Category: Alaska

South Central AlaskaLeave a comment

They Put the Fur into Fur Rondy.

Rich McClear

The Anchorage Fur Rendezvous (Rondy) is a festival designed to drive PETA mad.  There is the running of the reindeer, safer than running with the bulls. There are horse drawn carriages.  They’re bad, just ask New York’s new mayor.  There is a fur auction, “Where it all began” according to the banner over the auction stage.  Trappers, many of them kids, have their caches auctioned off.  A red tagged fur was trapped by someone under 15 earning pocket money or funds for school.  Along the street you can buy fur items, hats, coats, stoles, or pelts. The streets are lined … Continue reading They Put the Fur into Fur Rondy.

South Central AlaskaLeave a comment

Anchorage Fur Rondy Sled Dog Races.

Rich McClear

Suzi and I started going to sled dog races in the early ‘70s when we covered the All American Champion Sled Dog Race in Ely, MN for NPR.  Alaska’s George Attla, the Husila Hustler, finished second.  Other sprint race greats like Dr. Roland Lombard from Massachusetts met in Ely for that race.  In the late ‘70s we covered the Northern Minnesota sled dog circuit for KAXE and I actually got to run George Hewitt’s team in a short race.  But everyone in Minnesota tipped their hats to the granddaddy of all sprint races, the North American Championship Race, at the … Continue reading Anchorage Fur Rondy Sled Dog Races.

SitkaLeave a comment

Two Mornings On Jamestown Bay

Rich McClear

Saturday night we had a power failure.  Snow brought down a tree onto a power line between Blue Lake and Green Lake.  Suzi had just pulled dinner out of the over so we had a candle light dinner.  And just in case the power didn’t come back we ate all the ice cream. The view of the snow along Jamestown on Sunday Morning made the power outage worth it.  (Although I am sure the Sitka Electrical Department may disagree.)  This morning we had a beautiful moon set over Jamestown Bay and Mt. Edgecumbe after another night of fresh snow.  By … Continue reading Two Mornings On Jamestown Bay

SitkaLeave a comment

Chinese Lantern Festival, Sitka Style

Rich McClear

This is the first full moon of the Chinese New Year, the year of the Horse.  That means it’s the Lantern festival.  Sitka celebrated in style with a parade down Lincoln Street.  The Dragon Dancers formed up under the totem pole and danced past the Russian Orthodox Church.  The Celebration included performances by groups like the Celtic Kittens dancers.  Hank, our local bluesman, learned a song in Chinese and sang it.  Mt. Edgecumbe High School had its own dragon dance and students in the Chinese language program sang Chinese songs.   A Mt. Edgecumbe student in a kilt sang Auld Lange … Continue reading Chinese Lantern Festival, Sitka Style

South Central AlaskaLeave a comment

Gallery of Crystal Ice, 2014. Everyone Was a Winner

Rich McClear

Here is the final set of pictures from the Anchorage Town Square Crystal Gallery of Ice competition.  Although they didn’t win you can see how they were put together from the initial sketches to the finishing by fire.  I love the chess piece, it’s transparency and finish, and the angel fish.  The ice sea turtles were a favorite for me.  The artist played around with different colored gels on the lights.  White, green or blue?  What a joy! The Next posts are scheduled for January 13 and 14.  Old New Year.  By then I will be in the Yukon, still … Continue reading Gallery of Crystal Ice, 2014. Everyone Was a Winner

South Central Alaska2 Comments

Crystal Gallery of Ice, 2014 Frozen Window Pane

Rich McClear

One of the Anchorage’s delights is the Crystal Gallery of Ice.  Ice artists carve blocks of clear ice in Town Square Park each winter for the delight of Alaskans and to be judged by both a panel of judges and by the artists themselves. This winter I was able to show up when there were blocks of ice and watched design sketching on ice, rough carving with chain saws and the final finish work.  On some of the pieces blowtorches smoothed the surface. Ten teams competed in the contest, three form China.  The next three posts will be from the … Continue reading Crystal Gallery of Ice, 2014 Frozen Window Pane

Sitka2 Comments

Sitka Polar Dip

Rich McClear

On Saturday about 100 Sitkans took a swim in the Sitka Channel without wet suits, dry suits, or survival suits, although one was person in a Santa suit.  The fire department had pressure hosed the ramp to get rid of barnacles.  Apparently cut feet are the biggest medical danger in this operation, and there were rescue divers off shore.  I was covering the event for Raven Radio and before the event I asked the swimmers one simple question “Why?” Here is what I got: “Why Not?” — “We’ll be leaving this summer so I figured this is our last Alaska … Continue reading Sitka Polar Dip

SoutheastLeave a comment

Juneau Deco

Rich McClear

Juneau pretends to be an old gold rush town.  Behind the faux gold rush façade (logs covering concrete in some places, like the Red Dog Saloon) beats a heart of Art Deco.  Juneau suffered fires and was largely rebuilt in an Art Deco era. Concrete seemed a safer bet than wood. Modern buildings like the “Spam Can” make reference to art deco.  The Baranof Hotel, Palace Theater Building, Alaska Electric Power and Light Building and the 20th Century Theater all have nice deco touches.  I took some of these pictures from the Mt. Roberts Tramway. These pictures are from 2004, Juneau … Continue reading Juneau Deco

SoutheastLeave a comment

Sunrise at Noon, Sitka to Ketchikan

Rich McClear

I must have flown between Sitka and Ketchikan at least 100 times in the past 30 years.  Most of the times it has been overcast.  When it isn’t, I usually have an aisle seat, my preference.  Ten days ago, flying through Ketchikan to Seattle, Alaska Airlines upgraded me to first class in a window seat.  It was midday and a weather front was coming in.  The sun was low enough in the December sky and we were high enough to give the effect of sunrise at noon.  We broke through the overcast as we crossed Baranof Island and headed south … Continue reading Sunrise at Noon, Sitka to Ketchikan

SitkaLeave a comment

Sitka Sea Walk

Rich McClear

On Thursday we had 1.7 inches of rain, it was dark and wet.  I had the feeling that the season had changed.  We were finally going to get payback for our beautiful summer and fall.  On Friday I woke up to blue skies and sunrise alpenglow on Mt. Edgecumbe.  This morning (Saturday) I woke up to — snow. Friday was a good day for walking.  I took my usual turn through the National Park and then walked Sitka’s new Sea Walk.  The Sea Walk opened on Alaska Day.  I have never driven by without seeing people enjoying the walk and … Continue reading Sitka Sea Walk