March 9, 2016 - Glacier City Gazette

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VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 3
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
LOCALLY OWNED AND PRODUCED IN GIRDWOOD, ALASKA
Nic Petit hits the
Iditarod Trail
Page 6
Road crews battle
avalanches with
fire and iron
By Lauren di Scipio Kinsner
Staff Writer
There are days when the coffee in my cup ripples from
the munitions blasts rocketing projectiles at the snowy
peaks. On other days, I can hear the distinct, deep, muffled
sound of tons of powder and ice finally giving way on its
own, sliding down the chutes and landing with that heavy
T H U D. It’s a sound that is somehow soothing when I am
safe and warm a mile away, and another reminder of how
amazing it is to live in Alaska.
That is not an earthquake or thunder. That is an avalanche.
And it’s not a sound that you want to hear while driving
along Turnagain Arm. When we chose to live in Bird, we
were warned about the tailgaters, ice, rock fall and avalanches. But the beauty here is seductive.
The Seward Highway Scenic Bi-way is one of the most
challenging stretches of highway to navigate and manage
in the United States. Maintaining safe passage for the public is a daunting task. With 127-miles of weather, earth and
climate-thrashed asphalt along ever-changing waterways,
mountain passes, forests and valleys, the people who work
this road know each day can be an adventure.
The first 50-miles runs along the base of the stunning
Chugach Mountains and the shore of Turnagain Arm.
Along with beluga whales, moose, Dall sheep, waterfalls,
bore tides and eagles, it’s not uncommon to see rocks the
size of a basketball on the road. The remainder of the drive
winds through the mountains, eventually landing you in
Seward. In the winter snow often builds up on the slopes
with sleet, ice and wind, creating a perfect recipe for an
avalanche.
In 1952, during the first year of highway operations, an
incident with two avalanches resulted in a car being destroyed and swept into Turnagain Arm and the death of
one pedestrian by the second avalanche. Earlier records of
avalanches describe an accident two-miles north of Girdwood in 1920 when six railroad workers were killed by a
secondary avalanche that occurred while crews were removing debris from a previous snow slide.
Avalanches are epic events. Factors that increase the risk
of avalanche danger include accumulation of new snow,
rain, wind and extreme temperature swings...typical south
central Alaskan winter weather. On steep peaks, the snow
generally sheds before dangerous build up can occur. The
slopes between 30 to 45 degrees are the most dangerous.
Loose snow avalanches start at a specific point on the slope
then, as they travel downward they widen and pick up size
and speed “snow” engulfs and sets as hard as concrete. Slab
avalanches are massive plates of bonded snow and ice that
fracture off and race downhill. Those who have survived
being caught in an avalanche report exceedingly grim experiences.
In 2000, when multiple avalanches seized the region, a
railway employee with 21-years on the job was killed while
clearing avalanche debris when a secondary slide at Bird
Flats exploded down the “Five Finger’s Chute” and pushed
him and his 35,000-pound D6 Caterpiller bulldozer 400feet into Turnagain Arm. The bulldozer was demolished.
Others narrowly escaped
after rescue. Upon analysis
PRSRT STD
of the path and debris, it
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
was estimated that the avaANCHORAGE, AK
lanche crossed the highway
PERMIT NO. 26
at approximately 110-miles
per hour. Girdwood residents and travelers trapped
ECRWSS
Postal Customer
See page 11
Lauren di Scipio Kinsner / Glacier City Gazette
The Bird Point Avalanche on the Seward Highway near mile 98 is part of the infamously dangerous “Five Fingers Chutes” where Kerry Brookman was killed in 2000.
Challenge Alaska Adaptive Ski and
Snowboard School: Inspiration in Action
By P.M. Fadden
P.M. Fadden / Glacier City Gazette
Students and Instructors exit Challenge AK’s Crystal Mountain location excited to take on Alyeska’s weekend snowfall.
At home in land of the last frontier,
interactive, non-profit organization
Challenge Alaska supports pursuit of
excellence under any circumstance.
Challenge AK’s stimulating platform
of interactive athletics, inspiration, and
learning generates a community-wide
ripple of positive thinking to affect
staffers, pupils, parents, and public atlarge.
“Participation with Challenge has
been said to be life changing for instructors and students,” said Director,
Jeremy Anderson. “Even more amazing
is the effect our programs have on the
family as a whole.”
A proudly non-profit organization,
Challenge Alaska has enriched lives
through adaptive integration since
1980.
Organization founder and two-time
Paralympics gold medalist, Douglas
Keil launched Girdwood’s Adaptive
Ski and Snowboard School with a staff
of twelve headquartered in a broom
closet.
Thirty-five years later, operating
from Anchorage and Girdwood offices,
Challenge AK serves over 1,000 clients
per annum offering year-round programming crafted to support the community, the family, and the individual.
Both sites adhere to a mission that facilitates overall lifestyle improvement,
See back page
Glacier City Gazette
Page 2
March 9, 2016 | Volume 1, Issue 3
To the Editor
Dear Editor,
I have been watching the old
television show called Have Gun –
Will Travel. The star of this cowboy western series is a guy called
Paladin who shows up where there
is trouble. He is the law, police,
judge, jury and executioner. He
solves problems by shooting all the
bad guys.
A lot of folks I’ve been talking
with seem to have this cowboy
western frame of mind when it
comes to the police issue in Girdwood. The issue is a lot more complicated than police officers show-
ing up at the scene of the crime.
There are the laws. Some of the
laws are real old, from the Old
Testament: Moses came down
with a few of the big ones. Some
of our laws were passed by modern day ninny lawmakers, like jay
walking laws on empty streets at
3 a.m.
Then there is the court system.
Suspected lawbreakers are arraigned by a judge or magistrate
who either sets bail, orders a fine
or sends the offender to jail. This
is the corrections system where
suspects are held and where convicted criminals are incarcerated
to keep law-abiding citizens safe.
The court system also provides
the opportunity for the accused to
stand trial with legal representation, which is provided free if he
or she cannot afford an attorney.
The government provides the
judge, prosecutor and arranges
for juries to be assembled.
Perhaps the suspect is freed by
an innocent verdict. If not, the
suspect will be remanded again
to the corrections system to serve
a sentence. There is often an opportunity for early release from
jail. This is the parole system,
which monitors and supervises
people who have gotten an early
release from their sentences.
It is not about having the fastest
gun in the west. It is about Girdwood having a whole system called
The Rule of Law, which will protect and serve us in many ways.
Several times a year we invite thousands of visitors to our
town. The mere presence of police makes our town safer. Drivers
slow down. Police respond when
there is trouble. They investigate
crimes. They do mental health
wellness checks. They alone have
the authority to take troublemakers away from our community.
When the police pay visits to our
school they teach our children to
identify with the good guys. We
want that.
