Spring Bike Ride

Looking at the upcoming forecast, I noticed a week of rain and snow is predicted, so I thought I ought to take advantage of another day of clear blue skies and sunshine.  It was warm enough I didn’t think crust skiing was an option, so I decided to get out my bike.  I detest biking on roads, and the bike paths in Homer are only about 6 flat miles long, round-trip.  I decided to drive up to the Wynn Nature Center on Skyline Drive, park there and bike to the end of Ohlson Mountain Road—maybe 6 miles but hilly with no traffic and awesome views.  I got a little wildlife viewing as part of the package.

Wearing my new "tube" neckwarmer/hat for warmth biking.  Kind of dorky looking but I stayed warm.

I’m not a fan of cold-weather biking so really haven’t done it before.  It must have been warm out, though, because my thin ski gloves over biking gloves kept my hands plenty warm.  I pulled out the “tube” I won at the Sea to Ski—one of those funky tubes of cloth you can wear like 27 different ways (neckwarmer, facewarmer, hat, hat and neck, hat and face, etc.) and pulled it up over my head like a hat, and it also covered my neck and had enough play that when my face got cold I could pull it up over my chin and cheeks.  Perfect!  A thermal shirt with my Women’s Nordic jacket was plenty warm as well.

View of Kenai Mountain Range and Grewingk Glacier from Skyline Drive before turning onto Ohlson Mountain Road

From Wynn it was a quick 15 minute ride to the turn onto Ohlson Mountain Road.  I didn’t realize how fast riding on the pavement was until I got onto the gravel/dirt road, even if it was dry and hard-packed.  Shortly after my turn, though, I came around a curve and saw a brown blob in the middle of the road.  Bear!  Nope.  It was a porcupine.  I took a video to share with you; we’ll see if it loads up right. (It's a little bit slow-moving--I'm not a totally experienced video-taker!)  I watched porky waddle down the road towards me and up the snowbank, impressed at how slow he was going.  Do porcupines hibernate?  I haven’t the foggiest.  He just seemed a bit groggy.

After the porcupine I went down a fun, fast hill, then up a loooong hill, stopping to take pictures a couple times.  Perfect excuse for a break!  Then I went down a sweet, long downhill past the Lookout Ski Trails, past the rope tow, past the Extreme Tubing hill that has been closed for a couple years and into the grader zone where the road was being worked on.  So I didn’t get all the way to the end of Ohlson Mountain Road or even up Ohlson Mountain, but it ended up being an hour and ten minutes total for the ride, which was just about right for my first time out this year.

View of the Alaska Range (that's either Mt. Redoubt or Mt. Illiamna) from Ohlson Mountain Road, with Lookout Ski Trails in foreground

Biking I noticed things I don’t normally notice as much when I’m driving:  the hills, the contours of the land, the mountains.  From up there the Alaska Range spreads out in a stately panorama on the way out, and the much closer Kenai Range commands the view on the way back.  I consider the area off Ohlson Mountain Road to be the ultimate Homer playground:  cross-country ski, downhill ski/snowboard, sled, snowshoe, snowmachine, and in the summer add in 4-wheeling and mountain biking down the Watermelon Trail.  The bike ride left me with the glow of sunshine, a good workout and amazing beauty.  I just love it up there!

Speaking of Moose....

Moose eating compost

Speaking of moose and getting fresh food.....I looking out the kitchen window at 7:30 this morning and there was a MOOSE eating from my compost bin!  Now in all my years of composting, I have always been sensitive to bears being attracted to my compost, but a moose?  Generally I don't keep up my compost all winter because the snow is deep and we had so much junk back in that area it was hard to get there, but in cleaning it up we cleaned it up so well that the moose can get back there now too.

I should add that the rabbits also greatly appreciated my compost this winter, and I think that is why they are so fat, and why they live under my greenhouse.  There's been a rabbit trail (so packed it was icy!) from the compost to the greenhouse this winter.  My son and a friend were going to set snares to catch them (there were 2 till our cat caught one the other week), but they didn't want to catch and kill our cat so  we're just going to have to count on some other predator to catch the remaining rabbit.

