| In 2004 I had a great time on my Alaska trip for avalanche classes, with many varied activities. In 2003 I had gone only to Valdez, with no time anywhere else, and had taught on two weekends while the days in between suffered from extreme winds. Marketing and support by the local partner was poor. In 2004 local support was once again very poor and I cancelled an advanced class which left me time to do some things in the Anchorage area, with many thanks to Den and Funhog who I met on TelemarkTips. |
| Turnagain Pass and Valdez: The photos below are from the beginning of my trip. I flew to Anchorage on Tuesday, February 24, and was picked up by "Funhog". I stayed with Denny, Shelly and Patrick and skied on Wednesday. On Thursday I flew to Fairbanks, where David met me at the airport and we left for Valdez. We spent Thursday night in an unlocked trappers cabin in the Alaska Range and arrived Friday afternoon for the first avalanche class in Valdez. |
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A day of skiing in Turnagain Pass, south of Anchorage in the Kenai Mountains. The slope was called Sunburst. We had excellent and stable conditions. The panorama looks across the highway to the snowmobiling areas. (The stitching program didn't align the road quite right so it looks a bit bent in the center.) |
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A few views from Thompson Pass, the road through the Chugach to Valdez. The small slide in the center was recent and we checked it out for class. |
| Army Instruction, Valdez: Following the regular open-enrollment Level 1 class in Valdez I taught my annual course for the instructors from the Northern Warfare Training Center. This is a great deal of fun, and a much different group to work with. The students are professional career soldiers, but for the most part not skiers. These NCO's are instructors for internal Army training programs covering a broad spectrum of summer and winter northern warfare skills, with a unit/operational emphasis. They constantly ridicule each other, but all in good fun. With skis up in the air so much of the time there are abundant opportunities for this! But they are always ready to go back out, or back up, for additional self-inflicted laughter. Many skiers who are far better are nowhere near as much fun as this group. (Despite the "fun and games" appearance this group generally demonstrates excellent group dynamics and they really do keep track of, and watch out for, each other.) |
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Like most groups there was some exercise and great views enjoyed by all. |
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Doing a Rutschblock test.
Right - The way down, common ski technique is being demonstrated. |
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We had time for a few "road runs" from the upper arm of the road to the lower. This was icy and skis were
rarely on the ground, offering lots of amusement. Followed by another round and then a
few beers back in the classroom. |
| Turnagain Pass with the Dogs: On March 6, back in Anchorage, I went skiing at Turnagain Pass with Funhog and his malamute Ganik and Tom and his dogs Siku and Lady. |
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The dogs - On left Siku is crashed out and Lady is attentive, in middle is Siku again, on the right is the perpetually happy Ganik. |
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"Funhog" with the dogs. On the right our highpoint is enjoyed by Funhog, Tom and the dogs. And myself, not shown since I shot the photo. |
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Funhog starts down with the entourage trailing behind. |
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Left - Nothing like a little moral support when you're down. Middle - exiting the slope towards the trailhead. Right - Tom overlooking Turnagain Pass. |
| Skijouring, Anchorage: A couple days later I was invited by Funhog to go Skijouring, which is being pulled (partly, anyway) by one or more dogs while on light cross country or backcountry skis. His friend Randy also came - he is from Texas and never skied before. So Randy got Ganik who is the most experienced puller, Funhog got Jago, and I got Cole - a lab/husky mix still waiting to be adopted who is quite energetic a little bit unruly. I probably got the best pull! |
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Cole watches attentively as Funhog and Randy approach. |
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Ganik and Jago having lots of fun during our lunch stop.
At left - Ganik just sits there smiling, and next thing he knows ... |
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