Bicycling to Cottonwood Park

One weekend, we decided to tackle the bike path on base connecting Elmendorf to Fort Rich on Grady Highway, with the goal of getting the kids some outdoor play time at Cottonwood Park.

The trail picks up right across from the Shopette/Gas Station, by the Fam Camp, and towards the other side of base. This trail, to date, is still unfinished.  There are large swaths of it right after you pass the Fam Camp still in the works...as in trees have just been cut down and all the resulting debris and mud strewn all over the place.  At this point, we moved to the shoulder of the highway, which didn't last long for me and Sophie because the cars whizzing precariously close at 45mph was too much for me.  Little girl and I went down into the dirt and walked our bikes until we met up with the other three where the trail becomes manageable again.  

 

There is a little footbridge crossing Ship Creek. Here is Sophie excitedly telling me to look at what she spotted at the creek bed.

The playground at the park is HUMONGOUS.  The girls ran back and forth between playground sets and forts, whooping and hollering the entire way.

The girls had a great time burning off their limitless energy while the hubby and Dylan played a game of one-on-one.

Roundtrip about 4 miles. One little note about this trail....take the bear bells and the bear spray.  This area is full of moose and bears. We spotted a moose munching on some lunch a good 20 feet or so from our trail.  Make sure the children know what to do in case of a charging moose (you can't out-bicycle one...best bet is to abandon the bike and get behind a tree) or an angry bear (can't out-bicycle them either...best bet is stay calm and use the spray).

I love that even when you want to stay close to home, there are plenty of true outdoor activities available on post. Love this place!

Bicycling the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

Fam Och has never been known as a cycling family.  Truth be told, we didn't even teach Mister D how to ride without training wheels until he was ten. (It's an embarrassing fact to admit.) When we arrived in AK, Hubbyman and I swore that wouldn't happen again.

This spring, we outfitted ourselves with our own individual set of wheels.  Although REI is our favorite go-to for outdoor gear, their supply of bicycles are for the hard core serious-as-death cyclers with corresponding just-as-serious prices. At the same time, reading reviews of the more pocket-friendly priced bikes sold at big box stores like Walmart and Target left us with the impression bikes bought there would last us one trip down a paved trail before it started falling apart.  We found a happy medium at Sports Authority, which had a large amount of inventory without being too overwhelming, and its very own bike maintenance shop inside.  The Hubby, Mister D, and I each got a set of wheels there.  (I, at 4'9", opted for a junior 24" mountain bike as the full-sized 26" women's' were waaaay too big. Laugh all you want...junior bikes are muuuuch cheaper.)

Sophia should really be on a 20", but since she just learned to be comfortable on her 16", we opted to stick with the one she already has.  It has no gears to help on inclines and only brakes on a backward pedal.  Next year, she's getting a mountain bike for sure.

Little Olivia is the lazy one of the fam.  She is known to put on a show of frustration when her pedals don't spin by themselves for her. But, she also gets frustrated when she is at the rear of the pack.  The Weehoo I-go Trailer solved those problems.  She could go as fast as Daddy, and she can still pedal when she wants.

She is very comfortable being towed, with drink carriers on either side of her. The panniers behind her seat are great for stowing rain gear, bike locks,  repair kit, and extra snacks.

At first, we stuck close to home, learning to ride as a family.  We rode down as far as Ship Creek in front of the Boniface Gate (not far at all, I know), and across the street for some ice cream at the Shoppette.  When the Mister and I decided everyone (more specifically Sophie) was able to ride longer distances, we threw the bikes onto the carrier and drove to Elderberry Park in downtown Anchorage to try the Coastal Trail. Because it was a Saturday, we found some parking between the park and the apartment buildings behind it.  Hubby says next time, we really should start the trail at its head, at 2nd Avenue, where there is plenty of parking.

So off we went despite the threatening rain clouds.  

Sophie and Dylan where the Coastal Trail forks off towards Westchester Lagoon and the Chester Creek Trail.

