VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 3 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016glaciercitygazette.net

By Lauren di Scipio KinsnerStaff Writer

There are days when the coffee in my cup ripples from the munitions blasts rocketing projectiles at the snowy peaks. On other days, I can hear the distinct, deep, muffled sound of tons of powder and ice finally giving way on its own, sliding down the chutes and landing with that heavy T H U D. It’s a sound that is somehow soothing when I am safe and warm a mile away, and another reminder of how amazing it is to live in Alaska.

That is not an earthquake or thunder. That is an ava-lanche.

And it’s not a sound that you want to hear while driving along Turnagain Arm. When we chose to live in Bird, we were warned about the tailgaters, ice, rock fall and ava-lanches. But the beauty here is seductive.

The Seward Highway Scenic Bi-way is one of the most challenging stretches of highway to navigate and manage in the United States. Maintaining safe passage for the pub-lic is a daunting task. With 127-miles of weather, earth and climate-thrashed asphalt along ever-changing waterways, mountain passes, forests and valleys, the people who work this road know each day can be an adventure.

The first 50-miles runs along the base of the stunning Chugach Mountains and the shore of Turnagain Arm. Along with beluga whales, moose, Dall sheep, waterfalls, bore tides and eagles, it’s not uncommon to see rocks the size of a basketball on the road. The remainder of the drive winds through the mountains, eventually landing you in Seward. In the winter snow often builds up on the slopes with sleet, ice and wind, creating a perfect recipe for an avalanche.

In 1952, during the first year of highway operations, an incident with two avalanches resulted in a car being de-stroyed and swept into Turnagain Arm and the death of one pedestrian by the second avalanche. Earlier records of avalanches describe an accident two-miles north of Gird-wood in 1920 when six railroad workers were killed by a secondary avalanche that occurred while crews were re-moving debris from a previous snow slide.

Avalanches are epic events. Factors that increase the risk of avalanche danger include accumulation of new snow, rain, wind and extreme temperature swings...typical south central Alaskan winter weather. On steep peaks, the snow generally sheds before dangerous build up can occur. The slopes between 30 to 45 degrees are the most dangerous. Loose snow avalanches start at a specific point on the slope then, as they travel downward they widen and pick up size and speed “snow” engulfs and sets as hard as concrete. Slab avalanches are massive plates of bonded snow and ice that fracture off and race downhill. Those who have survived being caught in an avalanche report exceedingly grim ex-periences.

In 2000, when multiple avalanches seized the region, a railway employee with 21-years on the job was killed while clearing avalanche debris when a secondary slide at Bird Flats exploded down the “Five Finger’s Chute” and pushed him and his 35,000-pound D6 Caterpiller bulldozer 400-feet into Turnagain Arm. The bulldozer was demolished.

Others narrowly escaped after rescue. Upon analysis of the path and debris, it was estimated that the ava-lanche crossed the highway at approximately 110-miles per hour. Girdwood resi-dents and travelers trapped

Road crews battle avalanches with fi re and iron

FREE

ECRWSSPostal Customer

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAIDANCHORAGE, AKPERMIT NO. 26

See page 11

Lauren di Scipio Kinsner / Glacier City GazetteThe Bird Point Avalanche on the Seward Highway near mile 98 is part of the infa-mously dangerous “Five Fingers Chutes” where Kerry Brookman was killed in 2000.

Challenge Alaska Adaptive Ski and Snowboard School: Inspiration in Action

See back page

Nic Petit hits the Iditarod Trail

Page 6

FREE

LOCALLY OWNED AND PRODUCED IN GIRDWOOD, ALASKA

By P.M. Fadden

At home in land of the last frontier, interactive, non-profit organization Challenge Alaska supports pursuit of excellence under any circumstance.

Challenge AK’s stimulating platform of interactive athletics, inspiration, and learning generates a community-wide ripple of positive thinking to affect staffers, pupils, parents, and public at-large.

“Participation with Challenge has been said to be life changing for in-structors and students,” said Director, Jeremy Anderson. “Even more amazing is the effect our programs have on the family as a whole.”

A proudly non-profit organization, Challenge Alaska has enriched lives through adaptive integration since 1980.

Organization founder and two-time Paralympics gold medalist, Douglas Keil launched Girdwood’s Adaptive Ski and Snowboard School with a staff of twelve headquartered in a broom closet.

Thirty-five years later, operating from Anchorage and Girdwood offices, Challenge AK serves over 1,000 clients per annum offering year-round pro-gramming crafted to support the com-munity, the family, and the individual. Both sites adhere to a mission that fa-cilitates overall lifestyle improvement, P.M. Fadden / Glacier City Gazette

Students and Instructors exit Challenge AK’s Crystal Moun-tain location excited to take on Alyeska’s weekend snowfall.

March 9, 2016 | Volume 1, Issue 3Page 2 Glacier City Gazette

Dear Editor,

I have been watching the old television show called Have Gun – Will Travel. The star of this cow-boy western series is a guy called Paladin who shows up where there is trouble. He is the law, police, judge, jury and executioner. He solves problems by shooting all the bad guys.

A lot of folks I’ve been talking with seem to have this cowboy western frame of mind when it comes to the police issue in Gird-wood. The issue is a lot more com-plicated than police officers show-

ing up at the scene of the crime.There are the laws. Some of the

laws are real old, from the Old Testament: Moses came down with a few of the big ones. Some of our laws were passed by mod-ern day ninny lawmakers, like jay walking laws on empty streets at 3 a.m.

