Siberia, Alaska Land Bridge

The prevailing theory has been that people followed herds of migrating animals across an ancient land bridge between Siberia and Alaska, and then moved southward along the West coast. Proof has been hard to come by, however. The sea – about 60 metres lower at the time –would have inundated the remains of coastal settlements as it rose.

A team led by anthropologist Tom Dillehay of Vanderbilt University reports on the new seaweed study from Monte Verde, Chile, in Friday's edition of the journal Science.

There is a continuous mountain chain along the western side of the Americas, Mr. Dillehay explained in a briefing, with thousands of rivers and streams flowing down the mountains to the ocean.

This would have encouraged north-to-south migration, he explained, with some groups choosing to turn and follow rivers inland.

Earliest American find detailed - The Globe and Mail

Technorati Tags: alaska, siberia, land bridge, settlers

Food Not Lawns - Alaska

SITKA, Alaska

The notion that it’s impossible to grow vegetables in Sitka falls away quickly when you visit Florence Welsh. Cabbages the size of bowling balls line one side of the her driveway, and giant cauliflower ears, lettuce beds, and broccoli are just a few steps away.

Next to her garage, up a slight hill, are fresh flowers, with pink and purple canterbury bells and delphiniums growing under the protection of a roof that keeps the rain off and shields them from the wind.

Growing beds are around every corner with potatoes, zucchini, carrots, chives, mint, basil, chard, rhubarb, and fennel — the list goes on. A good deal of what Ms. Welsh is growing, including fresh cut flowers, will be available at this year’s Sitka Farmers’ Market.

Besides Welsh, market co-coordinators Kerry MacLane and Linda Wilson said, there are two other main vegetable providers who will operate tables at the market: Gimbal Botanicals, which is run by Hope Merritt, and the Sitka Local Foods Network, which has been tending to the St. Peter’s Fellowship Farm.

All three operations are completely organic, grown with post-spawn seaweed as the primary fertilizer.

It is a technique that Welsh has advocated since 1984, when she began her growing operation in Sitka. She avoids chemicals and uses lightweight, gauzelike row covers to keep bugs off her developing plants.

In Sitka, Alaska, ‘food not lawns’ takes hold | csmonitor.com

Technorati Tags: alaska, food, gardening, organic

Geeks in Alaska

Alaska: Geeks dwell here, too, it's not all Palin and mush-dog races. - Boing Boing

Pat Race of Alaska Robotics, whose "Buy Back Alaska" video was featured here a couple years ago, has created a new video about crushing absurdity of national economics. It's embedded above, and I think it's sweet and funny in a homey, dorky, "I made this!" way.

From the land of Sarah Palin, meth shacks, and aerial elk-massacres, he emails Boing Boing:

Alaska Robotics is Pat Race, Aaron Suring, Lou Logan, Sarah Asper-Smith, and whoever else falls into our cast of friends and family. We live in Juneau where we make short films, draw comics, and eat halibut. We organize screenings of locally made short films twice a year and also work to bring filmmakers, animators and writers north to teach workshops.

Technorati Tags: geeks, alaska

Help Stop the Wolf Massacre in Alaska

Please read this article and follow the link to sign this petition. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Since 2003, more than 1,000 wolves have been slaughtered under the State of Alaska's aerial wolf killing programs, shot dead by airborne gunners with high-powered rifles or chased to exhaustion and executed at point-blank range.

To artificially inflate Alaska's moose and caribou populations -- often for the benefit trophy hunters that don't even live in Alaska -- outgoing governor Sarah Palin accelerated the killing in recent years. This year alone, more than 250 wolves have been killed -- putting the 2008/2009 aerial wolf killing season on pace to become the deadliest in years.

Congressman George Miller will soon re-introduce the Protect America's Wildlife (PAW) Act, federal legislation to end the controversial practice of using aircraft and gunmen to chase and kill wolves in Alaska.

Complete the form below to urge your representative to sign on as an original co-sponsor of representative George Miller's re-introduced PAW Act help end this awful practice in Alaska and prevent it from spreading to places like the Northern Rockies.

Change.org - Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund: Help Stop the Alaska Wolf Massacre

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49th State Celebrates the big 5-0

Happy birthday, Alaska.

Our nation's 49th state, the biggest of them all, celebrated the big 5-0 this year.

