An easy 36

Kim and I headed out on the Crow Pass trail yesterday with no particular plan for length of time or distance ... we figured we go as far as we want to go and turn around when we want to turn around. We started out at a nice even pace, got in a groove and just kept going.

When we came to a massive glacial river crossing - deep enough for water to lap at our shorts - we decided it would be good practice to ford it. Once across, the blocks of ice also known as our feet demanded we keep on the move.

Long story short, we ended up running roughly 36 miles under bluebird skies and surrounded by spectacular scenery ... at the end up which Zippy still wanted me to throw a stick for him ... I'm not sure if it's a good or bad sign that 36 miles doesn't so much as phase my pup.

Distance aside, Zippy experienced some major breakthroughs out on the trail ... he crossed a couple of log bridges (which have always paralyzed him), he swam across Eagle River without a second thought and he remembered the route around a ladder that ascends a cliff face (which meant I got to take the easy route rather than show Zippy his route).

Cheers to another great day out in Alaska's wilds.