Alaskology
About the blog: Alaska is a wonderful and fascinating place. Whether its backcountry hiking, coastline kayaking or dining on a downtown deck, there truly is something for everyone. This blog picks up where the annual Daily News Visitors' Guide leaves off. The guide is published in late April, but that's just when summer fun starts heating up. Throughout the year, we hope to give readers a look at Alaska through local eyes. The blog also serves as a calendar of what's going on, a place to look for some outstanding vacation deals and other cool stuff. We invite your comments and your questions. E-mail me at alaskology@adn.com.
About me: I live in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, and I served as the special sections editor at the Anchorage Daily News for nine years. My wife and I have been Alaska residents since 2000 and never plan to leave.
Archive
Sunshine, glaciers and art - 6/24/2009 7:53 am
Solstice: The good and bad - 6/23/2009 4:45 pm
Quakes, bears and more - 6/23/2009 8:29 am
Moose sweat - 6/10/2009 3:59 pm
Flattop, May 29: Blizzard - 5/31/2009 10:36 pm
A pizza picnic - 5/26/2009 5:02 pm
Staying put for the holiday weekend - 5/21/2009 7:17 pm
Rain, rain go away - 5/15/2009 9:03 am
Get on your bike and ride - 5/14/2009 3:23 pm
Kicking the bucket ... Alaska-style - 5/9/2009 9:39 pm
Sure sign of spring - 4/20/2009 5:42 pm
49 and counting ... - 4/16/2009 4:34 pm
One of those days - 4/7/2009 6:29 pm
Museum closed until May 30 - 3/31/2009 6:23 pm
Skiing our ashes off - 3/30/2009 1:06 pm
Snow, slop and ash ... must be spring - 3/27/2009 12:02 pm
Flights to, from Anchorage canceled - 3/26/2009 1:28 pm
Busy volcanic morning - 3/26/2009 10:07 am
Exxon Valdez: 20 years later - 3/24/2009 5:33 pm
Welcome spring - 3/20/2009 4:09 pm
Why Alaska? - 3/17/2009 4:25 pm
Spring fever ... ski style - 3/16/2009 6:56 pm
Sunshine, glaciers and art
JUNE 24, 2009 - 7:53 AM
Portage Glacier from the MV Ptarmigan on a cruise around Portage Lake.
It looks like a beautiful day in Southcentral Alaska, the perfect kind of day to get out and enjoy some of what makes our state so wonderful. And the artists at the Girdwood Center for Visual Arts have put together a special event that brings together some of the best things about Alaska –- art and the outdoors.
The GCVA is hosting its inaugural “Art on the Lake” cruise tonight aboard the mv Ptarmigan at Portage Lake. Daily the Ptarmigan takes visitors and locals on a one-hour tour of Portage Lake and close to Portage Glacier. A tour is one of the best ways to see a glacier in Southcentral.
Solstice: The good and bad
JUNE 23, 2009 - 4:45 PM
We stopped by the first G Street art market, which was a lot of fun. We didn't get away from this booth without dropping some cash.It was an odd summer solstice weekend.
The weather was kind of ehhh, so-so. It wasn’t really nice enough to enjoy all the outdoor fun that solstice invites, but it wasn’t bad enough to hole up inside.
So we did some outdoor stuff that wasn’t too weather dependant. We visited a couple farmers’ markets and also stopped by the opening weekend of a new downtown art show – a two-block, outdoor art party on G Street.
Quakes, bears and more
JUNE 23, 2009 - 8:29 AM
My wife was talking to a friend in New York yesterday afternoon. One of the first things he said was, “I hear you guys had an earthquake.”
News travels fast. He saw the report about our 5.4 quake on CNN.
I was at work when the quake hit, and it was a pretty good one. One of my co-workers had her cellphone and coat in hand and was headed for the stairs to leave the building when it finally started to slow down.
Earthquakes are one of things that makes Alaska is a unique place. But not the only thing. On the front page of the Daily News today is a photo story about brown bears showing up along the mudflats near Bird Point on Monday. I missed that, but I’m not surprised -- bears are everywhere, we don't always see them.
Moose sweat
JUNE 10, 2009 - 3:59 PM
A mother moose and her young calf visited the house yesterday.
Summer is here, and there are two ways to know:
1) It’s hot. When it the sun shines and it hits 70 degrees in Anchorage, it’s plenty warm. Today, the thermometer says at least 75 degrees. That’s downright sweltering in Southcentral Alaska. Of course, you’ll still see plenty of visitors with jackets on, but the locals are ready to head for a small lake a dip to cool off.
2) Moose … and plenty of them. The cow moose have dropped their calves. The last two days we’ve had three sightings at the house. A mother and her twins were in my neighbor’s yard Tuesday morning when I left for work. Gina saw a cow and a single calf munching on leaves at the end of the driveway yesterday. This morning the cow and calf were back, this time in my neighbor’s yard.
