The last cabin...

For our final week in Alaska, Dani and I topped it off with a night at THE LAST FOREST SERVICE CABIN accessible by foot: the Dan Moller cabin on Douglas Island. We've talked about someday building our own backcountry abodes in Utah and donating them to the Forest Service when we're older and have the means, but for now, we've certainly enjoyed our "Rustic Cabins of Southeast Alaska" tour. This one is by far the best built and roomy-est cabin, in part because the Juneau Snowmobile Club goes up there every winter and has made some big improvements on it. A massive four-bed loft, second-story balcony, and an effective propane heater made it pretty comfy up there.

We had a light rain at sea level, but after hiking into the mountains we we amazed by how much snow was still on the ground!

In the bowl behind Dan Moller.

Our favorite part of the afternoon.

We could overlook the valley approach from the front porch. 

This weekend we also did a quick bike/hike to Salmon Creek Reservoir before work. We hiked the ridge loop around this lake last summer, so it was cool to see what it looked like up close. Despite the snow in the mountain-tops, it's starting to feel like spring in Alaska!

Everything feels like it's coming to life with the moss getting greener.

This week was the perfect end to our wonderful stay in Juneau. My dad informed me of an opening as a medical assistant at his doctor's office, so I'll be working there as a student intern this summer while we wait for nursing school to start in August. Dani got her job as a riverguide back, and although I'm extremely jealous that she'll be on the water nearly every day, I'm so glad that I'll have this valuable opportunity in the medical field, especially because I'll get to learn from such a talented physician.

We're looking forward to lots of sun in Moab, but we'll sure miss our rainforest home in Juneau. We've made some unforgettable friends here and this place will always hold a special place in our heart as our "year-long honeymoon."

Ice Climbing and Northern Lights

Monday morning we got up before the sun did and headed to West Glacier trailhead. We met up with a couple guys from our ward to do some ice climbing on the glacier. Once we made it to the glacier the real adventure began as we put on crampons to trek across the glacier and find a good spot to climb. Chris was able to borrow a pair of ice climbing boots in his size with matching crampons, but I was too small to fit any of the men's gear. Instead I borrowed a pair of one-size-fits-all adjustable crampons that worked fairly well. They occasionally fell off my hiking boots, only making me realize how utterly useless my naked boots were against the slick glacier ice.

We both LOVED ice climbing! It was so fun to use the ice axes to get up a wall of ice.  The hardest part of the day was crossing the glacier to find a spot to climb - it's nerve wracking to trek around huge crevasses and bottomless moulins (like glacial storm-drains that flow to the terminus of the glacier) while holding an ice ax to self-arrest if you were to slip and fall (something I'm really good at even when there's not ice). All-in-all it was a fantastic day, and we are so grateful for the Tingey brothers for bringing us along on this adventure.

Tuesday morning was a different type of adventure as we spent the morning babysitting little Liesel - Ben and Camille's perfect baby girl. We had fun talking her on a walk, making her giggle, and just watching how cute she is. However, the best part was probably how Chris willingly volunteered to change her diaper!

On Wednesday there was a high chance of the Northern Lights coming out to dance, so we went on a late night hike up to the John Muir Cabin. Ben let Chris borrow his tripod and nice camera again (thanks Ben) and Lady Aurora did not disappoint. We've seen the northern lights several times now, but the show this evening put everything else to shame. Even though some of these pictures are out of focus, we figured they were all worth sharing just to give you a glimpse at how much the lights changed and danced throughout the night.

It started out pretty quiet....

 Then it grew stronger...

And before we knew it we had a fast-moving, color-changing light show that could rival any rock concert!

As it died down long ribbons of light pulsed across the starry night sky.

And before we knew it the show was over. The warm cabin called our numb toes and freezing noses in for a good night's rest. 

An Alaskan sunrise from the front porch (the only kind Chris will watch, because it's late enough he doesn't have to wake up early). 

All weekend I worked downtown for a conference ACSA (my downtown job) was putting on. Chris took advantage of me being gone on Saturday to have a "man date" with Ben and take more pictures.

Long exposure at Amalga Harbor

Remember to pray and remember to play,

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew

A Lovers' Week

Hey guys, I'm back! There's no particular reason why Chris took over the blog the last few weeks and although he's done a fabulous job at writing, I've decided to reclaim my position of lead author. So here it goes...

We finally had a chance to go on another camping trip. Our last camping trip was Christmas Eve, and we have both been itching like crazy to get out again. Since we've enjoyed the forest service cabins so much, and knowing there's nothing like them back in Utah, we decided to make the most of them while we are still here. As an early Valentine's date we hiked out to Windfall Lake Cabin and spent the night. We previously hiked this trail back in May (our first month here) and it was a rainy, wet, "adventure" of a night as we tried to find somewhere to pitch our tent. After seeing the cabin renters in the morning well rested and cheery, we promised ourselves that we'd come back and stay in the cabin for real.

Black and white Windfall Lake from the porch of the cabin.

Herbert River

We stayed warm and dry in the perfectly clean cabin. Chris boiled some water so we could have a hot meal, and we spent the night being cozy and reading through the cabin's sign-in book (basically a giant journal where everyone details the events of their trip). We slept in a little in the morning, and took a lot of time to enjoy the beautiful lakeside we were nestled in.

Late-night cabin entertainment from the entries of the logbook

We took advantage of the non-rainy days the rest of the week with morning runs and walks with friends.

On Saturday we met up with the Schlecters and walked the airport trail. Camille and I had fun chatting while Ben and Chris kept stopping to take photos. Chris has really enjoyed learning more about photography from Ben.

After church on Sunday we got together with the Lange's and explored Sandy Beach on Douglas Island. Fun fact - the beaches around Juneau and Douglas are all rocky, and there is only one sandy beach around here. The sand on this beach is the tailings from the Treadwell Mine. In the early 1900's the Treadwell Mine had a little city of it's own, but after a cave-in this part of Douglas Island turned into a bit of a ghost town. Now when you walk around there are only a few buildings left, and some of the mossy ruins look much more ancient.

Sunday evening we celebrated Valentines Day with a wonderful homemade fondue dinner. Here's the best part - Chris made it all by himself! I never knew he could cook something so fancy,  but once he started he had my full affection and confidence in his ability (that is you discount my one moment of concern when he asks from the kitchen "are cream of tartar and mustard powder the same thing?"). Dinner was divine and I am constantly reminded how lucky I am to have a husband who loves me so perfectly and thank my Heavenly Father everyday that I get to keep this perfect man as my own for time and all eternity.

Remember to pray and remember to play,

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew

Birthday with a Bang

This week has been perfect. Dani planned a man-cation for my birthday on Wednesday! She bought me a box of bullets and we went out shooting at the range, and after that we exhausted ourselves climbing at the gym. She surprised me by preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner with all my favorite foods - bacon, raspberries, havarti cheese, and marinated steak.

I also enjoyed receiving birthday cards and calls from the Roylances, Naomi, both grandparents, and texts from several other family members and friends. Best birthday ever.

Slow-motion captured the muzzle-flash from my handgun. Sweet!

Despite my advanced age, that is not a dad-pooch around my belly.
My under-shirt was just bunched up beneath my tshirt. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Best marinated steak I've ever had!

Dani totally made this day awesome. I sure am lucky to call her mine - she's my greatest blessing!