tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63049520101446640542024-03-13T10:00:57.510-07:00Maclaren River LodgeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-8963577971196502862018-12-17T10:10:00.000-08:002018-12-17T10:10:04.664-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Another year has come and gone! </div>
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We have been busy at Maclaren River Lodge! Our Crew has been incredible and all in for the Lodge. Makes for a wonderful atmosphere when everyone considers themselves family!</div>
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We are very excited for the New Season starting February 1. </div>
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We have built 4 new Duplexes so will have 8 new rentals available.</div>
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All have their own bathroom and give you plenty of space to relax and take in the awesome view of the lake! These will be Called the Alpine Glow cabins 1-8. </div>
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AG Cabins 1-8 if you are booking online.</div>
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For all you that have enjoyed the majestic beauty of the Maclaren Glacier and hiking or canoeing the Maclaren Valley we will be expanding our Glacier Camp this summer. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MACLAREN RIVER LODGE - GLACIER CAMP<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We look forward to seeing you in 2019 and hope you have a safe and wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year! </span></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-71823821854290584392016-03-02T08:24:00.002-08:002016-03-02T08:24:37.516-08:00Winter 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Winter 2016-<br />
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This year the opening was amazingly smooth. No problems, always nice. We have good snow coverage, 4-5 feet standing in most areas. The temps have been almost hot for the middle of the Alaska Mountain Range in February! Most years we sit at 30 below zero or considerably lower, that is "normal" temps. This season, we have only seen 30 below on a few occasions. Typical temps have been in the mid-teens, making for long days on the sled possible, and dare I say, comfortable. Snowmachining has been wonderful.<br />
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Starting with Jeff King's Denali Doubles Sled Dog Race, the first weekend of Feb., we have been awesomely busy every weekend. Zach is back, Liz just got in from New Zealand, the whole crew is back for more, so to speak. Look forward to seeing you all out here on The Highway, plenty of parking in Paxson, and only a 42 easy mile ride on a fully groomed snow covered superhighway. Call ahead if you feel like coming in on a weekend. Cheers!<br />
Matthew<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-8658917803943717892015-07-22T12:07:00.000-07:002015-07-22T12:07:00.446-07:002015 Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Koda, surveying his domain!</b></div>
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Hello Everyone!<br />
I know, I know! It has been a while since a blog has been posted.<br />
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We have been having an amazing summer! As usual, lots of groups as well as individual travelers from all over the world. <br />
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Our remote "Glacier Camp" is going strong with our new tents and cots. Thank you to Cabela's for helping us pick out the perfect tents for the camp. Our Jet Boat has been running pretty much non-stop with campers as well as day trippers.<br />
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Our Crew is great this year and everyone is working hard to create the perfect environment for fun and relaxation. Liz is back as a hostess/waitress. Matthew is making his home made ice cream that is really becoming famous (Go Matt!). We have Chef Philip as the afternoon/evening Chef this year. He creates some of the most tantalizing meals for everyone. Erika has been doing the housekeeping but we will have to let her go back to her life with her husband, Josh, and to help him run the farm and make the hay! Rachelle will be coming on board in August with a new burst of energy, and even an ice cream flavor of her own suggestion, named after her: Spicy Rachelle is a Chai Tea flavor with fresh orange zest; it has been going over very well.<br />
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A couple weeks ago a young man from Vail, CO. arrived here on a grey rainy day, with plastic bags on his feet to keep his Crocs dry, on a 49cc mini bike! Rob Shearon, robsruckusroadtrip.com, is a fresh graduate of UC Boulder, and rode his mini up here raising money and awareness for his CUCRC Second Chance Scholarship for sober students. In his 2 months on the road, at no more than 35 mph, he raised more than $20,000! Rob hung out with us helping around the lodge. He really was a wonderful person, full of an amazing energy. It would seem no, that Matt may be riding Rob's mini bike back to him in Vail in May of 2016.<br />
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Body count of people who stopped by the lodge on their way to riding a bicycle down to the tip of South America or around the globe: 7. Last summer we had 5.<br />
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Number of times Koda has had his picture taken on the pool table: 281. Number of days Bandit has been a grouch because Alan has been off property without him: 7. Number of hours a day you can find Jackson sleeping: 22.<br />
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Matt's friend Zach, the banjo player from Wayward North, is out here for a couple weeks helping out, swing out and we'll talk him into play a little banjo with your dinner!<br />
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Susie & Alan<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-43726885135170660422013-09-29T07:31:00.002-07:002013-09-29T07:31:44.553-07:00My goodness how time does fly. It seems like we just started the summer and here it is, fall already.<br />
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. <br />
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Only in the fall do we get sunrises like this one! <br />
