| by Bonnie Kenyon |
| Chad Reymiller and Julia Coats: When Chad and Julia stopped by this morning they didn’t know they were going to be my first “item” for this issue. These two winter neighbors are good sports, however, and eagerly updated me on their latest cabin-building progress. |
| Not many people in our northern state tackle log construction during the long, cold winter months. Chad is quick to warn others of the manifold challenges that go hand-in-hand with winter building projects! |
| Chad and Julia are more-than-excited to report they have reached a mammoth milestone. Their ridgepole is up and in place. I can’t help but use the adjective “mammoth” because that is the best descriptive word that comes to mind when I see the diameter of their logs! Needless to say, I ask them how many neighbors helped them raise the pole. They said, “Just us!” They were quick to add the two chain hoists they used on each end of the log, took the weight of the project. |
| Although these two very ambitious and diligent young people have done nearly all the work themselves, it is always a blessing to have an expert nearby. According to Chad, a local “logsmith” stopped by and gave them a much-appreciated hand this past week in counseling them on preparing the ridgepole for its final home. |
| They are both extremely excited to say “all log work is done.” The huge pile of logs is finally depleted and Julia’s peeling job is over. |
| WSEN staff photo |
| Chad and Julia celebrate putting the ridgepole in place! |
| Congratulations! Just think, Chad, next winter you can join the guys on those ice-fishing trips and, Julia, you can kick your feet up and enjoy a cup of tea with the ladies!! |
| Brooks, Diane and Ian Ludwig: Speaking of a “cup of tea”...Diane invited a few of us ladies to visit her and Ian. Brooks was gone for a short while on a trip to Delta and she and baby Ian would love to have some company. Lynn, Sarah and Rene Welty and myself snowmachined to the Ludwig’s cabin at Fireweed Mountain Subdivision. It’s about 10 miles from my place. |
| Linda Lohse and her nearby neighbor, Lorelei Haukness, came from Long Lake which is about the same amount of distance. |
| We met Diane’s neighbor, Mark Vail, on the trail who assured us we weren’t lost; in fact, he was busy “grooming” the trail for us. We certainly appreciated his efforts. Because of a recent snowstorm, we thought we might run into portions of windblown trail. |
| We ladies (and Ian) enjoyed the laid-back get together over tea, chocolate chip muffins and other finger food that Diane had waiting for us. |
| Ian is keeping mom and dad quite busy these days due to the exciting milestone of learning to walk. He is doing a wonderful job and seemed to enjoy the challenge of making the rounds to see which lady would offer him a sample of their goodies. (I for one, was a certain pushover!) |
| Thanks for the wonderful time, Diane and Ian. |
| Brooks is due to arrive home in a few days and coming in with him is Diane’s father, Allen Showalter of Anchorage. Although Mr. Showalter has visited the area before, he has not had the privilege of seeing the Ludwig’s cabin. We welcome him to our town and wish him a wonderful time in the Wrangells! |
| Don, Lynn, Sarah and Rene Welty: The Welty family has returned from their vacation trip south. Don reports they had a splendid time visiting his parents, Don and Marge, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida and Lynn’s parents, John and Nancy Burtch, in Xenia, Ohio. While in Florida, he successfully acquired his multi-engine rating, they spent some time on the beach and went canoeing. |
| Ohio was a bit cooler so the activities took on a different look: ice fishing with Lynn’s dad, tobogganing, and bowling. Lynn says this was the first time Sarah and Rene had ever tried their hand at bowling and they did surprisingly well. Sounds like they had a great time with a variety of memories. |
| Since arriving back home, Don has found time to get in a year’s wood supply and Lynn and girls are back in homeschool mode. |
| I am glad to report Shadow (their dog) survived their absence and was well taken care of by Julia and Chad. Sarah and Rene’s pet rabbits managed to thrive in spite of a near lynx attack and my lack of rabbitsitting know-how. Welcome home, Welty family!! |
| Ralph, Linda, Tyee, Teal, and Trae Lohse: Long Lake is home to the Lohse family who always finds things to do no matter what season it is. Linda’s major job is homeschool teacher with Ralph helping out in-between house finishing projects. The three boys sometimes find schoolwork quite challenging. Not because they are not capable students but because of the call of the wild. Now that trapping season is over, the boys are dreaming of more fishing time. Dad is getting pressure to take a desired camping trip to Silver Lake where Tyee is sure the rainbow trout are just waiting for him! |
