Snow Divas

Snow Divas at the Ski for Women: Jo-Ann, Bev, Stacey, Karen, Maggi, Anne, Patti, and Linda

Patti and Stacey - sisters from different mothers?

Bev and Stacey - the first time they don't match?

Thanks to Stacey for the photos from the Ski for Women and the VaMoose!

who is that masked woman?

Gloria in Willow

VaMoose!

 20 BELOW in Willow didn't deter Susan, Stacey, Bonnie, Bev, Gloria, and Lori from riding the VaMoose tour at the Willow Winter Carnival.  Here is Bonnie's report:

"It was pretty cold!  Gloria, Bev and I drove out together and we saw minus 20 I think.  I don't think it got any warmer than minus 10 out there while riding!   When we finished around 4:00 they said it was minus 17!  We had fun though, but didn't ride as far as planned just because of the cold.  We were out riding for over 3 hours though.  Stacey, Lori, and Susan on the other hand rode the whole 20 mile course I think.  They're experienced winter bikers:) "

 

Lori looking warm and ready to take either fork








Stacey and Susan still smiling





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The sun was high enough to cast real shadows!

Susan and Lori cooling off
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They don't even look cold!



always time to ride

Some people have retreated to warmer climes and beaches ... but those of us left behind know that it's always time to ride. The warmer temperatures these last two days just make it even more enjoyable!

If your swimsuit is still buried in a drawer, I hope you're out enjoying all of this great snow on your bike, your skiis, or your feet!

breakin' in the New Year Diva-style

I checked email at 11:00 this morning, thinking that surely someone would call off the ride because it was 10 below at my house and within 5 degrees of that across town. All I saw were 'see you there' messages from last night. So I bundled up and headed to the Abbott Loop trailhead. Margaret, Susan, Lori, and Jo-Ann were there as promised at noon (only one person bailed and I'm not sure that was because of the weather). Later on, we saw several more Divas who were renting bikes as part of a 'meet-up' event. We rode all the usual fun stuff - Baseball Boogie, Speedway, Rover's, Blue Dot, Lynx, and Birch Meadow. I stayed plenty warm trying to keep up with Margaret, Lori, and Susan.

Jo-Ann, Margaret, Susan, and Lori on Speedway.

Rose's mukluk on Speedway. I hope it wasn't too disappointed in my wimpy legs.


Was my visor at that rakish angle during the entire ride? I'm calling it the new fashion statement for Divas in 2012.

Planning the Annual Meeting

The Triumvarate is taking the job of planning the Annual Meeting* very seriously. We met this evening to review the 2011 schedule and to develop an agenda. But to prepare for this difficult task, we decided we should ride a little first to be in the right frame of mind.

Jo-Ann is back in the saddle and promises "No surgeries" in 2011.

Rose showing us the way around the Moose Ridge Trail.

Rose working on her assets


We even tried to recruit a future Diva to help with making the Annual Meeting more fun but she wanted to keep riding with dad


* The Annual Meeting is on April 6th at 7:00 at Paramount Cycles. All current, former, and future Divas are encouraged to attend to find out more about the 2011 season.

winter biking

In the old days, to bike during an Alaska winter you probably went to a warm place like Hawaii. I did that this winter. It was fun, especially the soaking in hot springs half way through the ride.

But with today's technology -- studded tires, fat tires, hand and feet warmers -- the riding can be good all year long on our Anchorage trails. Several Divas ride several times a week. Some of us ride when the conditions are marginal for skiing. Or when our friends want to ride instead of ski and we want to go on a group outing. The fat bikes do a great job compacting the snow for those of us using our summer mountain bikes.

Rose, Jo-Ann, Wendy, and I biked around Far North Bicentennial Park on Saturday and here are some photos from our ride:

Jo-Ann, with excellent head protection, as we finish up Baseball Boogie

Wendy on her fat bike crossing Campbell Creek on Blue Dot trail.

Rose avoiding trees and ice on Campbell Creek

Jo-Ann gliding down Baseball Boogie
(Thanks to Tim for the photo!)


Karen would be proud of my downhill technique AND I missed the tree!

(Thanks to Tim for this photo, too)

Unfortunately, later in the day I didn't miss the trees.
My handlebars ricocheted from tree to tree on Speedway.
Did I mention how soft the landings are when you crash in the winter?

If you haven't biked yet this winter, you've got to try it. Look at how happy Rose and Jo-Ann were when we reached the bridge!

Blustery Hiking

Blizzard on the East Side.

What do the Divas do in the off-season? Some of us continue to bike, but sometimes it's fun to leave the bike at home and get the boots onto the ground for a little hiking. Maybe snow-hiking. Maybe blizzard-condition hiking.

Gloria, Bev, Rose

Early Wednesday afternoon Gloria, Bev and I headed to the state park trailhead that's about 2-1/2 miles up Campbell Airstrip Road to do a little hike along the north side of the Campbell Creek gorge, connecting to the Wolverine Bowl Trail.

The wind was blowing sideways with a Chinook that increased the temperature to 39 degrees by the time we began to hike. The soft snow packed down under our feet giving good traction. Blowing snow flew into our faces and it sometimes felt like being jabbed with 100 pine needles all at one time. Luckily, I had my gaitor. Luckily, it wasn't always gusting at 70 miles per hour. Sometimes it was just windy.

And luckily none of us wanted to change plans, because despite the winds, or maybe because of the winds, it was a beautiful day to hike. The creek is starting to freeze over. The trees bent under the winds that howled through the spruce. Ravens played on the currents. Golden grass swayed alongside the trail.

Overflow on the Campbell Creek.

berries & thorns

On the return trip to the trailhead, not even two hours after we started, our tracks had been covered with blown snow. Later in the day, the sun began peaking through the clouds leaving a golden light in the southwestern sky. Winter in Alaska.


posted by Rose