Couloir to Stew

The weekend started out with a bang when we found some serious wind at Portage Lake. We spend the frigid afternoon bolting back and forth across the lake insulated in all the down we owned and ice forming to our cheeks. Our campers gave us refuge from the temps and a great place for pizza and beers but because not all furnaces were functional and it was negative 16 we packed up and headed homeward.

 Once back to  the valley we found ourselves in -26 and not looking forwards to the potential of making turns in Hatcher Pass but with the rise of the sun we found the Marmot weather station telling us to skin up our skis and head up to the mountain tops where the temp was approaching 10 ABOVE. We found ourselves on the skin track with 7 tele skiers and only 2 alpine skiers. Even though we have pack of skiers we found fresh powder. As we skied back to our cars and the colder temperatures the figure 8s we made laid pink on the hillside and snuggled in between the ridges of a couloir as the sun set. Yet another successful day in the backcountry and to top it off Moose Stew waiting in the croc pot at home.

Beef  Barley Stew - Croc Pot Style (aka throw it all in)

1 lb beef round, cubed and cooked

5 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp freshly ground pepper

3 ribs celery, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 zucchini, coarsely grated

3/4 cup barley

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp oregano

2 qt beef broth

1 can tomato soup

             Cook on low 6 to 8 hours or on high 4 hours

Sand to Snow

 Over the Holiday break Jeff and I managed to experience the beach at 78 degrees and the snow at -12. There's nothing like 100 degree change in under 6 hours. The family, friends, kiting, skiing and good food made it all worth it.



















Holiday Meal Highlights
Christmas Eve dinner on the patio with the fireplace blazing surrounded by family. We shipped down Alaskan moose, halibut, and cod. We feasted on grilled vegetables, moose sliders, and fish. Nothing like an Alaskan feast in the warmth of the San Diego breeze. Christmas on the sand and  the New Year in the snow.