Aloha Christmas

This year Christmas in the Loveridge household came a little bit early. We tend to do things a lot more off the beaten path than most people, and this is how we like it. We had such a blast last year in Hawaii that we couldn’t resist going back. I think everyone in our family agrees that this might be a tradition that will stick. Forget all of the holiday madness that most people deal with; we have opted to do away with gifts (for the most part) and spend time hanging out somewhere awesome, with family instead!

We spent eleven days in Hawaii, and if anyone thought there would be time to sleep in, or lie around and be lazy….they would be sorely mistaken. We had things to see and do from the minute we stepped out of the airport, starting with Costco dogs. For anyone who knows Mike and Dan Loveridge, they would know that these two brothers have a special talent for building great adventure plans and finding the unknown hidden treasures, when it comes to entertainment and finding original and memorable things to do.

A lot of our time was spent watching surf competitions, one of which is the rare, BIG wave, Eddie Aikau competition. This is rare because the conditions have to be perfect, and the waves have to be monstrous for this event to even go down. On average, these stellar conditions only occur about every seven years or so in Waimea bay, and this year it was on! Soooo for the first two days of our “vacation”, we were up at 4:45am to witness the Eddie, and it was well worth it! It is awe inspiring to see men on surfboards drop off of 40 foot waves, some even in the 60 foot range.

After the Eddie, which lasted one day (the first day was a no go), the Pipe Masters was on. More big waves, and more jaw dropping action. A huge part of Pipe Masters is seeing how much free schwag we come away with, and this year it wasn’t easy but Creighton and Karac rocked it. 60+ cans of Rock Star (for Dan of course), 30 Rock Star and Vans hats, 10 pairs of sunglasses, shirts, wallets, stickers, and the list goes on! Each of the boys even brought home half of a broken surf board from pro’s surfing in the competition. The best part of it was knowing that while we were on the beach in about 85 degree weather, it was a bone chilling 9 degrees at home.

We also got to go on a few amazing hikes, and hiking in jungle has such a different flavor than what we are used to, which made it all the more adventurous. Mike, Jonna, and I did the infamous Stairway to Heaven which consists of somewhere around 3,992 steps up the side of one of Hawaii’s steep mountains. It is a little bit of a rush because it is not open for public use because of the dangerous conditions, so you have to sneak in early before the guard gets there, and you do some serious bush whacking and scaling tall fences topped with barbed wire, that stand atop a very good sized ledge (some may call it a cliff), just to start the ascent.

"The stairway was originally built for the U.S. Coast Guard to allow access to the LORAN radio antenna on the top of the mountain. But the later termination of Omega Station operations also led to the cessation of stair maintenance. Because of this, the stairs became terribly worn and dangerous. So the state later officially closed the stairs to the public in 1987."

We spent some time snorkeling at Sharks Cove, swimming in some smaller waves at Waimea bay (which is the boys favorite swim spot). We also had to pay our respects to the buffet at the PC along with seeing the IMAX and catching a couple of mini shows that are put on during the day. The PC (Polynesian Cultural Center) and Pearl Harbor, ended up being about the only touristy thing we did. We didn’t leave the North Shore but once, and we didn’t regret it.

Hawaii is always a good time, but hanging out with Dan, Jonna, and little B, made it that much better. They made sure we had everything we needed, to have the best time possible, and that we did. B worked especially hard making sure we were constantly entertained when we were at the house or in the car. She is a riot, and we really miss her sweet little smile and silly personality. We covered so much ground in the span of our eleven days in Oahu that writing every detail would take pages, so I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story.

Whiplash

We have been back from Alaska for about a month and a half now and since the minute we set foot on Utah soil, up until not too long ago, life had been hectic, to say the least. We had quite a few first priorities, from the moment we got back and one was to find a house in Cedar Hills for rent. It took awhile to find exactly what we were looking for, but after some patience and persistence we found the right home, in the right spot, for the right price.