Then there is the court system. Suspected lawbreakers are ar-raigned by a judge or magistrate who either sets bail, orders a fine or sends the offender to jail. This is the corrections system where suspects are held and where con-victed criminals are incarcerated

to keep law-abiding citizens safe.The court system also provides

the opportunity for the accused to stand trial with legal representa-tion, which is provided free if he or she cannot afford an attorney. The government provides the judge, prosecutor and arranges for juries to be assembled.

Perhaps the suspect is freed by an innocent verdict. If not, the suspect will be remanded again to the corrections system to serve a sentence. There is often an op-portunity for early release from jail. This is the parole system, which monitors and supervises

people who have gotten an early release from their sentences.

It is not about having the fastest gun in the west. It is about Gird-wood having a whole system called The Rule of Law, which will pro-tect and serve us in many ways.

Several times a year we in-vite thousands of visitors to our town. The mere presence of po-lice makes our town safer. Drivers slow down. Police respond when there is trouble. They investigate crimes. They do mental health wellness checks. They alone have the authority to take troublemak-ers away from our community.

When the police pay visits to our school they teach our children to identify with the good guys. We want that.

The issue of police protection in Girdwood and the passage of Proposition #9 in the April 5 elec-tion is about more than just police officers for Girdwood. Passing Proposition 9 means a safer com-munity for all of us.

It’s your decision.

Tommy O’MalleyBox 598Girdwood, AK99587

Glacier City Gazette© 2016 Roaming Wolverine Media, LLC

We cover the communities of Rainbow, Indian, Bird Creek, Crow Creek, Girdwood, Portage, Whittier, Moose Pass, Cooper Landing, Hope and South Anchorage.

Published the second and fourthWednesdays of the month

Email:marc@glaciercitygazette.net

Mailing Address:P.O. Box 1903

Girdwood, Alaska 99587

Marc Donadieu – Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Matthew Bailey – Graphic Designer/Webmaster

Marlene Buccione – Chief Photographer

Julia Isaac – Staff Writer – Hope News/ Music

P.M. Fadden – Staff Writer

Lauren di Scipio Kinsner – Staff Writer/Photographer

>> IN THIS ISSUE

Keegan MessingTwenty four years ago, Keegan Messing was born in

a house in Old Girdwood. His mother, Sally Messing, has always been a big figure skating fan, so Keegan started skating as a three-year old.

After the 1992 Olympics, libraries carried VHS tapes of Olympic figure skating, and Keegan was a devoted viewer who fell in love with the sport. He became a fan of Elvis Stojko, the top Canadian skater at the time, which drew Keegan to pursue the sport with more passion and intensity.Page 4

FVCSFour Valleys Community School update...Page 10

Frozen in TimeA look back at the week that was...Page 5

Team PetitThe 2016 Iditarod Ceremo-nial Start was on Feb. 4 in Anchorage...Page 6

Hopeful NewsCongratulations to this year’s Ididacontest winners!Page 8

Alyeska SnowpackAs winter’s seasonal stride draws ever nearer to spring, snow enthusiasts...Page 9

The Glacier City Gazette is looking for writers and photographers

IWe are interested in articles and photos from Rainbow, Indian, Girdwood, Crow Creek, Portage, Whittier, Moose Pass, Cooper Landing, Hope, and South Anchorage.

If you know of

anything newsworthy, please let us know.

Pitch yourwriting and photography

ideas to:

marc@glaciercitygazette.net

Thank you,Marc Donadieu

To the Editor

Avalanche InformationHeather Thamm worked for 12 years on ski patrol...Page 11

Volume 1, Issue 3 | March 9, 2016 Page 3Glacier City Gazette

Yak is sort of backBy Marc DonadieuGlacier City Gazette

As infrequently as the punk band Yak plays, it was ap-propriate their set at the Silvertip Grill was on Feb. 29. Play-ing for about an hour, the band tore through an assortment original songs and covers that kept the show moving until, in true punk fashion, it crashed to a halt. The show was an abrasive musical palate cleanser from the live shows typi-cally heard in Girdwood. It was also engaging and fun.

Yak is composed of Andrew Saden on drums, Sean Mc-Cloud on bass and Gator on electric guitar (until he broke a string) and acoustic guitar. The band formed around three years ago and has played on and off since. Yak originally had an electronic drummer named Sprinkles, who left af-ter a year because he moved away. Saden joined the band two years ago and dramatically changed the music’s dynamic with his relentless, propulsive drumming.

Saden went to a Yak show during their earlier configu-ration and told them they needed a live drummer. He was already playing in The Dirty Hands, but seized the opportu-nity as an outlet for a different side of his drumming skills.

“At the time,” McCloud said, “he wasn’t allowed to play the sticks in The Dirty Hands. They were making him play with jazz brushes because he was too loud and overpower-ing. He liked playing with us because we just turned him loose. He didn’t get to play like that with his other band. They’re a lot more composed and play dynamic stuff.”

Gator and McCloud readily acknowledge what Saden brings to the mix in their band. The contrast in Saden’s drumming technique between bands is appreciated.