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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. <br />
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As for us, we are headed to WV for a few weeks. Then will be in Fairbanks...opening back up in February. <br />
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See ya'll down the road.<br />
Susie & Alan<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-33367818545148673612013-05-26T08:49:00.000-07:002013-05-26T08:49:23.178-07:00Spring 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. <br />
The Cliff Swallows have arrived and are busy trying to find some muddy spots to collect mud for their nest making. <br />
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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. <br />
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. <br />
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The Maclaren River is not open yet. Very late this year!<br />
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!<br />
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! <br />
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Late riding on the Maclaren</div>
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Majestic Mountains!</div>
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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. </div>
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Not to mention the bicyclists, motor cycles, tour buses and the list goes on. </div>
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We did get some snowmachiners this weekend!</div>
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The Maclaren Crew this year</div>
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Returning from their adventures in the Southern Pacific: Krista and DeSay Howell</div>
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Returning from Life Adventures: Casey Sullivan</div>
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Staying for the Summer Season: Sean Isaacks</div>
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And your Hosts: Susie & Alan</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-90684623874685371792013-02-15T09:21:00.001-08:002013-02-15T09:21:34.453-08:00<div align="center">
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We are back and open and ready to rock and roll.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Our time off was wonderful, we got to spend time with family and relax a bit. Alan started trucking, hauling fuel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The opening of the lodge went well, no major issues, pretty darn great bunch of guys that we had working to help us open.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank you to Vern and Josh for helping haul all our stuff around, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Rabbit and Todd for mechanical and grooming support, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Don and Scott for hauling all our crap back to the lodge and then helping around here to make things look great.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And of course the new guy, Sean, who is going to work with us/for us until we close again next fall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We have been getting a ton of snow, every day and every day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A good day is when the wind is not blowing (which would be today)!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We got about 6 inches last night alone, that is not counting the 5 feet or more that we came back to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Our first weekend back Maclaren River Lodge was a checkpoint and 8 hour layover for the Denali Doubles Sled Dog Race. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The "Lodge" dogs are very happy to be home!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Jackson has his normal place by the Hearth, where he enjoys the warmth of the fire. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bandit is in his "working" mode of escorting snow machines around the yard and making sure that pesky fox stays away!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And our new little guy, Koda. Border Collie/mini Aussie. He is just too cute to resist! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We hope to see everyone soon! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Susie & Alan</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-21351916087021516012012-10-20T09:06:00.000-07:002012-10-20T09:06:01.402-07:00Closing For a Break<div align="center">
Well the time has arrived for us to be closing down for a couple of months.</div>
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The winter sunrises are beautiful, as always. The new snow quiets and smooths the landscape. </div>
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This has been quiet a challenge for us since this has never been attempted before. Things you have to think about! Besides the main things like blowing out water lines, setting up a Caretakers Cottage, Packing what stuff you will need for a couple of months....There is the make sure everything is off the floor incase rodents get in..make sure no canned or bottled goods are left behind or they will explode (includes beer and wine). Down to the little mayo packets on the tables, freezing will seperate mayo and it cannot be used afterward. Cleaning supplies, tons of them in spray cans! Make sure all the sheets and blankets are washed and put up. Having all the wood hauled in, cut up and stacked for the reopening in February. </div>
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Everything you would do to close your house only Quadrupled!!!!</div>
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As most everyone already knows, our email has changed to:</div>
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<a href="mailto:maclarenlodge@wildblue.net">maclarenlodge@wildblue.net</a></div>
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and our phone number has changed to:</div>
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(907) 269-4370</div>