Flattop, May 29: Blizzard
MAY 31, 2009 - 10:36 PM
Snow moves across the Chugach Mountains in this view from the Flattop summit on Friday.Noah had this great idea about midday Friday as rain clouds gathered over Flattop Mountain. He called saying, "Let's hike Flattop in the rain."
But by late afternoon, it was sunny and looking pretty nice over the mountain. We made the hike anyway, enjoying the exercise going up. We had hot chocolate atop the mountain. (Sadly the person responsible for bringing the Bailey's Irish Creme forgot.)
When we started down it looked like Noah's wished-for rain was about to soak us. Only it wasn't rain, it was snow ... blowing, stinging snow ... a May blizzard atop Flattop.
A pizza picnic
MAY 26, 2009 - 5:02 PM
Moose irony -- a Moose's Tooth pizza box alongside a Kincaid Park trail frequented by moose. Monday's dinner was perfect -- a pesto supreme pizza, sunshine and the trails at Kincaid Park.I love the Moose’s Tooth.
Well, I suppose it’s more proper to say I love Moose’s Tooth pizza. (And Gina loves the beer.)
But I’ve given up on the restaurant itself. I don’t know if I’ll ever sit at one of the booths inside the always-popular Anchorage pizza and microbrew joint again. It’s simply too crowded to be enjoyable.
Staying put for the holiday weekend
MAY 21, 2009 - 7:17 PM
I feel like I’m being left out. Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner, and it seems everyone I know is headed to the Kenai Peninsula to go clamming.
There will be some severe minus tides this weekend, which is great for clamming. This is my 10th summer in Alaska, and I have yet to get down in the mud for clams. It’s not changing this weekend.
One rule I’ve established for summer fun is when a holiday weekend arrives, stick close to home. I’ll let everyone else battle for space on Alaska’s few highways or for a parking space at their favorite trail head or for a place to put their tent near the clams; I’ll hang out around Anchorage and feel like I have the place to myself.
Rain, rain go away
MAY 15, 2009 - 9:03 AM
Nature was not kind to Anchorage’s Bike-to-Work organizers and riders.
After several days of stunningly beautiful weather, we woke up this morning to rain. While it certainly didn’t make for the greatest Bike-to-Work conditions, it didn’t stop dedicated commuters.
I counted 41 other cyclists on my 11-mile ride to work. Most had on rain gear and were prepared for the poor conditions. The aid stations serving juice and other goodies were well staffed.
Maybe the weather will improve by this afternoon ride home.
-- Steve
Get on your bike and ride
MAY 14, 2009 - 3:23 PM
A cyclist rides along the Campbell Creek Trail near Elmore Road on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon in Anchorage.
The League of American Bicyclists is sponsoring Bike-to-Work Week this week and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday.
While this is a nationwide promotion, nowhere is it more appreciated than in Alaska. Why?
May is really the start of summer here. Oh, sure, we don’t officially start summer until June 21, but with nearly 17.5 hours of daylight, it seems like summer right now.
Kicking the bucket ... Alaska-style
MAY 9, 2009 - 9:39 PM
No, this is not Alaska. Gina and I visited Sleeping Bear Dunes in northern Michigan during our recent visit home. Here, I'm standing at the top of the dunes, about 350 feet above Lake Michigan.
The blog is back to life. My apologies for being MIA for weeks. There are a number of reasons, but I’m back up and running now.
One of the reasons I’ve been missing posts is because Gina and I took a weeklong vacation back to Michigan, where both of us spent most of our lives until moving to Alaska in 2000.
There is something comforting about returning to your roots. Even after being away from the state for nearly a decade -- and away from our hometowns much longer -- is nice to see that some things haven’t changed much. Of course, you also notice some major changes, and that can be jarring to the system.
Sure sign of spring
APRIL 20, 2009 - 5:42 PM
It's simply beautiful today. The temperature topped 50 degrees; spring really does appear to be here.
But I was shocked to see this appear on ADN's Web page earlier today.
The first cruise ship of the year pulled into Juneau on April 20? And people said this would be a down year for Alaska tourism.
Apparently, the stop is part of an around-the-world cruise. Maybe it doesn’t mean we will be inundated with cruise visitors this year.
But it certainly is a sign that spring – and summer – can’t be far away.
49 and counting ...
APRIL 16, 2009 - 4:34 PM
Gina and I conquered the huge chunks of ice on the beach at Kincaid Park.
Winter is dead.
This isn’t shocking news, but as the thermometer creeps toward 50 degrees today (it’s 49 as of this writing at 4:12 p.m.), the reality is setting in. Gina is mourning winter’s death already. In fact, she’s been moping around for several days.
I haven’t been on the cross-country trails lately, but there can’t be much left. In fact, yesterday, the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage posted this note on its Web site: “”This morning Tom was out for the last groom of the year. He groomed the Besh, Burn, Spencer, Bubble, Gasline. Enjoy. See you all next season.”
