Making Lemonade out of Lemons

A variety of security concerns caused us to cancel the Beyond the Border tour to Mexico.  Among other things, Cat Herder was looking forward to checking in on the Monarch butterflies, still an imperiled species that tenuously hangs on to its dwindling population and changing migration patterns.  Just one cause of concern is the continued, illegal logging in the sanctuaries located in Mexico.  You can read the transcript from a recent public radio story here.


So instead of flying towards Mexico's warm weather and blue skies, we remained in Alaska, and played host and tour guide to two Parkwest friends: Mike and Ginny.  While it may seem contrary to travel to Fairbanks in February, this time of year in the Last Frontier is replete with activities, like the Fur Rendezvous winter carnival, International Ice Carving competition and, most importantly, fabulous skies for viewing the Aurora Borealis.  The beauty of the snowy Alaska Range and Denali didn't disappoint, either.


We learned to drive dog sleds, toured the wilderness on snow machine, laughed our way through Improv comedy night, boogied down at the Jim Beam Country Jam, watched Outhouse Races in the streets of Anchorage, and enjoyed a dinner of moose and caribou, cooked by Cat Herder herself.  It was a full week, akin to any Parkwest tour schedule.

Just a few snaps of our time together are below.