Winter in Alaska. There’s nothing quite like it. The crackle-pop of snowy ice beneath boot steps. The crisp briskness of dawn, which gets a metaphoric high-five from that steaming hot cup of strong Alaskan coffee. The unpredictable color palette of a winter sunset, often smudged in haphazard shades of purple and pink. The smoke of a homemade chowder. Silhouettes of snow-covered trees in loyal formation as far as the eye can see.
And now that our kiddos are getting big enough to soak up the winter wonderland that is Alaska during this time of the year, it’s such an absolute joy to share it with them. So, with that same spirit of both joy and sharing, I’d love to also share with you, dear members, some of my top favorite moments from this last week in Alaska with our little family.
Fur Rendezvous (aka Fur Rondy)
So many memories were made during Fur Rendezvous, a winter festival that’s been held in Alaska since 1935. It’s an event during which visitors from the state, nation and world descend on Anchorage every February to join the 12-day festivities that include all varieties of hearty Alaskan shenanigans. Case in point, the Running of the Reindeer, which is exactly what it sounds like — an event where runners tread the snowy tracks right along with a gaggle of reindeer, the crowds in the sidelines giddy with wacky, wintry spirit. For this year’s run, our own teammate Sam, member experience team lead, not only ran with the reindeer, but did so while costumed as a fish! How’s that for spirit?!
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Few things scream Alaska! more than the Iditarod, the famous annual long-distance sled dog race that happens in early March, and historically travels from Anchorage to Nome, during which mushers and a team of dogs cover the distance in 8-15 days or more. The race started in 1973 as an event to test the best sled dog mushers and teams, and over the years evolved into today's highly competitive race and epic Alaskan tradition. This year, we brought the kids to witness the ceremonial start of the race in downtown Anchorage, where we gleefully rooted for the teams of pups.
Makin’ Bacon! — Salmon Bacon, Of Course!
Another immense highlight was not only the revelation that bacon can be made from salmon, but the shared experience of making it with Mandy Dixon, chef and owner at the Tutka Bay Lodge, who was gracious enough to invite us over, show us how it’s done, share her recipe, and be featured in our live cooking event, which you can still watch here. Besides the insights, excellent company and wonderful chats, nothing could have prepared me for the perfectly savory, flavor-forward bites of expertly made salmon bacon (a recipe featured in the Winter issue of Live Better Wild).
The Journey Is the Destination
In Alaska, getting from point A to point B is often as exciting as the destination itself. Sure, you can hop on a small charter plane and get from Anchorage to Homer, where our cabin is located, in about an hour. But then you’d miss the four-hour meandering drive that plays like a cinematic spectacle of wonders from start to finish. You’d miss the odyssey through winding roads, across glacial lakes, in the wintertime a collage of turquoise, white, silver, deep verdant moments and always the endless and ever-changing sky. So, yes, the drives can be long, but they are always worth it.
So there you have it, a Kallenberg family winter snapshot. Cozy and quirky. Just like we like (love!) it.
Live Wild,
Monica
Pictured Above: From upper left corner, clockwise: a closeup of a mountain on a drive from Anchorage to Homer; a strip of salmon bacon straight from the oven of chef Mandy Dixon; a moment during the Running of the Reindeer when Arron and our son rooted for our teammate Sam, who arrived to the finish line dressed as a fish; a plate of sockeye I made using a marinade of dill, turmeric, saffron, lime, garlic, maple syrup and olive oil; a cute shot of our family on a pitstop in the snow; an ice sculpture in Anchorage, part of a competition that happens annually; Arron and I at Bird Creek; Arron and our daughter at our Homer cabin; my favorite of the photos I took on a drive from Homer to Anchorage; a shot of the mountains from above; an exquisite bowl of sablefish ramen that I inhaled at one of my favorite little restaurants on the Homer Spit.
