E & D & Y & E & I: We Are Young

(This post is best viewed while listening to We Are Young, by Fun. Not because Jill and I drank until the bar closed, but rather, we found ourselves singing this song during any pause in our conversation. Maybe drink a nice, dark IPA as well...)

ALASKA!
Jill has lived in Juneau, AK since Devin and I got married - 5 years ago - with one year away when she got her Master's degree from the University of Denver. She is quite settled up there, and while I wish she lived in our guest room, I've never seen her so happy. She has wonderfully fun friends who encourage and inspire her, and I'm envious of their adventures, but thrilled to continue to visit and be included.

My sister treated me to a flight to Juneau at the end of March!
Jill racks up Alaska Airline miles through work and booked me on a first class flight up to Alaska so we could play. And play we did...

And Yeti came with me.

Here's the proof:

A view of Douglas Island (where Jill lives) from Juneau.

That peak is Mt. Jumbo and we hiked to the summit when we where there in the summer of 2008.

Sniffy T = SniffT

Mt. Juneau behind...Juneau.

Yeti and Letti on Sandy beach - loving life.

By the way, Sandy beach is on Douglas Island.

Waiting...

I couldn't help but take a lot of pictures while we were out that day - the weather was incredible!

We had sun and blue skies four of the five days I was there.

Looking toward Juneau.

This is Jill.

This is Dave.

Jill's boyfriend, Collin, and their buddy Dave, are building a boat. They had just started when I got into town. (More on Collin later.)

This is Collin.

This is Collin's backyard - looking left.

Coincidentally, Collin lives in the same house Jill lived in when we visited in 2008.

Collin's backyard - looking right.

Muddy muddy dogs. Read: Happy happy dogs.

That was all on Thursday. On Friday, Jill and I went to Eaglecrest for a day on the slopes. It was one of the best days I've ever had riding down a mountain. Great snow, sun, blue sky, nice temp, new board... and Jill. (By the way, Jill is officially 'hard core.' She has an awesome Prior splitboard and goes skinning up mountains.)

(These are iPhone pictures - would have loved to have my camera up there.)

Jill and her kingdom.

On Saturday, a group of Jill's friends, the dogs and I hike out to Eagle Glacier cabin - roughly 3 hours. It was our only cloudy day, but it added a mystical feel to the woods.

Nico and her husky, Anna.

Hydrating.

More hydrating.

Jill, Collin, Dave, Giselle, Nico, Clif.

Muskeg = swampy marshy area. I think it's a good name for a dog.

The cabin.

The lake and the glacier - on a cloudy day. Just wait...

Falls near the cabin.

Nico.

(I wish I'd gotten this in focus!)

Dinner.

Breakfast.

Sunday was just that, a sun day!

Collin and Yeti. It was evident that it's been a while since Yeti last walked on snow.

Hiking out to the glacier.

Dave.

I love this picture.

Collin and Jill

On Sunday, after the glacier walk, we hiked back out and headed into town. After a beer and Halibut burger I was ready for bed, knowing that Jill and I were going to ride again in the morning. Monday was another sunny day and we had a great time on the mountain.