The photo above shows about 20 Chevak residents plus two of our teachers taking a trip out into the wild blue yonder - nothing but white ahead of them. All this week our neighbor Carmen has been planning on going on a three day trip to Mountain City (or something like that) near St. Mary's where she used to teach. Lots of folks were traveling to this small village of 600 to dance. So Carmen has had a few concerns about the weather and such and what food to take, etc. She came over last night to borrow Tom's insulated wind pants and my heavy rainproof poncho. We also packed her some chocolate bars. We just love Carmen. She's always fixing us good stuff to eat and visiting for tea and talking with Tom about the 4-wheeler and other snow business. She was born and raised in the Wrangell Mountains and actually worked as a guide for years before she became a teacher. Last night after she left, I finally realized that she was going to go by snowmobile for over a hundred miles in possibly snowy weather. Oh my gosh! This morning Tom got some photos of the group before they left.
That is Carmen wrapped up and waving. I understand it was quite exciting. Two teachers went, Maretta, our first grade teacher who has been in Chevak for nine years, and Carmen. I don't think there are any others here who could keep up with the Cup'iks snowmobiles. The photos Tom took will relay some of the excitement. Tom and I have decided that this summer we are picking out two snowmobiles and having them shipped in. We're going to do it.

The library is closed this week and next for testing. I go to the rooms for the library class and no other classes can sign up to come in. We have gotten soooo much work done - including the inventory!!! This would never swing in Georgia - but I can't help but be appreciative. I do open before school every morning so the middle schoolers and high schoolers can exchange books. I am posting a couple of photos just outside our front door of the snow drifts. That's me climbing over one and that's is Tom out there on the lake behind one. The snow is really beautiful and white and soft - there's just so much of it.