The trail, paved and fairly level (there are a few minor inclines, but significant enough for Soph to hop off her bike and walk it up), hugged the coast.  The view was nice.  I'm sure it gets nicer past Westchester Lagoon (about 1 mile down from Elderberry Park), but that first section consisted of mud flats, which weren't so pretty.

We veered off and took the Chester Creek Trail and stopped at Valley of The Moon Park and it's big playground  to give the kids a breather and for us big kids to enjoy the red velvet cupcakes we bought from Eva's Cupcakery.

The raindrops started to fall in earnest by then, so we decided to head back before it got any worse (it didn't). The round trip was a little shy of 4.5 miles, not too bad for us beginners.  The next time we head back out, the kids are determined to resist the lure of the Westchester Lagoon playground (it looks so cool, even I want to jump in on the fun) and go at least as far as Earthquake Park, where I hear the scenery gets crazy beautiful along the coast.

This has been on our Alaska Bucket List, but won't be considered checked off until we actually bike the whole way to Kincaid Park.

Eklutna Camping Day 2 -- The Best Laid Plans...

 

 Agenda for day two: Bike 3+ miles to Bold Ridge trail and explore the area or bike to the end of the trail to Serenity Falls.

Well, I've learned that no matter how much one prepares, sometimes, there are other things in store for us. We had a great morning...the skies were a cloudless blue, the lake surface was so calm it mirrored the surrounding mountains, we were all settled into camp life. We finally got up and out of the comfort of our sleeping bags around 0900. Ate breakfast, chatted, and then prepared to head down the trail...

Then Dylan discovered his front tire deflated overnight...bummer.  The air pump we had broke, the tire patch kit was missing the adhesive. So Alternate Plan B was suddenly in effect...We had no choice but to head to the trailhead where they had a bike rental place in hopes they would have repair supplies for us.  So instead, we headed the opposite direction of our intended destination. Dylan and I traded off pushing his bike and riding mine.

The lady at Lifetime Adventures was SO gracious, bringing out all the supplies she had available. After messing with the inner tube and unsuccessfully patching it up, she brought out a brand new tube and simply charged us 5 bucks for it.

We locked the bikes up next to her hut and hopped in the car, drove two miles away, to treat ourselves with ice cream after all of our hard work.

There is a general store there offering camping supplies. The ice cream shoppe had a variety of flavors (try the Birch Walnut!) in cones or sundaes, and even burgers and fries.

On the way back. we saw a momma moose and her brand new baby.

The girls having fun before we headed back to the cabin.

At this point, the headache I was nursing all morning blossomed into a full-blown migraine.  I requested we go back to the cabin to rest, have dinner, and attempt the Bold Ridge excursion afterwards instead of trying it right then and there.  My fam knows how bad these migraines can get so they were absolutely fine with Alternate Plan C.

We rode our sixth mile that day and got to our campsite.  I curled up on my sleeping bag and tried to sleep it off for an hour.  I awoke, slightly better, but determined to tough it out.  Dylan had built his first fire all by himself. The girls were enjoying collecting sticks and pinecones. It was almost time for dinner.

Then Liv came into the cabin, rubbing her eyes, "Something's in my eyes!" We rinsed out the dirt, but she kept complaining that there was still something there.  In fear that she may have scratched her cornea or burned it (she says it was ash from the fire that blew into her eyes), we called it and packed up to go home, which was all the better because my migraine took over my night. 

Shout out to my girl, Sophia, who rode her bike a total of 9 miles that day. Such a little trooper.  Another goes out to my boy who built his first full campfire. 

Oh, and we can't forget to thank our wonderful Wright family for taking in our chihuahua during this time.

Eklutna Lake Camping Adventure Day 1

 Backcountry camping can be daunting for a family with children...I've certainly been intimidated by it. The security blanket of immediately accessible transportation for issues of forgotten items and medical emergency situations is just something I have grown accustomed to while "car camping".  This jaunt into the Eklutna recreational area was a bit outside the comfort zone. So what does a paranoid, control freak planner do? Plan like crazy, of course! Check out preparations for this trip here --> Click!

