Alaska News

Outdoors hotline (1/3/12)

ONGOING

2012 Yukon River Quest: Registration is now being accepted for the Yukon River Quest, to be held June 27-July 1, 2012. The 438-mile wilderness adventure paddling race is held on the Yukon River from Whitehorse to Dawson City in Canada's Yukon Territory. Entry forms are available at YukonRiverQuest.com. The entry fee is $850 for tandem canoes and kayaks, $475 for solo canoes and kayaks and $250 per person for voyageur canoe teams of six or more paddlers. Entry deadline is May 15. Teams are encouraged to register early. Limit of 100 canoe and kayak teams, including a limit of 30 solo teams.

Ski chariots available for loan: The Mat-Su Ski Club has four cross-country ski chariots to loan out to Mat-Su Valley parents with small children so that families can go skiing together. The club has two single-passenger chariots and two two-passenger chariots. The chariots have skis, seat belts, a pole system and waistband for the parent to hook into. Made possible through a grant from the Mat-Su Health Foundation. (45-4190, glynn@mtaonline.net)

Cross-country ski training: Alaska Nordic Racing offers lessons for all abilities. Programs range from middle and high school to adult master ski programs, taking place at the Beach Lake Trails in Eagle River and Kincaid and Service in Anchorage. Sessions also include waxing, technique, training and equipment selection. (376-2169, AlaskaNordicRacing.org)

MOA cross-country ski lessons: 6:30- 7:30 p.m., Kincaid Outdoor Center, 9401 Raspberry Road. Learn to cross-country ski in a group lesson. Lessons are offered in both skate and classic techniques for children and adults. Lessons are held at Kincaid Park and Russian Jack Springs Park on a weekly basis. Preregistration is required. (343-4217, muni.org/parks)

THURSDAY

Zoo Lights!, 5 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, Alaska Zoo, 4731 O'Malley Road. Meander the trails of lighted displays wrapped trees walkways of star-studded canopies and a menagerie of brightly lighted animals that will guide your way through the zoo. You'll find your walk punctuated by wonderfully, whimsical animated displays. $7.

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Alaska Outdoors Weekly Hiking, 6:30 p.m., O'Malley Trailhead, Stroganof Drive. Join other outdoor enthusiasts for a challenging hike. Location changes every week. $1 for non-members. (770-0440, alaska-outdoors.org)

FRIDAY

Bike First Friday, 5:45-8:45 p.m., Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge, 751 E. 36th Ave. Enjoy a little TGIF, meet great people, see art, and learn safe and convenient bicycle routes. Show up wearing bright, reflective, hi-vis clothing with lots of blinking or bright lights. While visiting art galleries, ride around the streets, trails, and alleys, sharing safe and convenient cut-throughs and shortcuts to streamline your bicycle commute. Sponsored by Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage. Free. (720-3580, bicycleanchorage.org)

Beginning Adult Skate Ski lessons, 6:30 p.m., Kincaid Outdoor Center, 9401 Raspberry Road. Learn to glide, stop, turn, climb hills, use poles, V-skating and diagonal skating techniques. Intermediate skate ski lessons are also offered. Classes on Wendesday or Friday evenings or Saturday afternoons. Call to register. $25. (343-6397, muni.org/Departments/parks/Pages/Skiing.aspx)

SATURDAY

Alaska Sports Car Lions Club Ice Racing Championship, 9-5 p.m., ASCLC Ice Racing Track, Big Lake. Any street legal car can join in and race. See website for rules $60. (aksportscarclub.org)

Childrens Cross Country Ski lessons, 12:30 and 2 p.m., Selkregg Chalet/Russian Jack Springs park, 1600 Lidia Selkregg Lane. Learn to ski at Russian Jack Springs Park. Ages 6-8 are from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and ages 9-12 are from 2-3 p.m. Kids will learn gliding, climb hills, turning and using ski poles. Call to register. $7.50. (343-6397, muni.org/Departments/parks/Pages/Skiing.aspx)

Level 1 Avalanche Refresher Workshop, 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday, Alaska Avalanche School, 1025 Orca St. The focus of this day and a half workshop is to review the course curriculum. This program is meant for backcountry enthusiasts WHO have received avalanche safety training and who are not interested in repeating the full course. $165. (345-0878, alaskaavalanche.org)

MONDAY

Alaska Outdoors Weekly Hiking, 6:30 p.m., Taku Lake Park: E. 76th Ave. Entrance. Monday outings are for beginners and families. Location changes every week. Non-members $1. (770-0440, alaska-outdoors.org)

COMING UP

Avalanche Rescue Workshop, 10 a.m., Jan. 10, Alaska Avalanche School, 1025 Orca St. This intensive, hands-on workshop is geared toward skiers, boarders, snowmachiners, climbers and other backcountry enthusiasts. The goal is to effectively locate and rescue backcountry travelers who have been caught in an avalanche. $110. (345-0878, alaskaavalanche.org)

Gun and Outdoor Show, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Jan. 14-15, Wasilla High School, 701 E. Bogard Road. Sponsored by the Wasilla High School Hockey Booster Club. Tables still available for vendors with quality gun and outdoor-related merchandise. $5 adults, $2 children. Tables $50 each. (376-4247, WHSGunShow@gmail.com)

Avalanche Awareness Field Training, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Jan. 14 at Eagle River Nature Center; Jan. 21 at Alyeska Resort; and Jan. 29 at Alpenglow Lodge, Arctic Valley Ski Area. Free training for those that love to recreate in the snow. Course topics include identifying and assessing avalanche terrain, trip planning and route selection, introduction to use of avalanche transceivers, shovels, and probes, emergency response. Pre-registration required. (376-2898, naoiak.org)

Nature and Travel Writing Class, 7-9:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 19, Sierra Club Office, 750 W. Second Ave. Suite 100. Anchorage author Bill Sherwonit teaches a 12-week nature and travel writing class. Explore and refine your own writing style, with an emphasis on the personal essay form. $240. (245-0283, billsherwonit.alaskawriters.com)

Alaska Water Wise, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 28, Atwood Building, Room 602, 550 W. Seventh Ave. Offered by the Alaska Office of Boating Safety. U.S. Coast Guard-recognized course satisfies most states' boating safety education requirements and may even qualify boaters for insurance discounts. Pre-registration encouraged. Free. (269-8704, alaskaboatingsafety.org)

To submit an event, go to events.adn.com and click on "add to our listings." To view a full listing of all available events, go to events.adn.com.

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Denali National Park changes entrance fee system

Effective Jan. 1, 2012, Denali National Park and Preserve will collect only the $10 per person entrance fee for visitors age 16 and older. The $20 per vehicle fee has been eliminated, because the park does not collect the fee at an entrance station as the majority of national parks do.

The fee is valid for seven days. The park will continue to honor the Interagency (IA) Federal Recreational Passes such as the Annual, Senior, and Access Pass, and the Denali Annual Pass.

The IA Annual Pass is $80 and is available online at store.usgs.gov/pass. It is valid for one year. The park's Annual Pass costs $40 and is valid for one year. It is only available for purchase at the park, not by mail. (nps.gov/dena, 907-683-9532)

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