Kreider Khronicles

Last Sunday there was no update due to me being sick the entire week after returning from vacation. Then over that weekend Benjamin got really sick. Therefore we did nothing that whole week. We stayed home, relaxed and slept. Not a whole lot to talk about. Thankfully by last Tuesday we were both a lot better and could continue with new adventures.

We sure did have an adventure this past weekend but we don’t want to skip over the week. Monday was spent at home, Benjamin said home from work since he still had a slight fever and wasn’t his usual self. But by the end of the night he was feeling 10x better and was back to work on Tuesday. The rest of the week was just us trying to get back into our routine after being on vacation and then sick.

For the upcoming 4th of July weekend we were going camping with our friends out near Nome Creek in the White Mountains. So most of our week was talking back and forth in the group chat about the plan and shopping. Oh did we go shopping. Spent a small fortune on supplies but it was all worth it in the end. Thursday we ventured into Fairbanks for said supplies. We needed hammocks, mosquito nets, lots of bug spray and plenty of food for not only us but also for the group. You might be wondering where our tent is on the list. We didn’t buy one. For the whole weekend we slept in our hammocks which was AMAZING. Friday was spent with me making sure the house was clean for us to leave for the weekend and getting things packed up.

Friday evening we met up with Cade, Nicole and Will at the gas station to travel up together. At least that was the plan. We ended up getting ahead of them and meeting them at the entrance of Davidson Ditch where Lizzie, Blaine and their one son Anthony were. Then we all caravaned our way the 15 miles to the campground. The drive was beautiful even with all the smoke in the air from the wildfires. Eventually we made it to the campground and picked out a campsite that would fit everyone. This trip has been a tradition for the others in the group so it was an honor to be invited to it this year. The tradition campsite was taken already but we made due with the one we had. It met up right to the creek and was nice and secluded. Everyone managed to get all set up and we hung out by the fire but only after Blaine went around and smoked out the mosquitos. Super awesome tool to have.

Most nights ended with everyone around the fire just having a good time till about 1am when someone would go to sleep then it would just depend on when the others would slowly make their way to where they were sleeping. I have noticed that with the sun being out pretty much all night you never know when you should go to sleep. Saturday morning, Benjamin and I had breakfast mountain pies. If you haven’t had them I would recommend making them sometime. We also learned how to use a perculating coffee maker. If you know any Kreiders you know they need coffee and I wasn’t about to experience Benjamin without coffee. During the day the boys fished right near our campsite, Blaine and Benjamin waded in with their waders. Fish were caught and fish were eaten. It was a super fun morning. Our other friend Chris showed up in the late morning/early afternoon, which everyone was excited about since he makes blueberry cobbler.

Saturday afternoon some of us decided to jump in the creek at an area that had a nice size swimming hole. So the ones jumping in changed and then we all made our way to the swimming hole. It might not have been the brightest idea to jump into the creek but it was so much fun. One by one we jumped in. Lizzie first, me, Nicole, Cade and then Will who did a flip off a log. We all had that initial shock of the cold water but after a while it wasn’t terrible. I probably could have stood up with my head still out of the water in the hole but didn’t really want to test it. Everyone else wouldn’t have been able too. Getting out of the water was another adventure. The way most of us took had us walking across several logs to the bank. I didn’t have my glasses on so it made it extra fun. We all made it back onto the bank without anyone falling back into the water. The rest of the night we all just hung out until it started to rain. A couple people went into someones tent and ended up taking a nap the rest of us stayed at the table under a canopy. The rain left just as quickly as it came. Our hammocks stayed dry which was nice. Dinner was tacos over the fire and Chris’s cobbler. Followed by lots of laughing around the fire. That night Benjamin and I only stayed up till about 1am before deciding we should go to sleep.

