While you poor folks are heading into that time of year when you do a slowbake in your helmet, we in the frozen north head into that season called "this winter", as opposed to the other 2 seasons, "last winter" and "next winter". I headed out this morning under clear and cool skies, about 12�ºF or -11�ºC, rode about 30 miles, mostly to get used to the handling of the studded trackmasters on snow and ice. Why yes, it is a bit different, not really any worse than sand, actually I like snow better than sand but we can debate that some other time!
There is a local road that gets enough use to pack down the snow but not so much as to clear it off. This was as good a place as any to get started on the relearning process. You can see where the studs are in the tires, the little white spots, they dig in nicely.
This is a view east, towards Pioneer Peak.
That went well, so I decided to check out the trail to Wasilla Creek, also known as Cottonwood Slough, popular rabbit hunting area. This is right off the Glenn highway...
And looking north towards the Talkeetna mountains.
At the creekside. Ice not thick enough to walk on, so we don't need to gert the bike much closer than that!
A downstream view.
On the trail back to the main road. Matanuska peak in the background.
Made a stop by the llama farm on the way home.
I have some more pictures, but fotothing only lets a free acount upload 10 per day. I'm hoping for some sunset pictures later, if the timing works out...[/img]