Anchorage Daily News

BIKING

9/11 community bike ride

WHEN: 4 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Downtown Anchorage fire department

WHAT: Third annual ride will honor the victims and heroes of the 9/11 attacks. Eight-mile ride will start at the downtown fire department, use the Chester Creek bike trail and end at the Anchorage Police Department on Bragaw Street. All ages welcome. Donations go to the Red Cross of Alaska Responder Relief Fund supporting fire, police and emergency personnel in local emergencies.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 561-6630

BOATING

Seward boat show

WHEN: 9 a.m. today

WHERE: Seward Boat Harbor

DETAILS: New and used sailboats and power yachts will be on display, including Beneteau and Catalina yachts. Sessions on winterizing your boat (9 a.m.), chartering in the Caribbean (10 a.m.) and sailing aboard the S/V Alaskan Rover (3 p.m.). Attendees may pick up a free boarding pass and register at Sailing, Inc., 1602 Seward Highway.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 1-907-224-3160; www.sailinginc.com.

CLIMBING

Ice climbing festival

WHEN: 8:30 a.m. Sept. 27

WHERE: Glacier Park, Mile 101 Glenn Highway

WHAT: 15th annual Mountaineering Club of Alaska ice climbing festival, a two-day instructional ice climbing weekend for new and experienced ice climbers. No prior experience required. Participants will learn modern ice climbing and rope management techniques. Instructors are MCA volunteers. Must be a MCA member and attend a mandatory participant meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at First United Methodist Church.

COST: $60-$80

CONTACT: 382-0212 or by e-mail at mca_icefest@yahoo.com

FLORA AND FAUNA

Feeding the bears

WHEN: 2 p.m. today

WHERE: Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage

DETAILS: Salmon will be hung just out of the reach of hungry brown bears expected to leap for a meal. Watch bears foam at the mouth with anticipation of one of their favorite meals. The event will last until the last salmon is gone. Expected to demonstrate how high brown bears can jump -- good to know if you're ever up a tree.

CONTACT: Kelly Miller at 783-2025

HIKING/BACKPACKING

Weekly Anchorage hikes

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Monday, Thursday

WHERE: Kincaid Chalet on Monday, Stuckagain Heights trail head on Thursday

DETAILS: Alaska Outdoors weekly hikes. Monday hike an easier trail, suitable for kids. Thursday is a mountain trail.

COST: $1

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

Lazy Mountain trail work

WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday

WHERE: Lazy Mountain trail head, south end of Huntley Road

DETAILS: Work will begin on a new trail that crosses a ridge on Lazy Mountain facing southwest. The south-side Lazy Mountain Trail is a hand-made hiking trail to the summit, designed to take advantage of the views. Work will include roughing in the bench cut, trimming brush and general clearing. Personal gear should include lunch, water, gloves, boots and bug repellent. Useful tools include bow saws. The Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers crew trailer will be there with Pulaskis and McLeods available.

COST: Free

CONTACT: Joe at 306-3273 or Pat at 1-907- 745-7714

KIDS

Learn about seeds

WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: Junior naturalists learn about seeds as part of the center's "botany for kids" series. Includes a scavenger hunt in the woods and meadow.

COST: Free; parking $5 for nonmembers

CONTACT: 694-2108

Mushroom hunt

WHEN: 10 a.m. Sept. 14

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: Take a guided mushroom foray about 2 miles along the Albert Loop trail with naturalist Dominique Collet. Limited to the first 20 people who register.

COST: Free; parking $5 for nonmembers

CONTACT: 694-2108

Southcentral insects

WHEN: 2 p.m. Sept. 14

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: Author and naturalist Dominique Collet will present a program on insects in our region and sign her book, "Insects of Southcentral Alaska," afterwards.

COST: Free; parking $5 for nonmembers

CONTACT: 694-2108

SKIING

Winter-long ski training at APU

WHEN: Oct. 1 through April

WHERE: APU's Moseley Sports Center

DETAILS: Winter long ski training program aimed at U.S. Masters Nationals in Anchorage next spring. Registration has begun.

COST: $500 now and another $500 by Oct. 1

CONTACT: 564-8906; hbrooks@alaskapacific.edu or nordic.alaskapacific.edu/forms.php

SKIJORING

Run Rover Run

WHEN: 12:30 p.m. Sept. 21; registration begins 11 a.m.

WHERE: Campbell Lake at entrance to Kincaid Park

DETAILS: First event of Anchorage Skijor Club's 2008-09 season for one dog only on hilly trail. Races for men, women and juniors offered. Dogs must be on leash at all times.

COST: $5 single-day membership or season membership

CONTACT: Rebecca Voris, 243-5234

WRITING

Keeping a nature journal

WHEN: 1 p.m. today

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: Giselle Bergeron will help participants learn how to write a nature journal. She'll share tips on recording your observations in ways that will encourage regular use. Bring along a blank journal, writing utensils and a snack. Workshop will take place indoors and outdoors. Must be at least 16, and registration is required .

COST: $20

CONTACT: 694-2108

Wilderness book reading

WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Title Wave Books

DETAILS: Anchorage nature writer Bill Sherwonit will read from his new collection of essays, "Living with Wildness: An Alaskan Odyssey" and discuss the nature that surrounds us -- even in Alaska's urban center. For details about the book, visit the author's Web site: www.billsherwonit.alaskawriters.com.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 278-9283

Nature writing class

WHEN: 7:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 25

WHERE: Sierra Club office downtown

WHAT: Anchorage nature writer and author Bill Sherwonit will teach a 12-week workshop-style nature-writing class with emphasis on personal essays. Further information about the teacher is also available at www.billsherwonit.alaskawriters.com.

COST: $200

CONTACT: 245-0283 or akgriz@hotmail.com

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Compiled by Daily News outdoors reporter Mike Campbell. Deadline for submission is 9 a.m. Monday. E-mail items to outdoors@adn.com, fax to 258-2157 or mail to Anchorage Daily News, P.O. Box 149001, Anchorage 99514-9001.

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Site of the week

www.kenai.fjords.national-park.com:

Heading to Seward for the silver salmon derby. Check out our most accessible national park while you're there.

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