Have you smelled the wildflowers?

Hurry quick, before they're gone!

Fourth of July Fire Safety

With the long days, wildland fuels such as grass, brush, and trees can dry quickly when the sun comes back out, and if ignited can rapidly grow into large fires. Most of the over 400 fires that have burned in Alaska this year have been started by lightning, but the possibility of human-caused fire is always a concern when fire danger increases.
Please use extreme caution this holiday when enjoying grilling, campfires, and fireworks.

Denali Update

Starting today, Saturday May 15, the Denali Park Road will be open to public vehicles to mile 26. This will continue through Wednesday, May 19.
On Thursday, May 20, the buses begin running and the Denali Park Road will be open to the Savage River reststop at mile 15 for the remainder of the summer season.

Saturday, May 15
- Visitor Center open daily 8am-6pm
- Dog sled demonstrations daily at 2pm
- Backcountry Information Center opens
- Riley Creek campground begins fee

Wednesday, May 19
- Savage River campground opens

Thursday, May 20
- Shuttle bus season begins to Toklat River @ mile 53
- Teklanika River and Igloo Creek campground opens
- Denali Park Road open to mile 15

Tuesday, June 1
- Shuttle bus to Eielson Visitors Center @ mile 66

Tuesday, June 8
- Shuttle bus to Wonder Lake @ mile 92, conditions permitting

For more information, check out the Denali National Park website.

The Birds Return

Check out the progression of returning birds as they are observed in and around Fairbanks at the Alaska Bird Observatory website.
Keep your eyes and ears at full attention, for you never know when you'll see something rare!

Spring is Coming!

The geese are back!  Cackling Canada geese arrived in Fairbanks earlier this week and have been resting at Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge on College Ave. They are usually near the viewing area, offering great viewing opportunities. Mornings and evenings are best.

There are also many trails for hiking, both through open fields and forest.

Denali Park Road is Open!

Starting Saturday, April 3, the Denali Park Road is open to mile 30 at the Teklanika River rest stop. Get more information and updates at the Spring Road Opening page.

National Park Week!

National Park Week is taking place April 17 – 25. Denali NP entrance fees will be waived during the entire period. The focus will be on fitness. Parks are encouraged to plan activities that promote physical well being during National Park Week and throughout the year. National Junior Ranger Day will take place on Saturday, April 24.

Oatley finishes first after 100 miles

Chris Bollinger and his Surly Pugsley bike at the finish of the White Mountains 100 on Monday afternoon.

Jeff Oatley clenched first place in the inaugural White Mountains 100 human-powered race. Oatley biked the 100 mile long course in the White Mountains, in just over 12 hours, inching ahead of his friendly competitor, Pete Basinger, also on a bike. Mike Kramer was the first skier in after strongly skate-skiing the entire course.

Check out the race results and more about the race.

Mackey does it again!

Four Iditarod championships in a row.  Second time ever that a musher has finished in under nine days.
Even in a year with little snow, Lance Mackey continues to set records and his dogs keep going strong.

Follow along at http://www.iditarod.com/

Kanuti Hot Springs

Six miles of trailbreaking while skiing open tundra. Six miles of trailbreaking and bushwacking while skiing an old burn area. Twelve miles total in nine hours. Cold, windy, and snowing. No trails except those made through the snow. Falling often from tangled skis and brush.
Routefinding: Advanced, Mandatory
Backcountry Experience: Extensive
Difficulty: Advanced to Expert

Why do this, you ask?
Kanuti hot springs. Twelve miles west of the Dalton Highway at milepost 103.
Natural hot springs in the backcountry, far from the reaches of human impact.
If you're up for a challenge, the destination is worth it.

Come in to FAPLIC for more information.

Warm & Sunny, Now Cold & Icy

Last week's warm weather has brought a streak of icy road conditions to interior Alaska, along with open leads in the river ice and more overflow.  When out on your adventures be aware of possible thin ice, open water, and the dangers overflow presents.  Changing temperatures, including the forecasted drop back down to normal, can make for hazardous conditions.  Stay safe.

Who will win the gold?

As the mushers are almost to Dawson, I'm sure the 4 oz of gold is on their minds, along with the mandatory 36 hour rest at the race's halfway point!
Track their progress at http://www.yukonquest.com/site/live-tracking/
Current race standings at http://www.yukonquest.com/site/race-updates/
And current news and write-ups at http://www.yukonquest.com/site/current-news/

It's Early, But the Race Is ON!

Watch the progress of the 2010 Yukon Quest and follow the mushers on their journey to Whitehorse!
Most are through Slaven's Roadhouse in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve and on their way to Eagle.
http://www.yukonquest.com/site/race-updates/

Quest Starting Line-Up

Check out the 2010 Yukon Quest official starting positions at http://www.yukonquest.com/site/news-articles/?articleid=1745
Be there for the start at 11 am on Saturday, Feb 6, on the Chena River by the Cushman St bridge!

It's On!

The White Mountains 100 race has been approved by BLM!
Check out all the details at http://whitemountains100.org/

The National Parks: America's Best Idea

If any of you Parks enthusiasts missed the premiere of Ken Burn's documentary "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" a while back, PBS is re-airing it starting this Wednesday at 8pm on KUAC. 
Not a local?  Visit http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/, click on TV Schedules and type in a zipcode to find it on your local PBS station. PBS will begin by airing Episode 1: The Scripture of Nature (1851-1890) and will feature subsequent episodes every following week at the same time.  Don't miss out again!

Skiing at Chena Lake Rec Area

A bluebird sky, the Alaska Range, thick frost, fresh snow, and warm temps made for a great day of skiing at Chena Lake Recreation Area on Sunday.  We stayed on the snowmachine tracks on the flood channel and in the surrounding woods, but there are also miles of trails on the west side of Laurence Rd in the Recreation Area.  Watch out for moose, as there is a very healthy population.
While the cross-country skiing is fantastic, that is definitely not all the recreation area is good for.  Check it out at night for getting a glimpse of the aurora, as the sky is very dark since it is located about 15 miles out of town.

Winter Gear Swap

The Alaska Alpine Club and University of Alaska-Fairbanks Outdoor Adventures will host their annual 'Winter Gear Swap' from 1-3 pm on Saturday, January 30, in the UAF Wood Center Ballroom.
If you have things to sell, drop them off between 10 am and 5 pm at the Wood Center.
The Alaska Alpine Club gets 10% of all sales at the Gear Swap.

Freecycle.org

Tired of seeing so many things go to waste in the landfills?  Have a bunch of stuff in your garage or attic you want to get rid of?  Feeling like doing something nice for someone?
Check out http://www.freecycle.org/ where you can join a group in the closest town and give away your junk to someone who wants it... for free.  Keep it out of the landfills and have it put to use.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fairbanksfreecycle/

The Bottom Dropped Out

Interior Alaska just saw the coldest temperatures so far this winter, as the mercury congealed at the bottom of the thermometers...
Fairbanks -40º
Central -53º
Eagle -56º

But don't fret, this cold snap is about to subside, with temperatures rising back to the -10s and -20s.