Mountain Mamma’s Ski Trek Prep

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Heidi, Kristen and I have packed our bags and sleds and are ready to be flown up to Tuxedni Glacier to commence our Mountain Mammas Ski Trek! My prep has also included lots of rest, fluids, sinus rinses and vitamins to fight off a cold that I caught last week. Thanks to those who’ve prayed for my recovery.  I’m feeling much better and ready to go!

After a waffle party and a final packing review, we are set for a morning departure. I feel like a 5-year-old on Christmas Eve!

Let’s call this the “before” picture.

The plan is 3 days 2 nights.  Go-Pro for documentation. Sun tanning along the way.

No, I will not be live blogging along the way.

Alaska Backcountry Ski Trek

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Last March my brother Jon and five other men skied 100 miles down Lake Clark Pass onto Lake Clark and home to Port Alsworth.  This adventure inspired me to challenge myself to a winter adventure and do a similar trip.

After mulling over the idea for a year, I found two other women who are going to take on the challenge with me! We are planning next weekend to be dropped by a plane on nearby Tuxedni Glaceir, ski down the valley, follow the river through the woods, head down 15-mile long Kontrashibuna Lake and connect with the trail that leads home to Port Alsworth.  We are planning for three days two nights and praying for wisdom, safety and good weather!

In preparation for the trip, we’ve been gaining wisdom from the skiers who have accomplished such a trek along with a few other things…

1. I typically ski 5-6 days a week and headed up to Lake Kontrashibuna last weekend for some uphill, downhill and lake skiing.  It was -5 degrees outside, but clear and sunny which made it glorious.  The round trip was about 5-6 miles and gave me a good idea of what we’ll face breaking new trails and skiing up off the lake on our last miles homeward. Challenging but doable and very rewarding!

2.  I purchased Rossignal BC70 Backcountry skis (found them on clearance in the attic section at REI. Score!).  These skis are different than regular cross-country skis as they have a wider base, are shorter than a typical ski, have metal edges and more scales on the bottom of the ski that will help with uphill terrain. I’m very happy with my purchase and how they’ve performed thus far.

3.  We will pull our supplies behind us on sleds (approx 40lbs), so I have begun skiing with a sled to get used to the weight.  My first weight was Warren, who is much cuter than the log I had to replace him with when he got too cold. I decided the two logs weren’t enough weight, so I put in 16 lbs. more and headed off to practice some “hills.” Which were more like sloping terrain. I struggled. Sled in tree well. Skis off. Sweat. Skis in tree well. More sweat. Ugh. Determination. Repeat. And finally I managed to end that brutal trip. I took the sled to weigh it and found I had been lugging around 86 lbs… no wonder! Glad to dump half that load for my next ski!

4.  We flew the route last weekend to get a glimpse of what the terrain will look like, scope out any weak ice spots (thankfully very few), and look at the challenging part of coming down off the glacier.  Risk vs. reward.  We have yet to finally decide on the route and weather will impact our ability to land on the glacier. The picture below is the far end of Lake Kontrashibuna.  We will be coming down the valley on the left into those woods and onto the lake.

Please pray for wisdom, health, safety, good weather and that we’d have a blast!  Stay tuned for updates about the trip!

XtraTufs with a Beaver Fur Cuff

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XtraTufs are to Alaskans as Uggs are to college girls.

I’m not sure how I made it through my first mud season and rainy summer without them! They are now a staple in my wardrobe, just like my black patent leather pumps used to be.  And when I wear this lovely brown boot so much, I can’t help but want them to be a little cuter.  I could have sacrificed quality for some polk-a-dot Hunter boots, but there’s nothing like sweet waterproof neoprene to protect my precious feet.

I was inspired by another creative soul who created a beaver fur cuff adding a stylish flair to the boots.  Apparently it’s quite the rage on the University of Alaska Fairbanks college campus. Uggs are out. I took one look at the picture and knew I had to recreate it!  My design ended up being a bit different, but some of the same design basics.

The cuff is removable for when I’m actually using the boots for slogging through water, fishing for salmon, gallivanting in the mud and full contact origami.

I love the splash of color the fabric cuff adds.  A better accent than the fish slime and mud that decorated them for several months straight last summer.  Don’t you think?

Stylish and practical. Something I’m always hoping to accomplish in my Alaskan bush village life.

First Time Skier

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Cross country skiing for the first time is much like watching a baby cow learning to walk… on sheer ice….blindfolded. It is not a graceful sport, but one that will keep you humble and very aware of gravity.  Even though skiing is my transportation and an outlet for exercise during the winter, I still struggle and feel awkward nearly every time. Like a 7th grade dance. However, I find myself planning my days around when and if I can go skiing.

I got to share the joy of skiing with Girla last week! She strapped on my old skis for the first time and we headed out on Lake Clark. I told her she may not love it the first time, but stick with it and you’re world just might be changed. Like the first time she came to TBC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She was a rockstar. And she has amazing seal mittens that make her look even more hardcore. I held my breath thinking she’d never want to go again… but she said she does! Score. Welcome to the wonderful world of skiing, Girla!

Big Prayers

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It started in the early 90’s.  The big prayers for a way to reach out to Native Alaskan youth in their “gap year.”  How do we reach the kids who are too old to go to Tanalian Bible Camp, but are not yet adults? How can we help make an impact with individuals that will ripple out across a village community?

