January can be tough. We always have a cold snap—which is brutally beautiful, and means it takes more effort to get out with kids. School has resumed, which in our household means bickering afternoons and scheduled weeks. We always seem to have less family time even when we plan for sports that everyone can do... Continue Reading →
Armchair Alaska
Ahhhhh! I have neglected writing for the holiday months and now am nose to nose with New Year's resolutions, one of which includes my tendencies towards consistency and my writing becoming better friends. I will back date these so they are placed in their season. And I will do better (I say each January...) Exploring... Continue Reading →
Labor of Angels
I cherish the solemnity of autumn. And in these northern latitudes, where the dying process is so bright, bursting and brief, we take to the mountains as soon as the mornings whisper with their chilled breath, "Let go. Fall. Surrender. Release. The earth will catch you." So that we can feel its call as long... Continue Reading →
Crescent Crescendo
Hurray for trust and strong little legs! For topo maps, ranger reports, and good friends in willingness to adventure.You start Crescent Creek Trail weaving among the trees and mountain bikers,some of who leave a wake of dead baby chicks, surprised by the appearance and speed of these two-wheeled travelers. The kids held a short funeral... Continue Reading →
Camping as a Means
We were itching to get out of town and had four days to do so. So we scanned a six-hour radius and landed in Homer, AK. We chose Homer for one, main reason: Driving six hours with kids is an adventure. Well, it is, but not in the good way I've been chronicling in this... Continue Reading →
Spontaneous Seward
The kids and I, sans Dad, joined a friend and her children for a day in Seward. I thought of calling it off because it looked as though we might finally have sun that lasted past 7 o'clock in the morning in the Anchorage bowl whilst the weather in Seward was forecasting as most likely... Continue Reading →
Sauntering Towards Hope
While browsing through last summer's backpacking photos, I lit upon the first trip we took—along Resurrection Trail towards the town of Hope, and all that greenery and sunshine got me thinking about the season and why I'm looking at summers past. The ice is mostly melted in our south-facing yard, and yesterday's snow is running... Continue Reading →
Swift and Silent: Iditarod Time
If you have not been able to see the beginning of the Iditarod, you should put it on a bucket, or a list, or both. Like any race, there is excitement, anticipation, prayers barring injury and a general communal pride among the spectators. I have been watching my children play outside for the past few... Continue Reading →
The Work of Becoming
Generally after a long, exhausting trip, while airing out drenched tents or washing sand out of every pocket and cuff, I ask myself one or all of the following questions: Why should I adventure with my kids? Why expend all this effort and time to get children out into the world? Is it worth taking... Continue Reading →
Hike! (Mush!)
When the temperatures start to plummet from the feverish summer highs of 60°F to the winter average of 23°, our kids start to whine. The clothing is too bulky, hands are too cold, and very soon it comes down to the ultimate complaint: "We don't want to go outside!" With the snowdream of happy kids,... Continue Reading →