Mt. Redoubt is a volcano across the inlet from Kenai and Nikiski. It last showed activity in 1990, when it spewed about 2 inches of ash all over the cities. In Alaska, schools do not have snow days (they even have recess if it is -20 degrees), but they DID have a "volcano day" when it seemed to be raining ash from the volcano. They say that people were cautioned to breath it, but had to shovel it off their roofs, to avoid cave-ins. Since today was the first really clear day, we got a few photos from the lookout point.
This morning I skied to a golf course nearby that has been groomed for x-country skiers. I noticed a short-cut to the path, noticing some footprints. When I got up there, I noticed they were NOT human prints, but moose! I quickly looked around, but didn't see any. I saw some smaller ones, so figured a mom and baby were out on a jaunt through the course. Moose will charge people if they are in the way of their babies, but they are scared of loud noises.
Another fun story - after grocery shopping, Lindy and I were pushing our full cart outside and it got stuck in the snow! Not something I've experienced in Nashville. We just laughed. Lindy and I also got hot chocolate (since it was -4 yesterday) at a little cafe called "The Moose is Loose."
See more pictures from today below - the first few were taken by Lindy on her camera, from where we were near the banks of the inlet. You'll also see a little Russian Orthodox church, as well as some pix from nearby the Kenai River area. Pretty much a winter wonderland!
What an amazing, white Christmas! 