First on the agenda: the bike trip to the cabin. As a recap, the site is located three miles into the lakeside trail. It is a wide multi-use gravel/dirt road.  There are times it splits into an upper and lower road, the upper trail dedicated for motorized users and the lower for hikers and bikers.

Armed with our essentials for the next 2.5 days, we set out for the cabin.  Let me tell you, it is THE most beautiful bike ride I have ever experienced.

At the parking lot, ready to go.

The boys plus gear and Liv led the way. Sophie and I held up the rear.  As a precaution, we attached bear bells to the bikes and had ready access to bear spray just in case of any wildlife encounters.

For those with little ones...let them set the pace, allowing them to call for breaks. Miss Sophie had a little 16" kiddie bike, no gears, and we knew the little inclines took a lot for her to pedal through. She usually called for a stop at the top of a hill...or in this case, at a nice creek simply because she wanted a closer look. She had a whistle that she would blow to alert the boys up front she needed a breather. 

As always, little Liv enjoyed the ride being towed behind her Daddy. She could help out by pedaling, although the Mister just laughed when I asked him if she assisted during the inclines.

At the beginning, Sophie played it safe, choosing to walk her bike down a decline versus zipping down. Towards the end of the trip, she was whooping it down every time.

Note: After the 1 mile marker, the trail will split into the usual ATV vs. foot/bike traffic. The foot trail gets  a bit unpleasant. Snow runoff trickles down this area and muddies/floods up about a ten foot section of the trail. It wouldn't be such a hassle if that part weren't inundated with large roots. Because the Mister was pulling a Weehoo child trailer and Dylan was hauling the Burley trailer (with our gear), we had to walk the bikes through the area. If it is a day when ATV's are not allowed in the area, feel free to take the upper trail to skip through this. (We took it the next day.) There is more of a significant incline at the ATV trail, but no mud. If you aren't towing any gear and your children are more comfortable with mountain biking, this would be a fun section to try your technical skills.

It's a bit difficult trying to videotape with a phone and steering a bike one-handed.  I'm not that good at it. LOL

 The roar of Yuditna Creek cascading down into the lake let us know we were close to our destination. Shortly after crossing the creek bridge, there is a path (clearly marked) leading to the cabin.

What a great campsite! There is a picnic table, a fire ring with sitting logs arranged around it, and the previous occupants even left us with plenty of cut wood. (No need to haul firewood over, there is a bunch of driftwood along the shores of the lake for easy harvesting.) 

The cabin sleeps five on the wooden platforms. Another three can lay their sleeping bags on the floor with plenty of space.  My favorite amenity? This wood burning stove! Yay for warm nights!!! There is a broom/dustpan, full sized axe, saw (dull), fire poker, and even a cabin journal inside. 

Note the view! 

Our own pit toilet. The trail is beyond those trees, and as you can see, we are pretty cloaked in privacy despite its close proximity to the rest of the trail.

The rangers met us at the cabin (they said they were meaning to beat us there to clean up before our arrival), and they were very friendly.  They stocked the latrine with toilet paper, made sure everything was working, and even gave the kids Alaska State Parks stickers. They reassured us that we needn't string up our food bag in the trees; it (and us) would be fine with it enclosed in the cabin. They also said bears haven't been plentiful this close to the lake this season YET. Apparently, they start encroaching later on in the summer when PEOPLE start leaving food and trash around. 

There is a path from the campsite down to the beach and to the creek. The water was fast and coooold. 

We collected water from the creek and ran it through our filter.  I can't say enough about this Platypus filter, btw.  It cleaned 4L in a matter of 2 minutes! We were able gather 12 L in no time (poured 4L from clean reservoir into a water jug, filtered another 4L into the clean reservoir, closed the clamp, and refilled the dirty reservoir). Plenty of water for drinking and cleaning up for the night.

The kids loved the beach! 

