Arctic flyers

On winter solstice, my family and I made a spontaneous decision to try out our new Airboards at the Mile-run off Arctic Valley Road. The snow was perfect, temperature great, and everyone miraculously available at the right time.

We took two cars, my front-wheel drive and my brother’s 4 x 4 – mine barely made it. At least we didn’t smell the burning transmission until it was parked. No matter. The fun was worth it.

My eleven-year-old daughter, four-year-old granddaughter, three-month old puppy and I went first. The run is narrow and shoots through a mountain boreal forest. We kept up pretty good speed most of the way, but not so fast the puppy couldn’t catch us – even jumping onboard from time to time. The roller-coaster effect tickled the girls and was easy to take on cushiony sleds. Every once-in-a-while, the hill flattened out and we paddled our way to the next steep grade.

There are other great sled hills I’ve been to around town, around the state for that matter, but none match the extended rush of the Mile-run, and few offer such amazing views, or the prospect of having to maneuver around a pair of moose legs. Plus, it’s so easy to get to. The run is located about 10 miles from downtown Anchorage. Just be sure to take a 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.

Six-minutes later, we met the road again and my brother in his truck, threw the sleds in back and headed up for the next turn. At the end of it all, a bunch of tired, pink cheeks kids and one beat puppy drove down the mountain and faced a solstice sunset over Cook Inlet; red and gold glowing off snowy peaks and bouncing through the frosty trees. It was like marshmallows floating in a hot cup of cocoa – the perfect complement to a perfect day.

My name is Jody Overstreet, and I live a Big Wild Life!™