Palmer, AK

5-18-13  

Welcome to sunny, warm springtime in Alaska!         NOT!!  This the longest winter since 1980’s.  a few more days and winter in Anchorage area will break the record for recorded history of snow on the ground until May 20.  I think they’ll break the record!  Denali is closed until June 1.  Guess we’ll enjoy ELK hospitality a while longer.

View of Lake at Elks –Palmer

So we went thrift store shopping for SNOW & MUD that follows.

Steve Dudley has been gimping along.  Saw the Dr – will have orthoscopic knee surgery Tuesday.

Old Glenn Highway

5-16-13 – There is always time for another beautiful drive. Today we took the Old Glenn Highway for a scenic drive….always with mountains just ahead.  Seeing the Matanuska River.  Yes, weather continues more winter like than spring.

And driving along --- who should we meet, but Miss Moose munching her lunch right along the road! 

 

And yesterday we saw some caribou blending into the woods.

More drives – always hoping to see things thawing, but no such luck. Eklutna Lake is still frozen too!

But, ah, the beautiful mountains surround the Mat-Su Valley

Mat-Su Valley

5-15-13 – Morning view from the Elks Lodge looking out over Finger Lakes. (same view as beautiful sunset the other day).  Yep it is still frozen and more rain is threatening.

Today we went back up the Glenn Hwy to mm 58 to visit the Elks Youth Camp.  Just a few miles from Palmer – it is a beautiful spot.  Rick from the Lodge was there doing some repairs and gave us the tour. 

On the way back we stopped at the Musk Ox Farm.  This farm is trying to domesticate the musk ox – usually found farther north about the Artic Circle.  The Musk Ox is a member of the goat family.  They weigh about 1000#.  The horns continue to grow and curve.  The fur (fiber) is very soft, without lanolin, is combed to remove it for weaving, making very warm and very expensive garments – a scarf $150. A very scenic location for the farm.

 

Palmer and neighboring Wasilla are located in the Mat-Su Valley surrounded by beautiful tall snow topped mountains – easily viewed in all directions.  During the depression of 1930’s – FDR invited about 200 families from MN, WI and MI to relocate to this valley and farm the land.  This valley is know for the tremendous size of the vegetables produced here.  Hopefully we’ll see some of that later in the summer.

Hatcher Pass

5-14-13 --- Skies continue heavy.  Temperatures down right COLD 30’s, even a few flurries in the air.  To another spectacular drive – well almost to Hatcher Pass – the road is not yet open – only 17 miles in near the Independence Mind.  But spectacular views.  Even met some guys who had been out snowboarding.  Enjoy the views --- we sure did!

Then to visit the Dorothy Page Museum in Wasilla.  More interesting history of the Iditarod Dog Sled Race.  It was begun a part of the centennial celebration of Alaska in March 1973 and has continued to grow in popularity.

Tonight we’ll share some of Dennis Hill’s BBQ with friends.  Hoping for sunnier days tomorrow!

Dusk

5-13-13 --- it is 10:35pm – the clouds are clearing – WOW!!! What a beautiful sunset!

Anchorage

5-13-13 Weather is forecasted to be cloudy/rainy and continued cool – so decided it was a day to go to Anchorage ~35 miles.  The visitor center let us know so many of the things just aren’t open yet  or not on Mondays so we took a bus tour of the city, had lunch, and enjoyed some touristy things.

Cook’s Inlet was named after the early explorer looking for the Northwest Passage – alas he didn’t find it in Alaska

Lake Hood Float Plane base is the busiest float plane base averaging 190 flights per day.

Enjoyed a stop at the Wild Berry store for chocolate fix.  This the largest chocolate fountain.

 

Clouds began to lift a bit in late afternoon.  Heading back to the Mat-Su valley – Palmer.

Palmer, AK

5-12-13 – An enjoyable Mother’s Day dinner at the Elk Lodge this morning.  After so many sunny days the clouds are low and dizzily with rain thru today and more scheduled tomorrow.  Time for a slower pace.

We visited the Iditarod Trail Race Headquarters.  The dogs are very friendly and enjoy attention.  They are bred for their energy, speed and endurance.  They are much smaller than expected.  An interesting stop meeting the son of the Joe Redington – the man who began the Iditarod Race of 1029 miles Wasilla to Nome, AK in 1973.