Wasilla Real Estate News, Valley Market Real Estate

A Drive Up Wolverine Road, A Palmer Alaska Secret March 26th, 2008

Categories: Alaskana

I took a drive up Wolverine Road this evening to put a sign on a new listing.  Wolverine Road is one of Palmer’s secrets. 

Wolverine Road starts out as Clark-Wolverine Road from the Old Glenn Highway about one mile east of Palmer.  About 3 miles up the road, Clark and Wolverine separate, turn left to stay on Wolverine.  I found that someone else liked Wolverine Road as well.

I saw three moose on the 8 mile drive, this young one was munching on Willows next to Wolverine Creek

Just a mile up the road were some of our strange Alaskan Cattle. 

These shaggy beasts definitely look like they were made for an Alaskan winter.

Just across Wolverine Canyon is the giant carrot marking Wolverine Farms, home of the largest herd of Galloway Cattle in Alaska.

Someone who knows more than I do can tell us why every mountain peak has a puffy cloud above it.  There were no other clouds in the sky.

All this was to put a sign at the very end of Wolverine Road.  If you know anyone interested in a 69 acre parcel with about 20 acres in Hay and a 2200 square foot home let me know.  It’s a rare find, there are trails galore from this location.  You can leave right from your home straight into the Alaska Wilderness.  Here is a google map to the location.  Click on the satellite view to get a feel for this unusual opportunity.

Or you can call me for more info… 907 232–7900 is my cell number.

Written by Marty Van Diest 2 Comments »

Iditarod, 2008 March 5th, 2008

Categories: Alaskana

It was an absolutely gorgeous Sunday in Willow for the start of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.  My brother Mark and his wife Lorri staked out their favorite place on Vera Lake before the race began.  Their kids were already enjoying a camp fire.  They were at the very same location that we watched the race from last year.  See last year’s photos here.

My son Gerrit and I were the only representatives from my family for the second year in a row…couldn’t get the ladies to come but I’m sure they would have enjoyed it.  The weather was perfect, sunny and windless and about 25 degrees.  Can’t get any better than that!

Jay and two of his children along with my Dad, Gale Van Diest, showed up as well.  From left to right is Mark,Lorri,Jay,Gale, and Nikki.  Marty and Nikki Moffat joined us this year.  It was good to have them there, Marty and I have known each other since he was in Anvik and I was in Holikachuk back in the early 60’s.  Of course, it was our missionary parents who brought us there.

Here is a photo of Marty and Nikki with Rod Whaley from Tennessee right behind them.  This race had mushers from several differentcountries and many different states.  The top photo is Kim Franklin from the UK.  These people from outside Alaska are certainly on the adventure, and challenge, of their lifetime.  They are just beginning a 1,000 mile race through Alaska’s wilderness. 

Rachael Scdoris, a legally blind musher from Oregon, is following Joe Runyan to Nome.  Joe was our next door neighbor in Tanana and is a past Iditarod champion.  The discovery channel is filming their trip from a helicopter overhead. 

In addition to helicopters, there were airplanes galore, and hundreds, maybe thousands of snowmobiles following the race.  It was almost a constant drone from some motor.  Alan and Adele Morgan stopped by on thier machines to visit for awhile.  Alan commented on the irony of so much gasoline consumption to watch a sled dog race.  It does seem a little backwards, but like everyone else, we didn’t let it bother us.

 My Dad has some more photos on his blog here.

Written by Marty Van Diest 1 Comment »

Alaskan Real Estate Lock Box February 23rd, 2008

Categories: Alaskana

I heard a funny story from a real estate friend today. 

During the last cold snap one of his vacant listings froze up.  Upon inspection he discovered that the water in the toilet had frozen and the bowl was cracked.  Knowing that this would be a real mess if it was allowed to thaw in the house he took the toilet outside and set on the deck.

Repairmen needed to access the house so he hid a key for them, he just lifted the lid and set the key on top of the ice.  That’s the last place a thief might look for a key.  That worked fine when it was 20 below…but this week we had a few days of unusually warm weather.   

Today he got a call from the repairman wondering if there was a new hiding spot for the key.  Then it dawned on him!  The ice thawed this week, and then re- froze last night.  The key was still in the toilet, but now it was at the bottom of the ice. 

At the last report, the repairmen were heating up the frozen toilet on the deck so they could access the house. 

Real Estate just works a little differently in Alaska. 

I should clarify that the key was hidden in the frozen tank rather than in the frozen toilet bowl.  Someone told me that I shouldn’t let the truth get in the way of a good story but I have to tell it straight.

Written by Marty Van Diest 3 Comments »

Wasilla Dinner Theater November 30th, 2007

Categories: Alaskana

Last night was opening night for the Christmas Carol at the Valley Bistro in Wasilla.  It opened to a full house in the Teeland Building.  The historic building was a perfect setting for this dinner theater. 

People who know me understand that I usually go in for camping, hunting, and fishing for my leisure activities but I admit that I thoroughly enjoyed this play. 

Because of the intimate setting you feel almost as if you are in the Cratchit’s dining room watching their Christmas meal. 

The dinner was also very good.  Grace enjoyed her prime rib dinner and I had grilled chicken.  I’m not sure if the same menu is every evening but halibut was also available as an entree last night.

It was very well acted by the whole cast and especially by the director AJ Seims who also played Mister Scrooge.

The dinner theater will be every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night between now and Dec 22, 2007.  Buy tickets at the Valley Bistro or call 357–5633 for more information.  If you are interested you might want to buy your tickets soon.  This same play was offered last year and sold out for the season fairly quickly.

For more information visit the Triumvirate Theatre website.

Written by Marty Van Diest Please leave a comment.

Hatcher Pass Slide Show October 27th, 2007

Categories: Alaskana

Anchorage Daily New photographer Marc Lester has a fantastic slide show of Hatcher Pass on adn.com.  It’s too good not to post for all my readers as well. 

I wrote about Hatcher Pass last December when we watched a bunch of kids downhill skiing.  There were having blast.  Hatcher Pass is a special place for our family.

Hatcher Pass is one of the crown jewels of the Mat-Su Borough.  It’s a fantastic get-away both summer and winter.  The photo at left was from an overnight camping trip with my kids up by “Monkey Face Rock”.  There is a beautiful valley beyond the rock.  These photos were taken by my daughter Teressa.

Below is the valley above our camping spot.  Is that pretty or what?  That clear mountain stream came directly out of the rocks just to the left of the photo.

Here is just partial list of things to do in Hatcher Pass:

• Hike
• Camp
• Take Photos
• Pick Berries
• Cross Country Ski
• Down Hill Ski
• Go Sledding
• Snow Mobiling
• Hang Glide
• Explore Old Mines
• Identify Wild Flowers
• Watch Wildlife, Everything from Pikas, Ground Squirrels, Moose, Bear, Foxes, Raptors, Ptarmigan, Marmots and more.
• Hunt Moose, Bear, and Ptarmigan in season.
• Rock Climb
• Mountain Climb
• Explore WW 2 Bombers

Written by Marty Van Diest 3 Comments »