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While we are out, we will be house sitting a place in Fairbanks.<br />Alan will be back in a truck for a couple of months and I will be working on the computer and keeping in touch with everyone. </div>
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While in Fairbanks our phone number will be</div>
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(907) 322-6632 </div>
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When we reopen in February for the Denali Doubles Sled Dog Race. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-31198216191616817922012-09-23T13:35:00.001-07:002012-09-23T13:35:15.687-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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FALL HAS ARRIVED!</div>
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THE FLOODING WHERE THE MALCAREN AND THE MACLAREN LAKE HAVE BECOME ONE!</div>
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SUNRISE AFTER THE STORM!</div>
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The season is winding down quickly. Hunting season is over and hopefully the terrible wind storms and more rain are done for a bit. The flooding did very little if any damage. The roof has been put back on the Fox Den between wind storms! </div>
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All the staff is leaving this week. Belynda heads out next weekend.</div>
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Bre and Meg head to Anchorage on Thursday, from there they are going to check Hawaii (Maui) out. Who knows where they will go from there?</div>
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They have scrubbed the lodge down from top to bottom, all the rooms and cabins have been "super" cleaned and things are ready to pack up. </div>
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Our new Caretaker, Matt will arrive this weekend. </div>
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October will be a work month. Our firewood has been delivered and the buildings need to be shut down one by one. Winter clean up of the property, prepare snowmachines, leaving everything set up for the reopening the 1st part of Feb.</div>
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We will still be on line, just like always, and will be taking reservations for this spring and next summer. The phone number will be transfered to our cell phone so we will always be in touch!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AqrVoOXKnl8/UEtWEKZ-EZI/AAAAAAAAAfU/_LPxuHg8y5A/s1600/IMG_0287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AqrVoOXKnl8/UEtWEKZ-EZI/AAAAAAAAAfU/_LPxuHg8y5A/s320/IMG_0287.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fall has arrived in the Maclaren Valley</div>
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Along with hunting season and the horses!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aYsEeoepnlY/UEtWlFlIeVI/AAAAAAAAAfo/N9L264y-KF8/s1600/IMG_0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aYsEeoepnlY/UEtWlFlIeVI/AAAAAAAAAfo/N9L264y-KF8/s320/IMG_0272.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And Alan now is a Sport Pilot</div>
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His pride and joy!</div>
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The season is winding down quickly around here. Hunting season is in full swing, hunters everywhere! It is great to see so many friends again. the weather has been a bit on the chilly side, and rainy. Today it is clearing and looking like a beautiful day!</div>
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Wow the summer went fast! Thank you to our Great Staff for a job well done!</div>
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Just a couple of more weeks and the season will wind down and each will go their own way. But they will always have this experience of working the summer at Maclaren River Lodge! </div>
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This year, we will be closing down the lodge for the "slow" months.</div>
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November, December and January. We will have a caretaker here to cover everything. Matt is a wonderful and very capable person...after working the summer season is looking forward to some solitude! </div>
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We will still be around...and keeping everyone up to date.</div>
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Susie & Alan</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-30501423634620444142012-07-31T07:51:00.003-07:002012-07-31T07:51:47.126-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XcL7P02VrmQ/UBfvYEhmPBI/AAAAAAAAAco/tV0gww_eu9c/s1600/IMG_0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XcL7P02VrmQ/UBfvYEhmPBI/AAAAAAAAAco/tV0gww_eu9c/s320/IMG_0240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The summer here at Maclaren is rolling right along.</div>
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We are still serving Princess buses for lunch and have plenty of groups that have choosen us for their camping needs. It is hard to believe hunting season starts this week! The "summer" has gone by quickly. I believe we had maybe 10 days of warm weather, the rest is rain and rain and thunderstorms, showers, and just chilly!</div>
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Even with the uncooperative weather this summer, the crew here has carried on with stellar performance! </div>
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HOOORAAAHH!</div>
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Start of a new season!</div>
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Spring is here and the snow is finally melting. </div>
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The Maclaren River finally broke open on the 17th of May.</div>
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Now we are in full swing with the Princess/Holland America Tours for lunch. </div>
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Our staff decided we would have an impromptu pizza party!</div>
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Our wonderful Staff this year consists of:</div>
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Megan, our one year Veteran of Lodge work.</div>
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Breanne, our Newby, she has been here for a whole week.</div>
