Leavenworth Family Weekend - April 2025

It is one of the greatest joys in having the Leavenworth house is gathering the kids and grand kids for a weekend of games, hikes, food and biking. This was one of those weekends.

Most of us took the short walk up the Olalla trail.

The blue bells were a colorful harbinger of Spring.

Heading back down

View from Glacier View trail on my Horseshoe Lake loop hike.

I encountered Emily and Bode who were mountain biking while I was hiking.

 

Aurora Borealis, Saariskella Finland - April 2, 2025

 It was beginning to look like we were not going to see the Northern Lights on this trip. But at 3:00 AM, on the morning of our departure for home, we received notification on our phone app that they were visible. We spent the next hour enjoying this wonderful, awe inspiring gift.

Inari Finland Reindeer Farm - March 31, 2025

 This wasn't a farm in the traditional sense. These herd roam free over thousands of square kilometers of  Federal Land. We were taken to where this herd was wintering in sleighs towed by snowmobiles. It was a fascinating experience.

Reindeer are slaughtered for their meat and hides primarily. There is a market in Asia for the antlers which are purported to be an aphrodisiac.

Petri Mattus is the herd owner. His family has herded reindeer for generations. He was the guide for this experience.

Albino reindeer

Petri explained how technology has changed herding with the use of snowmobiles, drones and even helicopters.

We crossed a wide frozen lake  to get to the herd and back.

Saariskella Finland Dogsled - March 30, 2025

This was a thrill! Kay and I had never driven a dog sled before. It was not easy but we're glad we did it.

Receiving instruction

Do I look a bit apprehensive?

The dogs get very excited when they sense the start.

Learning about the dogs afterward.

Viewing the new pups