Anyways, back to the moose.  I talked to him and told him to please go away and he just looked at me so I grabbed the fence and rattled it and he took of running--out of the area.  Now I have to come up with some moose deterrent to keep them out of my compost area.....

Moose-y Meetings

On my way home from my morning workout this morning I saw 5 moose hanging out in a field.  This particular field is the local spring moose gathering spot.  Around dawn or dusk, the moose congregate here (which is why I don't have a picture of them....the lighting wasn't quite right to get a good quality pic with my iPhone camera.  This is a moose pic from in our yard.).  This field is on East End Road, just past the Gear Shed a little ways, on the left.  We have seen as many as 13 moose in this field at once--we are usually limited by how fast we can count.  Despite the pile of haybales, the moose spread around the field, probably nibbling for the more nutritious first green shoots.

Much of the winter I see only occasional moose in Homer, but at this time of year they come out in droves, hanging out in highly visible spots along the roads near town at the lowest elevations.  I always thought it was because of the snow up high, and that might partly be the case because at the top of the ridge, there are still feet of snow and little food to be found, while in town at lower elevations things are a few weeks further along the spring growth spectrum.  The momma's are also getting heavy with calves, though it will still be at least a few more weeks till they start dropping, so they are staying near civilization where bears, newly out of hibernation, are less likely to get at them.

Speaking of calves...that is a fun time of year to wait in anticipation to see the little babies tottering around, freshly born--and it seems most years we do see the very newly born moose calves.  The lives and rhythms of moose's lives are like the tides:  they become part of the rhythm of our lives too.  It is a sweet thing that I know I would miss if I didn't live here!

Snow Woes--Cancelled Track Meets

Homer High School's new Olympic-quality track

Yesterday we got word that both the Homer High Track Invitational and Soldotna's Middle School track meet were cancelled due to the tracks still being under snow.  I love track meets and even though I was scheduled to be a race official for 2 full days, I was totally jazzed about it.  I so wanted it to happen.

At this time last year Homer High's track was condemned and was in horrible shape, with potholes, ruts, cracks and loose gravel on it.  Due to the energy and persistence of the high school running coach, money came through from the state, borough and city (not positive about that last one...) and last summer we got a new Olympic-quality track.  It is the official size and material, so technically, it could be used for qualifying events.  We were hoping to get it in Mariner Blue, but are just happy to have it.

The best view at a track in the state!

As the track team is discovering, though, the track is not a lot of use when it is covered with snow.  Although we didn't get a lot of snow this year in Homer (up on the ridge there is the usual quite a few feet, but in town there is much less), it was an icy winter.  At one point this winter when I drove by, the entire football field and track--the whole area below the bleachers--was a sheet of ice, fine enough to go ice skating on.  It is that ice that has really slowed down the melt, despite warm days recently--upper 30's and lower 40's.  It is so close--the snow will be off within days--but even once the snow is gone the infield will be mucky and the sand in the jumping pits still frozen.  On top of that, the brand new hurdles are not here yet, and once they come in (any day!), there will be nearly 100 of them to put together.

It is only 2 weeks till boroughs track meet, then regionals the next week and state the week after.  If Homer's track team hadn't gone to the Big C Relays in the dome in Anchorage a couple weeks ago, they would have had no meets yet, and probably only one meet before boroughs if next week's meet doesn't get cancelled (at the location of the middle school meet this week that got cancelled).  But from what we've heard, we're not the only ones with this problem as Anchorage has been getting lots of snow lately, and the soccer teams at Homer High have been practicing in the gym since their fields are still under snow also.  And in talking to relatives in Michigan recently, it sounds like it has been snowy there as well. 

The good thing is that Homer is hosting boroughs in 2 weeks, so we'll still get to run a meet on our new track this year....weather permitting!!

ATR--An Awesome Workout

I started hearing rumblings of a "new workout in town" a year or so ago.  A friend invited me to go but I was on the road traveling too much at the time to make it to anything with any regularity.  When school was starting up last fall, I heard that this "workout" was going to be held at the high school a couple mornings a week before school (in addition to their full schedule at the the old Helly Hansen building on Ocean Drive) and I decided it was time to jump in on it and join ATR, or Alaska Training Room.