With 570,374 square miles of land, Alaska is hardly homogenous. The state is divided into five distinct regions for travelers to consider, each diverse and multilayered.

Trying to sum up Alaska in a short story is akin to writing the history of the world on a postage stamp.

Here is the tip of the iceberg (glacier?) on the regions, with information culled from www.

travelalaska.com, an excellent Web site run by the Alaska Travel Industry Association.

The Columbus Dispatch : Checking In | Cindy Decker commentary: 49th state boasts endless opportunities for visitors

From Here to Alaska

When Steve Perrins and Denise Beliveau were growing up in these parts, they went to Manchester High School West.

Then they really went west.

In fact, they went north and west, and starting tonight, all of America — well, at least that portion of America that receives the television network known as RFD-TV — will see what they’ve been up to for the past 30 years or so.

UnionLeader.com
- New Hampshire news, business and sports - From here to Alaska: Meet
Steve, Denise and their five sons - Monday, Jul. 6, 2009

Alaskan Fishing

Pick up any book on Alaska fly patterns - or better yet, rummage through a few fly boxes of any hard core Alaska fly fisher - and you'll quickly note that fly patterns for Alaska come in a wide variety of styles, sizes, colors and profiles.

Some flies are designed specifically to resemble key food items such as insects, crustaceans, fish eggs or small baitfish, and these patterns are commonly referred to as "naturals." On the other end of the spectrum are fly patterns that do not resemble any specific food items. These patterns, referred to as "attractor patterns," are designed specifically to elicit a predatory or aggressive strike response. Attractor patterns are usually brightly colored or garnished with hints of flash to advertise their presence, whereas naturalistic patterns tend to closely mimic specific prey items while complementing both their natural coloration and biological profile.

CapitalCityWeekly.com - Southeast Alaska's Online Newspaper

Technorati Tags: alaska, fishing, flies, tips

Alaska Celebrates Russian Culture

A little over two miles of water separates the Bering Strait islands of Little Diomede and Big Diomede, making the distance between Alaska and Siberia less than the stretch between downtown Juneau and Lemon Creek.

This proximity, called into doubt during the recent Presidential election, will be celebrated next weekend with White Nights, a festival of Russian culture organized by Alexander Dolitsky, president of the Alaska Siberia Research Center.

The event calls attention to both our physical closeness to Russia and to the long-standing historical connection between the two land masses. Organized as part of the Russian Compatriot Program, of which Dolitsky is a delegate, it serves to promote Russian heritage and culture, foster good relations between the neighboring countries, and to reach out to Russian diaspora.

The festival, sponsored by the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the United States and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and partially by the City and Borough of Juneau, runs from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. next Saturday, June 20, at Centennial Hall.

Warm days, White Nights - Juneau Empire

Technorati Tags: alaska, russia, summer, festival

Foodio54.com's Mike Van Heyde Hit's Alaska on US Tour

After arriving in Anchorage I made my way down to Alaska Salmon Chowder House downtown. I will make an omission here, I used to love that imitation crab stuff that you can get for $4 a bag at the grocery store, however sadly, after easting real Alaska King Crab legs I don’t think I’ll even be able to eat that imitation crab garbage ever again. It was absolutely delicious and fresh and the sauce they provided was excellent as well. The name of the place was Alaskan Salmon Chowder House, so I felt compelled to try that as well and it was just the perfect blend of Salmon and vegetables. Being from Ohio I don’t eat a lot of seafood that is just off the boat fresh (we’re cautioned not to eat too much fish from Lake Erie), and so this was a real treat.

Foodio54 Blog

Technorati Tags: foodio54.com, Mike Van Heyde, food, travel

Alaska: The Place to Travel this Summer

Alaska travel companies offer their suggestions on why this summer may just be the perfect time to visit Alaska.

Anchorage, Alaska (PRWEB) May 26, 2009 -- With the current economic climate it is more important than ever for travelers to stretch their vacation dollars. A group of Alaska travel companies has banded together to compile quite a compelling list of why Alaska is the perfect destination for this summer to do just that. It all started when Anchorage based Alaska Tour & Travel published an article on their blog on top reasons to visit Alaska this summer, and asked for other local businesses to join in with their suggestions. Response has been great according to company President Steve Judd, who says they are well on their way to hitting their goal of 99 reasons.
Visit Alaska This Summer!
Visit Alaska This Summer!

