Zedrovie!!! During the cold snap we were able to extend the winter training trail into the "big-swamp" which preceeds getting into the foothills of the Talkeetna Mts. Due to copious quantities of rain in the fall, followed by a zub-zero cold spell, followed by 6" snow, we now have a trail in near perfect conditions. While it was snowing, we went out with the sno-go and packed the trail, bringing up water which readily froze.  A day later, with base trail now frozen, the newly falling snow provided the frosting on the cake. After several pass-overs using the groomer pulled behind the sno-go, soft grass hummocks were leveled and save for a few icy spots the trail is presently in awesome shape.

Trail into the swamp

4 miles from home

 

Shae and I took 6 dog teams on sled for the first time this season to the "big-swamp". Getting there with dogs and sled was like greeting an old friend. Nothing said, the mere beauty, simply and silently captivating. The swamp affords a 360 panoramic view; to the north, the Alaska Range with Denali (Mt. McKinley), his wife Sultana (Mt. Foracker), and their children, Begoya and to the east, the Talkeetna Mts., south the Chugach and west the tailing edge of the Alaska Range as it bends southwest into the Alaska Peninsula.

Denali, Sultana, Begoya