“As far as his drumming,” said Gator, “it has been fun to be able to see him with The Dirty Hands because it looks like he’s thinking, and calculating and doing math. When he’s playing with us, he looks like Animal from The Muppets. He looks like he’s in a zone. It’s not to say it’s better or worse. It’s a complete opposite dynamic of when he just lets go ver-sus keeping timing, respectably playing at certain times to let everyone in the band be heard. Those are musicians in that band. There is only one in ours. For him to be like ‘Just gooooo!’ is nice for all of us.”

About two weeks before their Leap Year show, Yak played an open house practice at The Grind, which brought in quite a few people. The mostly younger crowd enjoyed the music as the band freely dabbled with a variety of sounds and textures, including another guitarist who also played some slide guitar. The Silvertip show was much tighter and more focused. McCloud and Gator were both aware and amused at Yak’s reception.

“What I liked about Monday’s show the most was watch-ing people’s reactions,” Gator said. “‘Wait a minute. This isn’t Melissa Mitchell.’ When you go to The Silvertip, you’re used to ‘Alright, here’s another Johnny Cash cover,’ which is fine. But there are a lot of people who came here, and I saw on their faces, ‘Oh there’s a band,’ and then they weren’t ready for fast, stompy rock. That makes us go faster and turn it up.”

What happens with Yak in the future is up in the air. None of the band members know where it will go, despite their desire to play again. Due to the varied schedules of the band members, they can only play sporadically. With a shift in seasons about to happen, finding common time becomes more complicated. However, the band likes to joke about the situation.

“We’re never going to practice again,” Gator said. “We’re just going to show up and play. The purpose of it is just to have fun as opposed to ‘We’re gonna make it!’ I think we’re

going to play again. I couldn’t tell you when. I’d like to think our next show would be a house party.”

165 Hightower Rd. Girdwood, AK 99587

(907) 783-2594To Go orders welcome

9 a.m. to midnightWednesday thru Monday

Breakfast served all day

Marc Donadieu / Glacier City GazetteHope Social Club plays the second of a 2-night stand on Feb. 27 at the Sitzmark.

LIVE MUSIC

Chair 5 Restaurant

March 10 The Goodtime Travellers

March 17 The Extratuff Cowboys

March 24 Honey and Blood

Silvertip Grill

March 9 Milo MathewsMarch 11 Brook Faulk &

Emily TiptonMarch 12 Ponderosa 2March 18 Todd Grebe March 19 Cerutti / EriksonMarch 21 Open Mic NiteMarch 25 Chicks that PickMarch 26 Steve Norwood

THE GLACIER CITY GAZETTE IS CREATING A COMMUNITY CALENDAR.

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS BY MARCH 19 TOMARC@GLACIERCITYGAZETTE.NET

Marc Donadieu / Glacier City GazetteYak at the Tip (L-R) Sean McCloud - bass, Gator - guitar, Andrew Saden - drums.

I “As far as his drumming, it has been fun to be able to see him with The Dirty Hands because it looks like he’s thinking, and calculating and doing math. When he’s playing with us, he looks like Animal from The Muppets.”

– GATOR(on drummer Andrew Saden)

March 9, 2016 | Volume 1, Issue 3Page 4 Glacier City Gazette

By Marc DonadieuGlacier City Gazette

Twenty four years ago, Keegan Messing was born in a house in Old Girdwood. His mother, Sally Messing, has al-ways been a big figure skating fan, so Keegan started skating as a three-year old. After the 1992 Olympics, libraries car-ried VHS tapes of Olympic figure skating, and Keegan was a devoted viewer who fell in love with the sport. He became an avid fan of Elvis Stojko, the top Canadian skater at the time, which drew Keegan to pursue the sport with more passion and intensity.

“It was the power of it,” said Keegan, “the jumping, the spinning. It was so captivating. It was just great.”

These early experiences led Keegan to compete against the best figure skating talent in the world. He represents Edmonton on the Canadian National Team through the Sherwood Park Figure Skating Club. Though he was born in Girdwood, his mother was born in Edmonton, Alberta and has dual Canadian/U.S. citizenship, which allows him to represent the red maple leaf flag proudly in competitions.

It is Keegan’s first season on the Canadian National Team, which he originally wanted to skate for, but an early techni-cality in his career led him to skating for the U.S. Team for seven years. Last year, an opportunity arose on the Cana-dian National Team, so he took it. Now he mainly trains in Calgary in Canada Olympic Park, which has four ice rinks at the giant, mountainside facility designed for the production of Olympic athletes.

He occasionally trains in Toronto, but in the off-season he practices solo in Anchorage. The location presents chal-lenges in motivation because the caliber of practice is not same as in Canada.

“Training in Alaska is hard,” Keegan said. “I’m alone up here. I don’t have any competition. It’s very hard to self-

motivate sometimes. At least when you’re skiing, you’re outside and it’s a lot of fun and it’s easy to get motivated. If you’re in a dark, cold rink, sometimes it’s a little difficult to get yourself motivated to that point to push yourself beyond yourself.”

He is determined to keep improving his technical skills and his skating to realize his full potential. He knows he has some room to develop, and he wants to add another jump to his routine to become more competitive in international events.

“I’m hoping to have two triple axels in my program, a quad toe and a quad salchow. If I can add a quad salchow, it will boost my score by over 10 points, if I can pull it off.”