Judd, a 43 year Alaska resident with nearly 30 years in the Alaska travel industry, offered his own take on why travelers should choose this summer to visit the state. For starters, Alaska is celebrating its 50th Anniversary of Statehood this year. Many communities have special events planned, and numerous travel companies are offering travel specials to mark the milestone. Softer demand this summer will also mean less crowds and lower prices with Alaska travel deals common across nearly the entire industry. Also unusual for this time of year, there is still excellent availability for this summer even in traditional bottleneck areas like Denali National Park. Alaska cruises are also still available and at historic low prices, with seven night Gulf of Alaska cruises going for as little as $399. More importantly, many lines are reducing capacity for Alaska cruises for 2010 so most experts see Gulf of Alaska cruise prices jumping back up for next year.

The bottom line, says Judd, "There is still plenty of time to book an Alaska vacation this summer, and prices may never be this low again."

99 Reasons to Visit Alaska this Summer

Technorati Tags: alaska, travel, summer, cruises

Entrepeneurs Ski Alaska

TORDRILLO MOUNTAINS, Alaska (Fortune Small Business) -- I am standing near the peak of a craggy, white-capped mountain in Alaska. With me are three world-class adventure-sports athletes.

Big-wave surfer Dave Kalama clicks into his skis while surf superstar Laird Hamilton straps on an unusually long snowboard in the knee-deep snow. A few yards away, tromping to the edge of a cliff to survey our exit options, is Jeremy Jones, Snowboarder magazine's eight-time Big Mountain Rider of the Year. The bright red and blue A-Star helicopter that just deposited us here takes off in a blur of white powder, spins 180 degrees and disappears over a spiny ridge.

We peer from a tiny knoll down thousands of feet into the Triumvirate Glacier, the second largest in Alaska. This rippled ice leviathan winds 30 miles through the Tordrillo Mountains, a section of the Alaska Range 60 miles west of Anchorage.

Overhead the sky is bright blue, cloudless. The landscape below is blinding white. Even this crew, made up of veteran adventurers of the world's most beautiful places, can't find adequate words.

Snow Blind: Extreme skiing through the recession - May. 20, 2009

Alaskan Kids Plant for Arbor Day

FAIRBANKS — A wilderness of trees surrounds the greater Fairbanks area, yet Arbor Day devotees have been planting trees locally for years.

In 1983, an informal group of self-motivated citizens formed an Arbor Day committee and planted two young birch trees — one on either side of the sign at the Cushman Street Transit Station.

Today, 26 years later, the same two trees are leafing out under the warm spring sun, and the small group continues to plant trees across Fairbanks each Arbor Day season.

The goal this year is 50 trees to celebrate Alaska’s 50 years of statehood.

Dick Farris lists the Arbor Day committee as one of the best organizations he’s had the fortune to be part of.

newsminer.com • Joy Elementary students get the dirt on Alaska Arbor Day

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Alaska's Northern Adventures

Wasilla, ALASKA-Travel above the Arctic Circle and access the Arctic Ocean during the seven-day Alaska Arctic Adventure, offered by Alaska Outdoors. The route takes Alaskan explorers into the country’s most remote region accessible by road and features six nights of camping and many opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing. This trip departs on July 12, 19 and 26; the departures on the 12 and 26 travel south from Prudhoe Bay to Fairbanks; the July 19 departure travels north from Fairbanks. All departures start at $1195 per person, not including internal flights.

On northbound trips, participants begin in Fairbanks and head north to explore the boreal forest and the geologic formations near Chena, followed by a soak in the therapeutic hot pools of Chena Hot Springs, home of the first geothermal power plant in Alaska. The next six days are spent traveling further north into the most remote regions of the state - cross the Yukon River, then the Arctic Circle, and finally the mighty Brooks Range before reaching the treeless plain of the North Slope. Along the way, participants hike within the famous - and controversial - Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Each day’s distance, hiking options, and wildlife viewing opportunities are dictated by Mother Nature, but every evening, guests will camp in Alaska’s expansive wilderness. Prudhoe Bay is the destination on the final day - the road ends here, but the tour continues with a tour of the Prudhoe Bay oil facilities. Here, access to the remote Arctic Ocean is finally available - brave adventurers can even take a dip if they desire.

