14 jan 11 where's the fun?

This year, the winter temperatures have been lower than normal, except for an unwelcome warm spell at New Year's. In the last week, the high temperatures in Anchorage have been below the normal low. December was similar. Paul and I have had some trouble motivating to get outside in this weather. Luckily this is one of the big upsides to having a dog - he needs to go outside multiple times a day and he needs a daily walk. Often a short walk with him has turned into a longer one as we realize that we're warm enough and don't need to head home too quickly.

With the lack of long outings, I've been feeling like a blob and disappointed that my resolution to improve my fitness is probably not advancing much. We seldom get snow when it's so cold, so there's no fresh powder calling out for skis or snowshoes. The ski club has done a good job trying to convert the ice on the trails back to snow, and I appreciate the effort, but a turn around the park currently is really more about the workout than having winter fun. I need the promise of some fun to get motivated to get outside in this cold.

A bright spot is that everything that melted during the New Year thaw is now ice. This isn't so great if you're trying to walk on our driveway or many parking lots in town, but these conditions provide an opportunity to explore the waterways. I read a few local bike blogs and realized that the fun was on the other side of town on the coast.

On Friday I made my first tracks on the iced mudflats on the Anchorage coast. I've always wanted to ride there but wasn't sure where to start. I called Rose to see if she was free that afternoon and if she could show me the way. I installed studded tires on my mountain bike and pulled on a bunch of synthetic and wool layers.

The thermometer read 3 at my house when I left. The Weather Service indicated that places along the coast might be a few degrees warmer and I hoped the predicted north breeze wouldn't be blowing. At the parking area, it felt warmer than my neighborhood, but when we reached the open flats, the breeze met us.

We rode north into the wind for several miles, pedaling through small draws for creek outflows, over clear smooth ice, and around tufts of grass. In places, our tires broke through the thin white ice and dropped to the frozen layer just below. After a few miles, noses were frozen and we turned back to the south. In the distance, two foxes stopped to watch us when Rose howled to them. We were in a wilderness a quarter mile away from south Anchorage. All was quiet except for the sound of the studs gripping into the ice and the occasional break through to the lower frozen levels.

Not only did I find some winter fun, but I was reminded why I love winter and Alaska.

Dressing for success: fleece balaclava, 2 heavy layers under synthetic down, wool liners in lobster gloves, long johns, ski pants, insulated skirt, 2 pairs wool socks, and stormtrooper sorels. Plus sunglasses because the sun is at a very long angle these days.