Happy Late Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a great holiday!  It was weird being away from home for Thanksgiving, it made it feel like just any other day.  I had the day off from work, so I took Ruckus for a walk into town.  Not my brightest idea, he isn't the world's best walker and likes to pull on the leash, a lot.  My arms were already very sore from bumping chairs the day before at work, so he was not helping.  

After our walk, I headed up to the resort to get some runs in.  It had been snowing all day (we got from 6-8 inches at the base of the mountain) so I thought riding in powder would be good practice and a softer landing.  The snow was very sticky and was slowing my board down a lot, which was helpful, except for when it would stop me on a slope.  I met up with a co-worker who helped teach me how to use my toe edge, something I have not been able to do.  He was very helpful and patient and I got a few good turns in before my legs were so tired I decided to call it quits.
Later, we went over to a friends house for a Thanksgiving dinner.  It was nice to actually do something on Thanksgiving.  I ate a lot of turkey and got to talk to some new friends, which was very nice.

Yesterday I went back out to the mountain and Dylan helped me with my toe turns some more, and I am getting them down!  Yay!!  I fell hard a couple times and came home with a swollen knee and sore wrist.  Oh well, that's a snowboarders life, I guess. :)

Peace and Love

1st day of work

Did you know that Alaska gets a lot of earthquakes?  Nope.  I didn't either, until one woke me up.  Well, technically I'm not positive it was an earthquake.  It may have just been Ruckus.  I did find a website (err, Julie gave me a website) that has earthquake info on it, and there had been one that night.  It was less than 100 miles from Girdwood but also small, so I'm still thinking what I felt was Ruckus.
Today was my 1st day of work at Alyeska.  Actually first day of training.  It went pretty good, I made 2 GIRL friends.  I'm pretty stoked about that.  There is an over abundance of boys here so it was nice to talk to some girls. I had been kinda nervous all day about taking a run down the mountain since I haven't been snowboarding since January and that was in IL and I was not awesome at it.  So naturally I fell immediately getting off the chair lift, in front of all the other trainees there.  Well, at least I got that embarrassing moment out of the way!  I ended up doing pretty good the rest of the way down, only fell twice, which for me is really good.
We also have gotten a PO box, so please send all love letters, winning lotto tickets, candy, care packages, etc.  to:

PO Box 1175

Girdwood, AK 99587

School friends:  I will write back, so send lots of letters! :)

Peace and love

Hand Tram

The other day Dusty, Dylan, Ruckus and I hiked out to the hand tram in Chugach State Park.  It ended up be a 7 mile hike from the Alyeska Resort back home.  A 4 hour, 7 mile hike, in 2 feet of snow (for the majority of the time), through the mountains.  Wow!  I was not at all prepared for that.

The view of the water fall was well worth it though.  The water was so crystal clear and blue, I wish my camera had done a better job capturing that.

After the bridge over the falls there was another mile to the hand tram.  The trail we were on was very steep at this point and I was afraid that if I stepped in the wrong spot the snow would give way and I would be sliding down the mountain.

The hand tram was just this basket that you stand in and pull yourself across an 80 foot gorge.  This is Dusty going across first.  I didn't take a single picture from inside the tram because I was too focused on everything that was going on around me.

On the way back home, I got to see the very small town which consisted of a couple shops/restaurants, the Mercantile (a grocery store about the size of a large gas station), and the Post Office.

Needless to say we were all exhausted by the time we finally made it back home.  Ruckus was so tired he went straight to bed and didn't get up for a couple hours.  It's entirely possible that I did the same thing too. :)

 Peace and Love.

Rainforest

Did you know Girdwood is in a temperate rainforest?  Nope.  Neither did I.
Dylan tried to tell me the bird sound I heard was a Toucan.  He didn't fool me.  I pushed him in the snow.

Welcome to Alaska

We finally made it to Alaska!  

Dylan and I successfully got all of our "most cherished" belongings into 6 suitcases, 4 carry on bags and 1 dog kennel with the most important of all belongings in it, Ruckus!  We got set up in our triplex and walked around Girdwood today.  I met my new boss and saw the Resort I'll be working at.  

Dylan and I spent some time playing in the snow with Ruckus along our walk.  I was hoping to run into some wild animals but instead I just met some local dogs in the neighborhood.  It is absolutely beautiful here despite the rainy weather.
I really am not sure what to write, so please ask questions, request photos, whatever.  


Peace and love.