Jason and I have been busy this winter planning and preparing for our second season of operation which begins in just over a month! Although our yurts at Shearwater Cove have been winterized since September, we have continued living and breathing the yurt life this winter in our own 16' yurt just a few miles out of town. Jason and I agree that there is nothing more cozy than yurt living, especially when your yurt is insulated by snow to the roof line as it was this winter. After three winters of scant snow, Seward finally got dumped on and remained cold enough for the ground to freeze and the snow to accumulate. This photo of our home yurt is the reason we do not continue operations in the winter - just too much snow!
Even with several feet of snow on the roof, the yurt rafters and frame showed no sign of strain. The yurt's relatively simple design is incredibly strong.
While holed up in our yurt, drinking coffee through the dark winter mornings, Jason and I reminisced about our opening season and brainstormed improvements for the coming summer. One of those improvements just arrived in the mail: four brand-spanking new Necky kayaks! These four doubles are joining our existing fleet of kayaks for a total of six doubles and one single. It is important to us that guests have equal access to kayaks while at Shearwater Cove. With our new additions everyone will have equal opportunity to paddle, even with a third yurt. Which is to announce the exciting news that a third yurt will be available to rent at Shearwater Cove by about the first of July!
Jason with the new kayaks on top of our storage conex. Our other three kayaks are hanging from the ceiling inside.
Alaska's long winter nights have given way once again to the sunlight. Already it does not get fully dark until after 10pm. The summer birds are migrating back north and the seasonal workers are not far behind them. The snow is melting and the sweet smell of cottonwood buds bring back memories of summers past. Summertime is creeping into our bones.
Home sweet home. From October until February the sun did not rise high enough to hit our home yurt. It was an exciting day when it finally came back!
There are many things to do between now and our opening date of May 20. Our calendar is filling up, so reserve your stay for the 2017 season soon! We are looking forward to another busy summer in Alaska's Kenai Fjords!
-Charity