Travel into Alaska’s Remote Regions on a Journey above the Arctic Circle | Travel Video News

Technorati Tags: alaska, arctic circle, travel, journey

Thompson Pass, Valdez Alaska

Snowboarding - Tailgate Alaska: Topographic Tour - ESPN

We've all seen plenty of footage from Alaska. But unless you've spent a serious amount of time there yourself, how often can you name the peak or the exact zone? In the latest episode of Tailgate Alaska, local guide Dave "Happy" Rintala, breaks down the key areas of the Thompson Pass region in Valdez. He tells us about Odyssey, the smaller peak but one deep with history as the location for the King of the Hill and other big mountain competitions. We learn about Goodwill's, a peak named after rider Matt Goodwill after he launched an 80 foot cliff there. Or there's the Little Matterhorn, which indeed, looks like a mini-version of Europe's Matterhorn mountain. And Mt. Diamond, "the big daddy of Thompson Pass," with a 7,000 foot run. It's a good overview of the area, as it shows just how much AK has to offer. "It was made for us up here," says guide Tony Mann. "It's like the world's biggest terrain park."

Technorati Tags: alaska, skiing, thompson pass, valdez

Congrats to Amanda Hartman!

newsminer.com • Nanooks athletes earn team awards

Amanda Hartman of Valdez won the John C. Gilmore Award as the team’s top scholar, and Joann Kump of Missoula, Mont., landed the Most Inspirational Award.

Technorati Tags: valdez, alaska, athletes, awards

New Fishing Regulations

Fish and Game poses new restrictions on Deshka fishing - KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source |

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A poor return of King Salmon in 2008, and another expected weak run this year, has prompted Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials to restrict fishing on the Deshka River.

Beginning May 15 and running through July 13, bait will be banned from the Deshka, and the river will go to part time catch and release.

Anglers will be allowed to keep Kings Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but will have to release Kings caught Tuesday through Friday.

Last year only about 7,500 Kings were counted through the Deshka weir.

Fish and Game's biological escapement goal is between 13,000 and 28,000 fish.

Officials project the 2009 run to be around 13,600 fish, but they expect the actual numbers will be similar to 2008.

Should they be right about a weak return, Fish and Game says further restrictions could be imposed, including a complete closure of the Deshka to King Salmon fishing.

For more information, contact Fish and Game's Palmer Area Office at (907) 746-6300.

Technorati Tags: alaska, fishing, salmon

Great Springtime Activities in Alaska

Anchorage Family Entertainment Examiner : Outdoor activities suitable for spring time in Anchorage

With the snow finially melting and the temprature rising, its time to trump that cabin fever and get the kids outdoors!! Spring time in Alaska means something entirely different; chilly winds, mud, and puddles. But never fear, there are still plenty of ways to get them out in the sunshine that won't involve hip waders!

The Eagle River Nature Center offers a Jr. Naturalist program, designed for children ages 5 and up, on Saturdays at 2 pm. The programs begin indoors, and then move outdoors, so be prepared for any kind of weather. Joining the Jr. Naturalist program also gives kids a chance to earn their very own Jr. Naturalist badge, all while learning about their environment. In addition to the Jr. Naturalist program, ENRC also offers a variety of other programs, ideal for schools, scout groups, or just families who are looking for a day outing. For complete list of programs and a calander of events, visit www.ernc.org.

When is the last time you checked out the Alaska Zoo? The Sketch-n-Safari program is a monthly event held year round, regardless of the season. They are held every second Saturday, from noon to 2pm, in the coffeeshop or greenhouse. Visitors are encouraged to pop in anytime during those hours, and watch Leon Rabinovitch and Steve Carson, otherwise known as the "Sketch-n-Safari guys" teach the basics of learning to draw animals. The open attendance program welcomes visitors of all ages and provides all supplies. There is no fee, but donations are accepted. For more about Alaska Zoo programs, check out their website, www.alaskazoo.org.

And finially, why not just take a walk in the woods? The Alaskan Outdoors is a social hiking group open to the public in Anchorage AK. They offer a moderate hike for beginners or families with children on Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Are you a family of more experienced hikers? Try the Thursday hike, designed for intermediate hikers often including steeper trails. The hikes are free to members of the Alaska Outdoors, and donations of $1 are suggested for non members. For information on hiking locations,or membership information, go to www.alaska-outdoors.org.

