The day began as any ordinary day. I woke up at 6:30 a.m. and Mike woke up at 8:00 a.m. We ate our breakfast, got our showers, and went out for the day. This is where the word “ordinary” fades away.
Our plans of snowshoeing up to Angel Rocks were well underway. During our hour drive to the trailhead, Mike and I monitored the temperature. It was going to be a cold one. 15 below zero would not be as bad as the 20 below zero we experienced yesterday. However, nothing, I mean absolutely, nothing could have prepared us for what we were about to encounter.
Mike and I arrived at the Angel Rocks Trailhead with all kinds of energy. We ate a quick sandwich and an oatmeal cookie specially baked by Mike’s nana. Feeling full, we opened the car doors and were blasted by 20 MPH winds. All of a sudden 15 below zero began to feel like 40 below zero.
Looking at Mike, I said, “What do you think?” Mike replied, “Let’s go for it.” I shrugged my shoulders and began to bundle up. After putting on several layers and wrapping my face with a scarf, I secured my snowshoes to my boots and off we went.
The first five minutes of the air temperature feeling like 40 below zero was cold. I mean it was unbearably freezing! I began to think that we should turn around, get back in the car, head straight to Barnes & Noble, order a latte, grab a newspaper, and curl up in front of their massive fireplace. However, I never voiced this thought as it was entirely too cold to speak.
Mike and I trudged forward. Within a few minutes, I began to warm up. Okay, maybe “warm” is a little exaggerated, however, it was much more bearable. After two hours, we made it to the summit. The view was incredible, as were the winds. The wind must have been blowing somewhere between 30 and 40 MPH. This pushed the temperature to almost 50 below zero.
We took shelter against a rock and rested for a while. After a few happy snaps with the camera, we decided to take the trail less traveled. Now let me say this. Most people get to the summit and turn around and go back the way they came. There is, however, another trail that goes around the back side of the rocks and loops back to the trailhead. Well, this loop trail is the one we decided to take. While ordinarily this may not have been a bad idea, the sun was just starting to dip below the horizon.
I began to question myself. “How long will this trail take?” “Has anyone else taken this trail?” “Will the trail be well marked?”
The first question went unanswered. The second question was answered with, “One person.” One person had taken the trail less traveled. There was one set of snowshoe prints. This was not very encouraging to me. The third question was answered with, “At times.” At times, there were trail markers, but not enough to make me happy.
Since there had only been one person before us who had taken this trail, it was not well broken. As we trudged down the mountain, the snow was over knee deep. We were truly breaking the trail.
While trying to scale down the mountain in drifts of snow up to three feet deep, winds of 30 MPH, a “feel-like” temperature of 50 below zero, and a setting sun I fell three times. I twisted my wrist. I hurt my “well-padded” behind. And, I hurt my shoulder. But trust me; I was having the time of my life!
Mike was a trooper. Never once did I hear him complain about the cold or me slowing him down. He just kept right on going. At times, I could hardly keep up with him.
As the skies grew darker and darker, I began to worry that we would not be able to stay on the trail. What if we couldn’t see the other person’s tracks? What if it got so dark we had to spend the night out in the woods? What if we didn’t have enough food to last through the night? What if, what if, what if?????
Amazingly, just as God had planned it, Mike and I emerged from the woods at the last bit of light slowly faded. In fact, I had worked up so much of a sweat that I was not even cold anymore. We found our way to our car, took off our snowshoes and smiled at each other.
What a day! We had so much fun! As we were driving home, we began to plan our next snowshoeing trip for tomorrow. Are we crazy? Maybe, maybe not. Only time will tell!
Our plans of snowshoeing up to Angel Rocks were well underway. During our hour drive to the trailhead, Mike and I monitored the temperature. It was going to be a cold one. 15 below zero would not be as bad as the 20 below zero we experienced yesterday. However, nothing, I mean absolutely, nothing could have prepared us for what we were about to encounter.
Mike and I arrived at the Angel Rocks Trailhead with all kinds of energy. We ate a quick sandwich and an oatmeal cookie specially baked by Mike’s nana. Feeling full, we opened the car doors and were blasted by 20 MPH winds. All of a sudden 15 below zero began to feel like 40 below zero.
Looking at Mike, I said, “What do you think?” Mike replied, “Let’s go for it.” I shrugged my shoulders and began to bundle up. After putting on several layers and wrapping my face with a scarf, I secured my snowshoes to my boots and off we went.
The first five minutes of the air temperature feeling like 40 below zero was cold. I mean it was unbearably freezing! I began to think that we should turn around, get back in the car, head straight to Barnes & Noble, order a latte, grab a newspaper, and curl up in front of their massive fireplace. However, I never voiced this thought as it was entirely too cold to speak.