The issue of police protection
in Girdwood and the passage of
Proposition #9 in the April 5 election is about more than just police
officers for Girdwood. Passing
Proposition 9 means a safer community for all of us.
It’s your decision.
Tommy O’Malley
Box 598
Girdwood, AK
99587
>> IN THIS ISSUE
Keegan Messing
Twenty four years ago, Keegan Messing was born in
a house in Old Girdwood. His mother, Sally Messing, has
always been a big figure skating fan, so Keegan started
skating as a three-year old.
After the 1992 Olympics, libraries carried VHS tapes
of Olympic figure skating, and Keegan was a devoted
viewer who fell in love with the sport. He became a fan of
Elvis Stojko, the top Canadian skater at the time, which
drew Keegan to pursue the sport with more passion and
intensity.
Page 4
Frozen in Time
A look back at the week
that was...
Page 5
Team Petit
The 2016 Iditarod Ceremonial Start was on Feb. 4 in
Anchorage...
Page 6
Hopeful News
Congratulations to this
year’s Ididacontest winners!
Page 8
Alyeska Snowpack
As winter’s seasonal stride
draws ever nearer to spring,
snow enthusiasts...
Page 9
The Glacier City Gazette
is looking for writers
and photographers
FVCS
Four Valleys Community
School update...
Page 10
Avalanche Information
Heather Thamm worked
for 12 years on ski patrol...
Page 11
I
We are interested in
articles and photos
from Rainbow, Indian,
Girdwood, Crow Creek,
Portage, Whittier,
Moose Pass, Cooper
Landing, Hope, and
South Anchorage.
If you know of
anything newsworthy,
please let us know.
Pitch your
writing and photography
ideas to:
[email protected]
Thank you,
Marc Donadieu
Glacier City Gazette
© 2016 Roaming Wolverine Media, LLC
We cover the communities of Rainbow,
Indian, Bird Creek, Crow Creek, Girdwood,
Portage, Whittier, Moose Pass, Cooper
Landing, Hope and South Anchorage.
Published the second and fourth
Wednesdays of the month
Email:
[email protected]
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1903
Girdwood, Alaska 99587
Marc Donadieu – Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Matthew Bailey – Graphic Designer/Webmaster
Marlene Buccione – Chief Photographer
Julia Isaac – Staff Writer – Hope News/ Music
P.M. Fadden – Staff Writer
Lauren di Scipio Kinsner – Staff Writer/Photographer
Volume 1, Issue 3 | March 9, 2016
Glacier City Gazette
Page 3
Yak is sort of back
By Marc Donadieu
Glacier City Gazette
As infrequently as the punk band Yak plays, it was appropriate their set at the Silvertip Grill was on Feb. 29. Playing for about an hour, the band tore through an assortment
original songs and covers that kept the show moving until,
in true punk fashion, it crashed to a halt. The show was an
abrasive musical palate cleanser from the live shows typically heard in Girdwood. It was also engaging and fun.
Yak is composed of Andrew Saden on drums, Sean McCloud on bass and Gator on electric guitar (until he broke a
string) and acoustic guitar. The band formed around three
years ago and has played on and off since. Yak originally
had an electronic drummer named Sprinkles, who left after a year because he moved away. Saden joined the band
two years ago and dramatically changed the music’s dynamic
with his relentless, propulsive drumming.
Saden went to a Yak show during their earlier configuration and told them they needed a live drummer. He was
already playing in The Dirty Hands, but seized the opportunity as an outlet for a different side of his drumming skills.
“At the time,” McCloud said, “he wasn’t allowed to play
the sticks in The Dirty Hands. They were making him play
with jazz brushes because he was too loud and overpowering. He liked playing with us because we just turned him
loose. He didn’t get to play like that with his other band.
They’re a lot more composed and play dynamic stuff.”
Gator and McCloud readily acknowledge what Saden
brings to the mix in their band. The contrast in Saden’s
drumming technique between bands is appreciated.
“As far as his drumming,” said Gator, “it has been fun to be
able to see him with The Dirty Hands because it looks like
he’s thinking, and calculating and doing math. When he’s
playing with us, he looks like Animal from The Muppets.
He looks like he’s in a zone. It’s not to say it’s better or worse.
It’s a complete opposite dynamic of when he just lets go versus keeping timing, respectably playing at certain times to
let everyone in the band be heard. Those are musicians in
that band. There is only one in ours. For him to be like ‘Just
gooooo!’ is nice for all of us.”
About two weeks before their Leap Year show, Yak
played an open house practice at The Grind, which brought
in quite a few people. The mostly younger crowd enjoyed
the music as the band freely dabbled with a variety of sounds
and textures, including another guitarist who also played
some slide guitar. The Silvertip show was much tighter and
more focused. McCloud and Gator were both aware and
amused at Yak’s reception.
“What I liked about Monday’s show the most was watching people’s reactions,” Gator said. “‘Wait a minute. This
isn’t Melissa Mitchell.’ When you go to The Silvertip, you’re
used to ‘Alright, here’s another Johnny Cash cover,’ which
is fine. But there are a lot of people who came here, and I
saw on their faces, ‘Oh there’s a band,’ and then they weren’t
ready for fast, stompy rock. That makes us go faster and turn
it up.”
What happens with Yak in the future is up in the air.
None of the band members know where it will go, despite
their desire to play again. Due to the varied schedules of the
band members, they can only play sporadically. With a shift
in seasons about to happen, finding common time becomes
more complicated. However, the band likes to joke about
the situation.
“We’re never going to practice again,” Gator said. “We’re
just going to show up and play. The purpose of it is just to
have fun as opposed to ‘We’re gonna make it!’ I think we’re
I
Marc Donadieu / Glacier City Gazette
Yak at the Tip (L-R) Sean McCloud - bass, Gator - guitar, Andrew Saden - drums.
LIVE MUSIC
Chair 5 Restaurant
March 10
March 17
March 24
The Goodtime
Travellers
The Extratuff
Cowboys
Honey and Blood
Silvertip Grill
March 9
March 11
March 12
March 18
March 19
March 21
March 25
March 26
Milo Mathews
Brook Faulk &
Emily Tipton
Ponderosa 2
Todd Grebe
Cerutti / Erikson
Open Mic Nite
Chicks that Pick
Steve Norwood
Marc Donadieu / Glacier City Gazette
Hope Social Club plays the second of a
2-night stand on Feb. 27 at the Sitzmark.
going to play again. I couldn’t tell you when. I’d like to think
our next show would be a house party.”
“As far as his drumming, it has been fun to be able to see him
with The Dirty Hands because it looks like he’s thinking,
and calculating and doing math. When he’s playing with us,
he looks like Animal from The Muppets.”
– GATOR
(on drummer Andrew Saden)
THE GLACIER CITY GAZETTE IS CREATING
A COMMUNITY CALENDAR.
