One of the most exciting days every year, the ice broke on the Yukon River this morning and the river is flowing again!

Here’s a video from Jeff’s office window:

We’re kinda party poopers this year and didn’t even buy any lottery tickets to bet on what day and time the river was going to break. I was just so distracted by Sally and then we were focused on our Vancouver vacation, so we just didn’t prioritize getting our times picked and tickets purchased. I heard two people had guessed the exact right minute though, so they get to share the pot of money!

I decided to go up to the top of the dome to watch the ice flowing instead of running down to the shore. I’ve been meaning to go up to check if the crocuses were coming up so why not do both things at once!

Here are some still shots, but trust me, the ice was all moving along at a nice clip!

Looking down river, I could see the river is wide open past Moosehide.

I checked on the crocuses too! There is still a lot of snow up there! But not on the sunny south side!

Here they come!

Our first things to grow each spring!

I was completely alone up there. I guess everyone else was watching break-up from the shore of the Yukon River.

On my way back down the hill though, surprise! I wasn’t alone after all!

It’s a spring black bear, looking a bit skinny, and totally non-threatening after its long winter’s nap.

I had my truck window open and my arm and camera out the window. It was pretty close though. It could have bolted at me and been in the truck with me in half a second, so I didn’t stay too long to pester it.