It takes a lot of energy to perform, and including an ex-tra quad jump adds to the rigors but enhances the rewards of the judges’ score. His 4½-minute long program features eight jumping passes, three spins and two foot loops, which place physical and mental demands upon a skater. He hopes to see his efforts pay off in the 2017 Canadian Nationals af-ter his finish this year.

“I finished sixth this year at Nationals,” Keegan said, “even though I skated very well. I improved myself from last year to this year’s Nationals by over 20 points, which is actually very good. My component score improved by over 10 points. I was one mistake away from second place. My goal is to keep improving myself and be ready for the next season.”

His mistake was a slight slip after a jump, which cost him valuable points. What most people don’t realize is that dur-ing warm-ups, he lost an edge on his skates and had a hard wipe out that bruised him badly. He fought through it dur-ing his program, but it left him laid-up and nearly motion-less the next day from the bruising. He wished people un-derstood the physical aspect of figure skating more so they can appreciate it better.

“On a quad,” said Keegan, “I spend about 0.7 seconds in the air, and I spin four times around, which comes out to

474 rpm. That’s the average rotating speed. You take that much energy, throw it into the ice from about three feet in the air, and you’re slamming into the ice over and over again. It kind of hurts.”

Keegan has found an abundance of appreciation for what he does in Girdwood. He was a Girdwood 2020 Go for the

Gold recipient, which offers grants to Olympic caliber ath-letes to support them in their training.

“It’s amazing,” said Keegan. “To be recognized by your community is always incredible. Knowing that they’re be-hind you, you’ve got to be doing something right. When you hear about it, and you get that follow up in your email,

you just feel this inner strength and sense of happiness about you. Wow! Someone is watching. Someone cares. It helps you in your training. It gives you that extra push, that extra reason to push.”

Another reason that drives Keegan, especially during tough stretches, is his passion for figure skating. He enjoys what his skills allow him to do on the ice, whether it is in practice or competition. He likes the thrill of what he can do.

“For me, I love the craft,” Keegan said. “I love performing. I love feeling that glide, the smooth feeling of the ice. On top of it all, I can hit over 20 mph on skates, just in pushing. To feel that much speed and power, it’s so much fun. Then you can throw yourself up in the air and spin three times around and land backwards on one foot.”

Figure skating in national and international competi-tions has helped him appreciate Girdwood that much more because he has travelled around the world. Growing up in Girdwood, he had friends who wanted to get away or go to other places to see what else was out there. But no matter how far or how long he travels, he always wants to return to the place he knows as home.

“By the time I turned 18,” Keegan said, “I already went to several different countries, multiple states and figured out I don’t want to be anywhere else but Alaska. The only oth-er place I would want to live is Canada. I come back every weekend to Girdwood because I cannot stand the city life. It’s too much. I get close to my roots. Then I go back out and have some fun again.”

Girdwood’s Keegan Messing skates for Canadian National Team

IOn a quad I spend about 0.7 seconds in the air, and I spin four times around, which comes out to 474 rpm. That’s the average rotating speed. You take that much energy, throw it into the ice from about three feet in the air, and you’re slamming into the ice over and over again. It kind of hurts.”

– KEEGAN MESSING

Stephanie Cook / Sanctuary Photography Alaska / Special to the Glacier City GazetteKeegan Messing does a Russian Split Jump, a move he is well known for performing be-cause of the height he reaches.

Stephanie Cook / Sanctuary Photography Alaska / Special to the Glacier City GazetteThe Tap Arabian is a new trick Keegan Messing has learned, and he says it is a lot of fun to do.

Volume 1, Issue 3 | March 9, 2016 Page 5Glacier City Gazette

By Shannon MarkleySpecial to the Glacier City Gazette

While the top of Alyeska Resort received 200” of snow in the month of February, with the turning of the new month and the sun finally making an appearance on the slopes, we cannot deny that spring is on its way. If you are one of many parents looking for a great activity to get your kids into while they are free from school over spring break, Alyeska Resort’s Mountain Learning Center has all types of Spring Mini Camps to match your child’s timeframe, age and ability.

Mini Camps for skiers ages 5-12 and snowboarders ages 8-12 will be running between March 14-16 and March 17-19. Is your little ripper under 5 years old? No worries, our Gummy Worm Camp, running March 14-16, is for 4-year-olds training to be the next gold medalist. Our Powder Blasters program, which is available all season long, will also be running every Saturday and Sunday, as well as private and group lessons that are available every day of the week. Please visit AlyeskaResort.com or call The Mountain Learning Center at (907) 754-2280 for additional information and registration. Give yourself some adult time on the moun-tain or just some actual adult quiet time and get your kids up on the slopes with our amazing instructors!

Speaking of adult time, American country-punk rock band, Lucero, will be hitting the Sitz-mark stage for St. Patty’s Day weekend. Pretend you’re Irish for a night and join us Thursday night where we will be hosting a Green Themed Costume Party for St. Patrick’s Day and a raffle to win 80,000 Alaska Airlines Miles. Your concert ticket in the door is your raffle ticket, so everyone has an equal chance to win.

Lucero had their start in Memphis, Tenn. and play an average of 175 shows a year across the United States and Canada, making them one of the hardest working bands in the last decade. These guys hit the stage and don’t leave anything behind. Their eclectic sounds comprised of guitar, bass, drums, piano, organ, horns, pedal steel guitar, keyboard and accordion puts off a unique mix of country, rock, punk and blues. Part of Lucero’s sound came from a simple rebellion against the Memphis sound, and who doesn’t enjoy a little rebellion once in a while?

