Alaska Outdoors - Anchorage Fishing, Anchorage Iditarod, Alaska Skiing

Outdoors

Two-wheeled light for days of darkness

Most Southcentral bikers who pedal through winter for transportation or recreation know that during the Dark Season, their very survival is linked to the lights and reflective tape that signal their presence.

Cyclists take a star turn at film fest

One hundred percent success is the sort of record even the most acclaimed movie directors would love -- and one that Anchorage videographer Carl Batrell now owns after his 26-minute documentary on winter riding in Alaska, "Fat Bikes," won first place at the Boston Bike Film Festival last month. It was Batrell's first film.

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Arctic Valley gets vote of confidence

Skiing fans who turned out Wednesday night for a meeting about the future of the Arctic Valley ski area voted overwhelmingly to keep the area open and operating as it has in the past.

Arctic Valley may not open this winter

Arctic Valley's long, tortured history of teetering on the brink of closure inched closer to the edge this week.

Open houses set on Denali park trails plan

The state will hold three open houses to discuss the first trails plan for Denali State Park.

Musk ox success: Striking a bullish balance

They're slow-footed and bull-headed. When threatened, they huddle up. During breeding season, males charge one another and crack heads with such force the sound can sometimes be heard up to a mile away.

Video: Wolves attack musk oxen

Video: Herd of musk oxen running in front of vehicle

Photos: Musk ox charge Melissa Owens' dogs

OUTDOOR BRIEFS

Homer fisherman wins diehard derby

Gary Lyon of Homer boated a 22.5-pound king salmon Oct. 11 to capture the Homer Elks Lodge's Winter King Salmon Derby.

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'Yuppie 911': Beacons make calls for help too easy

Technology has made calling for help instantaneous even in the most remote places. Because would-be adventurers can send GPS coordinates to rescuers with the touch of a button, some are exploring terrain they do not have the experience, knowledge, endurance or equipment to tackle.

Reflections Lake sports new boardwalk

State Fish and Game Department employees and Alaskans for Palmer Hay Flats volunteers last month banged out a big portion of a project aimed at transforming Reflections Lake, a small lake next to the Knik River on the Glenn Highway.

4,000 miles, no motors

Sometimes people along the way would ask how the journey had changed us. At the beginning, I didn't think it would. We weren't out to experience epiphanies of self-discovery -- we wanted to discover something about the world.

Legally blind musher finds new challenge

Racing sled dogs 1,000 miles into the teeth of an Alaska winter apparently wasn't challenging enough for Rachael Scdoris. The legally blind musher from Bend, Ore., who has finished two Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Races, is in the middle of a new trek.

Team rescues Sitka hiker after fall down 'extreme slope'

An off-duty Sitka police officer fell 200 yards down a cliff while hiking and spent the night being lowered to safety by rescuers, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Palmer man featured in film named pro skier of year

Just 20 years old, Dane Tudor, the Palmer freeskier and motocross marvel, is doing what he loves, collecting fat sponsorships, seeing the world and earning acclaim for his talent.

Trailer: A four-minute trailer for "Everyday is a Saturday

Video: Dane Tudor skiing at the International Freeskiing Film Festival

MySpace: Dane Tudor's page

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City reopens Bicentennial Park trail frequented by bears

An Anchorage city park trail where two people were mauled by grizzly bears in 2008 was reopened Monday to the public. The Rover's Run trail was unusually quiet this summer

Bear attacks teen bike racer

2nd woman mauled in Bicentennial Park

Hunter bags bull moose from wheelchair

John-Taylor Lawton thought his moose hunting days were over after losing one of his legs three years ago.

Rowing draws Alaskans of all ages

In Alaska rowing, the legendary six degrees of separation may be a bit much. Two or three degrees should cover it.

Photos: 2009 Moose Nugget Regatta

Heavy flatfish nets hefty purse

The wait for Tom Youngblood was long -- and lucrative. Youngblood, the Homer resident who caught a 354.6-pound halibut more than three months ago, on Wednesday night was declared the winner of the 24th annual Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby and earned $40,400.

Deer hunter fends off brown bear attack near Sitka

A Sitka deer hunter fended off a brown bear's attack by clubbing it with the butt of his rifle and then firing a round. Karl Wolfe, 39, escaped with bites to his arm.