Spring Fever

Here in Salt Lake City, we are having our typical springtime weather swings.  Today for example, is lovely weather to be outside.  It might be just cold enough still to want a jacket, but it was nice to get outside and be in the sunshine for a bit today.  It is difficult to make any plans for the coming weeks, however, because it is pretty certain that we will get hit with cold weather and more snow.  It will typically go like that until May.

The weather today, however, actually reminds me a lot of the weather that we encountered up in Alaska at the end of May when we started our 2008 tour.  The air is brisk, snow still covers the mountains, but the sun is warm and inviting, though a storm could materialize at the drop of a hat.  It definitely triggers a lot of memories.

After our 2008 tour, I've lost my taste for being out in the cold.  It isn't that I can't do it, but I really find myself with very little motivation to go outdoors if there is a chance of ending up wet and cold.  You could maybe call it a little touch of post-traumatic stress that is creating a barrier for me.  Either way, I typically avoid going outdoors in the winter now, and my wife and I have been feeling very cooped up, and ready for the warm weather.  While I wait for the snow to clear off of the mountains--or at least for the avalanche danger to drop to my liking--we'll probably get out and do some bike rides here around the valley, but I'm also really looking forward to getting out to do some hikes up the canyons, some rock climbing, and even bagging a few summits on our local peaks.

The warm weather can't come too soon!

Goodbye 2012

2012 has been an exciting year for me here at the Alaska to Mexico blog.  I was able to give the blog a lot of TLC to get it looking and working better, and I was able to gain a lot more readership.  Last month, my wife and I went to India for three weeks, and that was a fantastic adventure.  Unfortunately though, the Alaska to Mexico blog had to be put on the back burner for a while.  I had a lot of planning to do for the trip, and things have been financially tight, so I've had to focus on things that actually pay the bills.  With most of those projects wrapped up and with a fresh new year, I will be jumping back in to tell some more tales of our 2008 bicycle adventure, so stick around.

I would love to get some feedback on my posts, so any comments below would be appreciated.  Are the posts too long?  Would you like the option to read just a summary of the day?  Are you interested in video summaries?  The new year is a time for change, so I'm open to suggestions!