Its never to early to go play outside, so blow the dust off your sunglasses and take Anchorage up on what it has to offer this spring. Just don't forget the sunscreen.

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4.7 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Alaska

The Associated Press: Shallow earthquake rattles southcentral Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A shallow earthquake strongly shook a large swath of Alaska.

The magnitude 4.7 quake struck at 12:13 p.m. Tuesday and was widely felt in southcentral parts of the state.

The earthquake was centered 20 miles north of Anchorage, where it was accompanied with a loud boom.

The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center says the quake also was felt in other communities, including Wasilla and Palmer.

Monitors at the center say the temblor was felt in a large area because it was fairly shallow, about 16 miles deep.

The center says there are no reports of injury or damage and no tsunami is expected from the quake.

Technorati Tags: alaska, earthquake, anchorage,

Alaska Sea Grant College Program

Anchorage Boating Examiner: Alaska Sea Grant College Program

A valuable resource for boaters in our state is the Alaska Sea Grant College Program based out of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The mission of Sea Grant is to support maritime research and distribute the results to coastal communities in a way that will benefit them.

Public outreach from Sea Grant is conducted in part by their Marine Advisory Program (MAP) and Bookstore. Marine Advisory agents are found in coastal areas throughout Alaska and are vital members of their communities.

Most boaters would be interested in the excellent publications produced by Alaska Sea Grant. Some publications of interest to boaters are detailed below.

Responsible Marine Wildlife Viewing in Alaska - This publication written by MAP Agent Terry Johnson details the legal and practical aspects of viewing marine mammals.

Water Wise: Safety for the Recreational Boater is a boating safety book developed in concert with the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA). A practical guidebook for boating safety focused on cold water operations and remote areas of Alaska.

Technorati Tags: alaska, fishing, sea grant, marine wildlife

West Lafayette native to walk for cancer in Alaska

West Lafayette native to walk for cancer in Alaska | zanesvilletimesrecorder.com | Zanesville Times Recorder

WEST LAFAYETTE - Carla McCrea Donnelly feels lucky to be alive.
Advertisement

When she was 16 years old, the West Lafayette native was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease, a blood/lymph node cancer. She underwent five weeks of radiation therapy, putting the cancer into remission. Then five years later, just two months away from her cure date, she discovered a lump under her clavicle.

By the age of 26, she was officially cured of Hodgkin's Disease after a harsh round of chemotherapy. But a different form of the disease struck again 10 years later; she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36 last March.

This third attack was caused by the radiation she had for her Hodgkin's Disease. Even though it was only in her right breast, she chose to have a double mastectomy to make sure the cancer would never return. She finished her last round of chemo in August, and is happy with how her reconstructive surgery turned out.

With a new lease on life after beating cancer three times, Donnelly wants to do her part to raise money and awareness for the disease. On June 20, the Hilliard/Columbus-area resident will be participating in a half-marathon in Anchorage, Alaska, with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training.

"I had my choices of where I wanted to go. I've never been to Alaska, and I thought I might never get to go there, so this is a great opportunity," she said. "It's invigorating, and I'm excited. It's an amazing opportunity to help people out."

"I have to raise $4,800 to be able to go," she continued.

Donnelly said it's been tough to train for her first marathon after undergoing chemo, but she's glad she's doing something to keep herself healthy. After the half-marathon, she plans to join the Breast Cancer Survivor's Rowing Team of Central Ohio.

"This is out of my character; I'm not an athlete," she said. "I think my family and friends are skeptical. But I walked four miles one night. It's out of the ordinary, but I'm doing it."

Technorati Tags: west lafayette, alaska, cancer walk, carla mccrea donnelly

Affordable Alaska

Adventure Travel Media Source

Wasilla, ALASKA—When economic times are tough and travel budgets are tight, travelers look for the absolute best value from a summer vacation. And with the stresses of layoffs, depreciating home values, and dwindling 401Ks, many Americans could use a "get away from it all" vacation this year. Alaska, one of the last remaining wilderness areas on earth, is about as far away from it all as one can get, and Alaska Outdoors makes it possible to explore Alaska for less than $200 a day. That’s less than the price of an average hotel room in Alaska.

