Life in Alaska

Did you know…

that this year is the 81st running of the Mt. Marathon race in Seward, Alaska. Runners come from around the world to climb 1.5 miles each way on a course that includes cliffs, scree fields, waterfalls, and a spectacular view.

Source: Seward Convention and Visitors Bureau

Click pictures to see larger Arctic Thunder Air Show was held at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage on June 28-29. According to their website an estimated 175,000 people came out to the base for the air show this year. I could hear the noise of the jets going over our office while I was working on Sunday the 29th and decided to run outside and see if I could get a shot of one of the acrobatic maneuvers - and I did! The next Arctic Thunder is scheduled for 2010. -- Leanne

My old college friend Cecelia is back in Alaska. Previously she shared pictures of her life as a nurse practitioner in Shishmaref. Now she is in Gambell, on St. Lawrence Island, which is closer to Russia than it is to Alaska! This week she sent a picture of Cuddles, her latest patient. The shiny thing on the dog's back between the gloved hands of the Yupik elder holding her is a fishing lure. Ouch!
Pizza Delivery, Alaskan-Style
Last month Cecelia told me she wanted to do something special for husband Stan's birthday, so she was ordering out for pizza on the 1:40 flight from Nome. Say what?! It's true: Airport Pizza in Nome makes the pizza and Frontier Flying Service provides free delivery anywhere they fly. Hear the NPR interview with owner Matt Tomter or read the story on CBS. --Carmen

From Gambell, Cecelia says:
On the pizza issue, the thing that is particularly pertinent is that there is no such thing as a McDonald's here (yes, I know you can get a Big Mac in Russia, Samoa, and Brazil). Pizza is my favorite "take-out," but it is also
possible to get restaurant food from Nome--a bit more complicated: you order, a cab takes the food to the airport ($10), then you pay a "hand-carry" airline fee ($15+), and finally you pray that the weather
doesn't close in at the last minute.

Living without restaurants, fast food, and fully stocked supermarkets has had an unexpected impact. Nutrition bars quickly lose their appeal, so... I
cook. Though I am not going to hunt walrus, seal, or whale, I can pick greens and fish for salmon --berries will be along in a bit. Without a boat I can't go to the cliffs for eggs, but I was recently gifted with a boiled Murre egg.
It was so beautiful, I wanted to look at it instead of eating it, but not wanting the bird's gift to be wasted, I peeled it, and found to my delight a glorious, almost translucent pale green egg. Yes, I did eat it, and the taste was just as unexpected and wonderful. It is not surprising that I often have a chuckle bubbling up, "I'm getting PAID to live here!" -- Cecelia

Date 7/11/08

Anchorage Temperature
Low 51 °F, High 68°F

Daylight 18 hrs 39 mins map

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Life in Alaska

Seward, Alaska, (pop. 3,016) was established in 1903 on Resurrection Bay at the base of Mount Marathon. It is accessible by road (situated at the start of the Seward Highway, a National Scenic Byway), by railroad (southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad), and by cruise ship.
On the 4th of July, Seward explodes (an estimated 40,000 visitors arrived this year) into a frenzy of festivities including a parade down 4th Avenue and the running of the Mount Marathon Race. I was lucky enough to get to experience this unique celebration in Seward this year. There were two cruise ships docked in the harbor and cars, truck campers, motor homes and PEOPLE everywhere. Once in a Blue Moose is located right on 4th Avenue at the heart of the whole celebration, so I got to work and play at the same time. The parade featured the usual small town favorites - baton twirlers, politicians, fire trucks, motorcycles and old cars - plus a couple of not so usual entrants - a wedding (that's right, complete with bride and groom) and a killer whale! The Mount Marathon race begins and ends on 4th Avenue in downtown Seward at near sea level with a grueling figure 8 climb up to Race Point on the southeast ridge of Mount Marathon, elevation 3,022 ft. The racers return covered in blood and mud after scrambling up the rocky trail and sliding down scree slopes and snowfields to gain speed. The men's race was won by Trond Flagstad with a time of 44:03 and winning the women's race for the 5th consecutive year was Cedar Bourgeois with a time of 52:11. -- Leanne

Start of the women's race
(Click images below to see larger)

Happy 50th Birthday, Alaska!

One of my earliest memories is from the summer of 1958 (since I'm dating myself anyway, I'll confess to being 6 years old at the time), when all the grownups went crazy celebrating and we had a big bonfire on the park strip at 9th Avenue here in Anchorage. The US Senate had just voted to admit Alaska to the Union. Our statehood bill had already cleared the House of Representatives, and everybody knew "Ike" would sign it. We officially became a state on January 3, 1959, but we've started celebrating our 50th Year from that fateful summer day. I was downtown for part of the "50th" celebration. From left to right, in the pictures above: 1. Governor Sarah Palin speaks while Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (to the right) awaits his turn. 2. A fire ladder truck was on hand for the reenactment of pinning the 49th star on to the American flag. 3. 4th Avenue was lined with antique cars, as seen in front of the historic 4th Avenue theater building. 4. A couple of firemen walk past Once in a Blue Moose prior to the Fireman's Challenge, one of many events taking place downtown. -- Carmen

On June 30, 1958, The Anchorage Times ran the shortest front page banner in its history, in giant letters: WE'RE IN. No one had to ask what it meant. At about 2 p.m. that day the message reached Anchorage that after six days of debate, the United States Senate had voted 64-20 to add Alaska as the 49th state.

Show your pride in the 49th State with our 50th Anniversary T-shirt or the famous Anchorage Times "We're In" T-shirt.

And don't forget to wave the Alaskan flag!
Read the fascinating story of Alaska's flag and its important role in Alaskan history at Alaska State Museums Traveling Exhibitions Program (warning: big, slow to load)

Celebrate 50 years of Alaska Statehood with outstanding images of Wild Alaska for the year 2009. The Northern Light commemorative edition calendar features 13 superb wildlife and landscape images from Alaska's top photographers.

Each week of Alaska Time, an Alaska photographer's calendar, is filled with breathtaking scenery from the Far North. This edition celebrates the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood: use it to fill in special dates for your own golden year.