The day ended up beautiful! It was pretty strange weather, I was worried at how cold some of you were after the race. I couldn’t figure out whether I was hot or cold all day.

We had an Impressive showing by our winners Matt Novakovich finishing in 1:04:18 with Cary Grumelot right on his heels. We haven’t had that close a finish since, like, ever. Sheryl Loan won it for the women at 1:17:09, 35 seconds faster than the second place woman Danelle Winn at 1:17:44.

Here are the rest of the results, with the splits a little funky. Not all the run times were posted for a few reasons. One of the most basic, which we will think through for next year is placement of the numbers in your body. We could not see them and folks were bombing through the run finish, so we let it go. Some of the numbers were on jackets tied around waists, some on front, back and even a few were stuffed in pockets squashed in little balls. We have all the timing done manually, there is no electric where we are so it is all done the old fashioned way by 1 person timing, the other calling numbers, written on a sheet and I get to match the two later. So, folks, if your splits are important to you, please make sure you have your number visible. To me, the final time is the most important where we will send someone chasing you to get the number (plus we have that convenient uphill). So if you have suggestions, please let us know. A few people have already given us some great thoughts, like tattooing a permanent number on your forehead. I said it wouldn’t work because you have to wear a helmet for the ride.

What a weekend to start off the summer! With temperatures nearing 70 are thoughts are turning to boating. The ice left Matanuska Lake at Kepler-Bradley park on Saturday ans the swimmers started to arrive on Sunday. We will have canoes to rent there sometime before Memorial Day weekend. Finger Lake was also opening rapidly with lots of fisherman trying the area aroung the dock. The rest of the lake should be out within a few days, we will have canoes for rent here as well. As far as Eklutna Lake goes we still have lots of ice, that did not stop Carla from trying to play icebreaker and do what she could to further the process. I am hoping that the lake will be ice free on May 12th as we have a trip planned for the 13th, it will be close. hope to see everyone on the water!

It has been quite a spring for the Eklutna Challenge. First when is the race? published dates have been May 16, May 23, May 30, June 6!! Wow here is the story. It started with my inability to read the calender. I looked to see when Memorial day weekend was knowing that there is no way of doing the race on that weekend. I swear it said May 30 was memorial day so May 23rd it was. Once it was in the runners calender and I thought everything was set I started getting calls for Memorial day weekend….the 23rd of May. So we changed it to the weekend before May 16th. Meanwhile Eagle River Nature center thought the race was the first Saturday of June so they started publishing that date confused yet? I was. We started doing the race on the Saturday before Memorial day before we opened eight years ago and since then have switched it to the weekend after Memorial day. Anyway May 16 did not work for lots of people so here we are with May 30th the official date. We hope to see everyone there!!

Here in Palmer the temperature hit 50 degrees at last! With the warming temperatures everyone’s thoughts turns to camping. Kepler-Bradley has opened with people still ice fishing as of 4-14. Finger Lake campground will open on April 24th with the big news of this campground being they are planning on paving the road as well as doing other improvements throughout. This will mean a short closure however the hope is the work will be done by Memorial Day!! Eagle River Campground will open on April 24th for the weekend before closing again on Monday. Eagle River will then open for the season on May 1st. Big news here as well with the hope being that the water will be running before the season starts. Other openings will be Big Lake north on May 8th, Big Lake South May 15th, Rocky Lake May 8th, and King Mountain May 8th. I hope everyone enjoys the parks this year and keep an eye on this blog for weather reports and deals at Eklutna Lake and other news.

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