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Emily, our youngest member is here making some money because she is preparing for her student exchange to Italy in the fall! How exciting is that!</div>
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Belynda, she is a cleaning wiz as well as our "cheerleader". </div>
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All of us are looking forward to a great summer season.</div>
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Meg, Bre, Emily & Susie<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HyuEhQy5Tls/T8ejS8kHmcI/AAAAAAAAAcY/iMdiVNESCTo/s1600/IMG_0228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HyuEhQy5Tls/T8ejS8kHmcI/AAAAAAAAAcY/iMdiVNESCTo/s320/IMG_0228.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Meg, Belynda, Emily & Susie<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-19656949547629896642012-03-23T08:50:00.001-07:002012-03-23T08:50:14.164-07:00Ride of your Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sKWYx4jU3qE/T2yRxDdvxiI/AAAAAAAAAZg/QX6Qji6PRzQ/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sKWYx4jU3qE/T2yRxDdvxiI/AAAAAAAAAZg/QX6Qji6PRzQ/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Never Ending Fields of Powder!</div>
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Everyone that is out riding has found that no matter where you go, no matter how many people you think has already been there: you can still find unendless fields of the perfect powder for riding. The snow has the perfect base. As you can see in the photo, they are riding on 10 feet or more of snow. </div>
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Although the temperatures have been chilly in the morning, afternoons are perfect for riding. Just stay out of the avalanche zones. The experienced riders are avoiding the mountains this year. There is plenty of riding without putting anyone's life in danger on the heavy loaded mountains!</div>
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“Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms, you would never see the beauty of their carvings.”</div>
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<strong>Elisabeth Kubler-Ross</strong></div>
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Top of the Drift!</div>
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Snow, Snow & more Snow</div>
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Looks like it is time for Spring Riding around here!</div>
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The snow keeps piling up and laying in folds of white.</div>
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Snow machine tracks criss cross the fields of white from the early riders.</div>
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Time for Spring Break and the fun begins, there will be riders out everywhere and the occasional dog musher. Most of the mushers right now are concentrated on the Iditarod. </div>
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Be aware of the moose on the trails. Moose are having a rough time this year with the amount of snow we have. They like to be in the trail because it is much easier going for them and at times refuse to give up the trail for the snow machines and mushers. We have had a couple of incidents already, so just be cautious!</div>
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Another danger is avalanche areas! All this snow is piled layer upon layer creating the perfect scenario for disaster! Be careful and pay attention to potential avalanche areas. </div>
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Trails are being groomed and prepared for influx of riders.</div>
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Keep the white below you the blue above you and all the goodies in the middle!</div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-31023342673003809102012-02-15T11:03:00.001-08:002012-02-15T11:03:55.839-08:00Febuary<div>
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It is hard to believe it is already the middle of February. Wow, time is flying by. We have gotten past the extreme cold spell, so glad about that. This winter we have had more wind than ever, certainly more than we are used to. It seems every time Alan went out in the groomer, a blizzard would hit and be blowing the trail in behind him. It has been frustrating to say the least. I am not talking about mild little breezes, I am talking about 30 + mph winds. We have plenty of snow which usually softens the landscape rounding out the landscape, but the wind has created harsh edges on the winter landscape.</div>
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Now the temperatures are moderate, in the 20's. Last night was the first night that we have had really nice Aurora here, lately it has been too cloudy for us to see them. Even as I strolled around the lodge this morning the lights were still glowing faintly in the star filled sky. Standing outside in the early morning, breathing in the crisp clean air, watching the aurora and sipping a nice cup of coffee...life is good. </div>
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Alpine Glow on the Alaska Range</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tugevqohEqY/TzwAfTHu_TI/AAAAAAAAAGA/3r3ZiUrriBo/s1600/IMG_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tugevqohEqY/TzwAfTHu_TI/AAAAAAAAAGA/3r3ZiUrriBo/s320/IMG_0023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sunset over the Maclaren Valley</div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-21041761652569357082012-01-22T10:51:00.000-08:002012-01-22T10:51:58.487-08:00Video Clip<div class="UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_MED_Content fsm fwn fcg">
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<strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DbR2Vi7TmW2I%26feature%3Dshare&h=FAQHJt9FMAQHbe_soycGBO2UMJim7EMtsII1J7Ntb6xTLGg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Denali Hwy Grooming.mov</a></strong> </div>
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Check out the movie clip Alan has made! </div>
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Things have been quiet around here due to the extreme cold weather we have been having. We have gone from snow, snow, snow to cold, cold, cold!</div>
