It's Great to Skate

Gearing up in the "front yard"

This weekend Meghan and I discovered a new way to enjoy the Alaskan winter - skate skiing. Like classic skiing, skate skis are made for gliding on snow. Unlike classic skiing, skate skis are shorter, skinnier, and designed to be used on edge. Instead of kicking with the base of the ski flat on the snow like a classic ski, a skate, or freestyle skier, kicks with the edge of the ski at angle to propel forward - like ice skating. After the lesson we realized that we can move quite fast when skate skiing - I got giddy.

Out to the Inlet

The day after our lesson we ventured from our house to Anchorage's Coastal Trail. I was delighted to be able to strap on our skis directly in front of our house and begin skiing. The Chester Creek Trail - which I use to bike to work - connects with the Coastal Trail about a mile from our house. The snow on the trails was a little bumpy, but smooth enough to feel the thrill of the speed of this new-found method of sliding on snow. Meghan and I agree that it has been nice to live with powdery snow on the ground during the winter months. Back in Denver an occasional blizzard would dump a foot or two on the ground, but the high, dry temps would soon melt the snow away. Kodiak's maritime climate provided plenty of precipitation and snow to the mountains, but the frequent warmer temperatures would bring rain and ice to the island melting snow or turning it to ice in town.

And back before dark

We had a great time during our ski and even crossed paths with friends who took part in Friday's lesson. I can't wait to get back out there. As I write, sunlight is still an hour hence, but perhaps a headlamp will do. Now I have to convince Meghan that skiing the Tour of Anchorage would be a fun thing to do this winter.