The thermostat registered at 50 degrees F, but the winds from the glacier at the end of the lake made it pretty chilly.

The best thing about camping, especially in places with no internet connectivity, is that it gives the family a chance to unplug for a bit.  The distraction of electronics is gone, and we get to focus on each other. There is no need to bring games or toys along...nature is just a big ole playground.

They used that hillside as a slide.

"I love it here!!!"

The boys challenged each other with rock skipping and shot putting contests.

My handsome men.

It's amazing to see how much he's grown. The first time our family went camping, he was Sophie's age.

2008

Bedtime wouldn't be complete without a game of "What animal am I?" and "When you were a baby" stories.  It's cute that the Mister and I have to be very technical about animal trivia as these three are expert at it. Animals aren't constrained into general names like tiger, lion, elephant...but are pretty specific...i.e., Dahl porpoises, orcas (don't ever call them killer whales in front of the kids), RIVER dolphins, quails, golden eagles, and bald eagles...the list is endless. They try not to make it obvious when we have it narrowed down to "bear." The next clue isn't it's color, but "it has a hump on its back" or "it's snout is narrower."  Proud moments.

Such a wonderful time.

Random Monday Updates

 ...on a *ahem* Tuesday. Oh, well, I've dropped the blogging ball so many times, it's like dribbling a basketball. Anyhooo...what's up with Fam Och, you say???

-This is the start of the first full week of summer vacation for the kids.  Although I am meaning to keep them gainfully active during these next couple of months, I confess to taking advantage of opting out of bedtime struggles, early morning wake-ups, and structured meals. Just these last few days, anyway.

-Constant sunlight is here. The bud break has happened (as evidenced by the frequency of birch pollen induced sneezing), and the grass is starting to green up. This means a trip to the nursery is inevitable to plant flowers that will bloom and bloom and bloom in the bright Alaska summer sunshine. (They say after Memorial Day is the best time to put them in.)

-We've geared up for adventures! We've put those bicycles to good use...spinning around the base and down the Anchorage coastal trail. We have found a perfect activity that every one of us enjoys that doesn't require much planning at all. Score!

-I've accumulated a page-long list of home decorating/organizing to-do's. But I'm reluctant to dedicate time to them, since this daylight is constantly beckoning the fam to venture out.  I suppose it's okay to leave the digs looking a bit shabby right now.  Indoor work should be saved for the winter time, right?

-Dylan will be confirmed in the Catholic church in two days. He's worked hard throughout the year in his CCD classes. To say the Mister and I are proud is a gross understatement.

-I'll have more activity-specific posts coming up soon!

Pause 101, Concentrate on AK must-do's

I wrote this a couple of months back, but didn't post...


 Last year around this time, during a ferocious windstorm that kept the fam indoors for the weekend, I decided to redirect my restlessness and come up with the adventures/experiences I want us to have while here in this great state of Alaska. Weird, I never once put it up here on the blog. Perhaps it's because my 101 list was sitting on its separate page, ignored and neglected, that I felt too guilty coming up with yet another list. There's Missus Och again unable to see things through. Well, after reviewing the 101 list and realizing I had completed 41 tasks already (almost half!), and having the best Alaska adventure to date yesterday, I made the decision to put the first bucket list on hold to an extent. Instead, we will focus on our Alaska Must-Do's while here.

 I found the list I wrote last year with notes of what we've done so far:

