I Kayak 2 Live

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Alyeska Skiing

3:35 PM Josh McKeown No comments

After a month in Alaska Christina and I have been looking to do some Tele Skiing on the local terrain. Unfortunately it took a month but we finally got the chance to see Alyeska Resort! Our day on the mountain was awesome and we had a ton of fun. What really made us admire Alyeska was the sheer gradient compared to anything we have skied before. 50% of the mountain is Real Double Black Diamond runs that make your heart leap when you get to the top. It made us really look at our Tele skiing skill and want to improve so that we could ski such amazing terrain. Thankfully by the time next season starts we will have some season passes to help improve our skills. Anyway, below are some pictures of our day skiing the Blue runs on Alyeska and all the fun we had doing it. Enjoy!

From Alyeska Skiing

Driving to Alyeska

From Alyeska Skiing

Driving into the Resort

From Alyeska Skiing

Christina at the Base

From Alyeska Skiing

Happy riding up the SLOW "Raindow Like" Chair lift

From Alyeska Skiing

Looking at the view half way up the mountain

From Alyeska Skiing

Christina admiring the view at the tip lift

From Alyeska Skiing

Looking the other direction from the previous picture

From Alyeska Skiing

One of many fun Blue Runs

From Alyeska Skiing

Christina coming down!

From Alyeska Skiing

Looking back up what we came down

From Alyeska Skiing

Me getting ready for another run at top of Chair lift 2

From Alyeska Skiing

Riding the lift again

From Alyeska Skiing

Sorry Christina you can not do that Double Black At the Moment

From Alyeska Skiing

Looking at one of many double black ledges

From Alyeska Skiing

This is the Face that has 8+ Double black runs which were closed for the day

From Alyeska Skiing

The top chair lift

From Alyeska Skiing

Christina happy at the end of our day!

From Alyeska Skiing

Christina and I enjoy the day!

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

11:32 AM Josh McKeown No comments

Alaska! Christina and I have been living in Alaska now for about a month. When we first starting thinking about what it might be like up here, a number of different thoughts came to mind. Surprisingly it has been better than we could have expected or guessed. It is cold yes, but what you normally do not hear is the amount of sun Anchorage gets. I would consider this place to be a lot like Bend, OR with temps that are a little cooler. Anyway, Christina and I have found a number of fun activities already to do around the area. Cross country skiing, hiking, camping in a yurt, finding new restaurants, and sight seeing. I have posted a few pictures below showing off the moving process from our last day in Bend to our first few days in Anchorage. Enjoy!

From Moving to Alaska!

In Bend, OR ready to Move!

From Moving to Alaska!

I think it is full...

From Moving to Alaska!

What Oregon Sends us off with. A HUGE storm the day we drive out.

From Moving to Alaska!

Of Course Nala had to come.

From Moving to Alaska!

Walking Nala to go Pee

From Moving to Alaska!

Nala enjoying the Hotel Room

From Moving to Alaska!

Arriving at Anchorage. View from the Plane.

From Moving to Alaska!

Christina and I's Apartment!

From Moving to Alaska!

Christina outside our place

From Moving to Alaska!

Where Christina Works!

From Moving to Alaska!

The view next to our apartment

From Moving to Alaska!

One of Many Ski Trails

From Moving to Alaska!

What the roads looked like when we first moved here.

From Moving to Alaska!

Christina and I happy!

From Moving to Alaska!

Finally enjoying some Tasty food!

Learning to Tele Ski

8:56 PM Josh McKeown 1 comment

This year Christina and I decided, with the help of Kellie and Tyler, that it was finally time to learn how to Tele Ski. For those who do not know, here is a little history...

From Skiing Day 3 and 4

Christina learned to Alpine Ski at the early age of 9 years old. Ranging from mountains in good old New Mexico all the way to our beloved Mt. Bachelor. Once she moved to Sunriver Oregon the skiing life took off for her during the winter months with Alpine Racing, Training, Lessons, and more hours than you could count on skis. Anyone could watch Christina on the slope and know she should be somewhere in the Backcountry finding a run that challenged her skill. With such a rich background in Alpine Christina knew that Tele Skiing would be a hard but fun change.

For me it was entirely a different upbringing in terms of skiing. I found my way to the Alpine slopes thanks to my mom. Throwing me on some skis at age of 2 I cried and whined my way down those good old bunny hills of Mt. Bachelor. As time progressed and my Step Dad entered my life we moved to the other side of the parking lot, THE NORDIC SIDE, Dun Dun Dun. Here is where I raced my way through life all over the West Coast until the fun age of 16 years old. At that point in my life I found other "more interesting" things to do and left that part of my life behind.

So, now that everyone is caught up on our fun filled life back to learning that fun thing we call Tele Skiing. This new challenging sport Christina and I have chosen to take on his started to kick our butt. Those good old blue runs don't look so flat anymore to say the least. Our legs never stop burning down the hill as we try to hold proper form. And most of all our back leg never seems to stop wobbling.

Well enough typing and back story... I will let a few photos from Ski day 3 and 4 fill in the rest. (Kind of a lack of "Action Shots" due to us just focusing on learning, but next week we will get more!)

From Skiing Day 3 and 4

Foggy!

From Skiing Day 3 and 4

Trying to Learn

From Skiing Day 3 and 4

Christina's Mom and Dad enjoying the Moutain

From Skiing Day 3 and 4

Makita and Tyler Joining us on Marshmellow!

From Skiing Day 3 and 4

My sister and I on the lift

From Skiing Day 3 and 4

Sliding in with Poor Form

From Skiing Day 3 and 4

Rescue Dog Makita and Tyler!

From Skiing Day 3 and 4

The Fam!

From Skiing Day 3 and 4

Parting Shot

Skiing with the Family!!

5:16 PM Josh McKeown 1 comment

This year Christina and I got some Mid-Week Ski passes. With being back in Bend it was important to find some fun stuff to do in Bend during the winter. As we all know Skiing is the best thing to do in the winter! Check out the 2nd day of skiing we had with everyone.