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS BY MARCH 19 TO
[email protected]
165 Hightower Rd.
Girdwood, AK 99587
(907) 783-2594
To Go orders welcome
9 a.m. to midnight
Wednesday thru Monday
Breakfast served all day
Page 4
Glacier City Gazette
March 9, 2016 | Volume 1, Issue 3
Girdwood’s Keegan Messing skates for Canadian
National Team
By Marc Donadieu
Glacier City Gazette
Twenty four years ago, Keegan Messing was born in a
house in Old Girdwood. His mother, Sally Messing, has always been a big figure skating fan, so Keegan started skating
as a three-year old. After the 1992 Olympics, libraries carried VHS tapes of Olympic figure skating, and Keegan was
a devoted viewer who fell in love with the sport. He became
an avid fan of Elvis Stojko, the top Canadian skater at the
time, which drew Keegan to pursue the sport with more
passion and intensity.
“It was the power of it,” said Keegan, “the jumping, the
spinning. It was so captivating. It was just great.”
These early experiences led Keegan to compete against
the best figure skating talent in the world. He represents
Edmonton on the Canadian National Team through the
Sherwood Park Figure Skating Club. Though he was born
in Girdwood, his mother was born in Edmonton, Alberta
and has dual Canadian/U.S. citizenship, which allows him
to represent the red maple leaf flag proudly in competitions.
It is Keegan’s first season on the Canadian National Team,
which he originally wanted to skate for, but an early technicality in his career led him to skating for the U.S. Team for
seven years. Last year, an opportunity arose on the Canadian National Team, so he took it. Now he mainly trains in
Calgary in Canada Olympic Park, which has four ice rinks at
the giant, mountainside facility designed for the production
of Olympic athletes.
He occasionally trains in Toronto, but in the off-season
he practices solo in Anchorage. The location presents challenges in motivation because the caliber of practice is not
same as in Canada.
“Training in Alaska is hard,” Keegan said. “I’m alone up
here. I don’t have any competition. It’s very hard to self-
I
Stephanie Cook / Sanctuary Photography Alaska / Special to the Glacier City Gazette
Keegan Messing does a Russian Split Jump, a move he is well known for performing because of the height he reaches.
474 rpm. That’s the average rotating speed. You take that
much energy, throw it into the ice from about three feet
in the air, and you’re slamming into the ice over and over
again. It kind of hurts.”
Keegan has found an abundance of appreciation for what
he does in Girdwood. He was a Girdwood 2020 Go for the
On a quad I spend about 0.7 seconds in the air, and I spin four
times around, which comes out to 474 rpm. That’s the average
rotating speed. You take that much energy, throw it into the ice
from about three feet in the air, and you’re slamming into the
ice over and over again. It kind of hurts.”
motivate sometimes. At least when you’re skiing, you’re
outside and it’s a lot of fun and it’s easy to get motivated. If
you’re in a dark, cold rink, sometimes it’s a little difficult to
get yourself motivated to that point to push yourself beyond
yourself.”
He is determined to keep improving his technical skills
and his skating to realize his full potential. He knows he has
some room to develop, and he wants to add another jump
to his routine to become more competitive in international
events.
“I’m hoping to have two triple axels in my program, a
quad toe and a quad salchow. If I can add a quad salchow,
it will boost my score by over 10 points, if I can pull it off.”
It takes a lot of energy to perform, and including an extra quad jump adds to the rigors but enhances the rewards
of the judges’ score. His 4½-minute long program features
eight jumping passes, three spins and two foot loops, which
place physical and mental demands upon a skater. He hopes
to see his efforts pay off in the 2017 Canadian Nationals after his finish this year.
“I finished sixth this year at Nationals,” Keegan said, “even
though I skated very well. I improved myself from last year
to this year’s Nationals by over 20 points, which is actually
very good. My component score improved by over 10 points.
I was one mistake away from second place. My goal is to keep
improving myself and be ready for the next season.”
His mistake was a slight slip after a jump, which cost him
valuable points. What most people don’t realize is that during warm-ups, he lost an edge on his skates and had a hard
wipe out that bruised him badly. He fought through it during his program, but it left him laid-up and nearly motionless the next day from the bruising. He wished people understood the physical aspect of figure skating more so they
can appreciate it better.
“On a quad,” said Keegan, “I spend about 0.7 seconds in
the air, and I spin four times around, which comes out to
– KEEGAN MESSING
Gold recipient, which offers grants to Olympic caliber athletes to support them in their training.
“It’s amazing,” said Keegan. “To be recognized by your
community is always incredible. Knowing that they’re behind you, you’ve got to be doing something right. When
you hear about it, and you get that follow up in your email,
you just feel this inner strength and sense of happiness about
you. Wow! Someone is watching. Someone cares. It helps
you in your training. It gives you that extra push, that extra
reason to push.”
Another reason that drives Keegan, especially during
tough stretches, is his passion for figure skating. He enjoys
what his skills allow him to do on the ice, whether it is in
practice or competition. He likes the thrill of what he can do.
“For me, I love the craft,” Keegan said. “I love performing.
I love feeling that glide, the smooth feeling of the ice. On top
of it all, I can hit over 20 mph on skates, just in pushing. To
feel that much speed and power, it’s so much fun. Then you
can throw yourself up in the air and spin three times around
and land backwards on one foot.”
Figure skating in national and international competitions has helped him appreciate Girdwood that much more
because he has travelled around the world. Growing up in
Girdwood, he had friends who wanted to get away or go to
other places to see what else was out there. But no matter
how far or how long he travels, he always wants to return to
the place he knows as home.
“By the time I turned 18,” Keegan said, “I already went to
several different countries, multiple states and figured out
I don’t want to be anywhere else but Alaska. The only other place I would want to live is Canada. I come back every
weekend to Girdwood because I cannot stand the city life.
It’s too much. I get close to my roots. Then I go back out and
have some fun again.”
Stephanie Cook / Sanctuary Photography Alaska / Special to the Glacier City Gazette
The Tap Arabian is a new trick Keegan Messing has learned, and he says it is a lot of fun to do.
Volume 1, Issue 3 | March 9, 2016
Glacier City Gazette
Page 5
Alyeska at a Glance
By Shannon Markley
Special to the Glacier City Gazette
While the top of Alyeska Resort received 200” of snow in the month of February, with the
turning of the new month and the sun finally making an appearance on the slopes, we cannot
deny that spring is on its way. If you are one of many parents looking for a great activity to get
your kids into while they are free from school over spring break, Alyeska Resort’s Mountain
Learning Center has all types of Spring Mini Camps to match your child’s timeframe, age and
ability.
Mini Camps for skiers ages 5-12 and snowboarders ages 8-12 will be running between
March 14-16 and March 17-19. Is your little ripper under 5 years old? No worries, our Gummy
Worm Camp, running March 14-16, is for 4-year-olds training to be the next gold medalist.