1. Ride on a Prince William Sound Glacier Cruise
2. H2oasis Water Park -- been twice
3. Rent an RV and camp at Denali National Park -- July 2012
4. Climb Flattop Mountain
5. Hike and go blueberry picking -- Found our secret blueberry patch! (8/2011)
6. Cross Winner Creek via hand tram above the gorge -- July 2012
7. Hike on Matanuska Glacier
8. Go four-wheeling (ATV) -- Summer 2011 @ Sutton
9. Kayak to the end of Eklutna Lake and back
10. See a bear -- and the Mister almost offered himself up as its lunch
11. See moose -- they are everywhere. We now know to drive through Kincaid Park when visitors arrive in town to get that off the checklist right from the start of the visit.
12. Snowshoe 
13. Gold panning in Crow Creek Mine
14. Alaska Zoo -- a family mbrship is a great deal and I've taken the kids several times over the summer break
15. Anchorage Museum/Imaginarium -- we also purchased an annual mbrship!
16. Witness the bore tide come in Turnagain Arm
17. Hike to Thunderbird Falls -- Summer 2011
18. Ride the Alaska Railroad -- July 2011, Princess Rail Tour ride from ANC to Talkeetna
19. Take the whistle stop train to Spencer Glacier
20. See the Northern Lights! -- March 2012 on Highland Drive, Eagle River
21. Soak in Chena Hot Springs
22. Dip toes into Arctic Ocean
23. See Mt. McKinley -- July 2011, Denali peeked out behind the clouds for a full 30 min
24. Beachcomb on the Homer Spit
25. Fly to Lake Clark or Katmai National Preserve to see bears
26. Sea kayak 
27. Ride wildlife viewing cruise -- April 2011, short 4 hr tour of Resurrection Bay
28. Take pictures amongst the irises in Palmer Hay Flats -- June 2012
29. Watch Iditarod Race start in downtown Anchorage
30. Attend Fur Rendezvous -- February 2011
31. Attend Summer Solstice Festival in Anchorage -- July 2011
32. Alaska State Fair -- August 2011
33. River raft trip -- July 2011, float trip from Talkeetna
34. Scale Mount Healy -- July 2012
35. Cast a line out on the Russian River
36. Take the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry to the Inside Passage
37. Explore Hatcher Pass/Independence Mine -- July 2011
38. Take children to North Pole, Alaska
39. Go on a dog mushing ride -- February 2012
40. Visit Williams Reindeer Farm --  October 2011
41.  Hike at Eagle River Nature Center -- Summer 2011
42. Alaska Native Heritage Museum
43. Ride the ferry from Homer to Seldovia
44. Dig for clams at Clam Gulch on the Kenai Peninsula
45. Go dip netting...net dipping...whatever that is
46. Tube Arctic Valley
47. Explore Peterson Bay Field Station
48. Attend a family camp at Kachemak Bay with the CACS
49. Try cross-country skiing
50. Learn to snowboard

Gearing Up! Camping in the Backcountry with Fam Och

 I've recently raved about our upcoming outdoor adventure plans for this summer. There are those I've spoken with who have inquired on the necessary supplies we usually use on these trips.  I can honestly say that for car camping families (drive-in campgrounds in which you pitch your tent on the clearing next to your vehicle), anything goes just as long as you can fit it in the car. There is no need to worry about how bulky, heavy, perhaps unnecessary it may be. If it fits, take it, right? And of course, there's the convenience of loading up in the car and driving back to fetch a forgotten item.

Backcountry camping requires a bit more forethought and much more planning, especially if you have children with you, and more importantly if one is prone to allergic reactions like my youngest is. We've been car camping numerous times, but this summer will be a first to venture out away from the security blanket of our car.

In a couple of weeks, we are staying for two nights and three days at this public-use cabin:

The Yuditna Creek Cabin alongside the gorgeous Eklutna Lake is pretty bare bones.  There are simple wooden sleeping platforms on which to lay our sleeping pads and bags, and a small wood burning stove. That's about the amenities it can boast of. Well, if you don't count the outhouse pit toilet a hundred feet away.

 If you look below at the map, the trailhead and the parking lot are to the top left. Three miles in is the Yuditna Creek Cabin.

After a bit of discussion as to the method to take to reach the place we settled on this:

1. Hiking in is out of the question since we had sleeping bags and other gear to haul there, plus a just recently turned five-year-old who has a habit of inducing a collapse claiming she cannot possibly walk any longer as her legs do not work anymore.
2. Kayaking would have been a fun way to reach the cabin...except for the fact we've never kayaked with the children before (the Mister and I have sea kayaked off KeyWest before), and especially not in glacier-fed waters.
3. We had recently outfitted the family with bicycles, and after a few test runs around the immediate vicinity, it was apparent that the children could handle this better. Plus, hauling gear via bicycle was much more promising. Biking there it is.