Between a move, Mike working 40+ hours a week, me in school full time and working at the hospital again every other weekend, kids in school, and a dog that seems to always be starved for attention, we have been swamped. Swamped=no time to do anything cool. ;( I definitely miss the days when Mike and I had such flexible schedules that we could take off whenever we wanted, do things like go camping any day of the week, ski three times a week…..well anyway we did find some time for a couple of cool activities this last week.

We went on a quick overnight camping trip, and got to enjoy the beauty of the fall leaves. It was good to get away for the night and be out in nature again, everything in the mountains is so colorful right now. Friday we had another great opportunity, and that was to do the human sling shot, at a friend of Mike’s who lives up Hobble Creek Canyon. I’m not sure I have the words to describe it; all I know is that when we got there and saw the contraption, my heart sank into my stomach. I had to go first, and as it turns out, it was such a rush and soooo much fun!

Yeeeehaaaa!

It has been a while since we have done anything cool enough to share with anyone, or even had any reason to bust out the camera. Now thanks to a couple of days off from work and school, we have had a chance to do some fun things that are worthy of a spot on our blog! The pic's aren't ready yet, and the story would mean nothing without any visual, so stay tuned, you won't want to miss this one.....I really wonder if anyone reads our blog, but for the sake of imagination, i'll share it anyway because this was just way too fun!

Kennicott Ghost Town

I love ghost towns. There is something about the odor of decaying wood, rusty tools, and the damp musty scents of Mother Nature creeping in and reclaiming a space that man once thought he had conquered. Kennicott ghost town in Alaska is my favorite because it’s grand in scope, (the mill building is 14 stories high), and it is remote.

We faced a few obstacles getting there: Caiya ripped off a toe nail chasing a rabbit on the drive up. The road into Kennicott starts in the middle of nowhere, the pavement ends, and the road continues even further into nowhere on dirt thrown on top of old railroad tracks into the heart of the monstrous Wrangell / St. Elias range. Several forest fires raged nearby. The weather decided to rain, because we were camping. I forgot the Cola. And, there was plenty of fresh bear scat on the trail to our camp spot overlooking the massive Root Glacier. (We know how scared Kristen is of running into a bear.)

The beauty of this place is that one can get hit with obstacle after obstacle, but the magic of old Kennicott is turned up so loud that nothing can come close to drowning it out. This magic held true for the first settlers of the town as it does today.

The buildings in Kennicott seem to be falling apart rapidly. This place won’t be around forever.

See it while you can.

Below, is a snippet on the history of Kennicott, AK, from the state park website…
“Few stories in the history of commerce can compare: In the summer of 1900, two prospectors exploring deep in the wilderness see magnificent green cliffs perched high on a mountainside. Climbing closer, they stumble upon the richest copper vein ever found.

“It doesn't take long for two of America's wealthiest families, the Morgans and Guggenheims, to sniff out the wealth potential. They buy the rights and build 196 miles of private railroad to get the copper out. When the mine opens in 1911, they employ 600 miners and build a wilderness city, complete with a hospital, general store, schoolhouse, baseball field, skating rink, tennis court, recreation hall, and dairy.

“The mine buzzes with activity for 37 years, when the Depression hits and the price of copper crashes. One November day in 1938, the last trainload of miners chugs away for good, leaving the Kennicott mine standing quietly in the wilderness. Over the next half-century, more and more visitors find their way to the ghost town where buildings still stand, complete with the miners' work papers and tools. But it wasn't until 1998 that the National Park Service purchased the property and made it officially open for visitors.”

The Pilgrimage

Last week with Dan, Jonna and lil’ B came and went so fast! It’s a good thing we have pic’s to remind us of the events that transpired because it seems like a distant memory now. Other than the flight over Denali we went on a scenic boat ride, hike/canoed to a couple of rustic cabins, went to the wild animal park, hit the skate park…and ate! Our once crowded trailer seems so big and lonely now. Thanks Dan and Jonna for being such good roommates and hanging in there.

