BBC News – Fears of disruption as solar storm strikes the Earth.
I bet the mushers are getting an incredible Aurora show out there… oh! EVEN in the full moonlight.
Is it too late to become a musher? I would really love to experience it. To be out there in the wilderness with the moon and aurora overhead, would be an life changing event.
Iditarod | Last Great Race on Earth®.
Here we are so far. We starting tracking the last spot, as a lark. But, now I’ve got Iditarod Fever. This got kicked up a notch when I ‘saw double’ – of course I’m talking about the Berington sisters.
And, when I think of beautiful ladies, I think of my mom who lives in Valdez. And, while she doesn’t have Iditarod fever – Yet, as I hear it is highly contagious – She does know some of the stories reported in the news. Like one of our favorites – Dan Seavey has a son and grandson in the race. Three generations of dog mushers on the iditarod trail. That’s cool.
And, She knows that there’s a musher named Lanier in the race. That’s our family name and imagine my surprise this morning when I see that Jim is in first place. Jim Lanier is Winning the Iditarod! Typically, we root for the ‘Red Lantern’, but because we share a last name, we are making an exception. Go JIM!
looking very dashing”]
Matt Failor Moving up two spots yesterday and got into McGrath late last night.
Seeing Double Sisters: Kristy Berington and Anna Berington in 44th and 43rd spot respectively. And, we are rooting for them, cause well they are pretty and cool.
Dan Seavey is hanging on to the lantern and it seems he is sticking with Jan Steves and Bob Chlupach. They are in Nikolai … Wait, Jan and Bob left this morning early without Dan.
Seeing Double Sled Dog Racing – Iditarod Race Blog.
After you read this you may not want to come back… Beautiful sisters (around the middle of the pack now) are in the race and keeping a blog.
More updates tomorrow from the Last Great Race
Iditarod | Last Great Race on Earth®.
Dan Seavey is still in first place – If the race were to turn around and go the other way. We love you Dan! Everyone can root for a ‘Winner’ – but what the hell is a winner anyway? We, here at Alaskagold.com, care about the ‘Red Lantern’, the guy in the back. You’re not a slow poke. You’re not the rotten egg. You’re our hero! Keep fighting and keep mushing. Just finish the race (and safely).
Matt Failor is moved up a few hours and has left Rohn checkpoint. Jan Steves, Bob Chlupach and Dan are still in Rohn this morning. Let’s go guys (I know Jan is a lady, but I used the genderless ‘guys’ in this case)
All the mushers are still in the race! Check out the standings for the 2012 Iditarod | Last Great Race on Earth. The leaders are out of the checkpoint of Rohn and the Red Lanterns (We love you Matt Failor and Dan Seavey) are in the Finger lakes, two checkpoints back.
Oh yes! This is racing excitement. Please keep the racers (Man, Woman and beast) in your thoughts and pray for a save race.
40th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race begins in Alaska
via The Associated Press: 40th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race begins in Alaska.
Check out the ADN’s Iditarod 2012 trailmap and Musher Leaderboard.
Pretty cool interactive mapThe stories of these mushers are awesome!
Anchorage, Alaska, Fur Rondy, Anchorage Fur Rendezvous Festival.
Let’s Rondy!
Seriously, you would never guess that Alaska in the winter would be a good time – no! The best time! After being couped up (sp?) all winter, the Anchorites and people from all over the state party like rock stars. Fur Rondy is a 77 year tradition of all the best of funky and fun Alaska.
I wish I was there.
Check out the “Running of the Reindeer.”
and
Hey Gang!
It’s cold (and staying cold). It’s dark, but getting lighter. The best way to beat SAD and cabin fever is to get out of the cabin and into the light. If ice climbing is your thing, then Presidents Day is the weekend to be out and about in Alaska.
The Valdez Ice Fest goes on during this time. And, there is an Ice Fest based around the Anchorage Area. There’s got to be one in SouthEast Alaska – check these forums for the latest info and to ask questions.
It’s like a big grassroots movement. But these guys and gals aren’t occupying Wall Street. They are occupying the frozen waterfalls and canyons all around Alaska.
Enjoy and be safe!
And a new blog to add to the Alaskan Blog Roll:
The Ascending Path’s Blog -Eco tours and Mountain Guides
And, if ice Climbing isn’t your think:
This really is the start to the Spring Winter Sports season up in Alaska. What other activities are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments.
Here is the stuff of Alaskan Legend. It’s the stuff of childhood dreams – that is if you had dreams to “do epic stuff”. Lord knows I did and I think everyone can relate somewhat to. Read of on Andrew Badenoch’s quest on ‘Fatbikerafting the Arctic’ Kickstarter page and listen to him talk it up on ‘Latest in Paleo’ podcast.
I’m tuning in.
From Kickstarter page:
All I want is to do epic stuff across the face of our amazing planet, then tell you about it so you can do the epic stuff you want to do. Is that so much to ask?
In the last week of March 2012, I’m heading north to the Arctic Ocean on foot, fatbike, and packraft. The estimated duration of the expedition is 6-8 months, but may vary significantly due to ice, ocean, and ground conditions throughout.
The project is a film documenting the adventure. It would be naivete or hubris to pitch you a plotline before I’ve left. I’m confident that my mind will be sufficiently blown, and I’ll do my best to translate that into something that will inspire others to experience the sublimity of wildness and wilderness.
via Fatbikerafting the Arctic by Andrew Badenoch — Kickstarter.
It’s a verifiable fact that the Alaskan Winter is cold and dark. The average January low temperature in Valdez is cold and in the Copper River valley REALLY cold. If you don’t mind the cold, the dark might drive you crazy. No, I’m serious. Look up seasonal affective disorder. It’s no joke.
But the winter is awesome. Awesome get over used and probably cliche. But the Alaskan winter is ‘awesome’ – jaw dropping, spine tingling, mind blowing awe inspiring Alaskan Winter.
And, like most Alaskan stuff that’s awesome – it’s certainly not the man-made stuff. Although, a mid-winter house party or backyard bonfire or Bear Tooth Concert are pretty cool. They really don’t match up with the natural wonders the winter has in store.
Let’s see – Horefrost, the way headlines look in ice fog along the Richardson Highway, epic snowdays inside, snow shoveling for money, Sundogs, broadies in icy parking lots, late sunrises, early sunsets, long long nights, the list goes on…
And, the cool thing is that -different than the summer – the experiences are for you and your close friends. The whole state feels empty. It’s like you are in the amusement park after closing.
One of my favorite natural wonders of the Alaskan winter is the Aurora. What a crazy cool thing. It’s part science fiction, part storm chasers, part late night party.
I remember being awakened (awoken?) in the middle of the night. My brother is standing there with a big grin and a sleeping bag. “The lights are out” he says. Minutes later, I’m standing in the parking lot – damp sorels on my feet and sleeping bag draped over the shoulders of my heaviest coat. There is a green cloud shifting around on the northern horizon above the Valdez Town mountain.
It was the first time I’d seen the northern lights. Our small group wandered over to some other folks across the street – they were whistling and clapping to call up the show. In low voices you can hear things like “dead ancestors”, “solar wind”, “ionosphere”, and “H-A-R-R-P project”. A very cool Alaskan experience.
I went on to really enjoy the aurora and saw it many times. On the back poach at parties, driving over the pass at night, out in McCarthy, from the plane – that’s pretty cool.
So, Is the aurora happening tonight? Check the Geophysical Institute from Fairbanks:
