One of our favorite things to do is to explore places in Alaska we have not visited yet. This past week, we hiked Grapefruit Rocks and it was worth the incline! Please let us know if you have any questions regarding the hike, how to get there or any other activities available in the area as we would be happy to answer them.
Thank you for exploring Alaska with us and being part of our journey!
Alaska.org offers information on all the trails in the State and is an invaluable resource: https://www.alaska.org/detail/grapefruit-rocks
Spring time in Alaska is a very special season. After a long, cold and dark winter, the sun starts rising earlier and setting later every day. The warmth, melting snow and the sound of birds remind us that we have survived another winter season and that the upcoming spring is just around the corner. A season full of life and adventure.
One of those adventures in early spring is tapping Birch trees. While we are by no means experts on the subject of tapping Birch trees, we most definitely enjoy the family time and memories it offers.
Best time to tap Birch Trees:
This year we tapped the trees beginning April. It is the perfect time of that year as the temperatures are still below freezing during the night. The trick is to catch the Birch Sap as it travels up the tree to bring the nutrients to the soon blooming leaves. Once the leaves start blooming, the tapping season is over.
How to tap Birch Trees:
Choosing healthy Birch trees is key to harvesting high quality sap. We used a drill, with a 3/8 inch drill bit, drilling an 1.5 inch hole at a slight angle into the tree. We then hammered the 1/2 inch taps into the hole and within seconds the Birch sap started flowing (well, everyone but my tree, which happened to be dead;).
We attached half gallon water jugs to the taps and secured them with a strap to help reduce some of the weight as the jugs fill. It is important to check the trees every day and harvest the sap as it is fresh to further process it. This year we made Birch syrup and also froze some of it for Lily as she struggles greatly with allergies. Birch Sap is many important health benefits.
Other Resources:
The University of Alaska Cooperative Extension website is an incredible resource for harvesting and processing any Alaskan food.
To watch our Birch Tapping How to Video and how we processed it, please click on the video below or visit our Alaska Haven Youtube Channel. Don’t forget to subscribe! Thank you for being part our our life as we experience Alaska.
Date Night – They don’t happen as often as they should, however they refresh the souls and marriage. We attended the annual IABA Homeshow in Fairbanks and enjoyed a beautiful dinner at the most northern brewery Silver Gulch. It was perfect evening.
What an incredible experience we had this Monday. We had press pass access to the Yukon Quest – Official Site Finish Line Event. We welcomed Brent Sass from Wild and Free Mushing as he crossed the finish line as champion of the 2019 Yukon Quest.
Never have we seen such humility and love for dogs. From the Yukon Quest staff, to the mushers and all the incredible volunteers, so much passion and love is invested into these dogs.
Some days we still can’t believe we have the privilege of living here surrounded by the breathtaking and beautiful nature Alaska has to offer. We invite you to stay with us at Alaska Haven and experience life in Alaska with us. Every season, every day is an opportunity for a new adventure or to just sit still and soak it all in. Visit our website or call us today to learn more about Alaska Haven. Please feel free to share:)
One of our customers just dropped off these authentic, industrial factory cart wheels for a custom coffee table we are building for them. We love having the opportunity to be creative and designing/building unique pieces! http://www.alaskahaven.com
Alaska Haven 