Fantasy costumes at ski event combat all-too-real abuse

The combination race-costume party Ski for Women has raised roughly $800,000 for Abused Women's Aid in Crisis and other charities over the past 14 years. Sunday's 1,529 registered skiers fell just short of the 2004 record.

Video: Meet the skiers

Photos: Ski for Women

Cabinet secretaries announce conservation advisory group

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack have announced the creation of the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council advisory group.

Yukon Quest racer is next kennel ranger at Denali Park

For 1,000 miles, Jen Raffaeli will run dogs for Ken Anderson as she races his second team in the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, which began here on Saturday. When she's done, Raffaeli will run dogs for the federal government.

Take bus, bring winter gear to Transit 2 Trails

The Alaska Center for the Environment will host its first Transit 2 Trails event at Goose Lake in the University-Medical District from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 13.

Hilltop Ski Area short on vertical, now big on air

Anchorage's in-town ski area is aiming to make a mark among snowboarders and skiers by offering some two dozen features -- with more on the way -- at its Ptarmigan Terrain Park.

Photos: Hilltop terrain park

FISHING

Boy, 9, claims derby with 22-inch rainbow

Travis Recer, 9, hauled in a gorgeous 22-inch rainbow trout at Knik Lake on Saturday to win the Gettin Jiggy 2010 Kids Ice Fishing Derby.

Outdoors hot line

Notices and listings of upcoming outdoors events

Pick up a heliski trip in with that dozen rolls of paper towel

Next time you're at Costco picking up a 48-roll pack of toilet paper and a couple 50-pound bags of dog food, what happens if a sudden urge to carve S-turns in pristine thigh-deep powder suddenly overpowers you?

Rubber shotgun slugs are effective black bear deterrent

Black bear encounters happen every summer in Alaska, and a new study suggests rubber bullets are the best way to send the bruins packing.

Outdoors hot line

Notices and listings of upcoming outdoors events

Volunteers haul vehicles from dump site

On the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge at the bottom of a steep 300-foot bluff near the Kincaid Park motocross track, a conglomeration of junk seems to have reached a final resting place.

Audio slide show: Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge

A wildlife crossroads that's never far from civilization (01/20/02)

Video: Reader-submitted view of Kincaid junk

Stoked for the pipe

Snowboarders and skiers turned out en masse Saturday, some responding to fresh powder and others to check out the new Alyeska Pipeline Super Pipe.

Arctic Valley opens, also has new terrain: a beer and wine bar

Photos: Alyeska's halfpipe

JOHN SCHANDELMEIER

Rookie will have veteran approach to Iditarod

Dan Kaduce has finished the Yukon Quest a couple of times -- and also scratched. His eighth-place finish in last year's race drew little notice in the press, but much of the mushing community followed his progress closely.

Outdoors hot line

Notices and listings of upcoming outdoors events

Upper Kenai River fishing guides form a professional association

More than 50 professional Kenai River fishing guides have formed their own association.

BLM faces hard struggle against illegal dumping on federal lands

Illegally dumped garbage is piling up on federal lands, often creating toxic hazards and costly cleanups. And nowhere is it more apparent than on the vast, often stunning tracts managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Report from Denali

Tuesday, Ian Shive, co-producer of "Wild Exposure," will be in Anchorage to sign copies of his recent photo book, "The National Parks: Our American Landscape." He will also speak at a forum on how climate change may be affecting America's national parks, along with staff from Kenai Fjords National Park.

Arctic Valley to open Saturday; Alyeska to unveil halfpipe

As overdue snow fluttered down Thursday morning, two Anchorage ski areas were busy making final preparations for significant weekend openings: Arctic Valley Ski Area plans to open Saturday for the first time this season, and Alyeska Ski Resort is unveiling its new 300-foot-long halfpipe.

Pro-hunting candidates elected to Mat-Su advisory board

The Mat-Su Fish and Game Advisory Committee has eight new members supported by pro-hunting and fishing groups, following an election Wednesday night that boasted a record-setting turnout.

Anchorage gun-rights advocates dominate Fish and Game advisory election

Mat-Su Fish and Game advisory board election draws hundreds

Hundreds of people turned out Wednesday night to cast ballots in the Mat-Su Fish and Game Advisory Board's annual election at Wasilla High School.

Stuckagain Heights property caught in park-access imbroglio

A 149-acre chunk of property that would expand access into Chugach State Park on the northeast side of the Anchorage Bowl is in limbo as some homeowners in the area fear park access would unleash woes that afflict other park trail heads.