God’s glory can be seen in all creation from watching a flower bloom as it grows from the tiniest seed or hiking up the tallest peaks overlooking vast valleys, to listening to birds sing or just sitting still.
May we never take these glimpses for granted. They are a beautiful reminder of the gift we have through Christ’s death and resurrection and a promise of his coming.
Have a blessed Sunday ❤️
Grapefruit Rocks | Alaska Hiking Trails | Alaska Haven
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:
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.
After a long winter, it was time for our annual Cabin snow machine trip. There are so many things we love about this family tradition, the time to recharge, spend time in God’s creation, making family memories and exploring new things together…There are too many to count. After a fun first day at the cabin, we spend the next day snow machining to another State Cabin and enjoyed the rest of the day homeschooling, making dinner and playing games.
As promised in the video, please find information regarding Alaska State Cabin by following the link below, They are a great resource for budget friendly traveling and exploring new beautiful areas Alaska.
Please don’t hesitate to send any questions.
With Love,
The Proctors
Your continued support and love mean so much to us and we would like to thank each of you by giving away one of these beautiful Yukon Quest posters signed by each of the mushers.
To enter, visit and subscribe to our YouTube Channel and comment on one of the videos.
Winner will be announced on Sunday, 24th of 2010.
To watch the 2019 Yukon Quest video, follow the link below:
Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel to join us on our adventures in Alaska.
Planning a visit to Alaska during the winter time? Follow the link below to learn more about the top 10 things to do in Alaska – Winter Edition!
Please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding travel, adventures and life in Alaska!
Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube ❄️
Just a little chilly today ❄️
Yesterday we welcomed ten new baby chicks to Alaska Haven. We are so excited that our guest will be able to enjoy fresh eggs soon as well:)
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:)
Alaska Haven 