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Having the cold weather sure has made for some beautiful clear days and crystal nights.</div>
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The temperatures are beginning to climb a bit today, all the way up to -6 already today! Clouds are moving in and looks like we might get a bit more snow. </div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-30624539208847999022012-01-10T10:57:00.000-08:002012-01-10T10:57:53.520-08:00Alaska Weather!Wow, the weather here has really kept us on our toes this year! Warm temperatures with a ton of snow, to high winds, to beautiful blue bird days! Then the temperatures will drop to -39 and immediately climb back to 0. <br />
We have been digging out, grooming like crazy to turn around and do it all over again.<br />
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Here is the latest from the Denali Highway Trail Club:<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Hello Everyone,<br /> I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years. We had a nice quite Christmas and a great New Years with plenty of fireworks, bonfire and lots of good friends.<br /> The groomer has been up and running since late Nov, aand is running like a charm. which is a good thing since we have had our work cut out for us this year.<br /> We are getting more snow out here on the Denali Hwy, then I’ve seen in 11 years. I am loving it.<br /> However with the great snow year that we’re having, we are also getting a lot of wind. Which makes it pretty difficult to keep up with the trails.<br /> 80 miles of the Denali Hwy have been groomed at least once, and some of it has been groomed twice to three times.<br /> We have not gone past the Su bridge at 80 mile because the construction crew that is cleaning up the F-22 crash site will be coming in to the Su on the 16<sup>th</sup> of Jan. As soon as they are done, I will be heading that way to groom that section as well.<br /> Maclaren River Road Trail is in, as well as Seven Mile Lake Trail.<br /> We have received a lot of fresh snow and wind since these two trails were groomed so they will have some drifting on them.<br /> The Maclaren River Trail has some water crossings that you should be looking for but these will all be marked this week.<br /> Seven Mile Trail also has a small water crossing that will be marked as well.<br /> If you are coming in from the Paxson side of the Denali Hwy, we now have a shelter building on top of 13 mile hill. Everyone is welcome to use it to get out of the wind or just warm up for a minute. There is NO heat in this building, just a place to get out of the wind.<br /><br /> For those of you that want to keep up with what’s going on with the Denali Hwy Trail Club, look us up and like us on Facebook. We are adding more pictures and info all the time on there.<br /> Also the Denali Hwy Trail Club is looking for a volunteer to keep up with all of the membership dues each year. I know some of you have asked and we really need a better system for keeping track of this. Anyone interested in helping, please contact Alan at <a href="mailto:denalihwytrailclub@starband.net" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">denalihwytrailclub@starband.net</a> or 907-822-5444<br /> <br /> If you own a snowmachine, you really need to make an effort to get out this year and play. The snow really is FANTASTIC!!!!<br /> <br /> Remember, please be careful and look out for each other.<br /> <br /> Alan Echols</span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-32691580040498473122012-01-01T08:37:00.000-08:002012-01-01T08:37:47.190-08:002012!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong><em>HAPPY NEW YEAR!</em></strong></span></div>
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We had a wonderful time welcoming in the New Year.</div>
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2012 is gonna be great and we look forward to good things to come.</div>
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We spent the evening with good friends and a really hot bonfire. </div>
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The temperature was -5 and no wind, </div>
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perfect for a bonfire and champange toast at midnight </div>
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with fireworks over the valley. </div>
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Ahh, it just doesn't get better than this!</div>
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A rare shot of the mountains, it has been cloudy and snowy almost every day.</div>
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Shadow Dogs...Heidi was able to get this photo when she came in over the holidays.</div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-11103554559428910952011-12-20T13:10:00.000-08:002011-12-20T13:10:47.017-08:00MERRY CHRISTMAS!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Merry Christmas</div>
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From our house to yours!</div>
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The Lodge is decorated for Christmas!</div>
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With all this new snow we have, we are expecting a banner snow machine season.</div>
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We went to Fairbanks to do some Christmas shopping and broke trail all the way.</div>
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Coming home, we once again had to break trail. From 3 - 4 mile we were lead by 2 moose that I am sure believed the trail was theirs! Finally they decided they would get off the trail and let us pass. Past Rock Creek, once again, there were fresh moose tracks right down the old trail. In High Valley, the wind had blown just enough to disguise our old tracks but not put giant drifts across the trail. Once we crested the Maclaren Summit, we had to side hill about 20 feet, then it flattened out and it was smooth sailing the rest of the way in.</div>
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Alan plans on getting some grooming completed once it quits snowing. The trail from Paxson to Maclaren will be groomed for the Christmas rush and then for the New Year's celebration.</div>
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Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!</div>