Our Powder Blasters program, which is available all season long, will also be running every
Saturday and Sunday, as well as private and group lessons that are available every day of the
week. Please visit AlyeskaResort.com or call The Mountain Learning Center at (907) 7542280 for additional information and registration. Give yourself some adult time on the mountain or just some actual adult quiet time and get your kids up on the slopes with our amazing
instructors!
Speaking of adult time, American country-punk rock band, Lucero, will be hitting the Sitzmark stage for St. Patty’s Day weekend. Pretend you’re Irish for a night and join us Thursday
night where we will be hosting a Green Themed Costume Party for St. Patrick’s Day and a
raffle to win 80,000 Alaska Airlines Miles. Your concert ticket in the door is your raffle ticket,
so everyone has an equal chance to win.
Lucero had their start in Memphis, Tenn. and play an average of 175 shows a year across the
United States and Canada, making them one of the hardest working bands in the last decade.
These guys hit the stage and don’t leave anything behind. Their eclectic sounds comprised of
guitar, bass, drums, piano, organ, horns, pedal steel guitar, keyboard and accordion puts off
a unique mix of country, rock, punk and blues. Part of Lucero’s sound came from a simple
rebellion against the Memphis sound, and who doesn’t enjoy a little rebellion once in a while?
Join us Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night as we welcome back the Southern Boys to our
Winter Wonderland. Tickets are $20 with the exception of Thursday night where ladies get
FROZEN IN TIME
A look back at the week that was…
By P.M. Fadden
Glacier City Gazette Staff Writer
I
Monday, March 7 – Alaskan Proud: Vern Tejas
of Anchorage completed the first solo ascent of Mt.
McKinley, 1988.
Tuesday, March 8 – President Rutherford B. Hays declares that the United States will
have jurisdiction over any canal built across the isthmus of Panama, 1880.
Wednesday, March 9 – The first Ford Mustang rolls off the Ford assembly line, 1964.
Thursday, March 10 – The U.S. Supreme Court upholds a New York state law forbidding
late-night work for women, 1924.
Friday, March 11 – An auspicious day for journalism; the Daily Courant, the first regular
English newspaper is published, 1702.
Saturday, March 12 – Coca-Cola is sold in bottles for the first time, 1894.
Sunday, March 13 – The Encyclopedia Britannica discontinues its print edition after 244
years, 2012.
These dates in history are happily brought to you by the Glacier City Gazette in the hopes that the
current week is just as noteworthy. Cheers.
Courtesy photo
Early advertising promised that pleasures would abound in the then
newly released ’64 Ford Mustang.
Photo courtesy of Alyeska Resort
Lucero had their start in Memphis, Tenn. and play an average of 175
shows a year across the United States and Canada, making them one
of the hardest working bands in the last decade.
in free. These shows are likely to sell out, so be sure to get your tickets in advance by calling
(907) 754-2275 or visiting TheSitzmark.com.
The Hotel Alyeska will be bringing back the Ski Free Midweek package right after Spring
Break ends, so be sure to join us mid-week to have the mountain to yourself. Starting at $159/
night, this package offers a night’s stay and lift tickets for two, Sunday night through Thursday
night until the end of ski season. Keep those snow dances coming, and we’ll ski you on the
slopes!
ALYESKA EVENTS
Wasteland
Hop
Black Water
Railroad
Lucero
The Photonz
March 11 & 12
March 17-19
March 25 & 26
March 1-April 2
All shows at the Sitzmark Bar & Grill.
Doors @ 9 p.m. | Show @ 10 p.m. | Ages 21+
Page 6
Glacier City Gazette
March 9, 2016 | Volume 1, Issue 3
Nic Petit’s 2016 Iditarod Begins
By Marc Donadieu
Glacier City Gazette
The 2016 Iditarod Ceremonial Start
was on Feb. 4 in Anchorage and the ReStart was the next day on Willow Lake.
For mushers, the race actually began
weeks earlier. Extensive preparations
are needed to fill drop bags with dog
food and musher grub for nearly all of
the checkpoints along the nearly 1,000mile trail to Nome. Careful planning
and anticipation are required, and that
is just the beginning of a mental, physical and sleep-deprived endurance test.
After the drop bags are completed,
the dogs are checked by veterinarians
and given EKGs to check their hearts.
Then there are race meetings, the
Mushers Banquet, the Ceremonial Start
and the final preparations before beginning the race. It’s like a marathon with a
lot of sprints leading up to the departure
for Nome. It is all part of the challenge
that makes the Iditarod unique.
Girdwood’s Nic Petit is competing in
the Iditarod for the sixth time. He was
the 2011 Iditarod Rookie of the Year
and the 2013 Iditarod Most Improved
Musher. Last year he finished in 10th
place and won the Leonhard Seppala
Humanitarian Award for outstanding
dog care by a top 20 team. The award
is the highest honor for a competitive
musher other than finishing first.
When fans and friends greeted him
over the weekend, he was typically
asked, “Are you going to win it this
year?” He smiled politely and quietly
brushed the expectations away with a
more realistic assessment of what might
happen. Like last year, he views the race
as a training run to build his team for
future Iditarods. Twelve of his 16 dogs
are one or two years old.
Something that wasn’t obvious to
these well-wishers is that Petit lent his
big wheel dogs Levi and Carhartt to
Ray Redington, Jr. Petit had to choose
from his team of 16 smaller dogs which
two would be placed in the muscle position on the gang line just before the
start. When asked how he would do in
this year’s race he said, “A top 20 finish and another Humanitarian Award.”
Petit benefits from this arrangement by
helping a friend have a better chance of
winning while having 18 dogs from his
kennel run in the Iditarod. Such experience is invaluable.
This year’s Ceremonial Start in An-
chorage was abbreviated to a three-mile
run ending at Davenport Field Baseball
Complex due to a serious lack of snow.
Team Petit was parked just below 4th
Avenue and H Street by 7 a.m. for a
10:22 start time since it drew bib number 12. Onlookers and fans streamed by
to chat with Petit and take pictures of
him and his dog team. Despite the casual nature of the event, he still had to
ready his team. This year, Iditaroder,
Julie Amaro joined Team Petit and rode
in the front of the sled for the Ceremonial Start.
The Re-Start the next morning at
Willow Lake was all business. Petit
arrived around 10:30 a.m. and started
packing his sled and preparing his dogs
for the long trail to Nome. The dogs
were fed pieces of frozen salmon, which
are good for the protein and fat but especially the water content, which helps
with hydration along the trail. There
were no scraps left behind as the dogs
gladly chewed their way through the
pink chunks of flesh, skin and bones.
Petit fielded a few interviews from
the media while he and his volunteer
handlers looked after his dogs. The cold,
clear morning began at 10 degrees, but
the temperature kept climbing as the
sun ascended into the afternoon on frozen Willow Lake.
