Walk Across the Lake

This December has been pretty cold so Mendenhall Lake was frozen over enough to walk on.  On 12/22 Richard and I walked across the lake to the face of the glacier.  It was an easy ~1.5 miles to the face, though we couldn't get too close to it since we saw cracks in the ice when got close the glacier.  Since it hadn't snowed in a while, there wasn't much snow to trudge through either.

On 12/24 Matt and I walked the lake on the other side at Skater's cabin.  That's where most people go skate skiing across the lake, but we didn't have skiis.

On 12/25 couple of people supposedly fell through the ice.  The risk of falling through always exist, so take precaution and if the ice looks dodgy, don't walk on it!

Winter Wonderland

View from Airport Trail

Winter had arrived in Juneau shortly after returning from our Hawaii trip in October.  Temperatures had dipped into the 30's and we received some flurries.  This fall has also been unusually dry, which was a much needed break from all the rain we've been getting for as long as I can remember.  I was expecting this fall to be bad, so I had planned a three week trip back to Virginia... unnecessarily.  Still, it was good visiting all of my friends and family back East.  I felt like I had a life again.  Life in Juneau had been quite laid back.  My life here primarily consists of working and walking the dog.  The upside is, I like my job and seeing Millie run around off-leash makes me happy.  This is probably the best place I can be for dog walking, and not just because of the beautiful scenery.  I'm not sure what I'd do if I moved back East.  I guess I'd have to settle for leash walking and dog parks.  That will be sad.  Part of me wants to stay here for all of the nice trails that Millie and I love so much.  Part of me wants to go back to Virginia to be near family and friends.  Part of me wants to go where I can have a social life and the beautiful outdoors.  For the time being though, I am enjoying the winter in Juneau.  It was snowing on the day I got back, and has snowed a few times since.  We have about 20" of snow on the ground in our yard, and everything around town is blanketed in white.  It is very beautiful right now.  I think I might like the winter when it snows more than the summer.  At least in winter you don't have to worry about bears and Millie jumping into mud puddles :)

Millie and Charlie in Mendenhall Recreation Area

In addition to being dry, this winter also seems colder than last.  Definitely bundling up more.  Our house is also quite drafty and old, so it is cold in our house.  (Ok, so we're also cheap and try to save on heating.)  It's not uncommon to see the thermostat in some rooms dip to the 50's.  Thermostat in the living room is set to 64, but I don't think it's actually that warm in here :(

After all the traveling I did in October and November, I plan to lay low for December.  Not sure what 2013 has in store for me, but I hope to be doing something early in the year.  This might be my last post for the year, so I'd like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year!