| Teal is planning the construction of a snow igloo on Long Lake. Trae is keeping tabs on the 3 eagles that pay regular visits to the area. |
| Somehow Linda found time to knit Ralph a hat using Mark Vail’s very own handspun wool yarn. A perfect Valentine’s Day gift. |
| Jim, Jeannie and Aaron Miller: The Millers are home from what sounds like a glorious trip to Hawaii. It seems it is hard not to lose something when traveling and Jeannie was no exception. She pointed out to me that somewhere en route home she lost 80 degrees. That sounds serious! |
| For someone who loves to garden, Jeannie couldn’t help but notice the “year-round gardening” Hawaii affords. They camped for 3 days in the Botanical Gardens. Beautiful? Yes. Any drawbacks? Yes. According to Jeannie, Jim and Aaron had a rough time sleeping due to the noise of the many wild chickens that roam free on the island. Jeannie, who is used to her own flock of chickens, didn’t seem to mind the distraction and managed to sleep through it all. |
| Another “welcome home” is in store for the Miller family! |
| Chris Richards: Chris has been keeping an eye on Kennicott while most all of his neighbors are traveling this winter. A few nights ago our area experienced a real snow/wind storm. According to Chris, Kennicott really saw its share of gusting winds. In fact, he says he considers this storm as a “top wind storm” from the 20 years he has lived here. Snow was drifting in three directions, he reports. Glad to know you are safe and sound, Chris! |
| Keith Rowland: Keith paid the area a short visit recently when he came out to do some work on his property. We are always glad to have one or all of the Rowlands in the neighborhood. Of course, we are especially pleased they chose this area to build their dream home some day and I can’t help but hope that “day” will be sooner than later! |
| Al and Fran Gagnon: When Fran answered the phone today, I was sure to tell her that it wasn’t mail day. Usually I call Al and Fran with any mail day information so Al can meet the mail pilot, Lynn Ellis, at the May Creek mail shack. Today, however, was no mail day but just a social call with items of interest in mind. |
| Fran and Al are doing just fine and enjoying the quiet winter months, even though Fran and I decided we really haven’t had an Alaskan winter this year. Believe me, we aren’t complaining! I guess you’d say we are counting our blessings that the warmer temperatures are bringing us this year. |
| Doran Ward, Roni English and family: When Bekah answered the phone, my first question was immediately answered – are Doran, Roni and family home yet? They got in yesterday, said Bekah, and they had a fun trip. I was glad to hear that! |
| The trip was to Seattle where they spent about a week attending to doctor appointments, etc. (I’m sure Roni had a long list of “to-do’s.”) The drive in on the McCarthy Road was uneventful, although Roni reports that a few of those road glaciers are beginning to take on a slanted look again. |
| Since getting home, Roni says they are seeing plenty of coyote, lynx and wolf tracks in their area. In fact, shortly before they left for Seattle, Bekah and Stephanie received quite a thrill while out on a skiing trip. They saw a wolf about 50' from their trail. The experience made their trip quite an adventure. |
| Glad you all had an enjoyable and profitable trip! Welcome home and back into the winter routine on Fireweed Mountain. |
| Stephanie Peikert: Stephanie took good care of Doran, Roni, Bekah and Adam’s animals and kept their house from freezing. She has chalked up quite a few miles on her skis this winter, making good use of the Ward/English dog Cloudy and Stephanie’s own Keela for what must be her favorite sport – skijouring. It is a 15 mile round trip excursion from the Fireweed Mountain home to the mail shack on McCarthy’s airstrip. So, mail day is a day long venture but one Stephanie must enjoy as she’s made quite a few trips for mail this winter. |
| On one of her more recent trips, Stephanie met up with a moose on the trail. I understand she was extremely glad the two dogs were firmly fastened to her and well in control. Eventually, the animal decided it would give way to Stephanie and team and moved off the trail. I’m sure Stephanie was relieved. |
| Tim Mischel: Usually I don’t have too much trouble locating Tim because his trusty cell phone goes everywhere with him. However, the day I wanted an item of interest from him, the phone wasn’t operating. Then, yesterday at mail he showed up on his snowmachine. He checked his phone and everything appears to be working now. Tim reports all is well with him and he claims this is the warmest McCarthy winter he can remember. |
| Congratulations to Cliff and Jewel Collins on the celebration of their 68th wedding anniversary! |