SOOO Exciting!

I hope I am not letting the cat out of the bag! We just spent a great week in San Fran with John and Angela and we were so excited to learn that they are having a baby! Angela looks great! Congratulations you guys- you will be amazing parents and I can' t wait to introduce Clarity to your wee one.

Gaedeke's Smoke Trail

Spring break AK style. Forget wet T-shirt contests and beach volleyball. Gimme cold smoke any day.

How Can You Be So Thin, And Live So Fat?

The Beastie Boys once posed this question and as oil prices pass the $100/barrel mark like a hot sauna streaker on a dark Fairbanks night I look forward to the PFD smiles that will come in the fall.  Of course I'm ineligible this year so everyone literally gets my 2 cents.  You're welcome.  

Anyways, here's me strokin' Benjamins atop the Alaska Pipeline in Coldfoot (photo by Mr. P).  For those feeling guilty about the blood money they will receive in October, feel free to donate it to me in the form of a new snowmachine...

Home on the Range, Brooks that is.

It's not often that one has to take time to let a herd of 25 caribou pass by while skinning a ridge, but here we see Mr. Peterson doing just that.  Ok, I guess it's more like he's pointing at caribou about 1/4 mile away but that is still pretty damn cool because we were are about 2500 feet.  

Note that Philip keeps his towers at full extension, in the event of a sudden stampede he is always ready for a rapid ascent.  Experience like that can't be taught so take heed Girdwood, take heed.  This technique also works for Dall Sheep and the occasional meandering wolverine.

Don't Mind if I Do

That's what Tiffany said as she dropped a knee and showed the caribou what fresh tracks in the Brooks Range should look like.

And Philip was very happy,

because his knee was making tele turns after a forced hiatus.

Guess Who's Back, Back Again

Former G'woodians Philip, Tiffany and Me returned from the frigid northern reaches of the Brooks Range after yet another successful voyage. Yes, of course there were broken snowmachines, -70F windchill and the hardships of a finite alcohol supply but we all returned in one piece with visions of caribou dancing in our heads. We also got to play in the best powder of my life. So we had that going for us, which was nice. Now we must all return to our paying jobs and the annoying squeaky sound of life on the big Hamster Wheel.

Stay tuned for more pics dear readers...

ABC Cookies

This twisted version of the gingerbread man cookie cutter is sometimes missing an arm, a leg or his entire head. They were a big hit with Max, (thanks Ang!) and he tore up the kitchen today w/Uncle Johnny.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PHILIP!

Still the youngest of all of us and looking better than ever. What are you 7, 8 this year? Hope you have a wonderful day!

Cuter!

I just could not look at that picture of Dan and Philip anymore.

Dan and Phil get close

Dan is willing to forgive him, originally uploaded by katemohatt.

I found this little gem on Dan's camera. Remember Halloween?

First Beer

Get her started early. Right?

Dare to Dream

I think even Girdwood could handle these Olympics.

-45F in Fairbanks

I drove to Fairbanks a few weeks ago and realized that I had forgotten exactly how insane -45F really is. I went from 20F in Anchorage to about -20F in Cantwell and then the really cold stuff hit around Denali. My car frosted up which gave Alice something to do, but the stiff shocks made for a rough ride. Road trip anyone?

Max's Christmas and New Year's Eve

Max had fun this year playing with sparklers and digging in to the stocking that Santa hung from the mantle. I balanced out a new Power Ranger toy with a naustalgic game of Twister and now realize that children cheat when playing games at a very young age...

Tahoe Storm Warning

We have been advised by the National Weather Service that a series of three severe winter storms are predicted to impact Northern California beginning today and continuing through early next week.

The strongest of the three storms is expected to hit the area on Friday with heavy rain and wind gusts as high as 60 mph, at Lake level with 100-plus mph winds on the ridge tops. El Dorado County residents should be prepared for short, and possible long term, power outages and extremely hazardous travel conditions.

Please be very safety conscious, keeping away from any downed electrical lines and anticipating road hazards, such as blowing debris and possible localized flooding.

We recommend you have 1.5 gallons of water, per person, per day, for at least three days. Secure pets and livestock. Maintain full tanks of fuel in your vehicle. Do not use outdoor heating sources, such as barbeques for indoor use. Other suggested supplies include:

— Non perishable canned goods and a manual can opener
— Battery powered radio and extra batteries
— Cell phone
— First Aid Kit
— Winter weather clothing
— Cash as ATM’s will not work if power is out.

This has been a public service announcement from the El Dorado County and City of South Lake Tahoe Office of Emergency Services.


***I'm very impressed that cash is listed in the top ten things to have in an emergency. Where is the liquor, guns and stockpiled Netflix DVD's? For crying out loud there isn't even a diagram of how to properly butcher your neighbor's frozen corpse.

The Cocoon

Do not fear. Fear is the mind killer. P. Dude is down but not out. Like a crop eating moth transforming in a Cocoon, I will reemerged and party in an even grander fashion.

For those in the know....

This is the place to be on the 1st of February...!

(if you are in section 100 then we can share popcorn.)

Let Me Borrow that Top.

To help those who cannot help themselves.


Make sure you watch it all the way until the end. Betch.

Happy Birthday , yet AGAIN!

Happy Birthday !