The beginning of the end ... of winter

Fresh snow dumped on Anchorage and temperatures dropped back into the 20s just in time for Fur Rendezvous -- or Fur Rondy as the locals call it -- this weekend. It's the community event's 75th anniversary, including world championship sled dog racing (short distances, high speeds, unlike the cross-state Iditarod in March), hockey, ice skating, snow sculpting, outhouse races and the running of the reindeer downtown. Basically a celebration of all things Alaska. It's considered the beginning of the end of winter. Originally it signified celebrated the return of the fur trappers from their winter hauls. The sled dog race trail runs the side street to our apartment building. Davin and I went out to watch the teams run by today.