Two Sundays ago, I was skate-skiing along the Tour of Anchorage trail and enjoying the best race conditions in many years -- a fast and firm snow base, a warm sun, a cool breeze and, by late morning, bluebird skies. It was a postcard-worthy late-winter day in Anchorage and a rare weather win for the often-cursed Tour.
The next day, winter gave way to spring, which gave way to breakup and a weeklong revolving door of snow and rain, freeze and thaw. One week after the Tour, I ran along the Midtown portion of the trail, tiptoeing around slush, balancing over ice patches, trudging through tilled ice and avoiding occasional lumps of brown doggie klister. The Northern Lights Boulevard overpass was mostly dry asphalt. I peeled off my hat and gloves. That afternoon, I walked up to the Bird Ridge Trail head with wind and rain rapping at my back, then turned around toward the parking lot.
So much for spring, right? Welcome to Global Warming Anchorage?
Well, here I am a day later at work, looking out the window at a brilliant blue sky and fresh snow on the mountains. A perfect March day. No doubt the trails are in great shape -- they always are when I'm working.
At this point in the wild season, we just have to smile. It's either smile or sell the skis. Sure, this season's mercury merry-go-round almost broke me. It seemed as if winter never truly took hold, and each time excellent trail conditions settled in, the weather turned really, really warm or really, really cold. December was a disaster. And when we finally had snow, rain turned it to mush and wind turned trails to ice skating rinks.
My psyche didn't fare much better. On those hot days, I avoided the trails, not wanting to damage what little snow remained. Instead of skiing, I'd pout and hit the treadmill. On those cold days, memories of frost-nipped fingers from a stubborn ski outing the previous winter haunted me. Instead of skiing, I'd pout and hit the treadmill.
But on many of those in-between days, I went outside and happily took what was out there -- icy trails, chilling temps and even a few mid winter raindrops. And I was rarely alone. Alaskans who truly live for being outdoors have to approach every season with a make-the-most-of-it attitude, or at least an it-could-always-be-worse attitude.
Sure, every winter we score a few magical moments -- a roll-up-the-sleeves afternoon at Hatcher Pass; perfect crust conditions at our favorite secret ski spot; a fast, fresh and crunchy groom at Kincaid Park; a spectacular sunset and alpenglow show at the top of Spencer Loop. Those moments are special, and rare.
Usually, we wake at ungodly weekend hours to meet friends for subzero runs above Prospect Heights.
We ski on suspect trails, leave behind strands of P-Tex and exchange just-stoked-to-be-out-here nods with other nordic nuts.
We unclip at the base of mountains, our feet having just roasted and frozen on the same outing. We pull on dry socks and look over at the car next to us, where a friend or a stranger is doing the same. We smile. Yeah, that was totally worth it.
And whether this stretch of spring brings short sleeves or extra layers, epic crust or slushy bust, we can't wait to make the most of it.
• Find Play editor Josh Niva online at adn.com/contact/jniva or call 257-4328.
Don't let go yet
Make the most of spring by getting prepared at these Web sites, then warming up for another ski race:
Weather
National Weather Service: pafc.arh.noaa.gov
Weather Underground: www.wunderground.com/US/AK/Anchorage.html
Trail, mountain and ice conditions
Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage: www.anchorage nordicski.com/Trails/grooming update.htm
Cross Country Alaska: www.crosscountryalaska.org/trails/index.php
Alaska Performance Back- country Skiing: crust.outlook alaska.com
Alaska Mountain Forum: www.alaskamountainforum. com/forum/
Alaska Ice Climbing: www. alaskaiceclimbing.com/phpBB2/index.php
Oosik Classic 25- and 50-K
When: Noon Saturday
Where: Fish Lake, near Talkeetna
How much: $50
Oosik Classic 25- and 50-K
When: Noon Saturday
Where: Fish Lake, near Talkeetna
How much: $50
Web: www.anchoragenordic ski.com/Events/oosik.htm
Play outdoors columnist Melissa DeVaughn is off this week. She returns next issue.
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.