With Petit’s dogs in the direct sunlight and no chance of shade, they began
to feel the effects of the heat. Wet towels and water were deployed to keep the
dogs cool, much to the chagrin of some
of the canines that didn’t want to comply with the soothing effects. Relief was
soon on the way as Team Petit began to
be hooked to the gang line in anticipation of the long awaited charge toward
Nome.
Sled dogs that had been relaxing were
charged with excitement and anticipation as they were clipped in one by one
to the gang line. The sounds of barking
teams desperate to go loudly filled the
air. The start was near, and the dogs
knew it, but they wanted to run NOW!
Volunteer handlers from Team Petit
and the Iditarod latched themselves to
all eight pairs of dogs to keep them calm
and conserve their energy.
Race officials in green vests approached and gave the five-minute
warning for the start time. Petit donned
bib number 12 and put on some light
gear to keep warm. When the signal
was finally given, Team Petit proceeded
toward the starting line behind a procession of teams departing every two
minutes. The team crept a little closer
to starting line as another team left.
Then Team Petit was in the chute of
makeshift orange gating and proceeding toward the starting line. Iditarod officials barked start and stop commands
every step of the way. The team was at
the starting line awaiting the two-minute countdown. An announcement was
made identifying Petit as being from
Girdwood and originally from Normandy, France. The crowd cheered.
Petit had ridden in on his sled with
his girlfriend Emily Maxwell, who handles dogs for him for now. He signaled
her to stay on the sled and keep her foot
on the sled brake while he attended
to a last second matter with the dogs
about 30 feet away. The announced said
“Thirty seconds!” to let Petit know, then
“Fifteen seconds!” Petit was still tending to a dog. Maxwell’s heart started to
quicken. I yelled out, “See you in Nome
Emily!” She responded with a nervous
smile. Just in the nick of time, Petit darted back to his sled, Maxwell stepped off,
and he mounted the runners just before
the amplified announcer yelled, “GO!”
Team Petit was off to Nome, and the
first one in to Rainy Pass on Monday
morning.
Follow the
2016 Iditarod
online at
www.iditarod.com
Volume 1, Issue 3 | March 9, 2016
Glacier City Gazette
Sled dogs that had been relaxing
were charged with excitement and
anticipation as they were clipped
in one by one to the gang line.
The sounds of barking teams
desperate to go loudly filled the air.
The start was near, and the dogs
knew it, but they wanted to run
NOW!
Page 7
Glacier City Gazette
Page 8
March 9, 2016 | Volume 1, Issue 3
Hope/Sunrise Fire and Rescue Cultivates New Volunteers
By Julia Isaac
Staff Writer
Hope/Sunrise Volunteer Fire and Rescue
has seen many improvements in education
and equipment since its inception in 1984;
however, it has been served by the same
dedicated base of community members who
are now ready to see younger residents the
reigns from the founders of the service.
With budget cuts affecting almost all of
our public services in Alaska, and the lack
of volunteers in the HSVFR, as well as the
surrounding local EMS and Fire services in
Cooper Landing and Moose Pass, emergency services are in danger of being eliminated
completely outside of the immediate surrounding areas of each community.
Cooper Landing is down to two active
resident-volunteer EMTs with some part
timers on the weekends, and though Moose
Pass has three active EMT volunteers, it
does not have a vehicle to respond to and
transport in an emergency situation. With
Hope/Sunrise’s similar challenge to enlist
new, qualified volunteers, it leaves giant
holes in EMS services to respond to highway emergencies.
For the past year veteran HSVFR volunteer and treasurer Scott Sherrit has looked
to encourage the next generation of Hope
residents to step up and put in the time to be
a part of the Hope/Sunrise emergency crew.
This situation has been a challenge until Interim Chief Travis Peterson agreed to take
over the responsibility. With the help of his
wife, Kristy Peterson (HSVFR secretary/
treasurer), they have begun implementing
monthly meetings for volunteers as well
as EMT, ETT, and fire trainings to get the
community involved in the safety of Hope/
Sunrise. Being at the end of a 16-mile road
with only one way out, Interim Chief Peterson also sees value in holding classes for
wildfire mitigation and will launch an informational campaign to highlight wildfire
safety standards when building and maintaining a rural residence.
There was a community meeting March
3 at the fire hall, which was well attended
by a wide range of residents wanting to do
their part to keep the communities of Hope/
Sunrise safe. The youngest of volunteers
suggested a Jr. Fire Department to get our
school’s students involved and trained early.
Elder community members were excited to
see new energy and enthusiasm for the HSVFD. Residents were not just interested in
fire and EMS training but were also interested in using their skills to facilitate administrative duties, organize fundraising and
grant writing.
The importance of these services can’t be
stressed enough. With a large population of
year-round elders and lots of inexperienced
tourists in the summer, everyone’s health is
affected if HSVFD/EMS does not have a responder in an emergency. There are many
services that a community can outsource in
a rural setting, but EMS and fire are crucial.
These services are possible only because
dedicated community members are willing
to give of their time and effort to serve their
friends and neighbors.
Certifications are not necessary to volunteer. Attending trainings through the
HSVFD count towards Continuing Medical Education hours. If you would like to get
certified through the HSVFD/EMS or make
a donation to Hope/Sunrise Emergency
Services, contact Kristy Peterson at (971)
241-5222 for information on class times,
requirements and other ways you can help.
Interim Chief Peterson would also like
residents and visitors to remember to call
911 in case of emergency. Response protocol is changing, and EMS dispatch can only
be reached through the 911 emergency line.
Hopeful News
By Julia Isaac
Staff Writer
Congratulations to this year’s Ididacontest winners! Alaska Society for Technology in Education sponsors the contest, which promotes access to technology and integrates it
for Alaska students of all ages. A first place prize of $100 and
a People’s Choice Prize of $250 are awarded to students in
each of five age groups and each of six categories, including
movies, documentaries, books and other technology fields.
Eighth grade student Liam Bureau won first place in the
5th-8th grade Photo category with his entry “bug.” Sixth
grade student Wesli Dykstra and 5th grade student Ryder
Skaaren won first place in the documentary category for
their short film on Alaska Owls. Murphy Dykstra and Ryder
Skarren took 3rd place in the Books category for Murphy
and Ryder’s Big Book of Poems. Wesli Dykstra also took 5th
place for Abbit.
St. Paddy’s Day Dinner at the Hope School Gym is Thursday, March 17th, 5:30 – 7 p.m. This event is a fundraiser
for the Hope School PTSCA. Come enjoy a community dinner with corned beef or ham, boiled potatoes, carrots, cabbage, fresh corn bread and carrot cake for dessert. There is
a suggested donation at the door. Thanks to Cheryl Stavish,
Shirley Wisdorf, Bob Yoter for all their time and effort in
arranging this event!