This is a Saturday "boot camp":  1 1/2 hours of intense exercise on the circuit (with a run to Beluga Lake thrown in!)

What is this workout?  Different words come to mind:  weight lifting, strength training, circuit training.  We hear so much about the "core" these days, but this goes beyond the core.  It is a series of stations designed to strengthen key muscle groups, including the back, legs and arms.  There are also exercises to improve coordination and balance.  In between the circuit exercises are what I call plyometrics or other strength builders:  stair running, stair hopping (bunny hops!), bridges, and a bunch of exercises done with medicine balls (weighted balls, 2-10 pounds) and a partner.  Each exercise is done for 30 seconds, with the tempo fast-paced.  After stairs we actually get to let our heart rate come down.  MJ changes up the exercises regularly to reach different muscle groups (or to torture us, we sometimes think!) and to keep things fresh.

Working hard--working out at the Alaska Training Room!  (Thanks, MJ, for these pictures from your Facebook page.)

Now I must let it be known that I am not a joiner.  In my whole life I don't think I've ever been part of a group exercise routine (besides yoga--kind of different!).  I've been part of sports teams, but mostly that's being told what to do and then going off and running or skiing, mostly on my own.  Even 5 years of attending the Bay Club and the plethora of classes they offered, I could not make myself go to a class since I detest exercising in rooms with mirrors.  So what is the difference between all those classes and ATR?  One key difference is the owner/trainer:  Mary Jo (MJ to me) Cambridge. 

I first heard of MJ when my husband came home raving about this new JV softball coach they'd hired a few years ago--she'd coached college softball, was an athletic trainer, and had trained Olympic tennis players (including Sloane Stephens).  Sometimes one has to wonder why people end up in Homer--of all places.  But then you look around and realize that if you're going to be somewhere on earth, it is a beautiful place, even if it is a loooong ways from anywhere.

It is a delicate balance to be tough and push people to improve their physical fitness and yet encourage them that they're making progress and to keep at it.  These aren't highly trained and fit Olympic athletes who join ATR in Homer:  they are teens through senior citizens, they are newbies who have done nothing athletic to your serious recreational athletes, they are somewhat motivated to very motivated.  So what this sounds like in real life is:  "Way to go 'shell!" (that's my ATR nickname), "Come on Doug!  Push it!" and "That's the way to do it, Ro!" (Aurora's ATR nickname.  It cracks me up how some of us get our names shortened.  Sounds better--or wastes less breath on talking?!).  MJ is enthusiastic, has high standards, wants everyone to do better and improve, but also knows that this isn't everyone's top priority.  ATR without MJ wouldn't be ATR.

With just a month of ATR twice a week, I discovered I could sit up straight and didn't slouch as much as I spent hours a day at my desk in front of my computer.  A few more months of ATR gave me some muscle definition and as MJ put it to me one day, "You've shrunk!"  The biggest problem I've had with ATR is that it is such a good workout that I don't feel a need to do other workouts.  My body feels strong and I feel good, so I just go for walks or mellow skis. Sometimes it is a bummer that the workouts are only at scheduled times and not drop-in-when-you-want, but that is also part of what makes it beneficial.  When you're at a session, it is intense and really a work-out.

Bottom line is, I, and a number of other Homerites, are very grateful for having the skills and expertise of MJ in our little town.  She adds so much to the fitness of our high school athletes, runs the concussion testing program for the high school as well, and contributes to some really strong, fit people that in turn leads to fewer injuries and better quality of life.  So three cheers for ATR!

On A Huge Middle School Track Team

The first year Aurora did track there were about 75 kids on the team and we thought that was huge.  Last year it was down to 50 or so.  This year there was an amazing influx, with the numbers of boys and girls on the track team shooting up to 106.  Considering there are only about 180 kids in the whole school, that is a stunning number!  It helps that track is the only spring sport for middle schoolers.  Come high school softball, baseball, and soccer all compete with track as a spring sport and numbers dwindle dramatically (22 boys and girls on the high school team this year is considered great!).

