Woke up long before sunrise and lay in bed until it got light. It didn’t look sunny outside so I prepared breakfast for today and for our flight home tomorrow, filling a yogurt container each of my breakfast mix for Gaelen and I. I dressed for my morning ski warmer than usual as the forecast for today is sunny and cold.
Once outside I could for the first time see the mountain as I skied up Davos and over to Moose Meadows. North Star was visible as were most of the peaks in the back of the valley though they were shrouded in ghost like veils of snow and cloud.
Lots more people were out today skiing and walking dogs. I did a slow lap around the meadow stopping often to take in the views obscured during all our time here. This valley is so beautiful
Back at the house I fried up potatoes, showered and packed up and watched a Sunday morning news show until Spencer arrived. We then cleared out and drove up to the Bake Shop for a soup and bun for Spencer, a bun for G and a sweet roll to split between us.
Chatted with D.C. and checked out the Bake Shop crowd, one young man in particular who it slowly dawned on me may be Rowan Kramer, last seen by me when he was 2. He was seated with a bunch of teens at the table next to us so I leaned over and asked if he was a Kramer and he said “Yes, I’m Rowan.” I introduced myself and told him I was friends with his parents. He said he’s heard my name and asked how I knew his parents. “oh you know Girdwood”…I replied. I was flummoxed. I thought the Kramers weren’t supposed to be back yet. Might I still have a chance to see them? I texted Emma as we drove to the Daylodge parking lot suggesting we meet at the Sitz.
The parking lot was packed as the day was blue sky and sunny as advertised and we ended up parking on a third level that I forgot existed. It was COLD out, I had on all my layers and we froze as we rode the Bubble-less Quad to the top.
From the top the views were stunning all the more so for not being visible all week. We reveled in their glory and I kept stopping to take pictures and video freezing my fingers.
The snow was great and we took fast carving lines down into the bowl freezing our brains and then rode the quad up to do it again and again.
We took 5 runs, 3 to the left, 2 to the right and the 5th right to the bottom to warm up in and check out the Sitzmark Bar and restaurant. By then Emma had replied to my text, she wrote that they sent the kids home early and was bummed to not be there to see me. I for my part feel like I did see them in Rowan who is a mash up of the best of Emma & Kurtis. We are truly blessed said Emma of our respective families.
Spencer had a beer at the bar and Gaelen and I had some hot cocoa. The Sitzmark looks the same as it did when I worked here in 1992. Still great views of the mountain and a sweet deck to enjoy the sunshine upon.
I went out and rode Chair 3 for 4-5 runs before Gaelen and Spencer joined me and we headed back up to the top of Alyeska for a few more bone chillin’ scenic wonder runs.
So freakin’ beautiful. I love the mountains and space up here and this day was so blue and white winter wonderland glorious.
We called it a successful day at 5pm and loaded up and drove out of Girdwood and back North to Anchorage along the Turnagain Arm enveloped within a stunning alpine glow sun setting behind the volcano Mt. Augustine.
We drove downtown to Humpy’s and met up with Benjamin Robinson for a burger and a beer. He too is a friend from my 1st year in Girdwood, a fellow backpacker and former woods dweller and the drummer/songwriter for the Photon Band.
Ben married Rebecca from Minnesota and has a 14 year old son. He also told me he still makes my spice mixture and told his son he was meeting the guy who came up with the mixture so as we left I gave him the last remaining jar of Special Spice I had with me and he was tickled to see it had a label. Good to see him, nice last visit of this week long trip.
Spencer then drove us back to the Green Room so we could by Molly, G’s mom, a souvenir hoodie t-shirt. Then it was back to Spencer’s to repack the bags for flight and then he dropped us at the airport at 10pm for our 12:50am flight.
Spencer has been such a good friend and host. I can only hope he comes to Vermont someday so I can re-pay the hospitality.
