet had coffee? Thank goodness for Fairbanks' many, many drive-thru coffee huts. If you can just get yourself to the coffee hut, it will all be okay.

We hiked to the top of that plateau. 

Fielding Lake

In June I stayed at the Fielding Lake public use cabin for two nights. It's a great spot. I was glad to have the cabin though because the wind was ferocious. And when it did stop the mosquitos came out in full force. If I'd been tent camping I would've been miserable. I kayaked one day. The wind was just tolerable. Not so bad that I couldn't get anywhere, or was worried about tipping over, but strong enough that when I stopped to take a picture I was blown back and lost ground.

The cabin. 

Circle

It's taken seven months but I have finally written a blog post for 2015. It's been a good summer with local trips and ventures to the "outside".  Yesterday I drove to Circle. It's a small village at the end of Alaska State Hwy 6, the Steese.

Moose in the Slough

My day:

1) Floating = good.

2) Held hostage by a moose for 1/2 hour = good, but tense. 

3) Pulled over by trooper = bad turned good when he gave me a citation for a correctable offense instead of a moving violation. The fact that I was still in my bathing suit (having just come from floating and all) has no bearing on the situation. 

America

What I love about America is this:

As a single woman of a <ahem> certain age I can go camping and kayaking if I so wish. I don't have to get anyone's approval or even tell anyone where I am. This, is a tremendous privilege and one that I am continually grateful for. 

No Chickens Were Harmed

Yesterday was the Crossfit Fitness Derby. And unlike last year, no chickens died (click here for that story). This year, the fair folks made sure the Derby was on the opposite side of the fairgrounds from the Cluck Hut. And unlike last year, I participated this year! I was going to wax eloquent about the metaphor one can draw between sports competition and life; not believing your own stories about what you think you can do (I even found a nice Bruce Lee quote). Blah, blah, blah, whatever. I'm tired. Too tired to even hold a thought in my head.

Another Excellent Alaskan Adventure!

My Super Twin Power, Julia returned to Alaska last week for another chronicle in the Heather and Julia Adventures. We did not disappoint! What a great time we had. We did a little bit of everything: tent camping, fancy-schmancy resort, a canoe trail paddle, hot springs in Fairbanks and a float down the Chena River. 

You can see more of my pictures here:  Alaska Adventure II

On Mt. Alyeska overlooking Turnagain Arm.

Still Summer

Each day that Fairbanks has another 80+ degree day I breathe deep in wonderment. Yet there is also a kernel of reality sitting in the bottom of my stomach, knowing this can't last. While it's here though, I'm doing my best to enjoy every second.

Yesterday was a perfect float day. Blair, Mark, Copper and I floated part of the Pile Driver Slough just south of North Pole.

Floatin'

Sunday's warm weather called for a float down the Chena River. I in my kayak, and Blair and Mark in their new-to-them canoe. It was their maiden voyage. In the kayaking world, double kayaks are referred to as divorce boats. I'm not sure if canoes carrying couples have the same association but Blair and Mark survived with their marriage license intact. Copper came too!

Summer Solstice Camping

On a whim, I went camping at a boat-in site at Chena Lakes. I was yearning for some late night kayaking and solstice seemed the right time to do it. I threw caution to the wind to my usual check-list style of packing. I typically over pack for camping, wanting to be prepared for any given situation. This time I thought, "Nah, I know what I'm doing". This should have been a red flag. I need to remember that whenever I hear myself saying those words, it's a sure sign that no, I do not. Here are the results of my thinking I knew what I was doing.

I nearly went blind taking this picture. Shortly
after taking this I took off my sunglasses only
to realize I was a bit too close to a moose.
I thought she was a bush.

Kayaking, Kayaking, Kayaking

After a winter that would never end, summer has finally arrived in Fairbanks. Up until three weeks ago there was still ice on the lakes!

Summer is...

Summer is feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin, the heat softening your muscles making you feel you could melt into the ground you lay on.

Summer is hearing the tree branches rustle before their soft breeze blows a strand of hair across your cheek.

Summer is hearing neighbor kids giggle as they jump on the trampoline.

Summer Pictorial Review

My observation that Fairbanks summer weather wasn't "all that' has been substantiated. Today's News Miner reported that the average temperature in Fairbanks this summer was 59.5 degrees. We had 5 days of 80 degree weather -- far off the average of 11 days.