There is a head coach for the track team, and I can assure you, she's not getting paid enough!  Two assistants help her, but when you consider all the specialization of track (throwers, jumpers, hurdlers, long-distance runners, sprinters--boys and girls), you realize that even four people are not enough for the chaos of that many middle schoolers--most who have never run track before and are complete newbies.  Talking to one of the assistant coaches, she laughingly said that she is getting used to the chaos, and reassures herself that chaos is okay.

The line-up of kids at track practice.

I answered the call for parent help, and just happened to choose the day they were handing out uniforms and preparing for the first meet.  Talk about chaos!  Practice starts with the kids running around the gym, shooting basketballs, bumping volleyballs or otherwise warming up--if they're so inclined (some are not, opting to sit on the bleachers).  When Coach Annie blows the whistle they all line up on one side of the gym and she tells them which groups are doing what.  Today the list of events for Thursday's meet in Soldotna is posted so there is an added buzz.  After the talking (no jewelry at the meetings, relay teams must all wear the same uniform, yadda, yadda), the kids get in a big circle and warm up.  Then they split into groups.

Lots of middle schoolers stretching!

The distance runners-girls were to meet at the flagpole.  From there were were to run a trail behind the school and do hill workouts--5 times up and down a pretty long hill.  I didn't know where the trail was so one of the girls led--but she didn't lead us through the woods.  Guess we took the long way around!  Of the 7 girls, three were able to do their 5 times, while the others interspersed their running with walking.  On the way back they led the way down a wet, snowy, icy trail to the school.  I was supposed to take the boys out next but we'd run out of time.

I offered to help with the chaos in the gym which was handing out the uniforms.  Yikes!  Who gets what--there weren't even close to enough uniforms and warmups for all the kids.  Some kids got part of the uniform but then we ran out.  It's not my problem, but I am so glad I am not Coach Annie!

So I did my parently duty and helped out so that kids wouldn't get cut from the team....It was chaos, and I survived, and I only have 2 more Mondays to volunteer!  Yeaaaaa!

Spring Skiing

You notice I didn't label this post "Crust Skiing."  I am sad to say crust skiing has not yet materialized this year.  After a nearly 2-month crust skiing season last year with amazing sunny days, I was hoping for the same this year, but each time I run into a skiing friend and hopefully ask, "How's the crust skiing?" I've been disappointed.  It happened, a little bit, in some places, for a few days, but not consistently enough for people to be out there in droves.  So today I skied on the trails at Lookout off Ohlson Mountain Road while Denver was snowboarding next door at the rope tow.

A view of the Alaska Mountain Range from the Marathon Trail.

Spring skiing is still a joy--even if it is on trails.  For some reason, the thought of going around in circles on ski trails is anathema to me at this time of year.  It is the season for letting loose, being free, being unhindered by things like....trails.  Without good crust skiing conditions, I opted to head out on the Marathon Trail--one way as far as I would care to go.  It wasn't groomed, though it still had an icy base.  In some places there were 4 inches of fresh snowdrifts, while in other places the trail was speedy as heck (in other words, ICY!), so it was a process going from snowy patch to icy patch and back.  But there was hardly anyone out there (I saw 2 other couples, neither on the Marathon Trail), so it was sweet to have the woods and hills to myself (keeping a casual eye out for bears just out of hibernation...).  It looks like someone had hiked the Marathon Trail today--fresh footprints went one way out to the road, but I didn't meet them.

My sunshine spot on a yurt platform.  Still plenty of snow, as you can see!

There is a yurt (it looks like it was recently taken down, but the platform outside the yurt is still there) near the top of what one of my friend's has dubbed "Suicide Hill."  Slow slogging up the hill meant I was tired so I took off my skis and made myself comfy on the yurt platform, taking in some serious sun.  Since the sun often doesn't really warm things up in the winter, it was exquisite to bask in the truly warm sunshine.  I felt like my face was being fried to a crisp (it wasn't--I'm just a bit more tanned). 

The view from that spot always makes me yearn to ski and be free.  The open spots are crust skiing mecca when the conditions are right.  Until then, I can dream on!  Here's to hoping for crust skiing soon!

The hills beckon!  A wonderful, wild playland off the Marathon Trail!