Sunday we all had breakfast together. Pancakes, sausage and bacon. Benjamin and I borrowed Chris’s four wheeler to go on a ride for part of the morning. On our ride Benjamin told me about this flower that is sometimes referred to as the time flower. Technically called fireweed. This flower blooms from the bottom up and is to be believed that when the top blooms winter will soon start. Most of our time was spent hanging out with everyone around the fire or fishing around the creek. At one point Lizzie, Nicole and I washed our hair in the creek. That was a process, with trying not to get completely in the water. So we would walk in a little, squat down and dip our hair in the water. I strugggled since I’m taller and didn’t want to get my butt wet when I squatted. As we are in the creek we can hear a thunderstorm starting to roll in. Shortly after we finished the storm came in. It started to pour, not like the rain on Saturday. Eventually it started to hail and people made mad dashes for their tents. Benjamin thought it shouldn’t last much longer so we stood on the table under the canopy. We were so wrong, the storm just kept coming. Eventually it was right on top of us. Lighting striking in front of your and thunder booming that bounced off the mountains. At a point it let up enough we could make it to the truck. While we waited it out Benjamin took a nap and I read a book. Once again our hammocks stayed dry.

Dinner on Sunday was whatever we wanted, so Benjamin and I had steaks over the fire. Everyone was jealous. After dinner we all decided to take a ride up to the High Country. So some people pilled onto the Side by Side, others on the four wheeler and then Chris hauled the rest in his truck to go the 10 miles to the trail. Once at the trail we had to figure out how to fit us all on just the Side by Side and Four wheeler. Eventually we got a plan that worked. Chris drove his four wheeler with Benjamin and I on it and everyone else on the Side by Side. Once at the top the view was breath taking even with all the wildfire smoke nearby. A view like no other. We all enjoyed the view, took some pictures and had a few good laughs. Then it was time to go back down the mountain, to the truck and then the 10 miles to the campsite. Once back around the fire, we enjoyed some marshmallows and good talks. Benjamin was smart and went to sleep before me. I stayed up till 4:40am talking with those still up. It made for a long Monday.

Monday morning was our last day camping. We all shared a breakfast well it was more like lunch by the time we enjoyed our breakfast burritos. While breakfast was being made everyone worked on taking down their tents/hammocks. We also packed up the back seat of our truck that served as our “dressing room” for the weekend. If you want a quick workout just try to get changed in the back of a truck without anyone seeing you. Not for the faint of heart. Lucky for us our truck is tinted so we just needed to hang a blanket to cover the front windsheild. By the time we ate mostly everying at camp was packed up. After eating we all packed up the last items. We said our goodbyes and hit the road back home.

One major difference from camping in Alaska to camping back in PA is the campground. In PA you have water and electric hookups. A bathroom with running water for showers, sinks and toilets. That is not the case in Alaska, no running water besides the creek, no electric hookups and no cell service. There is a toilet but that is pretty much a hole in the ground with a toilet on top. It was a very different experience from what we both grew up with in PA but was an amazing time. We wouldn’t have wanted our first Alaskan camping trip to be with any other group of friends.

By the time we got home on Monday we were both exhausted from the lack of full nights sleep but wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. First thing we did was open all the windows in the house and got the fans running full blast. Our house was about 80 degrees so we needed to cool it down ASAP. Thenwe unpacked the truck. The coolers and food bin were brought inside. I unpacked those while Benjamin laid out anything that was either wet or slightly damp to dry. As I was unpacking our coolers I was very grateful we last minute purchased a new one from Costco. There was still some ice in it unlike our other cooler that was pretty much just cold water by the first day. After we had everything unpacked and items for the storage unit put away we relaxed. I relaxed so much that I started to fall asleep while watching our show.

This week we prepare to have our first guests. Don’t worry they aren’t staying with us. NOt sure how we would make that work in only 500 square feet. On Thursday night we pick up my mom and her friend from the Fairbanks airport. They get to spend time with us in our new neck of the woods. If I don’t get caught up in spending time with my mom and showing her our new home their might be an update on Sunday. But knowing me I will be enjoying my time and will update after they leave late Monday night, just so that we enjoy every moment with them. It has been 3 months since we have last seen them and are very excited for this time. Talk to you all soon. Love the Kreiders.