Outdoors hot line

Cyclocross racing gets going

WHEN: Noon Saturday

WHERE: Moseley Center at APU

WHAT: First cyclocross race of the season. A dedicated cyclocross bike isn't needed; any mountain bike will do. Rest of season schedule: Sept. 19 at Cartee Fields; 4 p.m. Sept. 27 at Government Hill; 6:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at Quianna Park; noon Oct. 3 at Russian Jack picnic area; noon Oct. 10 at Goose Lake.

PRICE: Free

CONTACT: 272-4565

FILM

Climbing films at Bear Tooth

WHEN: Sept. 18-19

WHERE: Bear Tooth Theatrepub

WHAT: Reel Rock film tour of climbing and adventure films presented by Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking and Alaska Rock Gym. Features releases from Sender Films and Big UP Productions as well as the winning short films from this year's Reel Rock filmmaking competition. Gear giveaways, appearances by top climbers and fundraising for nonprofit organizations are included.

COST: $8

CONTACT: www.reelrocktour.com; www.beartooththeatre.net

Warren Miller film 'Dynasty'

WHEN: 6 and 9 p.m. Oct. 27

WHERE: Alaska Center for the Performing Arts

WHAT: Latest entry in the Warren Miller series on skiers and boarders shredding remote locales. "Dynasty" is the 60th entry in the series and includes some footage from the Chugach. Tickets on sale Sept. 16 include a lift ticket offer to Alyeska Resort.

COST: $19.25

CONTACT: www.youtube.com/user/WarrenMillerEnt

FISHING

Final area salmon derby

WHEN: Through Sunday

WHERE: Derby tickets at various Whittier businesses. Entries must be weighed at the weigh-in station at Fee's Custom Seafoods in Whittier Harbor 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

DETAILS: Whittier Silver Salmon Derby, Southcentral's last salmon fishing tournament of the year, includes the Small Fry Silver Salmon Derby 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 12 for anglers in two divisions, ages 10 and younger and 11-15. Free fly tying lessons and other youth-oriented events 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Whittier Triangle.

CONTACT: 1-907-472-2410

FLORA AND FAUNA

Celebrate wildlife refuge

WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Soldotna

WHAT: Open house will include a slide show on Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation in Alaska national wildlife refuges. Free pizza and door prizes. In 2008, members visited and assisted seven different Alaska national wildlife refuges, working on 17 different projects including invasive species projects, education, and outreach events.

COST: Free

CONTACT: Sharon Baur at sharonbaur@alaskarefugefriends.org or 1-907- 226-2135. www.alaskarefugefriends.org

HIKING

Weekly outdoor hikes

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Monday

WHERE: Thursday at Glen Alps trail head; Monday is Bicentennial Park Smoke Jumper Trailhead Series

DETAILS: Alaska Outdoors weekly hikes. Monday hike an easier trail, suitable for kids. Thursday is a mountain trail. Check Web site for Thursday's location.

COST: $1

CONTACT: 770-0440, www.alaska-outdoors.org

Find fall birds before they fly

WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: Liza Sanden will lead a 2-mile walk to watch and listen for birds. Limited to first 16 who sign up.

COST: $5 parking

CONTACT: www.ernc.org

Hike to Raven Glacier

WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: Bob and Ann Fisher will lead an 8-mile round trip hike to Crow Pass and Raven Glacier, gaining 2,100 feet of elevation in four miles. Hikers should be in good shape and bring water and snacks. Hikers will meet at the parking lot just past the Chugach State Park Headquarters, mile 115.2 Seward Highway, to organize transportation to the trailhead.

COST: $5 parking

CONTACT: 694-2108 or www.ernc.org

KIDS

Learn about seeds, berries

WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: Junior Naturalists will learn how plants produce and distribute seeds -- while tasting a few samples.

COST: $5 parking

CONTACT: 694-2108 or www.ernc.org

TALK

Trek from Seattle to Aleutians

WHEN: 6 p.m. Oct. 22

WHERE: REI Anchorage

WHAT: Author Erin McKittrick and her husband Hig will talk about their unprecedented trip on foot, skis and pack rafts from Seattle to the Aleutians. Talk is the first on a tour promoting her new book, "A Long Trek Home: 4,000 Miles by Boot, Raft and Ski" from The Mountaineers Books.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 272-4565

Discuss nature center's future

WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: Workshop to discuss site options. Alaska State Design and Construction staff will make a presentation.

COST: $5 parking

CONTACT: www.ernc.org

ROWING

Moose Nugget Regatta

WHEN: Saturday ; first boats launch 8:30 a.m.

WHERE: Wasilla Lake

WHAT: Regatta hosted by Anchorage Rowing Association will feature teams from Seward, Kenai and Anchorage competing for chance to go to Australia for the World Masters Games in October. Features 1,000-meter side-by-side races. Bow numbers required. A limited number of boats are available for reservation from local teams.

COST: $15 for as many races as you wish to row, snacks, and lunch. Additional lunches for spectators are $10 for adults, $5 for kids under 12.

CONTACT: Amy Hankins at inalaska73@hotmail.com or 224-3808.

RUNNING

Run to commemorate 9/11

WHEN: Begins 8:46 a.m. Friday

WHERE: Elmendorf Air Force Base

DETAILS: UAA's Air Force ROTC is hosting a memorial run to remember Sept. 11, with runners trying to keep the American flag in circulation around the base for 24 consecutive hours. Nearly 100 shifts of two Air Force ROTC cadets, Elmendorf airmen and Fort Rich soldiers from the 425th medical battalion run together carrying the American flag around Elmendorf in memory of those who lost their lives that day. Each shift is planned for a 30-minute light jog, and the flag is passed off to new runners in a 'torch run' fashion as they follow the course around Elmendorf. Only military members participate.

CONTACT: Cody Vandegriff, 727-8280

SHOOTING

Brian Hill Memorial Shoot

WHEN: 10 a.m. Oct. 3

WHERE: Rabbit Creek Shooting Park

DETAILS: Shoot sponsored by National Wild Turkey Federation and Outdoor Heritage Foundation awards prizes to the top man and woman, top senior boy and girl and the top junior boy and girl. Lunch provided.

COST: $50 per entry for 50 birds (two rounds of five-stand shooting).

CONTACT: 748-3358

WRITING

Nature writing classes

WHEN: 7-9:30 p.m. Thursdays beginning Sept. 17

WHERE: Sierra Club, 333 W. Fourth Ave.

WHAT: Nature writer Bill Sherwonit is teaching a 12-week workshop-style class, "Writing Down the Wild." Personal essays are emphasized and the work of America's best nature writers will be discussed.

COST: $200

CONTACT: Contact: akgriz@hotmail.com, 245-0283