Join us Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night as we welcome back the Southern Boys to our Winter Wonderland. Tickets are $20 with the exception of Thursday night where ladies get

in free. These shows are likely to sell out, so be sure to get your tickets in advance by calling (907) 754-2275 or visiting TheSitzmark.com.

The Hotel Alyeska will be bringing back the Ski Free Midweek package right after Spring Break ends, so be sure to join us mid-week to have the mountain to yourself. Starting at $159/night, this package offers a night’s stay and lift tickets for two, Sunday night through Thursday night until the end of ski season. Keep those snow dances coming, and we’ll ski you on the slopes!

By P.M. FaddenGlacier City Gazette Staff Writer

I Monday, March 7 – Alaskan Proud: Vern Tejas of Anchorage completed the first solo ascent of Mt. McKinley, 1988.

Tuesday, March 8 – President Rutherford B. Hays declares that the United States will have jurisdiction over any canal built across the isthmus of Panama, 1880.

Wednesday, March 9 – The first Ford Mustang rolls off the Ford assembly line, 1964.

Thursday, March 10 – The U.S. Supreme Court upholds a New York state law forbidding late-night work for women, 1924.

Friday, March 11 – An auspicious day for journalism; the Daily Courant, the first regular English newspaper is published, 1702.

Saturday, March 12 – Coca-Cola is sold in bottles for the first time, 1894.

Sunday, March 13 – The Encyclopedia Britannica discontinues its print edition after 244 years, 2012.

These dates in history are happily brought to you by the Glacier City Gazette in the hopes that the current week is just as noteworthy. Cheers.

FROZEN IN TIMEA look back at the week that was…

Alyeska at a Glance

Courtesy photoEarly advertising promised that pleasures would abound in the then newly released ’64 Ford Mustang.

Photo courtesy of Alyeska ResortLucero had their start in Memphis, Tenn. and play an average of 175 shows a year across the United States and Canada, making them one of the hardest working bands in the last decade.

ALYESKA EVENTS

Wasteland Hop

March 11 & 12

LuceroMarch 17-19

Black Water Railroad

March 25 & 26

The PhotonzMarch 1-April 2

All shows at the Sitzmark Bar & Grill.Doors @ 9 p.m. | Show @ 10 p.m. | Ages 21+

March 9, 2016 | Volume 1, Issue 3Page 6 Glacier City Gazette

By Marc DonadieuGlacier City Gazette

The 2016 Iditarod Ceremonial Start was on Feb. 4 in Anchorage and the Re-Start was the next day on Willow Lake. For mushers, the race actually began weeks earlier. Extensive preparations are needed to fill drop bags with dog food and musher grub for nearly all of the checkpoints along the nearly 1,000-mile trail to Nome. Careful planning and anticipation are required, and that is just the beginning of a mental, physi-cal and sleep-deprived endurance test.

After the drop bags are completed, the dogs are checked by veterinarians and given EKGs to check their hearts. Then there are race meetings, the Mushers Banquet, the Ceremonial Start and the final preparations before begin-ning the race. It’s like a marathon with a lot of sprints leading up to the departure for Nome. It is all part of the challenge that makes the Iditarod unique.

Girdwood’s Nic Petit is competing in the Iditarod for the sixth time. He was the 2011 Iditarod Rookie of the Year and the 2013 Iditarod Most Improved Musher. Last year he finished in 10th place and won the Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award for outstanding dog care by a top 20 team. The award is the highest honor for a competitive musher other than finishing first.

When fans and friends greeted him over the weekend, he was typically asked, “Are you going to win it this year?” He smiled politely and quietly brushed the expectations away with a more realistic assessment of what might happen. Like last year, he views the race as a training run to build his team for future Iditarods. Twelve of his 16 dogs are one or two years old.

Something that wasn’t obvious to these well-wishers is that Petit lent his big wheel dogs Levi and Carhartt to Ray Redington, Jr. Petit had to choose from his team of 16 smaller dogs which two would be placed in the muscle po-sition on the gang line just before the start. When asked how he would do in this year’s race he said, “A top 20 fin-ish and another Humanitarian Award.” Petit benefits from this arrangement by helping a friend have a better chance of winning while having 18 dogs from his kennel run in the Iditarod. Such experi-ence is invaluable.

This year’s Ceremonial Start in An-

chorage was abbreviated to a three-mile run ending at Davenport Field Baseball Complex due to a serious lack of snow. Team Petit was parked just below 4th Avenue and H Street by 7 a.m. for a 10:22 start time since it drew bib num-ber 12. Onlookers and fans streamed by to chat with Petit and take pictures of him and his dog team. Despite the ca-sual nature of the event, he still had to ready his team. This year, Iditaroder, Julie Amaro joined Team Petit and rode in the front of the sled for the Ceremo-nial Start.

The Re-Start the next morning at Willow Lake was all business. Petit arrived around 10:30 a.m. and started packing his sled and preparing his dogs for the long trail to Nome. The dogs were fed pieces of frozen salmon, which are good for the protein and fat but es-pecially the water content, which helps with hydration along the trail. There were no scraps left behind as the dogs gladly chewed their way through the pink chunks of flesh, skin and bones.

