I recently returned to San Diego after a week and a half of adventures! First, my new employer (Neptune and Company, Inc.) flew me and Raffelina up to Alaska for a short work meeting (Thursday, May 12 - Sunday, May 15). The weekend after (May 21), my friends Garrett and Alyssa were getting married in Boulder, so I decided to fly directly to Denver after Alaska and work remotely for the week. Here's a short recounting of the adventure.
On Thursday, Raffelina and I enjoy a couple of long flights interspersed with free food courtesy of her Priority Pass. We fly into Anchorage and then pick up a rental car, which we drive an hour southeast to Alyeska Resort near Girdwood, AK. Within a few minutes I had found us a nice icy hike: the trail is initially dry, but after a mile or two becomes snow and ice. Being new to snow, Raf got to learn first hand about "post-holing".
The next day, we drive to Whittier, AK, where we hop on a tour boat with my coworkers and their spouses. This rainy, isolated fishing town at the end of Prince William Sound reminds me of southern Chile. We cruise around the fjords in drizzling rain and ogle at glaciers. Saturday is a work meeting with lots of buffet food and "networking". On Sunday, Raffelina and I return to the airport in Anchorage and then part ways in Seattle, after enjoying lots more free airport food. This short adventure was a great intro to Alaska and a nice free vacation for Raf and me. I'm left wanting to explore southeast Alaska, e.g. the Juneau area. I love the cold rainy coastal forest vibe!
On Monday, I putz around Boulder, take myself out to lunch at Kathmandu, get some provisions at Trader Joe's, and then grab a cheap pair of running shoes at Boulder Sports Recycler before getting picked up by Michal to head up to Nugget Hill. If you recall, Nugget Hill is where I lived in a tent from August to November of 2019:
https://carvedblock.blogspot.com/2019/09/yes-i-live-in-tent.html
https://carvedblock.blogspot.com/2019/11/october-28-2019.html
https://carvedblock.blogspot.com/2019/11/life-on-south-facing-slope-notes-from.html
During the week, I stay in Meesa and Michal's guest room, enjoy their company, work remotely, and go on trail runs. I'm reminded how much I enjoy having immediate access to trails, clean air, and quiet. Raf and I are hoping to make a move toward a situation much like this soon! That is, in the mountains, near trails, <30 minutes from a town/school, with plenty of space for gardening, animals, and building projects. Colorado is a bit too dry - hoping to find somewhere wetter, e.g. near the coast between San Francisco and Seattle. If you have any recommendations, let me know!
Garret and Alyssa's wedding is sabotaged by a massive snow storm that hits the Front Range on Friday morning. May always features at least one of them, and they typically last about two days, so the chances of having a wedding during a snow storm in May are probably around 7% (Garrett and Alyssa did not get lucky). Thankfully, they are able to move their ceremony from the Halfway House on Flagstaff Rd to Rembrandt in Boulder, where their reception is held. The wedding is lovely - it's great to see lots of friends from my Colorado days.