Yesterday was Labor Day; summer is officially over. Here's summer in pictures:

Start of summer -- Hiking Angel Rocks

Kayaking the Chena River, Take II

Those of you long-time followers may remember my fiasco of an attempt to paddle upstream on the Chena River over a year ago. If not, take a peek and read it here. It's classic Heather; what can I say.

 

Chena Lakes: winter vs summer

Chena Lakes is one of my go to places -- perfect for snowshoeing in the winter, and kayaking in the summer. It's interesting to compare the seasons in pictures.

Winter sunset:

I believe this was a "sundog" day. The phantom
sun is to the left.

Seattle

This past weekend I was in Seattle visiting Cicilie. What a great time we had! We went on the Seattle Great Wheel.

Camping in the Interior

Over July 4th I went camping with Agent 007. (His name is Ken, but 007 is just more fun.) This wasn't camping that I'm accustomed to. First, we arrived in daylight. Not just because there is still 24 hours of daylight, but because we actually got to the trail head at a reasonable hour. Usually my camping trips consist of Julia and I reaching our destination at 1 in the morning and camping in the ranger station parking lot. Sometimes we accidentally camp in the trail head parking lot thinking that it's the campground, only to be awakened the next morning by people parking their cars next to our tent. How rude!

This trip was off to a good start. Except for one minor detail. We were riding 4-wheelers 18 miles to our cabin destination and I had never been on a 4-wheeler before.  Well, there was that one time this winter when sledding with Blair and Mark. I remember the look of fear that passed over Mark's face as I climbed on and asked him what the silver doohickey was for. "The brake", he grimaced. Good to know.

Our view for much of the ride.

Ice, Ice, Baby

There are some activities that are quintessential Alaskan. Ice climbing on a glacier is one of them. Not that you can't do this elsewhere but when you combine it with camping at the foot of the glacier and not needing to use your headlamp all night, well, it's an experience that is unique to Alaska.

Last weekend BFF Julia visited me from California. We went ice climbing on the Matanuska Glacier as neither of us had ever done that before. What an experience! We were able to camp at the glacier the night before climbing day. 

Our view from the tent.

What a surprise it was to see the moon! I haven't seen it since April. It was a bittersweet moment though -- I miss seeing the moon but it's appearance means the end of summer is near.

The next day we met our guides and got geared up for the climb. There were six people in our group -- I was the only one without any climbing experience.

Julia, ready to go!

At the Moulin.

Waiting for the ropes to be set.

Julia climbing.

Lock and load.

Up I go!

Trying not to wet myself as I descend.

Julia looking so stable, but really trying not to fall.

We climbed at two different places on the glacier, and were able to do as many climbs as we wanted. Our guides were great, although... Julia and I were told if we didn't stop whispering we'd have to be separated.

I am actually climbing here -- not
hanging on for dear life as it appears.

Super Twins!

Me climbing the crack. "It's just like going up a staircase!"
said Richard the Ice billy goat. Uh huh.

Our guide, Richard, not letting us fall.

Hanging out at the wall. This is shortly after I fell
through rotten ice up to my hip, in glacier water.

Our crampons were no joke.

The day after ice climbing we drove to Talkeetna and had lunch before stopping in at Denali National Park. Unfortunately it was cloudy all day and Julia didn't get a good view of Mt. McKinley. This means she'll have to come back for another visit!

The rest of the weekend we spent enjoying the Fairbanks sites. Julia witnessed first hand all of Fairbanks treasures. That took 20 minutes and then we had a drink. :) It was a great weekend catching up, doing new things and enjoying summer.

And you know you have a good friend when she'll hold your cat so you can clean his poopy bottom when he's having digestive troubles. Poor kitty.

Now I'm Feeelin' it!

The official weather records state that Fairbanks hit 80 degrees for the first time this past Tuesday. Halleluiah! To celebrate, I bought myself a kayak! I've been missing my boat terribly and it rips my heart in two to drive past lakes and rivers not being able to paddle them. So, rather than send the summer in despondency and on anti-depressants, I threw some money at the problem and bought a boat. Isn't she purdy? There's nothing I love more than seeing a boat on my car.

My new to me, Necky Eskia

Endless Summer

"Summer in Alaska is the best!" That's what I've been told for over a year now. When I returned to California last June and July I was met with shock and dismay. "How can you leave now? Summer is the best part!" I hate to break it to you, Alaskans, but your summer isn't all that. Sure, sure there's 24 hours of daylight, and that's fun if you're able to stay up and make use of it. I have to admit, it is nice seeing lush green everywhere instead of white.

Tanana Valley from Ester Dome