I am here in rural Alaska because of these prayers.  Robert and Girla, the first two Tanalian Leadership Center (TLC) students are here because of these prayers.  Praise the Lord for those who prayed BIG and those who followed the Lord’s leading in helping make this dream become a reality.

TLC is in its fourth week and a change is all ready taking place in the students’ lives.  I’ve had the chance to be a part of the Bible classes a few days each week and it’s fun to see Robert and Girla learning.  Going through the Bible in a narrative form, they are connecting the dots with God’s promises, how we today struggle with the same sins and his redemptive plan for his people (us).  They know very little about the Bible, so each story holds new information of God’s redemptive plan.  They are learning new vocabulary such as holy, redemption, atonement…and many words, which are important to understanding the story.  I take for granted the Biblical knowledge and “Christian-ease” language I’ve grown up with and how important it is not to assume they know it.

Robert is about to complete a maqii (steam bath) this week.  He has taken great pride in learning carpentry and seeing the product unfold before him.  He’s eagerly waiting in the morning, tool belt on, ready to use his hands. I think he’s also excited to have a good steam in it when it’s done!  Robert has also expressed he’s learning a lot in the Bible class, and has done a great job with his weekly assignments.

Girla still has a goal of counseling at Tanalian Bible Camp this summer.  How amazing will it be to see her helping lead a group of other native girls, who are also hungry to learn about the Bible. She’s growing in confidence in Bible knowledge and asking lots of questions.  She is outside her comfort zone, being away from family, outside her village and being challenged in new ways.  Pray for her strength and homesickness.

It’s easy sometimes to get caught in the detail of every day life.  As I stop today and remember that God brought me to Alaska for His purposes, an answer to many people’s prayers, I ask that you would pray big for a change in the lives of Robert and Girla. And that God would continue to provide for me so I can dedicate myself full-time to the work at TBC and TLC.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last.  Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”  - John 15:16

Fur Rody Fun

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The Iditarod.  A 1,000 mile race across Alaska’s unforgiving terrain gripped by winter’s clutches. Sixty-seven teams set out yesterday from Willow, Alaska to endure a challenge only an elite few will finish, each one dreaming of the warm steam bath at the end.  Wait, maybe that would just be me.  Do their snow pants and “foot condos” have central heating?  Do they have enough bacon treats for each pooch? There is a humanitarian award for the musher who treats their dogs the best.  I’d bring along my friend Alison, aka the dog whisperer, she’d ride shot-gun, take care of the dogs and make us lates along the way.

Our pups would definitely have hot pink rocket booties like these. I’m sure they’d have some additional sparkly flare, maybe a sequined butterfly shirt? I don’t know where I get these ideas… And soon this doggy bling would be all the fashion rage sweeping Seattle, where there are more dogs than children.

The teams as they were lined up waiting to go would be straining to run, throwing themselves into the harnesses, ready to RUN.  I was most surprised by the type of dogs.  It’s become an “Iditarod breed,” intermixed to pull out the best qualities to endure a 1,000 mile winter race.

Speaking of sequined butterfly tops… weird. I own three.  Not that I’m collecting, but if you find one, you’d better mail it! Anna Burrows – General Delivery, Port Alsworth, AK 99653.  Anyway, a group of hoodlums that I call my friends decided to talk me into RUNNING WITH THE REINDEER! They were like, “Hey Anna do you want… ”  YES, I’m in. What are we doing?

We get to DRESS UP? YES. YES. YES.

Any chance I get to dress up is a no brainer. AND run with reindeer. Check that off my bucket list… #5756, done!

So, we joined 2,400 of Alaska’s (and beyond) finest citizens who also think that dressing up and running 3 blocks with reindeer is a fantastic idea.  A few of my friends decided to entice those hungry reindeer by dressing as hay bails. Brilliant, I know. That’s why they are my friends.

The little reindeer were so cute.  Small. Like pocket size! But those antlers are a bit awkward to stuff into my satchel… so I just decided not to bring one home this time. And I kind of felt bad that they were released among a dashing crowd of maniacs. I had contemplated grabbing the antlers and swinging onto their backs as they ran by, but I did touch one as it ran by!

The variety of fur fashions were alone worth the flight into Anchorage.  The people watching was almost as good as going to the DMV!  Many people sported full fur coats and the ever popular fox, wolf or lynx hat with head, feet and tail included.

Weekend Warrior

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Here was my weekend accomplishment list from two weekends ago.  Writing this blog post in a timely manner was on that list…but it didn’t get checked off.

1.  Canned 26 quarts and 12 pints of sockeye salmon. Bet you didn’t know there is a February run of salmon under the ice in Lake Clark!

2.  Bonfire and BBQ on Tommy Island out in the middle of Lake Clark. Shot the Glock 45. Watched the boys spin doughnuts on the ice with the 4-wheeler.  Mobbed home in a pose of 4-wheelers and snow machines riding home in the dark.
3. Did some leather and skin sewing, learning from the expert how to re-make my beaver hat with new leather and some beading detail.
4. Rode my bike across Lake Clark.  Twice.
5. Helped Jon prep for the big school play and dinner for 100 people!
6. Enjoyed the school play, Romeo & Juliette, and some fine grilled pizza with the rest of Port Alsworth.
7. Tarp-kite surfed across the ice in the bay, being propelled by gusts of wind.
8.  Made some baby mukluk booties for a friend’s baby shower.
   9.  Wore high heals for the first time in over a year.
10.  Solved world hunger.