Hey Tribe,
Can you believe it?
We were finally able to get out for a mini hike and it was so worth
braving the 11F temps. The weather was
clear and cold, but the sun was shining bright and the trees were covered in
fog, so it made the early afternoon feel like magic.
I had never been to the Eklutna Tailrace in the winter – it’s a
popular family fishing spot, complete with bbq pits emitting the most
intoxicating aromas and screaming children in inner tubes splashing in the
relatively calm fish filled water during the summer months. In the winter, its waters remain open, thanks
to the hydroelectric plant that causes the tailrace, and is a popular spot for
photographers.
TheMother, TheFather, Fly, and I were lucky to be the only
visitors during this particular time, which meant Fly could run un-leashed and
I could wander behind her like a paparazzi: noting and photographing her every
move.
We saw ducks and moose poo (Fly tried to eat both, but only
succeeded in getting the latter). Fly
cautiously tested the icy waters as she waded in ankle deep to snatch a piece
of ice that was floating past us, but her KBD nature prevented her from taking
a swim.
There are several trails that meander up and down both sides of the banks and they all offer wonderful views of snow blanketed paths, frost laden trees, and the wonderful mountains that border our valley.
Towards the end of our visit, Fly got a little too cocky
with the ice edging the banks of the river and she broke through up to her
head. It took her a few hard-fought
moments to claw herself back up onto the safety of the bank, while I tried to
not panic and rush toward her – I didn’t want to scare her, there was no need
for fear, and she learned a lesson about ice.
She then dashed into the snow and began to roll herself in the powdery
whiteness to rid her thick fur of the wet that threatened her warmth. How do dogs know that this will work? Sure enough, she came back to me with only
her guard hairs wet and icing into clumps.
We decided we’d been daring enough for one day and slowly
shuffled our way through the fresh snow back toward the awaiting parents and
the truck.