One of those days
APRIL 7, 2009 - 6:29 PM
A pair of young moose stop traffic on 15th Avenue in Anchorage recently.
Seeing moose in Alaska isn't big news.
Seeing moose in Anchorage isn't big news either.
Seeing moose crossing a busy 15th Avenue isn't "stop-the-presses" news, but it is pretty interesting. And worth a blog post.
I saw these two young moose -- nearly a year old -- cross 15th after their mother the other day. Three moose stopping traffic on one of Anchorage's busiest streets. It's one of the things that makes living here better than living other places.
Museum closed until May 30
MARCH 31, 2009 - 6:23 PM
The Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center is closed until May 30. When the museum reopens, it will feature a greatly expanded space.If you want to visit the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, you're out of luck for the next couple months.
The museum closed its doors to visitors last weekend and won't reopen them until May 30. But when those doors swing open, what a day it will be. The first phase of the museum's grand expansion will open to the public, featuring exhibits, a new café and new shop. More work will continue through 2010.
Skiing our ashes off
MARCH 30, 2009 - 1:06 PM
Gina wrote a small message in the ash/snow.
Everybody has a volcanic ash story from this weekend. Here's mine:
Gina and I headed to the cross-country trails about 4 p.m. Saturday (about 30 minutes after Mount Redoubt had a huge eruption with ash and such). We spent a few minutes on the multiuse trail with Beezil, the sun was shining, the snow was fresh and it felt really good.
We got back to the parking lot, put the dog in the car and were ready to head off on a nice loop ourselves. As we're heading out, we spot Scott McMurren, former travel columnist for the Daily News and all-around Alaska travel expert. Scott says: "Hey, getting in one last ski before the ash falls. It's in Nikiski right now."
Snow, slop and ash ... must be spring
MARCH 27, 2009 - 12:02 PM
Cross-country skiers make their way down the Mize Loop trail at Kincaid Park in Anchorage.
Ahh, spring in Alaska.
Last Saturday/Sunday, we received about 8 inches of snow at home. On Sunday afternoon, we hit the cross-country trails at Kincaid Park with a pretty big group, including some beginner skiers. The skiing wasn't very fast because of all the new snow, but it was a fun afternoon.
Throughout the week it has been a bit more springlike. Warm temperatures have turned the streets a sloppy mess by the afternoon.
Flights to, from Anchorage canceled
MARCH 26, 2009 - 1:28 PM
As if air travel isn't irritating enough, throw a volcano in the mix and there are all kinds of problems.
Alaska Airlines, Anchorage's major carrier, has canceled all its flights to and from Anchorage for the rest of the day following Mount Redoubt's latest eruption.
For more information, go here.
Experts say it's possible Redoubt could remain active for several months. Alaska is already planning on a slower-than-usual tourism season. This won't help.
-- Steve
Busy volcanic morning
MARCH 26, 2009 - 10:07 AM
Apparently Mount Redoubt is ticked off. At least that's what one of the editors here at the Daily News said this morning.
After a couple days of inactivity, our now world-famous volcano is amping up its activity. Twice this morning, Redoubt has exploded. The Alaska Volcano Observatory says the latest blast at 9:24 this morning was a "major explosive event" and the cloud has reached at least 65,000 feet above sea level.
It's still a bit cloudy here in Anchorage, so there's not much to see. And it appears the ash is headed away from Anchorage and toward Homer.
Exxon Valdez: 20 years later
MARCH 24, 2009 - 5:33 PM
I wasn't here in 1989.
I was a junior in college 20 years ago today when the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound. At that point, I didn't fully understand what happened. How could I? I'd never been to Alaska, I'd never stepped foot on a beach in the Sound.
Since I've moved to Alaska, I’ve kayaked in Prince William Sound several times. I've ridden the Alaska Ferry to Cordova. I've been on glacier cruises.
Thankfully, I've not seen the results of the 11 million gallons of oil that spilled from the Exxon Valdez.
But today is a day to think about what happened 20 years ago, to think about the devastation and to think about how nature has helped heal what man has done.
Welcome spring
MARCH 20, 2009 - 4:09 PM
The first day of spring is showing its stuff -- bright sunshine, temperature around 30 and more than 12 hours and 16 minutes between sunrise and sunset here in Anchorage.
The season of darkness is over. Alaska already has more daylight than any other place in the U.S. (Miami has 12 hours and 7 minutes, Seattle has 12 hours and 11 minutes, and Washington, D.C., has 12 hours and 8 minutes.)
This morning’s bike commute to work didn’t feel very springlike -- 7 degrees at the house when I pedaled off, and I arrived at work with some chilly toes. But the ride home looks like a winner.
And I just talked with Gina, who was practically giddy after her ski today, saying something like, "Spring skiing is the BEST!"
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