Backlit Dogs

 

I couldn't decide which of these ones of the backlit dogs running through the tide pool at Buskin beach I like best.  And I took a bunch more that liked but did not post.  That's the problem with using the rapid fire shutter 'paparazzi' to get action shots.  You end up with way too many similar photos to choose between, and it is a little stressful deciding which is best.

The ones of the dogs in the tide pool has the sun behind and it did create a cool shadow in the water ahead of the dogs.  I shot it at really high shutter speed and as a consequence I think they are all a little too dark.  I'll just have to try and take them again the next time I go to Buskin at low tide.

Patrick

This one is at the golf course

Beach at Abercrombie

Salonie Again

 

Stuey and I had such a good ski up Salonie on Saturday that we did it again on Sunday.  The downhill skiing on high is pretty windblown and crusty, and the crust cruising skate skiing is very good.  So good that I was wondering how much powder would have to be on the mountain to entice me away from the skate skiing.  Of course if we got powder on high we'd likely not have skate skiing anymore.

Ryan joined us on Sunday's sojourn and it was just as good as on Saturday.  It did get a little windy up by the canyon and this made the final bit a little brutal.  But then when we turned around we had both the wind and the slope in our favor - and really flew.

I think my favorite part is going through the cottonwood trees before we got to the river.  They tower up into the blue ski and leave long black shadows on the snow. And with all the tree trunks going by it feels like you are going fast.  

At the bottom there is a short video that shows the experience pretty well.

Patrick

Morning Dog Walk

 

I think my favorite time of day to go for a walk at Abercrombie is in the morning on a sunny day.  The morning light slants into the trees and makes everything cheery.  Later in the day the sun is high up and does not get under the trees so much.  And then in the evening it is on the other side of the park where I never go (the dogs on leash zone).  I wonder if the dogs care about the sunshine?

Patrick

Salonie Crust Cruise

 

Saturday afternoon Stuey and I went for a long skate ski up Salonie Creek.  The recent rain and hard freeze has created the perfect crust for skate skiing.  It is hard enough that you stay on top - no unexpected sinking into the snow events - but not icy either.  There is just enough grip to give you control over the skis.  Perfect crust cruising.

We skate slowly up the river all the way to the canyon.  This is the first time Stuey has gone all the way to the canyon.  And then we turned around and went like rocket ships down the river back to the car.  It never seems like you are going up hill when you go up the river, but when you go down you can clearly tell that it is all downhill. You don't need to work at all and you fly.  We also had the wind behind us going back down river.

It's fun to zip up and down all the little hills and use the terrain like a theme park.  Up down and all around.  Basically a ski run that goes on for a 1/2 hour.

Patrick

The dark side

 Sunday afternoon after our skate ski with the dogs Stuey and I joined uncle Dicky for a ski trip to the 'dark side' of the mountain. It got pretty warm on Saturday and then froze hard during the night so the the snow really did not warm and turn to corn snow on Sunday.  So instead of skiing the sunny south side of the mountain (where it was icy) we went to the north side and looked for powder in the shade.

So when we got to the top we skied down into the North Bowl and went WAY down there.  We left the world of the sun and went deep into the shadows. The light turned blue and cold.  At the bottom of the run I joked that I felt like we were on the 'dark side of the moon'.  Climbing back up you could see the sun's rays shooting up from behind the mountain.  Near the top I joked 'here comes the sun', and then when we crested the top we were back in the brilliant sunshine.

It was a good afternoon ski and we actually did find some powder on the dark side.

Patrick

getting read to drop into the 'dark side'

back into the sunshine at the top

Almost back to the car - sunset

Presidents' Day

 

Presidents' Day is always the Holiday I forget about, and for this reason it is one of my favorite holidays. I only realize it is a holiday at the last moment and so the day always arrives as a very pleasant surprise.  Also it is not a holiday for the school system and so I always have it to myself - no sharing with kids.  A true parental holiday.

For a true bonus, this year Presidents' Day was a glorious sunny day.  And I took full advantage.  In the morning I went for a long cross country ski up the Upper Buskin River, and then in the afternoon I picked up Stuey and we went skate skiing again at Lake Catherine with the dogs.  I double dipped!

It's getting to be late in the year and the sun is clearly higher in the sky.  Back in December the sun never cleared the mountains to the south of the Upper Buskin Valley and it was perpetually in shadow.  Yesterday morning the sun cleared the mountains and bathed my ski in sunlight. 

As I skied back down the river a couple of water ouzels flitted down river a head of me.  These birds go under water and collect insects, fish eggs and grubs from the bottom of the river.  You can see them go under the ice and then come back up at the other end.  It is pretty amazing.  And for such a drab bird they have a very pretty call - a sort of bubbling trill.

Thank you Presidents!

Patrick

Upper Buskin River Valley

Water Ouzel (AKA American Dipper but I prefer Ouzel)

Another Lake Catherine skate ski late in the day

2 Ouzels - getting ready to go under the ice

Getting back to the car at Lake Catherine

Lake Catherine drain hole