Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve – Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve.
The gang over at the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park are doing a great job on the Facebook.
This week they have a cool picture of Fairy Slippers, which are blooming in the Glennallen area!
Of course, Fireweed is my favorite summer flower. And, Lupine.
Valdez Summit to Sound Challenge 2011 – YouTube.
This happens each year on Memorial Day. Ski, Bike, Kayak and run – That’s an Alaskan style race.
http://www.valdezsummit2sound.com/
Farewell Copper Center Lodge – Photo: ADVrider.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Bad wiring is suspected of causing a fire that has destroyed one of Alaska‘s last historic roadhouses.
The Copper Center Lodge was destroyed Sunday in an early morning fire.
Owner Tom Huddleston told the Anchorage Daily News that the building is a total loss.
Huddleston says the lodge was one of the last of its kind in Alaska. He says it was considered the jewel of roadhouses. The cause of the fire is not yet known, but Huddleston suspects the lodge’s wiring.
The original roadhouse on the site was built in 1896 and served gold miners. Huddleston says it was rebuilt after a 1928 fire. Huddleston’s family had operated the lodge since 1948.
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Information from: Anchorage Daily News, http://www.adn.com
Started in 1972, the NYO Games, previously known as the Native Youth Olympics, includes 10 events based on games past generations of Alaska Native people played as a way to test their hunting and survival skills, increase strength and maintain endurance, agility and the balance of mind and body. The Eskimo stick pull, for instance, is based on a strengthening exercise that Native hunters would do to prepare themselves for pulling seals out of the water. Although events are based on traditional Alaska Native activities, the competition is open to all Alaska students from seventh to 12th grade, regardless of ethnicity. – from Anchorage.net
I love the Native Youth Olympics. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the unique and wonderful Alaskan heritage and Alaskan school kids. I bet they had a blast!
Big Congrats to everyone who participated- Especially, hometown Valdez girl, Marian Wamsley. She set a WORLD RECORD in the one-toe high kick.
ADN Coverage: Native Youth Olympics kick off today: Arctic Games | Alaska news at adn.com. and ADN Photos: Native Youth Olympics 2012: Nyo | Alaska news at adn.com
Cook Inlet Tribal Council – NYO main page and official information
Pamyua played a concert:
Thank you Cook Inlet Tribal Council
Kneel Jump – Female
1st Apaay Campbell, BSSD, 50 1/2″
2nd Kendall Dray, Dillingham, 44 1/2″
3rd Jordan Kashatok, LKSD, 44 1/4″
4th Autumn Ridley, ANCA, 43 1/4″
5th Molly Norback, MEHS, 41 1/4″
Kneel Jump – Male
1st Austin Sundown, Anchorage Team B, 61 3/4″
2nd Dylan Magnusen, Unalaska, 60″
3rd Yako McCarr, LKSD, 57 1/2″
4th Steven Ahvakana, Anchorage Team A, 53 1/2″
5th Martin Gardiner, Dillingham, 51 1/2″
Wrist Carry – Female
1st Jorden Lisak, Dillingham, 373′ 4 1/2″
2nd Samantha Ishnook, SWRSD, 307′
3rd Amanda Burke, Mat-Su, 282′
4th Rizalie Rollin, Unalaska, 259′ 8″
5th Elena Evan, LKSD, 251′ 8″
Wrist Carry – Male
1st Daniel Miller, Dillingham, 593′ 4 1/2″
2nd Jacob McAnulty, Mat-Su Team B, 488′ 1/2″
3rd Aaron Ulroan, Chevak, 481′ 7 1/2″
4th Solomon Nashookpuk, Pt. Hope, 469′
5th David Chagluak, LKSD, 424′ 9″‘
Alaskan High Kick – Female
1st Autumn Ridley, Anchorage Team A, 82″ (New World Record)
2nd Kaley Rolf, Dillingham, 77″
3rd Chinace Egoak, LKSD, 73″
4th Raven Phillips, Aniak, 68″
5th Tahnee Esparzam, BSSD, 68″
Alaskan High Kick – Male