Alaska Outdoors, an Alaska-based tour company, has been recognized as one of the Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth by National Geographic Adventure Magazine two years in a row. The small group camping trips, like the 7-Day Classic Alaskan Camping Tour, provide a great value to travelers. At only $1095 per person, this trip includes the services of a professional naturalist guide; all in state transportation; top-of-the-line camping equipment; a night at a hotel mid way through the trip; and all but two meals. Camping is the most popular outdoor activity among Alaskans, who know and appreciate the value of travel in their own backyard, and Alaska Outdoors staff and crew use this knowledge to make camping in Alaska easy, relaxing and fun.

The Classic Alaskan Camping Tour features three of Alaska’s premier wilderness areas: Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Itinerary highlights include canoeing on serene lakes; excellent hiking opportunities throughout, including the opportunity to walk to the face of a majestic glacier; and a full day wildlife tour in Denali National Park to search for bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep – and to marvel at the largest mountain in North America – Mount McKinley. All of these activities are included in the trip cost, and amount to paying less than $175 per day.

Technorati Tags: alaska, travel, economy, affordable

Funding for Volcano Observation in Question

The Buzz: Alaska volcano erupts in Congress; shades of the Blues Brothers - Kansas City Star

Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she’ll introduce legislation establishing funding for the Alaska Volcano Observatory — just one month after fellow Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana criticized the Obama stimulus bill for containing spending for volcano monitoring.

The multiple eruptions of Alaska’s Mount Redoubt underscores the need for volcano observation, Murkowski said. She thinks $15 million a year ought to do it.

“Recently there were some comments made about federal spending for volcano monitoring being wasteful,” Murkowski said. “I can assure you that monitoring volcanoes is critically important to the nation and especially to my home state of Alaska.”

Technorati Tags: alaska, volcana, funding, congress

Rules to Protect Alaskan Birds

The Associated Press: Alaska considers hunt rules to protect rare bird

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A diminutive sea duck with a white head and a blue wing could bring restrictions to one of the last virtually unregulated hunting grounds in America.

Inupiat Eskimos on Alaska's northern coast for centuries have welcomed the spring return of waterfowl as a source of fresh meat after eight months of winter. They have been free to take almost whatever they want, whenever they want, without bag limits.

That could change this year. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services has proposed rules for subsistence hunting to protect Steller's eiders, a threatened species whose breeding numbers in the United States have dropped to an estimated 500 birds.

Steller's eiders are not sought by Inupiat hunters for meat, but they flock with the white-fronted geese, black brant and king and common eiders prized by hunters. Despite years of trying to educate hunters, federal officials found 27 dead Steller's eiders last year, including 20 that biologists confirmed had been shot. In one particularly disturbing discovery, a dead female Steller's eider was piled with carcasses of six juveniles outside a hunting blind.

Proposed rules would shorten hunting hours, ban shooting near roads, increase law enforcement presence, and set up a potential draconian measure: The agency's Alaska regional director could close all subsistence hunting to protect Steller's eiders.

Technorati Tags: alaska, rare birds, hunting, regulations

Mt. Redoubt Erupts Twice

The Associated Press: Alaska volcano erupts twice, ash soars 65,000 feet

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska's Mount Redoubt has erupted twice, with the larger burst sending an ash cloud 65,000 feet into the air.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory says the eruptions were about an hour apart on Thursday, with the first and smaller one about 8:30 a.m. The ash cloud in that eruption reached about 30,000 feet.

The National Weather Service says prevailing winds are expected to carry ash from the larger eruption east across Cook Inlet.

An ash fall advisory has been issued for the western Kenai Peninsula, and covers the towns of Kenai, Soldotna and Cooper Lander.

The smaller ash cloud was expected to reach Homer later Thursday with only trace amounts expected to fall.

Mount Redoubt started erupting late Sunday.

Technorati Tags: mt. redoubt, alaska, volcana, ash cloud,

U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships

newsminer.com • Southam, Rorabaugh pace Alaska skiers on first day of U.S. National Championships

FAIRBANKS — Becca Rorabaugh used a little home-course advantage to land on the podium for the 5-kilometer classic race that opened the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships Tuesday night at Birch Hill Recreation Area.

“Striding at Birch Hill I think will always be something that I enjoy,” said Rorabaugh, a 2007 graduate of West Valley High School who now trains and races year-round with the Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center in Anchorage.