Tito’s Discovery Cafe will be open for extended spring
hours and will host live music during the spring break holi-
Liam Bureau / Special to the Glacier City Gazette
Liam Bureau from the Hope School won first place in the iDidacontest photo category for his
picture “Bug.”
day. Call (907) 782-3274 for more details.
The Alaska Dacha is extending its hours. Starting Monday, March 7th, the Dacha will be open 7 days a week, 10
a.m.–6 p.m.
Tiny Tot Time is at Hope School on Thursdays at 2:30
p.m. Bring your little ones to the Hope school for music, arts
Girdwood, Alaska
and crafts and lots of play time. Thanks Mrs. T. for making
sure the preschoolers are as engaged as the big kids!
Leadership Luncheons are every Wednesday at Hope
School. Come enjoy a community lunch served by Mr. Bob
and Ms. Cheryl and prepared by the middle school kids. The
donation pig will be out to benefit the school.
Glacier City Gazette
Volume 1, Issue 3 | March 9, 2016
Page 9
Snowpack stacks up at Alyeska
By P.M. Fadden
Staff Writer
As winter’s seasonal stride draws ever
nearer to spring, snow enthusiasts fix their
attentions upon current snowpack figures
and future forecasts.
Compared against below average
2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons, Alyeska
slopes have seen a plentiful 2016 winter
yield. According to its website, Alyeska Resort reports over 674 inches of total snowfall and with a current snow depth eclipsing
200 inches. It is an accumulation which already exceeds annual snowfall averages and
adds 200 inches atop season totals for the
past two years.
Each winter, mountains are studied for
distinctive characteristics such as snowfall.
Variable factors such as aspect, elevation,
and predominant weather patterns also play
large roles in snowpack growth. Considering its low elevation base facilities, current
Alyeska snowpack statistics can be seen as
economically and recreationally positive, an
up-swinging outlook supported by comparative global study.
Austrian locality, Sankt Anton Am Arlberg is claimed as the “cradle of skiing.” The
sport’s iconic birth-bed saw 214 inches of
snow last year and reports 148 inches on the
ground in 2016.
Scandinavian nation, Norway details a ski
history with roots extending to the origins
of Telemark. Major ski area, Trysil accumulated 191 inches in 2015 as reported by
onthesnow.com but is off to a slow starting
2016 at less than 100 inches of new snow.
Vermont ski institution, Stowe benefits
from an average snowfall hovering around
200 inches, but Big Sky Resort fares better.
The towering Montanan operation elevates
over 11,000 feet, collecting approximately
400 annual inches, doubling that of Canadian ski destination, Lake Louise. The neighboring nation’s iconic resort rises to 8,651
feet, seeing 200 inches of snowfall over an
average year.
Elevation alone, however, is no guarantee
of high accumulation figures.
Roosted high amidst the Andes, Portillo,
Chile summits just shy of 11,000 feet yet, according to Ski Portillo data, the area receives
100 fewer inches, than its opposite number
at Big Sky.
When compared alongside Northern
Hemisphere slopes, Australasian ski operations report fractional annual snowfalls.
New Zealand’s south-sloping Cardrona
Alpine Resort, an operation which NZ Ski
claims as the island nation’s “most reliable
for snow,” extends above sea level 4,153
to 6,102 feet, gathering its annual average
snowfall of 51 total inches.
Also lingering at the low end of reported
seasonal snow totals is Sochi, Russia. The
ski area was selected as host site to the 2014
Winter Olympic Games, but collects an
average annual snowfall of only 60 inches.
NASA scientists reported Sochi to be “the
warmest location to ever host a winter
Olympic Games.”
Japan, however, represents the opposing
extreme. With 595 average inches collecting
annually across its 853 to 3,937 foot elevation, Niseko has been recognized as the ski
industry’s “2nd snowiest location” behind
Mt. Baker, Washington’s 641 annual inches.
In a snow-sparse age of climate change,
global analysis provides relative perspective. Seemingly rain-attractant Alyeska Resort notes enviable 650 inch top and 512
inch mid- mountain snowfall averages,
stats that many ski areas would gratefully
claim.
Author J.B. Priestley echoed similar sentiment. “Fall of snow is not only an event,
it is a magical one,” he said.
Alaskan skier faithful seem to agree. “We
should be buried in ten feet of snow right
now,” said one Alyesk-an. “But hey, we’ll
take what we can get.”
P.M. Fadden / Glacier City Gazette
Liz Finch / Girdwood.com
Dwindling snowpack demarks dreaded climate change, yet ski enthusiasts survive in the Matukituki Valley, South Island, New Zealand
(top) and at Alyeska (bottom).
(Almost) Off the Road
By Julia Isaac
Staff Writer
It seems like spring.
I know...I know, it’s only March, but the alder is covered
with pussy willows at Potter Marsh. The breakup is happening, and here in our little neck of the woods in Hope, we
have seen more days without power from the wind and rain
than we have seen with snow. So at this point in this disappointing winter season, my mind moves to making things
live and grow.
I have a particularly challenging spring this year as the
kids and I move onto our new property. We have the exciting opportunity to start from scratch. But, really...it’s from
scratch. Trees are down where the gardens will go, but
when the tree roots are gone and there is nothing stabilizing
the earth that has been left over, it turns into a mucky mess
that sticks to everything and gets into your eyes and teeth. It
is primarily clay, which no self-respecting bit of vegetation
deigned to grow in last summer. Think a little patch of Mars
in the middle of a lush northern wood. Humph...this barrenness must change.
Deciding to be proactive, I bought a wood chipper to add
readily available organic material to stabilize the paths. I
am learning about Hugelkultur (pronounced HOO-gul-culture), which is a form of “lasagna gardening.” Hugelkultur
means hill mound, and it is easier than making lasagna garden beds because it doesn’t require any construction to hold
the layers of trees, branches, compost and soil. This is a great
way to use raw materials that might not be already composted. I have plenty of these in the form of trees, branches and
a giant compost pile. (Thank you to the chickens, ducks and
rabbits!)
The mound is started with a log. We have rich resources
in Alaska, and birch, alder, cottonwood and willow are some
of the best wood to use. On the log, pile any kind of branches, leaves, untreated cardboard, compost, or petroleum free
newspaper. Basically, you can use anything natural that will
decompose. Top this mound of biomass with topsoil and
plant your crops. The mounds can be quite tall if there is
enough material, and that nets more surface area to plant
and more to harvest in the fall.
It sounds too easy! The beds can last for many years, as the
log in the center will decompose and give off nutrients to
the plants continuously. The decomposition at the center of
the mound also gives off natural heat...an excellent perk in a
climate where the ground can be too cold for some of our favorite fruits and veggies like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers
and melons. Soil aeration is encouraged by the breakdown
of the organic materials, and in my case that’s a huge plus.
Remember the nasty clay I mentioned before? The mounds
also hold moisture, which hasn’t classically been something
we have had to worry too much about. But with changing
weather patterns and decreased snowfall leading to drier
summers, we would be wise to begin conserving water before the need is dire.
