Fishing
Riot of reds?
Personal-use dipnetters will hit the mouth of the Kenai River this weekend, trying to fill their refrigerators with sockeye salmon fillets. Fishing runs 6 a.m.-11 p.m. seven days a week this month, with the height of the action expected in a week or two. Successful netters can take 25 fish for the head of a household. See the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website for more information: adfg.alaska.gov.
Outdoors
Hard-core outdoors
If Mount Marathon seemed a little wimpy at 3,022 feet, mountain runners can sample the Pioneer Ridge Climb on Saturday. The 4.5-mile race goes 5,000 feet up the imposing Mat-Su peak. Those who prefer pedaling for pain may prefer the Fireweed 400, an assortment of races as long as 400 miles from Sheep Mountain Lodge to Valdez and back. Spectators can witness the racers along the Glenn Highway.
Festival
Bear Paw, Funny River Festival
This is the time of year that lends itself to road trips, so why not head somewhere there's a big party at the destination? Bear Paw in Eagle River is in its second weekend. There's a parade at 11 a.m. Saturday and plenty of music, rodeo action, chain-saw demonstrations and more. Runs through Sunday; see bearpawfestival.org for a schedule. If you're headed the other direction, check out the Funny River Festival in Soldotna at Mile 13, Funny River Road. There will be a parade, kids games and music on Saturday, July 11, and pancake breakfast and auction Sunday, July 12. Find the festival on Facebook for details.