Petit fielded a few interviews from the media while he and his volunteer handlers looked after his dogs. The cold, clear morning began at 10 degrees, but the temperature kept climbing as the sun ascended into the afternoon on fro-zen Willow Lake.

With Petit’s dogs in the direct sun-light and no chance of shade, they began to feel the effects of the heat. Wet tow-els and water were deployed to keep the dogs cool, much to the chagrin of some of the canines that didn’t want to com-ply with the soothing effects. Relief was soon on the way as Team Petit began to be hooked to the gang line in anticipa-tion of the long awaited charge toward Nome.

Sled dogs that had been relaxing were charged with excitement and anticipa-tion as they were clipped in one by one to the gang line. The sounds of barking teams desperate to go loudly filled the air. The start was near, and the dogs knew it, but they wanted to run NOW! Volunteer handlers from Team Petit and the Iditarod latched themselves to all eight pairs of dogs to keep them calm and conserve their energy.

Race officials in green vests ap-proached and gave the five-minute warning for the start time. Petit donned bib number 12 and put on some light gear to keep warm. When the signal was finally given, Team Petit proceeded

toward the starting line behind a pro-cession of teams departing every two minutes. The team crept a little closer to starting line as another team left.

Then Team Petit was in the chute of makeshift orange gating and proceed-ing toward the starting line. Iditarod of-ficials barked start and stop commands every step of the way. The team was at the starting line awaiting the two-min-ute countdown. An announcement was made identifying Petit as being from Girdwood and originally from Nor-mandy, France. The crowd cheered.

Petit had ridden in on his sled with his girlfriend Emily Maxwell, who han-dles dogs for him for now. He signaled her to stay on the sled and keep her foot on the sled brake while he attended to a last second matter with the dogs about 30 feet away. The announced said “Thirty seconds!” to let Petit know, then “Fifteen seconds!” Petit was still tend-ing to a dog. Maxwell’s heart started to quicken. I yelled out, “See you in Nome Emily!” She responded with a nervous smile. Just in the nick of time, Petit dart-ed back to his sled, Maxwell stepped off, and he mounted the runners just before the amplified announcer yelled, “GO!”

Team Petit was off to Nome, and the first one in to Rainy Pass on Monday morning.

Nic Petit’s 2016 Iditarod Begins

Follow the2016 Iditarod

online atwww.iditarod.com

Volume 1, Issue 3 | March 9, 2016 Page 7Glacier City Gazette

Sled dogs that had been relaxing were charged with excitement and anticipation as they were clipped

in one by one to the gang line.

The sounds of barking teams desperate to go loudly filled the air.

The start was near, and the dogs knew it, but they wanted to run

NOW!

March 9, 2016 | Volume 1, Issue 3Page 8 Glacier City Gazette

By Julia IsaacStaff Writer

Congratulations to this year’s Ididacontest winners! Alas-ka Society for Technology in Education sponsors the con-test, which promotes access to technology and integrates it for Alaska students of all ages. A first place prize of $100 and a People’s Choice Prize of $250 are awarded to students in each of five age groups and each of six categories, including movies, documentaries, books and other technology fields.

Eighth grade student Liam Bureau won first place in the 5th-8th grade Photo category with his entry “bug.” Sixth grade student Wesli Dykstra and 5th grade student Ryder Skaaren won first place in the documentary category for their short film on Alaska Owls. Murphy Dykstra and Ryder Skarren took 3rd place in the Books category for Murphy and Ryder’s Big Book of Poems. Wesli Dykstra also took 5th place for Abbit.

St. Paddy’s Day Dinner at the Hope School Gym is Thurs-day, March 17th, 5:30 – 7 p.m. This event is a fundraiser for the Hope School PTSCA. Come enjoy a community din-ner with corned beef or ham, boiled potatoes, carrots, cab-bage, fresh corn bread and carrot cake for dessert. There is a suggested donation at the door. Thanks to Cheryl Stavish, Shirley Wisdorf, Bob Yoter for all their time and effort in arranging this event!

Tito’s Discovery Cafe will be open for extended spring hours and will host live music during the spring break holi-

day. Call (907) 782-3274 for more details.The Alaska Dacha is extending its hours. Starting Mon-

day, March 7th, the Dacha will be open 7 days a week, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Tiny Tot Time is at Hope School on Thursdays at 2:30 p.m. Bring your little ones to the Hope school for music, arts

and crafts and lots of play time. Thanks Mrs. T. for making sure the preschoolers are as engaged as the big kids!

Leadership Luncheons are every Wednesday at Hope School. Come enjoy a community lunch served by Mr. Bob and Ms. Cheryl and prepared by the middle school kids. The donation pig will be out to benefit the school.

Hopeful News

By Julia IsaacStaff Writer

Hope/Sunrise Volunteer Fire and Rescue has seen many improvements in education and equipment since its inception in 1984; however, it has been served by the same dedicated base of community members who are now ready to see younger residents the reigns from the founders of the service.

With budget cuts affecting almost all of our public services in Alaska, and the lack of volunteers in the HSVFR, as well as the surrounding local EMS and Fire services in Cooper Landing and Moose Pass, emergen-cy services are in danger of being eliminated completely outside of the immediate sur-rounding areas of each community.

