Wednesday, October 13, 2010

October in Alaska

Each morning, the air steadily increases the "bite," a crisp edge that promises snow, just around the corner.  Everyone in Alaska is "winterizing," gathering up hoses, putting up bicycles and motercycles, making sure vehicles have tires that can handle ice, etc.  Most of the time, there's a good foot of snow on the ground by the end of the month, and because of that, we don't find it odd that trick-or-treaters go from door to door with costumes underneath warm winter coats or snowsuits! 

The frost each morning is a beautiful sight, as are the glowing stars in the wide expanse of the sky.  Losing our long summer daylight, each evening the sun sets earlier and earlier and comes up later each morning.  The migratory birds are all gone, off to the next stage in their yearly traveling adventures.  Moose are busy fattening up on the open grasses, soon to be covered up with snow, six of them out in the harvested hay field the other day, thoroughly enjoying themselves. 

Winter is coming, as it does every year, weaving the changes so naturally in the beautiful tapestry that makes up life on our planet. 

Friday, October 1, 2010

So Much To Do on the Kenai Peninsula! (Work Camper Adventures at the Diamond M Ranch Resort)

Helping to run the Diamond M Ranch Resort campground is not a job for the faint of heart. Somewhat similar to juggling plates, a good work camper has to be able to multi-task. Here at the Diamond M Ranch, that means the ability to go on dog sled rides with Ididaride Sled Dog Tours...


 
Raft glacier-fed rivers with the Alaska Rivers Company...


Haul in a big catch with Chihuly Charters...



Or go flying with High Adventure Air (awesome!), and even enjoy a glacier cruise with Major Marine Tours, and so much more!

A big thank you to all of the above companies, for offering our work campers these opportunities to experience Alaska. As they say, the best advertisement is a happy customer, and our work campers certainly had a ball with all of you!

We have the most amazing Work Campers, year after year, and words can't express how much we appreciate them. Each one always has a unique skill, whether it's in answering phones, organizing office areas, helping with new construction, landscaping and gardening, building fences, working security, helping with ranch animals, having a friendly smile to greet guests, hosting fish fry socials---and even making beautiful signs* placed all around the resort, named after each one of our family members!



Summer at the Diamond M Ranch Resort flies by quickly, always so much going on---so many things to see and do, as well as so many wonderful guests to help have a wonderful stay. We appreciate our Work Campers so much. Their energy, smiles, and helping hands truly enable us take our business to the next level!

*Thank you, Jim Diggs, for the beautiful signs and for the great pictures above that you shared with us!