My goodness how time does fly.  It seems like we just started the summer and here it is, fall already.
The leaves are off the trees, the air defineatly has a bite to it, the sound of swans congregating in the lakes to begin their flight south.  And then a expectant quiet falls across the Maclaren Valley, as if everything is holding it's breath for the first snow. 

Only in the fall do we get sunrises like this one! 

We had a busy summer and we all worked hard and had some great times!  Thank you to Sean, Casey, Krista and DeSay for making the summer roll along smoothly!  Everyone is off on their new adventures. 

As for us, we are headed to WV for a few weeks.  Then will be in Fairbanks...opening back up in February. 

See ya'll down the road.
Susie & Alan

Spring has finally sprung here in the Maclaren Valley.  There are birds everywhere, with no place to go.  Water fowl have no water to float in, the willows are just beginning to show out of the mass amount of snow we have. 
The Cliff Swallows have arrived and are busy trying to find some muddy spots to collect mud for their nest making.

The Denali Highway is still closed, but the Cantwell Road Crew made it here yesterday evening for dinner.  One lane is now open to Cantwell. (HOORAH Cantwell Crew) The Paxson side, well, only at 28 Mile. 
We are thinking it will be another week before the Denali Highway is "open" since the Maclaren Summit can be a real challenge with the drifting and avalanche areas. 

The Maclaren River is not open yet.  Very late this year!
Memorial Day is usually the time of the Annual Polar Plunge in the River.  I suppose if you wanted to go roll around in the melting snow you could....somehow, just not the same as the Plunge!
We are missing all the "Gang" that gathers here for the Memorial Day Weekend.  The Blakes/Nichols Family, Kamps and Jacksons, the KMA Fam, Joni, Ryan, Jesse, Wiley...miss ya'll! 

Late riding on the Maclaren

Majestic Mountains!

 

 

We have had to cancel a few reservations, for Camping at the Glacier Camp, HA, can you imagine the surprise they would have!  Well if we could even get them there. 

Not to mention the bicyclists, motor cycles, tour buses and the list goes on.

We did get some snowmachiners this weekend!

 

 The Maclaren Crew this year

Returning from their adventures in the Southern Pacific: Krista and DeSay Howell

Returning from Life Adventures:  Casey Sullivan

Staying for the Summer Season:  Sean Isaacks

And your Hosts:   Susie & Alan

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings Everyone!

 

We are back and open and ready to rock and roll.

Our time off was wonderful, we got to spend time with family and relax a bit.  Alan started trucking, hauling fuel.

The opening of the lodge went well, no major issues, pretty darn great bunch of guys that we had working to help us open.

Thank you to Vern and Josh for helping haul all our stuff around,

Rabbit and Todd for mechanical and grooming support,

Don and Scott for hauling all our crap back to the lodge and then helping around here to make things look great.

And of course the new guy, Sean, who is going to work with us/for us until we close again next fall.

 

We have been getting a ton of snow, every day and every day.

A good day is when the wind is not blowing (which would be today)!

We got about 6 inches last night alone, that is not counting the 5 feet or more that we came back to.

 

Our first weekend back Maclaren River Lodge was a checkpoint and 8 hour layover for the Denali Doubles Sled Dog Race. 

 

The "Lodge" dogs are very happy to be home!

Jackson has his normal place by the Hearth, where he enjoys the warmth of the fire. 

Bandit is in his "working" mode of escorting snow machines around the yard and making sure that pesky fox stays away!

And our new little guy, Koda.  Border Collie/mini Aussie. He is just too cute to resist! 

 

 

We hope to see everyone soon! 

Susie & Alan