Cooper Landing is down to two active resident-volunteer EMTs with some part timers on the weekends, and though Moose Pass has three active EMT volunteers, it

does not have a vehicle to respond to and transport in an emergency situation. With Hope/Sunrise’s similar challenge to enlist new, qualified volunteers, it leaves giant holes in EMS services to respond to high-way emergencies.

For the past year veteran HSVFR volun-teer and treasurer Scott Sherrit has looked to encourage the next generation of Hope residents to step up and put in the time to be a part of the Hope/Sunrise emergency crew. This situation has been a challenge until In-terim Chief Travis Peterson agreed to take over the responsibility. With the help of his wife, Kristy Peterson (HSVFR secretary/treasurer), they have begun implementing monthly meetings for volunteers as well as EMT, ETT, and fire trainings to get the community involved in the safety of Hope/Sunrise. Being at the end of a 16-mile road with only one way out, Interim Chief Pe-terson also sees value in holding classes for

wildfire mitigation and will launch an in-formational campaign to highlight wildfire safety standards when building and main-taining a rural residence.

There was a community meeting March 3 at the fire hall, which was well attended by a wide range of residents wanting to do their part to keep the communities of Hope/Sunrise safe. The youngest of volunteers suggested a Jr. Fire Department to get our school’s students involved and trained early. Elder community members were excited to see new energy and enthusiasm for the HS-VFD. Residents were not just interested in fire and EMS training but were also inter-ested in using their skills to facilitate admin-istrative duties, organize fundraising and grant writing.

The importance of these services can’t be stressed enough. With a large population of year-round elders and lots of inexperienced tourists in the summer, everyone’s health is

affected if HSVFD/EMS does not have a re-sponder in an emergency. There are many services that a community can outsource in a rural setting, but EMS and fire are crucial. These services are possible only because dedicated community members are willing to give of their time and effort to serve their friends and neighbors.

Certifications are not necessary to vol-unteer. Attending trainings through the HSVFD count towards Continuing Medi-cal Education hours. If you would like to get certified through the HSVFD/EMS or make a donation to Hope/Sunrise Emergency Services, contact Kristy Peterson at (971) 241-5222 for information on class times, requirements and other ways you can help.

Interim Chief Peterson would also like residents and visitors to remember to call 911 in case of emergency. Response proto-col is changing, and EMS dispatch can only be reached through the 911 emergency line.

Hope/Sunrise Fire and Rescue Cultivates New Volunteers

Liam Bureau / Special to the Glacier City GazetteLiam Bureau from the Hope School won fi rst place in the iDidacontest photo category for his picture “Bug.”

Volume 1, Issue 3 | March 9, 2016 Page 9Glacier City Gazette

By P.M. FaddenStaff Writer

As winter’s seasonal stride draws ever nearer to spring, snow enthusiasts fix their attentions upon current snowpack figures and future forecasts.

Compared against below average 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons, Alyeska slopes have seen a plentiful 2016 winter yield. According to its website, Alyeska Re-sort reports over 674 inches of total snow-fall and with a current snow depth eclipsing 200 inches. It is an accumulation which al-ready exceeds annual snowfall averages and adds 200 inches atop season totals for the past two years.

Each winter, mountains are studied for distinctive characteristics such as snowfall. Variable factors such as aspect, elevation, and predominant weather patterns also play large roles in snowpack growth. Consider-ing its low elevation base facilities, current Alyeska snowpack statistics can be seen as economically and recreationally positive, an up-swinging outlook supported by compar-ative global study.

Austrian locality, Sankt Anton Am Arl-berg is claimed as the “cradle of skiing.” The sport’s iconic birth-bed saw 214 inches of snow last year and reports 148 inches on the ground in 2016.

Scandinavian nation, Norway details a ski history with roots extending to the origins of Telemark. Major ski area, Trysil accu-mulated 191 inches in 2015 as reported by onthesnow.com but is off to a slow starting 2016 at less than 100 inches of new snow.

Vermont ski institution, Stowe benefits from an average snowfall hovering around 200 inches, but Big Sky Resort fares better. The towering Montanan operation elevates over 11,000 feet, collecting approximately 400 annual inches, doubling that of Canadi-an ski destination, Lake Louise. The neigh-boring nation’s iconic resort rises to 8,651

feet, seeing 200 inches of snowfall over an average year.

Elevation alone, however, is no guarantee of high accumulation figures.

Roosted high amidst the Andes, Portillo, Chile summits just shy of 11,000 feet yet, ac-cording to Ski Portillo data, the area receives 100 fewer inches, than its opposite number at Big Sky.

When compared alongside Northern Hemisphere slopes, Australasian ski op-erations report fractional annual snowfalls. New Zealand’s south-sloping Cardrona Alpine Resort, an operation which NZ Ski claims as the island nation’s “most reliable for snow,” extends above sea level 4,153 to 6,102 feet, gathering its annual average snowfall of 51 total inches.

Also lingering at the low end of reported seasonal snow totals is Sochi, Russia. The ski area was selected as host site to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, but collects an average annual snowfall of only 60 inches. NASA scientists reported Sochi to be “the warmest location to ever host a winter Olympic Games.”

Japan, however, represents the opposing extreme. With 595 average inches collecting annually across its 853 to 3,937 foot eleva-tion, Niseko has been recognized as the ski industry’s “2nd snowiest location” behind Mt. Baker, Washington’s 641 annual inches.