The next adventure for us was the big pilgrimage to Child’s Glacier. A bit of an undertaking as we had to ferry ourselves and our truck and camping gear 2.5 hrs from Valdez to Cordova. We would have loved Mike’s parents to join us, but come to find out Mike’s dad has “glacier fatigue.” (The truth of it, more likely than not, is that they needed a break from us and who can blame them?) Anyhow, Child’s Glacier is a 300ft high sight to behold especially when you are viewing the mass from only 1200 feet away. It’s has been like an addiction, that even the constant 2 days of rain could not tear us away from, for the time we’ve been here to just sit and watch the calving, and hearing the sonic boom as the ice hit’s the water and the atomic bomb like splash. The constant cracking is more powerful than thunder and if we blink or turn and walk away, we might miss something. The hassle of this little side trip was worth every minute and Mike and I both agree Denali is still the mother of all, but this is a close second!

Best Day Ever!!

The saying supposedly goes that everything is bigger in Texas, but as I have come to find out someone is mistaken and it’s all really much bigger in Alaska. Bugs of all kinds are WAY bigger (mosquito’s and dragon flies in particular), the animals, and the mountains. A little note: your wallet better be bigger too… (Things are a little more costly!)

We have seen a lot of amazing wonders thus far in our travels and they all have had an enormous impact on us (the photo’s are amazing, but will never truly tell the whole story); however one place we visited seems to be the mother of all. In short we along with Mike’s parents, brother Dan and his wife Jonna, (who met us here for a week from Hawaii), chartered an 8-seater plane to take us to the summit of Mt. McKinley better known as Denali. Denali is the largest mountain in North America (over 20,000 ft. tall), it rises 18,000 ft. out of the tundra which gives a view of 18,000 vertical feet of mountain. Just as a comparison, all you see of Everest is 11,000 ft. It is also considered to be the coldest mountain in the world (it was -20 degrees on the summit on the beautiful sunny day, in the most perfect conditions, in July when we flew over). It is massive, awe inspiring, and the most amazing sight to behold. We got to spend over an hour flying less than 1 mile away from the mountain and the whole Alaska Range. All I can say is that I don’t think we ever realize how small and minute we really are in the scope of the earth we live upon, until we witness something that puts us in our place.

Not Top of the Food Chain

I never remembered the drive to Alaska being so long, or the road being so warped. If it wasn’t so beautiful and wild… why would anyone make the effort? Humans intact. Truck #2 intact. Travel trailer intact, (though I thought it was going to launch off the back of the truck several times.)

A couple nights ago we were camped in Stewart, BC under some tall pines, next to a small river. The fire was crackling. Between the trance of the flames and swatting mosquitoes, everyone was occupied. Then, we noticed a wolf quietly watching us from across the river, not 30 feet away. Was it sizing up Caiya, (our dog), in hopes of a meal should we leave our mutt unattended?

The wolf and other animals along the road kept us entertained. It’s a rush to be in situations where you aren’t the top of the food chain.

Our favorite ‘sighting’ was a fox who approached us in the middle of nowhere and spent a few minutes being our buddy. (See the photo, above).

We made it to the Anchorage area yesterday.

Out with the old…on with the new

It’s always hard leaving behind those you have become attached to and moving forward; however, when forward means leaving Winnemucca it’s not as hard as one would think. Winnemucca is a place in the world that most people pass on their way somewhere else and that is all they know about it. Our family has become very familiar with this vintage town, and now it is the resting place of an old friend, and the keeper of our hearts… (Ok that might be pushing it). Yes “old reliable” come to find out wasn’t so reliable…our 93 Chevy truck is dead with 2 blown cylinders. Most people would turn around and return home defeated after 5 days stranded in such a city, but not us. We drew strength from something most would chalk down as a tragedy and have persevered. I don’t want to leave the impression that Winnemucca is a horrible place, we embraced it and with a little help from Honks (the dollar store) we dominated. The city skate park, cemetery, mammoth bones, and Neanderthal skulls are just a few hidden jewels!

With a new ride we left the past behind. As we sit here tonight singing songs around the camp fire in the Jedediah Smith redwood forest, we realize we have so little time to see so much, and the big AK waits.