The Jim Whisenhant Trails are practically ingrained for Rorabaugh, now 19.

“I believe I was probably (age) 3, or 2 perhaps,” she said when asked when she first strode at Birch Hill.

So when faced with the grinding Tower Direct uphill at the 2-kilometer mark, Rorabaugh was hardly intimidated. She ate it up.

Technorati Tags: cross country ski championships, birch hill recreation area, alaska, becca rorabaugh

Pictures of Redoubt from National Geographic

ALASKA VOLCANO PHOTOS: Redoubt Spurs Huge Mudflow, Ash

March 24, 2009--Volcanic ash clouds a Webcam's lens as smoke and ash from a relatively subdued Redoubt Volcano lightly smudge the sky about a hundred miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Anchorage, Alaska, at sunset on Monday, March 23.

Technorati Tags: alaska, volcano, redoubt, national geographic

Alaska Volcano Erupts

Alaska's Mt. Redoubt volcano erupts with five major explosions; ash cloud ascends 50,000 feet | Outposts | Los Angeles Times

Alaska's Mt. Redoubt Volcano, which had been in a tempestuous mood for two months, erupted Sunday night at 10:38 p.m., sending an ash cloud 50,000 feet above sea level.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory recorded four more large explosions during the night. Tina Neal, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, said that "so far the major population centers in south-central Alaska have been spared any kind of dusting of ash."

The enormous plume was drifting to the north over an expansive wilderness parcel and so far only the small town of Skwentna, 100 miles north of Redoubt, had reported experiencing ash fall, mixed with snow.

Neal said the duration eruptions varied from 10 to 20 minutes. The weather is cloudy and snowy at the volcano, which is located 110 miles southwest of Anchorage, due west of the Kenai Peninsula across the Cook Inlet.

Scientists will perform a fly-over today and attempt to take photographs.

The volcano last erupted in 1989-90, periodically over a period of six months, and scientists anticipate another lengthy episode.

Updates and fresh photos will be posted here as more information becomes available. Good luck to those living nearby. You might wish to take a look at the AVO's ashfall preparedness link.

--Pete Thomas and Kelly Burgess

feet
6:53 AM, March 23, 2009

Mt. Redoubt's north flank, as photographed from the south.

Alaska's Mt. Redoubt Volcano, which had been in a tempestuous mood for two months, erupted Sunday night at 10:38 p.m., sending an ash cloud 50,000 feet above sea level.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory recorded four more large explosions during the night. Tina Neal, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, said that "so far the major population centers in south-central Alaska have been spared any kind of dusting of ash."

The enormous plume was drifting to the north over an expansive wilderness parcel and so far only the small town of Skwentna, 100 miles north of Redoubt, had reported experiencing ash fall, mixed with snow.

Neal said the duration eruptions varied from 10 to 20 minutes. The weather is cloudy and snowy at the volcano, which is located 110 miles southwest of Anchorage, due west of the Kenai Peninsula across the Cook Inlet.

Scientists will perform a fly-over today and attempt to take photographs.

The volcano last erupted in 1989-90, periodically over a period of six months, and scientists anticipate another lengthy episode.

Updates and fresh photos will be posted here as more information becomes available. Good luck to those living nearby. You might wish to take a look at the AVO's ashfall preparedness link.

--Pete Thomas and Kelly Burgess

Technorati Tags: alaska, volcano, mt. redoubt, ash cloud, mountains

Pipeline Workshop in Valdez

The Cordova Times - Old pipeline’s threat calls for action

Twenty years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Alaska residents continue to work together on proactive measures to ensure that never again will a disaster of this magnitude take place. Organizations like the Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet Regional Citizens’ Advisory Councils have greatly contributed to improvements in oil transportation from Valdez marine terminal through Prince William Sound, but residents currently lack input and guidance in issues regarding the trans-Alaska pipeline system.

Technorati Tags: aldez, alaska, oil, pipeline

Alaska Population Estimates Released

SitNews: State, Borough and Place 2008 Populations Released

Alaska's statewide population is 679,720 as of July 1, 2008, based on new population estimates released Monday by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This is a 52,187 or 8.3 percent increase in population since July 1, 2000.

Technorati Tags: alaska, census, population