Julia Isaac / Glacier City Gazette
Spring is coming to Hope (in a couple of
months).
Glacier City Gazette
Page 10
March 9, 2016 | Volume 1, Issue 3
Four Valleys Community School
sons with an experienced and fun instructor. Thank you
Suzy for teaching countless youth in the community and
turning them into capable swimmers with a love for the water. Healthy lifestyle activities are available to FVCS through
generous community members who take time to teach and
coach our programs.
Briana Sullivan
Special to the Glacier City Gazette
Alyeska Snow
Classic
The guessing has begun, and you could win cash! The official Alyeska Snow Classic measuring stick will be measured
on Alyeska’s closing day, while guessing takes place March
1 – 31. Stop by local Girdwood businesses to purchase Snow
Classic tickets and submit your guesses before the 31st. For
more information, previous winning guesses and a sweet
video, check out our website: www.alyeskasnowclassic.org.
The split the pot fundraiser benefits Four Valleys Community School, a locally operated 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. For over 30years, FVCS has provided enriching
community classes and events in Girdwood for people of all
ages. Money raised through the Snow Classic will be used to
supplement our program, making scholarships, rental fees,
and operational aspects possible, ultimately keeping our
program affordable.
50+ Yoga
Swimming with Suzy
Tennis Clinic
Local youth who took the plunge in January to begin or
revisit swimming with Suzy Knudsen soaked up their skills
during their final week of lessons last week. Many kids were
fortunate enough to have small group and semi-private les-
The Indoor Tennis clinic for youth begins early April:
Tennis I on April 4 and Tennis II April 18. This clinic is
exciting for Girdwood, as the tennis courts will be a brandnew place to play this summer. With all the looming con-
Slow Yoga rolls into another session this week for those
ready to take their bodies through yoga in a gentle practice.
Come drop in and try it during a week that works for you
and learn what your body is missing out on. Strengthen your
spine and connectivity on Wednesday mornings in the community room. Other classes for adults include Back on Track
Tuesday evenings through the month of April. Lace up your
running shoes and walk or run in the company of others,
shed a layer and stay dry from any precipitation. Open gym
games for adults continue Tuesday and Thursday evenings
in the inviting, warm, dry gym. Was there an emphasis on
dry? Grab a punch pass or drop in with your friends. Also,
an adult indoor tennis clinic will be held April 14.
Erin Leighton / Special to the Glacier City Gazette
Fused Glass class participants created colorful mirror pieces recently in February through
Four Valleys Community Schools.
struction ahead, playing in a safe fenced-in location sounds
attractive. Visit fourvalleys.org for a complete list of classes
for your kids.
Girdwood Health
Clinic Update
We are excited to announce that Girdwood Health Clinic is doing a much-needed renovation. This spring the clinic is getting a fresh new look. Updates to the existing structure will
include; painting the interior and exterior walls, new flooring, and an expansion for more
office space. We will make every effort to see that this project does not disrupt clinic hours.
We appreciate your patience as we do our very best to serve our patients while renovation
is underway.
Another great improvement to the Girdwood Health Clinic is the addition of our certified
application counselor, Linda Mankoff, who assists patients and their families in obtaining
health coverage. Do you still need health insurance? Open Enrollment has closed, but you
may qualify for Medicaid or a Special Enrollment Period. We are dedicated to helping the
people of the Turnagain Arm area get access to health care. Call the clinic today for more
information at (907) 783-1355.
A chance to win cash!
Guess the
depth of
snow
on
Mount
Alyeska
at
elevation
1,096 ft
on
April 27
Split the Pot! Tickets on sale March 1 - 30
Tickets are $2.50
Guess early and often!
The cash prize amount is limited only by the number of tickets sold
Tickets are available at:
Alyeska Resort Ticket Office
Brown Bear Saloon in Indian
Chair Five Restaurant
COAST Pizza
Fromagios
Jack Sprat
Java Haus
La Bodega
Powder Hound Ski Shop
ScanHome
Silvertip Grill
Steam Dot
Tesoro in Girdwood
The Bake Shop
The Merc
Yogurt Lounge
AlyeskaSnowClassic.org
ATTENTION
GIRDWOOD
ARTISTS
The Girdwood Forest Fair
is looking for the
2016 Forest Fair T-shirt design
Please submit your design at
Four Valleys Community Schools
or the Great Alaskan Tourist Trap
by March 30th.
PLEASE BE SURE YOUR NAME AND ANY
IDENTIFYING MARKS ARE ON THE BACK
OF YOUR ARTWORK!
Volume 1, Issue 3 | March 9, 2016
Glacier City Gazette
Page 11
Avalanche Information
Center forecasts warn
of winter dangers
Heather Thamm worked for 12 years on
ski patrol with Alyeska, where she used
explosives to manage the snowpack during
avalanche control work. Now she is in her
second year with Chugach National Forest
Avalanche Information Center (CNFAIC)
where she and her coworkers regularly go
out into the field with snow machines or
cross-country skis to assess avalanche risk
and relay it to the public.
“We want to get out in the field and
see what conditions are like,” Thamm
said, “so we can report information and
observations in the field to help people
understand what the actual danger is, if
it’s going to be low, moderate, considerable, or high danger. Are there any signs
of obvious instability? We’re documenting
them by taking pictures and digging snow
pits and doing different types of stability
tests on the snowpack.”
The data gathered from field tests is
combined with the previous days observations, the next day’s weather forecast and
sometimes information from the public.
Then a projection is made of what the avalanche danger is and given to the public as
a forecast. Such information is necessary
and even life saving in an avalanche prone
area like Turnagain Pass, where people
in the region like to use snow machines
and cross-country skis on separate sides
of the Seward Highway. If conditions are
too dangerous, such as when there is lot
of rain, snow and wind, fieldwork is left
aside until the danger goes down.
“A good part of it is understanding how
to read the terrain and knowing what type
of terrain is safe and has less consequences
than terrain that is more dangerous,”
Thamm said. “Obviously if you go ski
right underneath a very big, steep slope,
and you’re not thinking about all of the
snow that is above you, you’re putting
yourself in a bad situation as opposed to
staying on mellower slope angles below 30
degrees.”
CNFAIC is a nonprofit organization
funded by the community and businesses
in the region, and it works in conjunction
with the U.S. Forest Service. The organization was created by the community because of the need for this type of information when recreating in the backcountry
in the Alaska winter. The forecast lessens
unnecessary risks and dangers by making
participants in winter activities in Turnagain Pass aware of the conditions likely
to be faced instead of going in without
warning.
CNFAIC began after a massive avalanche occurred on March 21, 1999 in
Turnagain Pass and six snowmachiners
were killed. The Forest Service followed
the business plan set up by the National
Avalanche Center, which guides these
centers toward success. In the fall of 2001,
a phone line and a basic web site, designed
by the late Jeff Nissman, put out snow
pack and weather observations five days
per week for the Turnagain Pass Area. Today, forecasts are updated by 7 a.m., seven
days a week during the winter at http://
www.cnfaic.org/ or at (907) 754-2369.