We want to send a shout out to: Dave and Joyce for showing us how it’s done in Minnesota, Jim and Kathryn, Rick and Alicia and the rest of the West Coast Loveridge crew, Grandpa Fox, Donna and Carl, and Dave Ean for hooking us up with a great deal on our new ride (05’ Toyota Tundra).

Crap Talk

Several months ago Mike did some research and found an awesome way to kick off Summer Tour 2009; a world class backpacking trip in Paria Canyon. Mike’s parents (Carl and Donna), the boys (Creighton and Karac), the dog (Kaiya now known as Caiya per her request), and myself (Kristen) all on our own free will decided we were in on the trip. Paria is a slot canyon that starts south of Kanab, UT and ends 38 miles later at Lee’s Ferry AZ where the Paria River joins with the Colorado. It is the longest continually narrow canyon hike in the world, and the most beautiful!

When you think about it or even talk about it while sitting in the comfort of your home, 5 days to hike 38 miles doesn’t sound bad; actually, it sounds quite nice if that’s all you take into consideration… Here’s how it went…

We get to point A and meet up with Mike’s parents. Partially delayed by weather conditions we set off Monday evening, backpack’s loaded; spirits high. Day one of an adventure is the most magical. Everyone is so naive, fresh, energized and full of excitement. Going in to this adventure we all knew two things….1. The conditions were going to be a little different than we had planned for because of a flash flood that had ravaged its way through the canyon a day or two earlier, and 2. We were going to be carrying our own poo around for 5 days, which for the most part ended up the main topic of conversation. Reader, think about it…. It’s something we all do. I don’t care who you are, you do it, but for some reason when it’s in a bag swinging around from your backpack, you’re better off talking about it, than pretending like it doesn’t exist. Take note of the white bags in the pic’s;)

 That said… we had great time, the boys did awesome (I was really worried about them making it), the dog was in a 5 day state of bliss, and the rest of us endured to the end. We made it out Friday morning dirty, reeking, tired, but with a feeling of immeasurable accomplishment. It was a lot more difficult than I thought, but very rewarding, as it is something most people would not choose to do. I’m thankful for a man that likes to take the road less traveled; we get to see and do some amazing things and enjoy new experiences that make us better people and a lot more grateful for everything.

We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us!

So...we call it the brown turd, and for good reason. As you can see this vehicle is not easy on the eyes, but it's what is on the inside that counts. This 21'or longer beast represents a summer of fun and adventure! We are so excited about our coming plans, and as we may not be traveling in style, I guarantee we will be having more fun than you! That's not very nice of me to speak the truth so bluntly, but anyone who wants to join in at any time is welcome to! Our plan is to head north through Canada, up and over to Alaska, and then make our way home on the northwest coast. Mike has already began the grueling task of putting together our itinerary, and now we will begin shopping, packing and all the fun that comes with leaving behind the hum drum of everyday life, bidding adieu to the house, family, friends, and work, for almost 3 months, to venture off into the great outdoors. Wow seems like a long trip, but with everywhere we wanted to go, we had to cut things out because we don't have long enough. The fun begins on May 29, 2009 so stay tuned in... as for now, we're just working away getting things dialed in. Oh and another thing, we do realize that we are doing something that people only dream of or talk about, or would just say is plain crazy. We are very thankful for the opportunity we have to do this and know how blessed we are to have such an awesome life!

Still early in the season

So here it is mid February and we're itching to get out of the house. A. because we love to explore new places, and B. the kids had school off for presidents day, and who wants to be trapped in the house with two bored kids for the weekend? Not us, so my wise husband began researching some places of interest for a family getaway and came up with Red Rock. Everywhere else we would have liked to go, was inaccessible because of snow, so we packed up and headed for Nevada. All in all it was a great trip and everyone enjoyed themselves, we got to see my dad, explore a place unknown to us, brave a midnight downpour, and go to church as bums in a little chapel that looked like a mini temple. Not too bad for a weekend getaway.

