I keep getting these catalogs featuring women in twirling skirts and sandals. The women have bare shoulders, which is how I can tell they are tan beyond their noses, unlike me.
Whoever sends these catalogs couldn't possibly know that I retrieve them from the mailbox wearing boots while standing in a puddle. Or that the mountains on the horizon appear in 2-D because there is no difference in their color and the slate gray sky. And about the only thing twirling is the billowing hood of my jacket. No sundresses here.
Yes, it's springtime in Alaska again, and by that I mean breakup. I haven't experienced a real breakup in a few years and I'm reminded of what a mess it is as my normal stomping grounds turn into mushy, icy puddles. While the rest of the country revels in that warm, sunny spring feeling, it's hard for me to be motivated to go outside.
Still, the only way to get around spring breakup is (with proper footwear) through it. So here are some ways to get outside even while the outdoors is melting down.
Hiking
What we lack in the pretty pristine snow of deep winter, we make up for in daylight. That means more hours in the day to remind my legs what hiking up and down hills feels like.
My first hike of the year has traditionally been Bird Ridge on Turnagain Arm, which at roughly five miles round trip and a 3,500-foot elevation gain is kind of a horrible thing to do to myself. But after that first time (and the subsequent week when it's difficult to negotiate stairs), it's a good way to kick off hiking season. At the least, as I've figured out in the past, not many other hikes will be as punishing as that straight up and downhill slog.
Then I moved to the Mat-Su and rediscovered the Lazy Mountain trail, which I suppose marks the start of a new tradition. This trail is also straight up (depending on the route you take). The name seems at best tongue-in-cheek, at worst a practical joke. I often think there may be more seasoned hikers hiding in the brush laughing at me as I slowly plod my way 3,000 feet to the top.
Still, the views from both trails are rewarding. A Lazy Mountain bonus is that I can slide down some of it when conditions are right — some people even bring sleds (although I don't trust my heels to dig in fast enough). Having good traction is usually helpful, particularly on popular trails that turn icy under many boots.
Training
Whether you're into just heading outside into the puddles or not, this is a good time of year to consider summer goals. Beyond hiking, there are a host of races happening in the Alaska summer — road race, trail runs, cycling, even backcountry relay races. Spring is a great time to start planning and preparing.
For me, having the accountability of a training schedule on dreary days helps to kick my butt outside and jump-start the mental approach I need for racing.
I remember on my first marathon, the 2014 Midnight Sun race, it poured rain that morning (I'm sure other runners remember that, uh, fondly). If I hadn't experienced poor conditions during training runs leading up to that race, it may have been a tough race. As it was, 26 miles was plenty difficult — it was a marathon — but I didn't have the added worry of being new to running in cold rain.
I remind myself of that when I practically drag myself out into the vast puddle of the outdoors. Cleats firmly on, I hit the icy pavement until I've done whatever I've set out to do. Then, oddly, I feel better. That built-in sense of accomplishment is also part of training.
Friends
When all else fails, I bait myself outdoors.
I set running or hiking dates with friends I haven't caught up with in a while. I see what other things friends are trying outside. Who's paying attention to the crust skiing? Who's taking their children out to jump in some puddles? What trails are still good for fat biking?
This can be a big motivator. If someone else pitches the idea and I set a date, it's harder to bail, especially when I'm happy to see that person. That's especially true when the person is a small child who has no idea the world around them is gross.
This time of year can be rough on me. Where many people see April and think "spring," I think pock-marked snow and fragrant puddles. While I'm happy that we had a good winter, breakup never fails to impress me with its ability to dampen my enthusiasm. I'm pulling out all the tricks to keep getting out there as I wait for the moment. You know that moment. It usually comes in May. Overnight, the world turns green.
Looking outside, I can't even think about it. The slate blues, whites and browns will have to be enough for now.
Alli Harvey is a Palmer-based freelance writer.