Anchorage Daily News

CLIMBING

Ice climbing festival

WHEN: 8:30 a.m. Saturday

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 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. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church.

COST: $60-$80

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

FISHING

Students join in salmon egg takes

WHEN: Hourly 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday - Saturday

WHERE: Campbell Creek where Folker Street (south of Tudor Road) dead-ends at Campbell Creek

DETAILS: Fish and Game's Aquatic Education Program and the Anchorage School District join in salmon egg incubation projects that include a series of coho salmon egg-takes. Students from kindergarten through second grade participate. The Saturday session is for teachers who cannot attend with their classes and the public. About 2,500 kids are expected to attend. Each school will take up to 500 eggs back to the classroom to watch eggs develop and hatch. Fry from these incubation projects will be released in the spring at Taku-Campbell Lake.

COST: Free

CONTACT: Jay Baumer, Southcentral aquatic education fisheries biologist, 267-2265

Homer Spit snagging legal

WHEN: Daily

WHERE: Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon on Homer Spit

DETAILS: To not waste the salmon at the lagoon, snagging is legal the rest of the year. Weights or bobbers following a hook may be used in the lagoon. All other sport fishing regulations remain in effect.

COST: Free

CONTACT: Nicky Szarzi, area management biologist, 1-907-235-8191

Buskin silver limit increased

WHEN: Through end of season

WHERE: Buskin River on Kodiak Island

DETAILS: A strong return of more than 6,000 silvers has allowed biologists with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to increase the daily bag limit to five per day, five in possession.

CONTACT: Len Schwarz, Kodiak Area Management Biologist, 1-907-486-1880.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Sea otter presentation

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center in Homer

DETAILS: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge has a night of sea otter programming. Included: Sheryl Sotelo's McNeil Canyon Elementary School project on sea otters; a Kristen Worman talk on her summer's work picking up sea otters that died in Kachemak Bay; Karen Corbell will introduce a brochure on boat collisions with sea otters.

COST: Free

CONTACT: Lisa Matlock at 226-4617 or by e-mail at lisa_matlock@fws.gov

HIKING/BACKPACKING

Weekly Anchorage hikes

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

WHERE: Kincaid Park Chalet on Monday , Bicentennial Park South Bivouac parking lot

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

Bound for Dew Mound

WHEN: 2 p.m. today

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: Family-friendly three-mile hike heads along the Dew Mound-Meadows loop. You'll see the forest changing colors with the arrival of cooler temperatures.

COST: Free; parking is $5 for nonmembers

CONTACT: 694-2108

Soak in fall colors

WHEN: 11 a.m. Saturday

WHERE: Parking lot at Mile 115.2 of Seward Highway, just past Chugach State Park headquarters

DETAILS: Join Bob and Ann Fisher for a 7.5-mile hike from Rainbow to Potter. Expect ups and down -- including an 850-foot climb in a one-mile stretch -- and a muddy trail. Spectacular views of Turnagain Arm are available. Hikers should be in good shape and bring a daypack with food, water and rain gear. Well-behaved dogs are welcome .

COST: $5 parking for those without state park passes

CONTACT: 694-2108 to register

Nordic walking introduction

WHEN: 6:15 p.m. Oct. 6, 8, 13

WHERE: Bittner House on Campbell Creek Trail Oct. 6, Klatt Elementary Oct. 8, Springhill Elementary Oct. 13

DETAILS: Nordic Walking poles add stability and balance while you get joint-saving low-impact and outdoor exercise. This easy class focuses on equipment, techniques for personal or group nordic walking; and runs concurrently with bi-weekly nordic walking workouts. Some poles are loaned in class. Ages 12 and up.

COST: $25 per session

CONTACT: Ronn Randall, 343-4260

KIDS

Learn nature printing

WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: Learn the art of goyutaku or nature printing. A staff naturalist will show youngsters how to gather fall leaves and fish to make perfect prints on paper and cloth. Bring a pre-washed T-shirt. Limited to 10 participants ages 7-15 years accompanied by an adult.