Close to home

When we aren't doing big trips, we love to just play in our back yard. There is so much to do right here in Utah, and so camping as often as possible, exploring our immediate surroundings, overnighters, and 2-3 day road trips are what we love to do. Unlike most people, weather is seldom an issue that would keep us indoors. Winter camping takes some getting used to, but we have done it a couple times and have to say it's all right.
Creighton and Karac are still adjusting to the learning how to pack, carry, and set up all of your own stuff concept, but they are doing it, and are getting better and better at it! We are determined to get the gear part of camping down to a science so that as time goes on, our outings will become less of a production and more second nature to all.
Here are a few of the hikes, campouts, rivers rafted and other random outings we have done over the past year. And now that I have posted all of the past stuff we have done and gotten everyone up to date, I can go into much more detail about our trips and events that are going to unfold for 09. There are huge surprises in store for the year so stay tuned, you won't want to miss!

Summer trippin 2008

Here it is February however,I have to post all of the fun things we did last summer for those who didn't get to see photo's, hear about the trips exc... We did so many cool things and saw so many beautiful places in 2008! It's a mind blower because we took more trips in the span of less than a year, than a lot of people take in their whole lives. I realize how blessed we are for those opportunities, and how thankful I am for such a blessed life. Traveling is such a huge part of life and the more we do it, I feel it strengthens bonds spiritually with God, as a married couple, and as a family.
Mike and I went to Italy at the end of July, which was amazing. There was so much to see and do that it would have taken months, and we only had ten days. After returning from Italy, Mikes parents treated everyone to a week in Oceanside, where I got to finish meeting all of the brothers. The boys had a blast. After Oceanside, Mike went on his own adventure with his dad, and brothers Rick, and Dave on a 10 day bike ride from Teluride Co. to Moab Ut. I was grateful to sit out on that one and just get settled in to life on the hill.
In December we took the boys to Hawaii for Christmas. We had sooo much fun watching the pipe masters comp., playing in the ocean, chillin with Dan and Jonna, and watching mother nature unleash on Laie Hawaii! Yup, we were there for the great flood of 08. Everyone survived, unfortunately there was some destruction.

Here goes.....

I have been thinking about doing this whole blog thing for over a year now, and have to admit as I look at my sister's blog and sister's in law, I get a little overwhelmed. Worrying about what my page looks like reminds me of why I never got into scrap booking, and also why I put this off for over a year now, but I am committed to give it my best effort. My plans were to start this blog last April after Mike and I got back from Guatemala (our honeymoon). Mike as everyone knows takes amazing pic's and we would like to share them, along with all our adventures, with family and friends. We have so much to share just within the past year, and countless other's to come, so please enjoy.....we did!!

From the beginning

Mike and I met on November 26 2006. Let's just say we both agree that sparks and fireworks did not fly upon our first encounter, nevertheless we created our own. I guess it's true though when they say that opposites attract! Along our two year journey, needless to say, wedding bell's rang on April 28, 2008. Here we are creeping up on our first anniversary! We have had up's and downs over time, but thank goodness we only have photo's of the up's.;) It has been a journey of learning about ourselves and one another, compassion, and most importantly evolution. Our lives are about becoming our best selves individually and as a couple. I am thankful for Mike and all of the amazing ways he has opened my eyes to how wonderful life is. A picture is worth a thousand words, and it's the truth. We have done so many fun things and seen such amazing places, so here are some of my fav's....pre-marriage.

We're married....now what?

April 28, 2008 is the day Mike Loveridge got married.... I'm sure there are people that were in utter shock and disbelief..heheh. The day after we got hitched we left for Guatemala, not that I am well traveled as of yet, but I have to say that place is beyond amazing and it holds a special place in my heart. We arrived with no specific destination, just a lonely planet and the spirit of adventure. The country is amazing, the people are most friendly, and I have learned if you want to REALLY see what the world has to offer, the only way to do it is Mike Loveridge style. Now the fireworks start to happen!!;)