Life in Alaska
September 3, 2010, Hiking Hidden Lake
The state of Alaska is known for many things, but one thing that its residents sometimes take for granted, is its extensive hiking opportunities. The great thing about living in Anchorage in particular, is that there are so many possibilities for getting outside and experiencing the trails that this state has to offer. And the best part is, you don't have to be an expert outdoorsman to take advantage.
August 6, 2010 - Israel Shotridge: Totem Pole Carver
Anchorage is fortunate to be home to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, where one can experience and appreciate Alaska's many native cultures all at one place. The Center proudly provides a culturally rich environment where visitors and local residents can come and check out workshops, demonstrations, and tours which give insight into the life and history of Alaska's people.
July 21, 2010 - Pioneer Park
We were doing "The Chena Loop" again. This year we considered going to Valdez for a change, but my daughter's roommate Christina had never been north of Wasilla so we decided to do The Loop to cover the maximum amount of scenery.
June 30, 2010 - Farming and Gardening Season in South Central Alaska
This summer marks the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Matanuska Valley colonists. In Depression year 1935, Roosevelt's "New Deal" tried to help about 200 families rebuild their lives by relocating them from hard-hit areas of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan to Alaska.
June 16, 2010 - Driving the Alcan
"Why don't you come down and drive up the Alcan Highway with me?" my sister June asked. She was planning to leave Albuquerque on Friday, May 28th and arrive in Anchorage (3,955 miles away) on Monday, May 31st.
May 26, 2010 - Museum Grand Expansion
Something special was certainly in the air at the Anchorage Museum last Saturday. Hundreds of people flocked to help celebrate the opening of several new exhibits. Although I have not spent much time at the museum in the past, I had the privilege of attending this event. I was sure glad that I did because it opened my eyes to some of the amazing art and history that the museum offers.
May 12, 2010 - Bird to Gird
We generally say Alaska has only two seasons: winter and not winter. A beautiful spring day in Alaska is a rare thing and must be taken advantage of. My girlfriends and I did just that a few weeks ago. We had been planning a bike ride on the popular "Bird to Gird" bike trail, which is a 13-mile National Recreation Trail which follows the Seward highway from Bird Creek to Girdwood along Turnagain Arm. There are picnic pavilions and interpretive signs, as well as constant ocean views and possible wildlife sightings (moose, bear, belugas).
May 6, 2010 - Seward Waterfront Park
Spring Fever -- we Alaskans contract violent cases of it about this time of year. We go crazy when the snow melts. LOOK! IT'S DIRT! We haven't seen any dirt for months! Convinced that 45° is HOT, we appear in tank tops, shorts and flip flops, shivering as we insist picnic season is here. Wait! Is that a green aura around that bush? Yes! Tiny rolled up little green leaves are growing.
March 10, 2010 - Chena Hot Springs / Fur Rendezvous
Greetings from Chena Hot Springs. I had the opportunity to work the Once in a Blue Moose Juneau store in the summer of 2009. This winter I got a job working at Chena Hot Springs, and I thought you might like to see just a glimpse of what the area offers..
March 6, 2010 - The Iditarod 2010
With a fresh blanket of snow on the ground, the 38th running of the Last Great Race, Iditarod 2010, kicked off with the Ceremonial Start on 4th Ave in downtown Anchorage Saturday, March 6th. It was a beautiful day for the festive 12 mile run through Anchorage for the 71 mushers and their teams. Fans from around the globe lined the streets to cheer on their favorites.
February 23, 2010 - Polar Bear Plunge / Winter Weirdness
We Alaskans pride ourselves on being adventurous, wild, and sometimes more than a little crazy. Crazy is a word I heard many times over the past few weeks after I decided to take the jump at the 25th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seward, Alaska. This tradition is a fundraiser for American Cancer Association in which bold, costumed Alaskans jump in to the icy cold waters of Resurrection Bay in the middle of winter.
February 9, 2010 - The Iceman Carveth
My fascination with the frozen arts started when I was just a little guy.I started by making the more traditional three tier snowman but after a while this just seemed a bit boring so I decided to brighten things up a bit by throwing electricity into the mix. I would carve deeply into the figures to embed the wiring and sockets so that only the lighted bulbs would show.
Janurary 12, 2010 - Alaska Federation of Natives
I decided to use the advantage of my close proximity to the Dena’ina Convention Center (I work right next door now) and take in a few of the AFN events.I attended the danceperformances known as Quyana Alaska featuring groups from all of the native cultures of Alaska — Eskimo, Indian, and Aleut. It was refreshing to see young children alongside their elders keeping alive the song and dance of their ancestral traditions.