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Alan & Susie</div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-7364234127761765032011-12-08T08:01:00.001-08:002011-12-08T09:00:22.340-08:00Maclaren SnowWe have been loving this warmer weather with all the snow. The wind could stay away though. <br />
Since I last posted we have gotten about 2 feet of fresh snow. The first foot of snow was blown around and then it warmed up and in one day we had....snow/sleet/rain/sleet/snow and topped that off with 25 mph wind. What a slick mess that was! Alan did get out and groom a bit, only to have another snow storm come through with some more wind. <br />
Yesterday it started snowing again and really dumped the snow on us, we got over a foot of the most beautiful snow you have ever seen!!!!! The warm weather put a nice crust on the snow and now with this fresh powder, WOW the riding will be awesome! <br />
Alan & Megan went out snow machining last night, went to the West Fork of the Maclaren, they were only gone for 45 minutes to an hour, no trail left on their way home......it was really snowing that hard, and a bit of wind (4-5 mph). <br />
Bandit and Jackson are loving this, they went out with Megan skiing. Of course they put on 2 miles to her one. <br />
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Several trail breakers for mushers are here, breaking trail for the dogs. We have 3 teams coming in this morning to spend a couple of days training. According to the trail breakers, they have been pushing snow all night long. I bet they are exausted, but that is ok, I have a big pot of chili going and home made bread made. They will not go hungry! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-70653869974845003362011-11-27T09:27:00.001-08:002011-11-27T22:00:29.729-08:00Cold ThanksgivingThe temperatures are finally beginning to climb a bit. When I came in the lodge this morning, it was already up to -7. We are supposed to get a warming trend by Wednesday with a possible 40 degree rise in temperatures.......Yah, right! If that happens we certainly hope we get a lot of snow with that!<br />
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Jackson on his -22 degree walk<br />
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Megan enjoying the winter<br />
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Frosty Bandit<br />
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Thanksgiving was pretty quiet, well at -30 we did not really expect a lot of folks to show. Friday the temperatures here were clear up to +10 then dropped drastically back to -22 where it stayed until last night. At least I will not have to cook for the next week (or two) because of all the leftovers. <br />
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Alan has the trail groomed from Tangle Lakes to Maclaren, all those nasty wind drifts are gone now.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-49845033353301529892011-11-18T11:12:00.001-08:002011-11-18T19:21:48.290-08:00News from MaclarenSitting here in the Lodge, looking at the mountains glowing pink with the sunrise. It is not windy today which is a good thing today since it is -30! We rode in last night from Paxson and the "trail" is back to bare pavement from the wind. Once we got past Tangle Lakes there was snow on the trail, however the drifts became a challenge. Alan will be out grooming tomorrow to smooth out the trail and you can get fresh trail reports on the Denali Highway Trail Club facebook page. <br />
I just spent 15 days in West Virginia and went from +70 to -30, burrrrrr! Only a 100 degree temperature change! But from seeing the temps from around the state, we are apparently lucky it is not -54 like in Manley Hot Springs or -49 like in North Pole!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-64920509782184225712011-10-29T09:36:00.000-07:002011-10-29T09:36:27.860-07:00ConditionsThe temperatures are beginning to drop to the winter level....today it is 0 degrees. We have not gotten more snow, but the weather looks like we will get some more by the end of the weekend....let's just see how that works out! As of now, the snow is deep enough to cover the old ruts and there is just a set of ruts in the Denali Highway. A nice wind storm will fill these ruts in. If there is one more good snowfall the Denali Highway will be closed.<br />
Although from Paxson the road is bare the wind can be terrible in the 9-15 mile area. This year, the Denali Highway Trail Club has placed an Emergency Shelter at the pull out at 13 mile. A place to get out of the wind for a bit and regroup physically and mentally or to us in an Emergency situation to "hole up" in through the storm.<br />
We are so excited to see what the winter season holds. Winter is definitely our favorite time of year, and although it can be hard at times, there is something special about this country and all the changes it goes through during the winter. Of coarse we're hoping for a good snow year, as that sure helps with the business.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-24311115652345020652011-10-25T08:13:00.000-07:002011-10-25T08:13:09.901-07:00SNOW!!Winter is really here! This morning we are having 40 MPH winds and 35 degrees. What this means is the 6 inches of nice fluffy snow we got yesterday is turning to mush. :( People have been driving the Denali Highway (still), always pushing it to the limit. The road is slick and rutted out from the traffic, and with a good foot of snow from 36 mile to 26 mile the wind is really going to play havoc.<br />
Now that being said, We are the ones that are pushing it to the end. We still have our pickup in here and will be trying to get it out today.<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304952010144664054.post-4758374505536142622011-10-21T11:12:00.001-07:002011-10-21T11:47:48.283-07:00Beginning of WinterThe quiet of the Maclaren Valley settles in. A bit of snow on the ground here at the Lodge and more on the Maclaren Summit (about 8 inches or so). It will not be long now that there will be enough snow to close the highway and then the winter fun begins! <br />
Today is the first day of the re-opening of caribou season, with only approximately 300 permits to be filled, this should go quickly. Already there have been several vehicles on the Denali Highway, out for the last hunt of the season. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0