JACK SPRAT
Road crews battle avalanches
with fire and iron
Continued from front page
by the slides banded together for days of isolation and
limited provisions.
Elsewhere, more recently
in 2014 a series of slides
(natural and triggered), on
Richardson Highway covered the road and railway,
and choked the Lowe River
creating dangerous flood
conditions that threatened
the already-stranded resiLauren di Scipio Kinsner / Glacier City Gazette
dents and delayed crews
The Kerry Brookman memorial near where
from removing the snow.
he was killed by a secondary avalanche on
Valdez was cutoff for days.
his bulldozer in 2000 as a ADOT crewman at
During the season, the
Bird Point.
Alaska Department of
Transportation monitors
the known avalanche paths. When the conditions are ripe, they bring in the big guns, including a World War II vintage Howitzer cannon, to trigger slides. The trailer-mounted
Howitzer uses a relatively small propellant charge to fire a 40-pound projectile at a steep
angle of trajectory up to a distance of six miles. The crew is skilled at zeroing in on their
target to mitigate the potential danger.
After artillery is used to cause a controlled avalanche, ADOT crews clear the road of
massive amounts of snow, ice and debris, historically a very dangerous undertaking.
In 2014, ADOT acquired a “Daisy Bell,” a device mounted in a helicopter that uses a
high-velocity cone of oxygen and hydrogen gas to loosen snow packs.
Avalanches aside, traffic accidents are by far the number-one cause of death on Seward
Highway. Alaska is a wild, amazing place. The spectacular scenery on Turnagain Arm can
be distracting. Don’t make the journey any more extreme by tailgating or speeding.
Public notification of avalanche work includes LED signs at Potter’s Marsh and Moose
Pass on the Seward Highwa, and on the ADOT website. Call 511 or visit www.511.alaska.
gov for current road and weather information, updates on avalanche control work, and to
sign up for 511 e-mail/text alerts.
(907) 783-5225
Glacier City Gazette
Page 12
March 9, 2016 | Volume 1, Issue 3
Challenge Alaska: Inspiration in Action
Continued from front page
a goal that the organization achieves through therapeutic recreation
which pairs education with adaptive athleticism.
“Programs like Challenge AK are what got me back into snowboarding,” said Bobby Donnelly, Sport Manager to Team Semper Fi. The onsnow program for disabled veterans brings its advanced riders to Alyeska
slopes with the help of Challenge AK. Donnelly is a competitive rider in
World Cup events as a Paralympics BoarderX athlete.
“Adaptive programs get people out and having fun,” he said.
While off-snow events are overseen from Challenge AK’s Anchorage
Offices, Girdwood’s Adaptive Ski and Snowboard School has held occupancy of its current on-slope facilities since 1995. A hand woven rug
of Nepalese origin hangs over its great room in gifted appreciation from
one of the program’s many thankful associates. The 426 Crystal Mountain Road location thrives through the efforts of four paid staff directing a
veritable army of volunteers.
“Volunteers basically run our programs,” said Anderson. “Without
them we couldn’t do what we do.”
Lindsey Kerr of Soldotna is an occupational therapist and has been a
Challenge AK volunteer for five years.
“I first started volunteering in High School,” she said. “It’s fun to get
other people excited about being on the snow. I love the program at Challenge.”
Participants with Challenge AK undergo autumnal, indoor training sessions focusing upon
adaptive skills, awareness,
and assessment utilized as
stepping stone to formal
certifications through PSIA
and AASI. As the seasons
transition so too do the clinics. Outdoor training commences with the opening
of ski operations. On-piste
educational sessions target
comprehension of all onsnow disciplines as well as
competent use of all associated equipment.
Volunteer and instructor
daily duties detail inter-personal skills and the capable
operation of mono-skis,
dual skis, snow-sliders and
the ski EZ, as well as traditional ski and snowboard
gear.
“Let’s get everybody a chance to
slide on the snow.”
- CHALLENGE DIRECTOR,
JEREMY ANDERSON
Challenge AK’s multi-faceted, sport-based line-up builds confidence and mobility while
improving overall wellness. Year-round activities include sled hockey, soccer, fishing,
camping, book clubs, hospital-based therapy, cooking groups, wheelchair basketball and, of
course, ski and snowboard scheduling.
“Community support has powered 35 years of Challenge AK,” said Anderson. “The organization’s biggest challenge now is fundraising.”
“[Challenge] is a feeder program for the Paralympics Pipeline under the umbrella of nationwide organization Disabled Sports U.S.A.,” he said. “And inter-organization communication and cooperation keep adaptive sport moving forward. But federal and state budgets
are shrinking which puts more pressure on the community to keep this thing rolling.”
The NPO’s perpetuity is sustained by volunteer efforts, private donations, fundraising
initiatives, and the 2005-initiated Challenge Alaska Endowment. Businesses; Amazon.com,
Fred Meyer, and filmmaker Teton Gravity Research offer additional support via partnership equating to percentile donations based upon retail purchases.
“Everyone deserves the chance to recreate and have access to the same types of activities,”
said Anderson. “[Challenge] creates, and allows to blossom, a level playing field for all.”
Backed by strong business and private sector support Challenge AK looks to host the
Paralympic Experience, a March 12th downhill ski and snowboard event which prequels
the annually held philanthropic throw-down, SnowBlast. Challenge AK’s largest fundraising enterprise, SnowBlast is a March 26th mountain day of meals and prizes to benefit the
Adaptive Ski and Snoboard School.
“The future of Challenge AK is owed to the power of community. With its support the
organization will continue to evolve the training for instructors and the athletes,” said Anderson. “[Challenge] is all about growth and maintenance of great atmosphere – that relies
on community.”
“Skiing and Snowboarding are vehicles to overcome barriers,” continued Anderson.
“[Challenge] has grown from the many years of different participants shaping what we do
and how. This is done by sharing creative ideas and willpower to create an environment
where success occurs naturally.”
For more information on how to become involved with the adaptive sport at Challenge
Alaska, visit challengealaska.org or ring their Girdwood location at 783-2925.
Photos by P.M. Fadden / Glacier City Gazette
TOP: Challenge AK members atop Glacier Bowl Express ready themselves for powder turns to come.
ABOVE LEFT: Challenge Alaska Adaptive Ski and Snowboard School
Director, Jeremy Anderson has held the position for eight years.
ABOVE RIGHT: The equipment cave at Girdwood’s Adaptive Ski and
Snowboard School stocks anything the incumbent student might
require.
PLEDGES SKI FOR FREE!
@ Alyeska Resort
Saturday March 26, 2016 • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
challengealaska.org