1st Yako McCarr, LKSD, 93″ (Tied State Record)
2nd Andrew Demientieff, Anchorage Team A, 90″
3rd Daniel Adams, Mat-Su, 86″
4th Austin Sundown, Anchorage Team B, 86″
5th Everdan Sugabo, Unalaska, 84″
Eskimo Stick Pull – Female
1st Mariam Wamsley, Valdez
2nd Mesa Rohrer, Gilson
3rd Shalisa F., Anchorage Team B
4th Amber Shields, Anchorage Team A
5th Kaity Wasillie, Bristol Bay
Eskimo Stick Pull – Male
1st Dalton Beatie, Mat-Su Team A
2nd Travis Turgiuna, SWRSD
3rd Jaylin Prince, MEHS
4th Lonner McConnell, Unalaska
5th Johnathan Wilson, Kenaitze
Toe Kick – Female
1st Raven Phillips, Aniak, 76″ (New State Record) Video interview with her from the 2011 NYO
2nd Renee Romer, MEHS, 58″ 3m/50
3rd Alecia Egoak, LKSD, 58″ 4m/50
4th Jonisha Wilson, BSSD, 58″ 6m/38
5th Rebekah Sawers, LYSD, 58″ 8m/50
Toe Kick – Male
1st Michael Charles, LKDS, 90″
2nd Chris Undbo, Anchorage Team A, 85″
3rd Michael Kanuk, Nenana, 84″
4th Kevin Horton, Mat-Su Team A, 76″ 2m
5th Forest Strick, Mat-Su Team B, 76″ 3m
One Hand Reach – Female
1st Revie Tony, LKSD, 59″
2nd Brittany Akaren, MEHS, 58″
3rd Kristen Smecten, Dillingham, 58″ 1m
4th Rebecca Brink, BRHS, 54″ 1m @ 54″
5th Chelsea Morrow, Burchell, 54″ 1m @ 50″
One Hand Reach – Male
1st Jeremy Andrew, LKSD, 65″
2nd Dennis Wilson, Dillingham, 64″
3rd Douglas Krukoff, Unalaska, 63″
4th Andrew Demientieff, Anchorage Team !, 62″
5th Vance Gregory, Mat-Su Team B, 62″ 1m
Two-Foot High Kick – Female
1st Autumn Ridley, Anchorage Team A, 75″
2nd Tahnee Esparza, BSSD, 73″
3rd Frederica Shaeffer, Mat-Su Team A, 67″
4th Kendall Dray, Dillingham, 67″ 1m
5th Teresa Korn, McGrath, 66″ 2m
Two-Foot High Kick – Male
1st Andrew Demientieff, Anchorage Team A, 94″
2nd Austin Sumdum, Anchorage Team B, 94″ 1m
3rd Kevin Brown, LKSD, 90″ 1m
4th Stuart Towarak, BSSD, 90″ 3m
5th Donavan Phillips, MEHS, 90″ 6m
Indian Stick Pull – Female
1st Olivia Shields, Anchorage Team B
2nd Deborah Hersrud, NWA BSD
3rd Summer Ulroan, Chevak
4th Christina Glenzel, KP NYO
5th Lori Paul, LKSD
Indian Stick Pull – Male
1st Mike McCain, Valdez
2nd Randy Standur, Tebughah
3rd Forrest Strick, Mat-Su Team A
4th Charles Teer, Lathrop
5th Daniel Ballais, Mat-Su Team B
One-Foot High Kick – Female
1st Marion Wamsley, Valdez, 92″ (New World Record)
2nd Autumn Ridley, Anchorage Team A, 87″
3rd Tahnee Esparza, BSSD, 82″
4th Jordan Lisac, Dillingham, 80″
5th Ashley Apangolook, Mat-Su Team A, 79″
One-Foot High Kick – Male
1st Stuart Towarak, BSSD, 112″ – Video of the winning effort
2nd Jens Irelan, Nome, 106″
3rd Andrew Demientieff, Anchorage Team A, 104″
4th William Byrd, Mat-Su Team A, 104″ 1m
5th Donovan Phillip, MEHS, 104″ 2m
Seal Hop – Female
1st Dajan Treder, Anchorage Team A, 160′ 9 1/4″
2nd Teresa Korn, McGrath, 128′ 4 3/4″
3rd Kristin Smetchen, Dillingham, 126′ 9 1/4″
4th Haley O’Brien, Bethel, 123′ 9 1/4″
5th Megan Friday, LKSD, 118′ 5 3/4″
Seal Hop – Male
1st Michael Kanuk, Nenana, 139′ 5″
2nd Demck Black, Galena, 133′ 9 1/2″
3rd Fabian Pete, LYSD, 121′ 3 3/4″
4th Eddie Chuchkwurk, LKSD, 120′
5th Wigberto Gonzalez, Mat-Su Team A, 118′ 11″
One-Foot High Kick – Female
1st Marion Wamsley, Valdez, 92″ (New World Record)
Alaskan High Kick – Female
1st Autumn Ridley, Anchorage Team A, 82″ (New World Record)
Alaskan High Kick – Male
1st Yako McCarr, LKSD, 93″ (Tied State Record)
Toe Kick – Female
1st Raven Phillips, Aniak, 76″ (New State Record) – Video interview with her from the 2011 NYO
2012 Festival Highlights
Alaska Experience Theatre is having an open house for all the tourism related employees. This is a great idea. My parents visited Anchorage last Summer and they hid from the rain in the Alaska Experience Theatre. THEY LOVED IT. My Dad couldn’t stop talking about the earthquake. Too funny.