Mike and I trudged forward. Within a few minutes, I began to warm up. Okay, maybe “warm” is a little exaggerated, however, it was much more bearable. After two hours, we made it to the summit. The view was incredible, as were the winds. The wind must have been blowing somewhere between 30 and 40 MPH. This pushed the temperature to almost 50 below zero.
We took shelter against a rock and rested for a while. After a few happy snaps with the camera, we decided to take the trail less traveled. Now let me say this. Most people get to the summit and turn around and go back the way they came. There is, however, another trail that goes around the back side of the rocks and loops back to the trailhead. Well, this loop trail is the one we decided to take. While ordinarily this may not have been a bad idea, the sun was just starting to dip below the horizon.
I began to question myself. “How long will this trail take?” “Has anyone else taken this trail?” “Will the trail be well marked?”
The first question went unanswered. The second question was answered with, “One person.” One person had taken the trail less traveled. There was one set of snowshoe prints. This was not very encouraging to me. The third question was answered with, “At times.” At times, there were trail markers, but not enough to make me happy.
Since there had only been one person before us who had taken this trail, it was not well broken. As we trudged down the mountain, the snow was over knee deep. We were truly breaking the trail.
While trying to scale down the mountain in drifts of snow up to three feet deep, winds of 30 MPH, a “feel-like” temperature of 50 below zero, and a setting sun I fell three times. I twisted my wrist. I hurt my “well-padded” behind. And, I hurt my shoulder. But trust me; I was having the time of my life!
Mike was a trooper. Never once did I hear him complain about the cold or me slowing him down. He just kept right on going. At times, I could hardly keep up with him.
As the skies grew darker and darker, I began to worry that we would not be able to stay on the trail. What if we couldn’t see the other person’s tracks? What if it got so dark we had to spend the night out in the woods? What if we didn’t have enough food to last through the night? What if, what if, what if?????
Amazingly, just as God had planned it, Mike and I emerged from the woods at the last bit of light slowly faded. In fact, I had worked up so much of a sweat that I was not even cold anymore. We found our way to our car, took off our snowshoes and smiled at each other.
What a day! We had so much fun! As we were driving home, we began to plan our next snowshoeing trip for tomorrow. Are we crazy? Maybe, maybe not. Only time will tell!
Angel Rocks
More of Angel RocksAren't they beautiful?
The moon rises over the mountains at 2:00 p.m.
The sun sets to the south at 2:50 p.m.
Mike takes a break on the less windy side of the rock!
Kristie takes a break before climbing over the rocks.
Mike looks great with the mountains in the background.
Kristie gives a frozen smile.
The moon rises over the mountains at 2:00 p.m.
The sun sets to the south at 2:50 p.m.
Mike takes a break on the less windy side of the rock!
Kristie takes a break before climbing over the rocks.
Mike looks great with the mountains in the background.
Kristie gives a frozen smile. Her face stayed this way for over two hours!
I would love to know what Mike is thinking, wouldn't you?
Kristie enjoys the bright, but brief sunshine.
To look at him, you would never know that Mike is partially frozen.
Kristie is thinking of Barnes and Noble.
The Chena River is partially frozen.
MC loves KC!
I would love to know what Mike is thinking, wouldn't you?
Kristie enjoys the bright, but brief sunshine.
To look at him, you would never know that Mike is partially frozen.
Kristie is thinking of Barnes and Noble.
The Chena River is partially frozen.
MC loves KC! 
yep, you're crazy :) But glad yall are our neighbors! Be careful out there!
ReplyDeleteOK, kids. I know one of you is an Eagle Scout but don't get stupid out there! Did anyone know where you were? What time you would return?
ReplyDeleteWas there cell coverage? Did you have a plan for an emergency? That kind of weather is not to be messed with. You are scaring this old ex-Alaskan!
Hi Carol!
ReplyDeleteAmazingly, we did have a good plan. While we didn't have cell phone service, we told Mike's parents and two local people exactly where we were going and when we would be back. We instructed them that if they did not hear from us by a certain time, to call the Alaska State Troopers. We had plenty of food, water and ways to stay warm, should be have been lost.
You obviously know Mike way too well! He is a little accident prone and we do need to have a very healthy respect of the weather.
In fact, today we went up to Wickersham Dome. It was so cold that I called the hike just 2 hours into it. My toes had gone numb and I knew we needed to get out of the cold and the wind. The thermometers we had with us were obviously way off. They said -5 and when we got into town it was -29. No wonder I was cold!
Well, keep watching the blog. We just bought cross country skis and will have more fun and pictures!
God bless!
Kristie