COST: $5; parking is $5 for nonmembers

CONTACT: 694-2108

Beavers' winter preparation

WHEN: 2 p.m. Sept. 28

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: Learn how beavers get ready for the cold season with biologist David Mitchell. An optional one-mile walk to watch beavers at nearby ponds will follow the talk.

COST: Free; parking is $5 for non-members.

CONTACT: 694-2108

MUSHING

Norman Vaughan Serum Run meeting

WHEN: 1-3 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Willow Community Center, Parks Highway

DETAILS: First organizational meeting of the 25th Norman Vaughan Serum Run sled dog event. Information on the upcoming run, the selection process and the shakedown training runs need will be discussed.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 227-6311, www.serumrun.org

ROLLERSKIING

Kincaid Stampede roller ski race

WHEN: 1 p.m. today

WHERE: Kincaid Chalet

DETAILS: Sprint starts and long-course challenges in this Anchorage Grand Prix Roller Ski race series event. There are male, female, masters and junior divisions with an awards presentation and pot luck dinner afterward at Kincaid Outdoor Center. Helmets and gloves required.

COST: $20

CONTACT: Ronn Randall, 343-4260

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, $500 by Oct. 1

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

SKIJORING

Run Rover Run

WHEN: 12:30 p.m. today ; 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

SHOOTING

Brian Hill Memorial shoot

WHEN: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 5

WHERE: Rabbit Creek Shooting Park

DETAILS: Hunter Information and Training Program; National Wild Turkey Federation, Tundra Toms chapter; and Outdoor Heritage Foundation sponsor the Brian Hill Memorial Shoot, with 50 birds and five-person squads available. Prizes are awarded to the top man and woman, senior boy and girl, and junior boy and girl.

COST: $50 per entry; lunch provided

CONTACT: 748-3358 or 267-2241 to register

TRAILS

National Public Lands Day

WHEN: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: BLM Campbell Creek Science Center, 5600 Science Center Drive, 68th Avenue and Elmore Road

DETAILS: Help rejuvenate trails as part of National Public Lands Day at various spots at Campbell Tract and Far North Bicentennial Park. Wear warm clothes, boots and gloves; tools provided. Free pizza lunch for volunteers.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 267-1247

Science Center open house

WHEN: 1:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: BLM Campbell Creek Science Center, 5600 Science Center Drive, off 68th Avenue and Elmore Road

DETAILS: "Take it Outside: Connect with Your Public Lands" is the focus of this annual open house, a family event that features educational games, live music and the science center's new poster calendar.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 267-1247

WINTER GEAR SWAP

Get geared up for winter

WHEN: Friday-Sunday Equipment drop-off Friday noon-8 p.m.; Saturday 1-8 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Pickup unsold goods 4-6 p.m. Sunday.

WHERE: Sullivan Arena

DETAILS: Get all sorts of used winter sports gear cheap at this big swap, including some new gear at garage sale prices. World Cup Sports and Sunshine Sports are participating. Swap specials if you sign up for winter programs. A limited number of people can pre-shop by volunteering four hours of time.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 346-3981

WRITING

Sherwonit talks about new book

WHEN: 5:15-7 p.m. Oct. 7

WHERE: University of Alaska Anchorage Campus Bookstore, 2901 Spirit Way

DETAILS: Alaska nature writer Bill Sherwonit reads from his new book "Living With Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey," and discusses how we get to better know the place where we live.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 786-4782

Nature writing class

WHEN: 7:30 p.m., beginning Thursday

WHERE: Sierra Club office downtown

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

COST: $200

CONTACT: 245-0283 or akgriz@hotmail.com

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Site of the week

www.hatcherspass.org

Hatcher Pass is often gorgeous this time of year, during the transition from fall to winter. Check this site for information and history.

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