Hot tickets and history don't always go hand-in-hand, but tours of the former Nike missile site in Arctic Valley are proving popular with Alaskans and visitors.
"The first tour of the season … filled up within hours of it being advertised to those on our wait list," noted Doris Thomas, the public relations chairwoman of the Friends of Nike Site Summit. "There is also an afternoon tour on Aug. 1, but it too filled up almost immediately with 'wait-listers.'
Consequently, a special midsummer dinner and bus tour to the site has been added for July 14, including dinner at the Arctic Valley Ski Lodge and a bus tour of the iconic landmark with interpretive guides. The price is $125 per person.
Nike Site Summit was home to Nike Hercules missiles during the Cold War and is one of eight Cold War-era Nike-Hercules missile sites in Alaska still standing. Tour participants will talk to veterans stationed at Site Summit and learn how the missiles were launched and Alaska's role in the Cold War.
Tour reservations are required 30 days in advance. Make reservations at http://www.nikesitesummit.net/nike-site-summit-tours.html. Those without Internet access can reserve by calling (907) 929-9870.
Subsequent tours will be given mornings and afternoons on Aug. 1, Aug. 22 and Sept. 13.
Red salmon limits boosted on Karluk, Afognak
Strong returns of red salmon to the Kodiak-area Karluk and Afognak rivers have prompted state biologists to boost the bag and possession limit to 10 fish a day beginning Tuesday.
On the Karluk, some 94,000 reds had passed the fish-counting weir by June 11. Assistant area management biologist Tyler Polum projects the run will exceed the escapement goal of 110,000-250,000 fish.
On the Afognak, 18,000 reds have passed the weir; the goal is 20,000-50,000 fish.
Tanana king fishing banned
Biologists with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game have banned king salmon fishing in the Tanana River drainage beginning June 19.
The action resembles what was done a year ago, as biologists try to meet escapement goals on such Yukon River tributaries as the Chena and Salcha rivers.
As recently as 2012, the Salcha saw an escapement of more than 7,000 fish. The Chena saw more than 4,300 kings in 2014.