Walker Lake

Jan 01, 2004

After the new years party last night I was honestly surprized to get a phone call this morning. But it was Jeff Lapp's last day before heading back to Fairbanks, so we had to get in one more ride. We where joined by Nico and 2 friends from Juneau who just picked up new ravs. It was their first trip into walker lake. Finding the trail in is almost more fun than riding the lake, One has to always think about comming back out before dropping down the back side of many hills, picking you path through trees and creeks. trying to remember which way it is.
Then you break through the last of the trees and can see the lake, untracked, waiting....

It was awful cold, the very dry powder would drift up over your hood like a cloud and stick to your eyes freezing them shut. When it's this cold there is something beautiful about the quiet. but you don't sit and talk much, its a bit uncomfortable.

The mountains are cast in a perpetual pink from the low sun, and the lake is forever in a blue cast twilight that makes it look as cold as it is.

There is alot of moisture in the air, which in spite of the thermometer , makes it much colder than indicated. Ice fog on all the trees, the river though flowing fast, is freezing up in a way that it only does when it is very cold. It makes crossing quite seriouse and you don't do any usual 'playing' when crossing.
With the lack of light and the cold, I did not get many photos this trip. Just ride.

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More 2004 Trips

After the new years party last night I was honestly surprized to get a phone call this morning. But it was Jeff Lapp's last day before heading back to Fairbanks, so we had to get in one more ride. We where joined by Nico and 2 friends from Juneau who just picked up new ravs. It was their first trip into walker lake. Finding the trail in is almost more fun than riding the lake, One has to always think about comming back out before dropping down the back side of many hills, picking you path through trees and creeks. trying to remember which way it is. Then you break through the last of the trees and can see the lake, untracked, waiting....
	It was awful cold, the very dry powder would drift up over your hood like a cloud and stick to your eyes freezing them shut. When it's this cold there is something beautiful about the quiet. but you don't sit and talk much, its a bit uncomfortable.
The mountains are cast in a perpetual pink from the low sun, and the lake is forever in a blue cast twilight that makes it look as cold as it is.
	There is alot of moisture in the air, which in spite of the thermometer , makes it much colder than indicated. Ice fog on all the trees, the river though flowing fast, is freezing up in a way that it only does when it is very cold. It makes crossing quite seriouse and you don't do any usual 'playing' when crossing. With the lack of light and the cold, I did not get many photos this trip. Just ride.