Although Little Livy has a tiny bike with training wheels, she is still as lazy as ever and seems to be bewildered at the fact that her pedals don't turn themselves. This Weehoo iGo Bike Trailer is the perfect solution for her.

As for the gear, we are simply renting a trailer (there is an outfitter at the trailhead) much like this one to stow our sleeping bags and other gear.

 Okay, on with the gear. You all know I love organization. This Kelty Binto Hauler is perfect for my OCD tendencies. For this particular trip, however, we are only bringing two of the compartments as space is at a premium. One bin holds cooking and water essentials, the other holds extra clothing (as in, wool socks, sleepwear, extra hand warmers, etc.).

 Can you tell I love Kelty? Our food (and no, it won't be stuffed with the junk depicted below) will be held in this Kelty Picnick Pak. The bottom compartment is a waterproof/tight that will hold anything we need to keep cold. Dylan will wear this as a backpack.

 Backcountry camping, of course, won't have safe water readily available. Thankfully, the cabin sits right where the Yuditna Creek empties into Eklutna Lake (Anchorage's main water supply). Still, for safety reasons, filtering the water gathered from the creek is a good idea. (Note: although it would be easier to simply scoop up water from the lake, it is a glacier-fed lake, which means it is silty, and therefore would shorten the life of our filter faster)

I am a fan of the Platypus Gravityworks Filter.  It filters rapidly, and holds a lot of water. Plus, you can simply roll it up when not in use.  It doesn't take a lot of space, and is light as a feather.

When car camping, we bring a filled 5 gallon water container. But again, space and weight is a premium when you have to travel a bit to your camping site.  Another great Platypus product is this collapsible jug we empty the filtered water into. When empty and not in use, it rolls up and takes up hardly any space. (You can purchase any collapsible water jug for much less $$.)

On to cooking supplies. I'm a gear-aholic.  I love nifty products that either have multi-uses or are configured in a way to minimize space.  The GSI Bugaboo Set (we got this previous year's model on sale for 30% off...yes!) is just really cool. It has pots, pans, lids with strainers built-in, plates, bowls, cups with sipping lids, all in this stackable configuration.  Everything fits into that big pot at the bottom.

Plus, its carrier (below) doubles as a sink.

Now, I know you're asking...'why don't they just bring paper plates?' Well, we used to. But our Miss Sophie is very environmentally conscious (she takes things learned at school very very seriously...as she should) and we agree that Fam Och should try to lessen our impact. So washable reusable tableware it is. (Plus, we would need to pack out our trash at this campsite. Less trash, the better. I can just imagine the epic argument over who has to haul the trash bag three miles while riding a bike.)

Other things of note: as the Mister is an expert in fire building (survival skills he learned from work), it is still a good idea to bring a couple of these Duraflame logs. Restarting a fire in the cabin's wood stove at 3am is not a fun thing. And the other log will serve as an instant flame when starting the campfire outside in the morning. The evening campfires are Dylan's responsibility to build from scratch.

Useful tool to have...axe and saw. This one has a saw that fits nicely into the axe's handle. Space savers are just awesome.

There are many outfitters to purchase supplies from. Our favorite is REI. As a member, we receive a dividend the following year based on the amount we spend. When that dividend check comes in, we'll head over and see what neat things they have in stock. I've also found great deals on Amazon and eBay. It's taken us several years to figure out what gear really works for us, so it's taken some time to get our supplies to where we really want them. Don't feel pressured to purchase everything at once (unless your checking account is a bottomless pit, ours isn't). If anything, check out places that rent out gear for a good price, or better yet, borrow from your friends for free!

There really isn't an excuse not to bring your kids out and enjoy the outdoors. It just needs a bit of planning. Imagine the stories they will tell as grownups about the adventures they had as a child.