This weekend was AMAZING....I was super nervous about going away for the weekend with around 100 women that I didn't know to learn different outdoor skills. I was amazed at how nice every single person seemed to be and just how excited and helpful everyone was.
Victory Bible camp the location of BOW winter workshop 2012
We started off the weekend with a great gift bag of tons of BOW gear, information, had lunch and then we were off to our first session. We were able to pick 4 different classes/sessions we were interested in, different ones included shotgun, dutch oven cooking, wild game dressing, small game, yoga, intro to fly fishing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, smoked fish, pond to pan, and the list goes on. My first session was Ice Fishing!
View from the van on the ride to the lake for ice fishing!
Being pulled fishing spot on the lake behind a snow machine!
Learning how to dig our ice fishing hole.
My hole :)
The only way to ice fish in Alaska, hot coco w/baileys.
Inside the ice fish house, when all the doors and windows are closed you can see the fish swim by and the bottom of the lake making it easier to fish.
No these are not the fish we caught :( actually didn't catch any but we were able to stock the lake with more fish that the Wildlife fish and game brought. Also the family beside me caught 2 fish which was fun to watch the kids excitement!
After ice fishing we headed back to the camp and attended the end of Dutch Oven class, def one I now wish I would have taken, these women were able to cook amazing food in one cast iron pot, cakes, pasta and even meat! Def lots and lots of food, this picture doesn't even show everything.
The next day we had a full day of classes and activities, my morning session was cross country skiing. I have to say I was super nervous after my down hill experience but everyone kept telling me it was completely different and really fun.
Getting fitted for our skis before hitting the trail.
So much fun, def one of my favorite things, def a fun workout outdoors in the middle of winter!
Alone on the trail, so amazing!
So excited to know how to finally cross country ski!
After lunch it was time for snowmobiling, was a great class and at times terrifying. It was def scary on the mountains but the instructors were great and made everyone feel super safe!
Ready to ride!!
Stopping for a hot coco break after some trail riding! Super cold but def a good time!
An amazing trip and def made me take on some of my fears about motors, also being an ED nurse couldn't help but worry about all the potential injuries :)
After a long day of activities this meal was amazing, and def earned.
That night we had a great speaker that was also an instructor that had a special man with her!
A 6yo great horned owl that she actually helped to raise after he was kicked out of his nest, he is deaf and unable to hunt. He lives with her and travel to give presentation about bird rescues.
He thinks that she is his mate because he is an imprint, he thinks he is a human and not an owl. He doesn't like males coming near her during their breeding season! Pretty funny when he starts hissing and puffing!
One of the most amazing part of the weekend was being in the perfect spot to see the Northern Lights on a perfect night! It was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen but my camera just wouldn't get a picture, so here is a picture someone else took that night! Freaking Amazing!
Another highlight at night was the tubing hill, it was beyond fun and everyone got into it! Spinning and making trains down the snow hill!
The spin move!
Ahhh so fun!!!!
The final day came super early and everyone was feeling the weekend! My last class was snowshoeing and I was super excited to try something new that I had never been able to do!
So much snow!
Amazing ending to our trek!
Some of the amazing ladies I met this weekend, including a fellow USC nurse!
I had so much fun and really learned a lot, this doesn't even show all the amazing pictures I was able to take. I'm hoping to get some time and upload the rest. I'm so glad I decided to go on this adventure and meet some great people. Excited to get outdoors more this spring and summer in Alaska!!!! Everyone should BOW!
(sorry this post is so long but I hope it was worth it)
