Weekend trip to Alaska - pics

How to go on a weekend trip to Alaska for $5

• Step 1: realize that the coming weekend is a 3-day weekend

• Step 2: randomly decide to check flights to Alaska

• Step 3: find nonstop flights for 25,000 miles, when they are usually 40k-75k, (note: it helps to have over 50k miles from skeleton racing flights)

• Step 4: text your siblings to see if they can help you surprise your parents

• Step 5: click "purchase" and pay $5.00 in taxes.
  

Yes, it really was that simple. I got to Anchorage on Friday night around midnight, and my brother Adam picked me up, taking me to my brother Joe's house. The next morning, I got to play with my little niece, and do her hair.


Then, Adam and I drove to the Deshka Landing, about 2 hours from Anchorage, and I geared up in my sister Danielle's snowmobile gear (she and I are twins born a decade apart). She even let me borrow "her" (it's really Joe's) snowmobile to aid in the surprise.


Adam hauls freight out to cabins and lodges on the river, and so he loaded up his sled.




And off we went.


It was a little bumpy, but out of 6 dozen eggs, he only broke 7.


Even though the river trail looks wide and nice, and is now marked with road signs...


...it can still be very dangerous. Both for the observant...






...and for the unobservant.




On the ride, I suddenly saw this:


Yes, this person is 30 miles from anything. I'm impressed. Then I saw them:


Turns out there was an extreme race going on - 100 miles via bike, XC ski, or walking. Phew.

(In case you're wondering, Danielle's snowmobile is fast, so I could stop and take pictures and still catch up to Adam and his slow freight machine. Though, ironically, I was scared to go over 60mph, when I'm willing to do 80mph on my skeleton sled...)

So beautiful - I remember why I love where my family lives.




Finally, the hour and a half ride is over and we roll into the yard.




Little Eric runs up and says "Danielle!!!" I pick him up, high five Adam, and carry Eric inside. My dad says "hey sweetheart" and my mom says "I thought you had to work" and then....she realizes it's me, not Danielle.

Suffice it to say, the surprise was epic. Epic!

Then it was like I'd never left. Helping pump gas, cooking burgers for guests...massive half pounders...


...then my dad says "We need firewood - use the red chainsaw."


So I cut the logs into stove lengths...


And then got to try to remember how to split the wood. I'll admit, it took a few tries before my aim came back, and I had to tell the little boys to stand back so flying wood wouldn't take them out.


My memory came back ok though, and it all got split.


Matthew had to take this one on for me though - it was just too bendy!


Eric, Anthony and I also got to play a bit - sledding.




Then, it was time to head back, all too soon. This time, my mom and Adam accompanied me, she to get a load of groceries


Adam to tow a broken down machine back


and me to go to the airport. It was a great visit, and I was able to see my brothers and sisters (sans Jeanette in California finishing school) and parents, and have a good time. Glad I went.