Fairbanks
We hit Fairbanks twice. We spent the night on the way to Chena Hot Springs at a hotel between first and second avenue and on Cushman. I first was here in the winters of 1974 and 1975. It was pipeline … Continue reading Fairbanks
Category: Alaska
Chena Ice Museum
Yesterday I posted my letter from Chena Hot Springs and promised more pictures from the Chena Ice Museum. The ice sculptures were carved by Heather and Steve Brice and are lit by colored LEDs. There is a wedding chapel, … Continue reading Chena Ice Museum
Chena Hot Springs, 2014
Steam rises in the cold air and we cross a creek that is running freely, not frozen. We’re at Chena Hot Springs — off the grid, no mobile phone, no internet. Public radio still gets to places in Alaska where … Continue reading Chena Hot Springs, 2014
Anchorage, January 2014
When I lived in Sitka I grew to like Anchorage. OK, when I first moved to Southeast I made all the normal jokes about “Los Anchorage” or “the best thing about Anchorage was that it was 20 minutes from Alaska.” … Continue reading Anchorage, January 2014
Gallery of Crystal Ice, 2014. Everyone Was a Winner
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
Crystal Gallery of Ice 2014, the Carvers’ Choice and Runners Up.
The Second Place award in the Anchorage Crystal Gallery of Ice carving completion went to a team of Chinese artists who carved a dragon. The dragon won first place in the artists own balloting. The third place went to “Embrace” … Continue reading Crystal Gallery of Ice 2014, the Carvers’ Choice and Runners Up.
Crystal Gallery of Ice, 2014 Frozen Window Pane
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
New Year’s Eve, Albania — Anchorage
New Year’s Eve is not my holiday. I’ve attended New Year celebrations in lots of places, but mostly as an observer, not a celebrant. The forced gaiety makes me uncomfortable. This year I observed New Year’s celebrations in Anchorage. Each … Continue reading New Year’s Eve, Albania — Anchorage
Chena Hot Springs
January 2004. We spent the last two nights at Chena Hot Springs, 60 miles North East of Fairbanks. The springs were discovered in 1905 and became a resort for bone weary gold prospectors. When we arrived the temperature was reasonable, … Continue reading Chena Hot Springs
Sitka Polar Dip
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
2013 Christmas in Sitka, including the return of the Boat Parade!
For years Sitka had a boat parade. Several years ago, after the mill closed, the boat parade ended. It is expensive to run boats up and down the channel while powering lights with a generator. The boat parade was replaced … Continue reading 2013 Christmas in Sitka, including the return of the Boat Parade!
Winter Solstice, Sitka, Dec 21, 2013
It’s the turning of the season, Winter Solstice. Living in the North it really is midwinter, and while we have a lot of cold ahead the returning sun presents the promise of spring. Because we are closest to the sun … Continue reading Winter Solstice, Sitka, Dec 21, 2013
Juneau Deco
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
Sunrise at Noon, Sitka to Ketchikan
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
Sitka’s Holiday Market, 2013.
The holiday season has come to Sitka. The city’s decorations went up just before Thanksgiving (allowing the electrical crews to have some time off on Friday). I did the Good Day Radio Show on Thanksgiving Morning and enjoyed seeing the … Continue reading Sitka’s Holiday Market, 2013.
Sitka Sea Walk
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
The Alaska Marine Highway System is 50
These are pictures I have taken over the years of our Ferry System. I am amazed that several of the ships have been serving for 50 years and still run well, having been modified over the years. Three were stretched, … Continue reading The Alaska Marine Highway System is 50
Sitka WhaleFest 2013, The Whale Watch Cruise
The highlight of the 17th Sitka WhaleFest was whale watching. November is when Humpback Whales gather in Sitka Sound to bulk up, either before they make their swim to Hawaii to mate or give birth, or as a prelude to … Continue reading Sitka WhaleFest 2013, The Whale Watch Cruise
Sitka WhaleFest, 2013.
I’ve never before been to Sitka’s WhaleFest, even though it has been run by old friends. I have missed 16 of them. I’ve always been out on assignment in early November and never thought to rearrange my schedule to be … Continue reading Sitka WhaleFest, 2013.
Termination Dust, Sitka Alaska, November 2, 2013
This has been a wonderful weekend in Sitka. While we see snow on our mountains all year, those closest to the sea are bare in the summer. We had a lot of rain at sea level during the week; in the mountains it was snow. On Saturday it cleared and the near peaks and our volcano got their white snow caps back. “Termination Dust” is what Alaskans call it, the snow that means summer jobs are over. Some of these are shots taken on the water this weekend on a whale watch sponsored by Sitka WhaleFest (the whales I will … Continue reading Termination Dust, Sitka Alaska, November 2, 2013
Chena Ice Hotel and Museum, Chena Hot Springs, Alaska
We decided to come to Chena Hot springs because the resort has built the world’s first year around ice hotel. This takes a little explaining. The resort hauled a high arched Quonset frame surplus from Prudhoe Bay and fit it … Continue reading Chena Ice Hotel and Museum, Chena Hot Springs, Alaska
Alaska Day in Sitka, Alaska, 2013
Alaska Day in Sitka Alaska Day commemorates the day in 1867 when the United States took possession of Alaska from the Russians. It’s Sitka’s day. Up until that time Sitka ran on the Julian calendar and was west of the International Date Line. Sitka jumped ahead about two weeks in an instant when the American flag hit the top of the pole on Castle Hill. In most Alaska communities Alaska Day is just a substitute for Columbus Day, which is a federal but not a State holiday. In 1980 when I worked at KTOO in Juneau, we did a vox … Continue reading Alaska Day in Sitka, Alaska, 2013
Harbor Mountain Redux, Sept 2013
The weather obliged with rain during “Running of the Boots” this morning but the clouds broke and the sun broke through a dramatic sky mid-afternoon. Suzi and I decided to run up to the top of Harbor Mountain for much of the afternoon. The autumn has progressed, the colors are a little more vivid than they were earlier in the week when I posted. Continue reading Harbor Mountain Redux, Sept 2013
Running of the Boots, Sitka, Alaska, Sept, 2013
Today Sitka celebrated the “End of the Season” with 19th annual “The Running of the Boots.” Why not? San Fermin, Spain has its running of the bulls. We don’t have bulls on our island, or even bull moose, but we … Continue reading Running of the Boots, Sitka, Alaska, Sept, 2013