You know what else is funny? They are screening “THE BIG LEBOWSKI” and serving microbrews. It’s like a Lewbowski Fest Anchorage. I would definitely show up as ‘the Jesus’ or maybe the police chief of Malibu. Anything can happen in AK~!
from the website:
ALASKA EXPERIENCE THEATRE
TRAVEL / TOURISM OPEN HOUSE 2012
Friday, May 11
5:00pm – 9:30pm
What is it?
A chance for all tourism, hospitality, restaurant employees to experience the Alaska Experience Theatre and 1964 Earthquake Museum
What is the cost?
Nothing! This is a free event. Please register when checking in.
What’s going on?
You can check out any or all of our 30-minute Alaska films, the 15-minute 1964 film with hydraulic “safequake” simulator, and the 1964 Earthquake Museum.
Where is this place?
In the big blue mall on the corner of 4th & C. 333 West 4th Ave. 907-272-9076
What if I’m hungry?
No problem. Light snacks and beverages provided.
Can I bring a date?
Sure. Bring a friend or significant other.
Is it all-ages?
Yes. However, at 10:00pm we are screening THE BIG LEBOWSKI in our main theatre. This event is ages 21 and over because we will be serving local microbrews.
Please RSVP for Lebowski – Limited to 100 Seats – Ages 21 and over, only.
www.alaskaexperiencetheatre.com
Who won? The dude with the giant sword, Brandon Reid. Photo: Big Mountain Taxi
Brandon Reid
holds the sword and the cash. 10,000 in 100 dollar bills. That’s cash money. Screw the big check, they got a big ass sword!
Emily Weer wins for the Women! Her facebook update below:
Wholy Shiza…..I did it!!! Bringing a sword and a whole lot of amazing memories back to Tahoe. Yoko from japan killed it…Natalie from Switzerland, Sharka from Check Republic….etc. Can’t really believe it…stoked to come home and ride some pow. Queen of the hill for today.
Check out all the event photos and updates at Tailgate AK facebook page
Tailgate Alaska and Flow Freeride Championship in Thompson Pass, AK
1. Brandon Reid 2. Sammy Luebke 3. Mikey Marohn 4. Max Zipster 5. Donny Mills 6. Scotty Lago 7. Micah Hoogaveen 8. Cody Beach
1. Emily Weer 2.Yoko Nakamura
Tailgate Alaska and the Flow World Freeride Championship
The results are in - Top 8 dudes and all the ladies are in the Finals!
Flow Freeride Championship Men
Top 8 in the Finals.
Flow Freeride Championship Women
Top 2 are in the Finals.
These are the results from the Flow Freeride Championship at Tailgate AK. The top 8 men qualify and top 5 women qualify for the finals. If you have links to more stuff about them, please share in the comments below!
Check out the websites below for more details. Good luck riders!
It’s no secret that I love Valdez and the Copper River Valley. If I had to choose one reason why, it wouldn’t be the whales in the prince william sound. No. Not the tidewater Glaciers. Kayaking. The McCarthy Road Summer camping out at the Kooskolana bridge. 3 feet Snow Storm weekend? no, close. $75 dollar an hour snow shovelling gig? no, but getting closer.
Thompson Pass is the reason I love Valdez.
Starting 20 miles outside of Valdez on the Richardson Highway is Thompson Pass. One Pass to rule them all, as it was explained to me. I was a refugee from the industrial culture of the lower 48, when a good friend loaned me a bunch of fleece and an old snowboard to teach me to snowboard. “Boots? Do I need boots”, I asked. “No”, he said. “Your sorels will do. Here put these ski boot liners in them.”
Alaska Kills stupid. But, I got by with help from my friends
I learned to snowboard on Thompson Pass. That was in the Spring of 1996. It’s close to my heart. Some many friends and friendly people congregate there each Spring. I met the gang up there. Dean Cummings and Lisa Wax. John and Jesse Tol. Pete Lowney. The Mills Brothers. Greg Geidt and Sean Wisner. Most are still around. Raeann Kruger. Ran Crone. Of course, my crew of Dale Bard, Eddie Spaghetti.
Crap, I’ve reminisced enough.
Someone but in a bootpack up Schoolbus
Trust me. Thompson Pass, Alaska in April is a world class special place. It’s hard. It sucks when it blows (paradox are common). But in that crucible, lifetime memories are forged. You will get high breathing the air and it will last a very long time. It’s special. It’s ultra Alaska. And I miss it.
So, if you are heading there, be glad. If you are there, enjoy. And, if you don’t know, now you know.