In a snow-sparse age of climate change, global analysis provides relative perspec-tive. Seemingly rain-attractant Alyeska Re-sort notes enviable 650 inch top and 512 inch mid- mountain snowfall averages, stats that many ski areas would gratefully claim.

Author J.B. Priestley echoed similar sen-timent. “Fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical one,” he said.

Alaskan skier faithful seem to agree. “We should be buried in ten feet of snow right now,” said one Alyesk-an. “But hey, we’ll take what we can get.”

By Julia IsaacStaff Writer

It seems like spring. I know...I know, it’s only March, but the alder is covered

with pussy willows at Potter Marsh. The breakup is hap-pening, and here in our little neck of the woods in Hope, we have seen more days without power from the wind and rain than we have seen with snow. So at this point in this disap-pointing winter season, my mind moves to making things live and grow.

I have a particularly challenging spring this year as the kids and I move onto our new property. We have the excit-ing opportunity to start from scratch. But, really...it’s from scratch. Trees are down where the gardens will go, but when the tree roots are gone and there is nothing stabilizing the earth that has been left over, it turns into a mucky mess that sticks to everything and gets into your eyes and teeth. It is primarily clay, which no self-respecting bit of vegetation deigned to grow in last summer. Think a little patch of Mars in the middle of a lush northern wood. Humph...this barren-ness must change.

Deciding to be proactive, I bought a wood chipper to add readily available organic material to stabilize the paths. I am learning about Hugelkultur (pronounced HOO-gul-cul-ture), which is a form of “lasagna gardening.” Hugelkultur means hill mound, and it is easier than making lasagna gar-den beds because it doesn’t require any construction to hold the layers of trees, branches, compost and soil. This is a great way to use raw materials that might not be already compos-ted. I have plenty of these in the form of trees, branches and a giant compost pile. (Thank you to the chickens, ducks and rabbits!)

The mound is started with a log. We have rich resources in Alaska, and birch, alder, cottonwood and willow are some of the best wood to use. On the log, pile any kind of branch-es, leaves, untreated cardboard, compost, or petroleum free newspaper. Basically, you can use anything natural that will decompose. Top this mound of biomass with topsoil and

plant your crops. The mounds can be quite tall if there is enough material, and that nets more surface area to plant and more to harvest in the fall.

It sounds too easy! The beds can last for many years, as the log in the center will decompose and give off nutrients to the plants continuously. The decomposition at the center of the mound also gives off natural heat...an excellent perk in a climate where the ground can be too cold for some of our fa-vorite fruits and veggies like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and melons. Soil aeration is encouraged by the breakdown of the organic materials, and in my case that’s a huge plus. Remember the nasty clay I mentioned before? The mounds also hold moisture, which hasn’t classically been something we have had to worry too much about. But with changing weather patterns and decreased snowfall leading to drier summers, we would be wise to begin conserving water be-fore the need is dire.

Snowpack stacks up at Alyeska

Liz Finch / Girdwood.comDwindling snowpack demarks dreaded climate change, yet ski en-thusiasts survive in the Matukituki Valley, South Island, New Zealand (top) and at Alyeska (bottom).

(Almost) Off the Road

Julia Isaac / Glacier City GazetteSpring is coming to Hope (in a couple of months).

P.M. Fadden / Glacier City Gazette

March 9, 2016 | Volume 1, Issue 3Page 10 Glacier City Gazette

We are excited to announce that Girdwood Health Clinic is doing a much-needed renova-tion. This spring the clinic is getting a fresh new look. Updates to the existing structure will include; painting the interior and exterior walls, new flooring, and an expansion for more office space. We will make every effort to see that this project does not disrupt clinic hours. We appreciate your patience as we do our very best to serve our patients while renovation is underway.

Another great improvement to the Girdwood Health Clinic is the addition of our certified application counselor, Linda Mankoff, who assists patients and their families in obtaining health coverage. Do you still need health insurance? Open Enrollment has closed, but you may qualify for Medicaid or a Special Enrollment Period. We are dedicated to helping the people of the Turnagain Arm area get access to health care. Call the clinic today for more information at (907) 783-1355.

Girdwood Health Clinic Update

Alyeska Resort Ticket OfficeBrown Bear Saloon in Indian

Chair Five RestaurantCOAST Pizza

FromagiosJack SpratJava Haus

La Bodega

Powder Hound Ski ShopScanHomeSilvertip GrillSteam DotTesoro in GirdwoodThe Bake ShopThe MercYogurt Lounge

Split the Pot! Tickets on sale March 1 - 30 Tickets are $2.50

Guess early and often! The cash prize amount is limited only by the number of tickets sold

Tickets are available at:

A chance to win cash!

Guess thedepth of

snowon

Mount Alyeska

at

elevation1,096 ft

on

April 27

AlyeskaSnowClassic.org

Briana SullivanSpecial to the Glacier City Gazette

Alyeska Snow Classic

The guessing has begun, and you could win cash! The of-ficial Alyeska Snow Classic measuring stick will be measured on Alyeska’s closing day, while guessing takes place March 1 – 31. Stop by local Girdwood businesses to purchase Snow Classic tickets and submit your guesses before the 31st. For more information, previous winning guesses and a sweet video, check out our website: www.alyeskasnowclassic.org.

The split the pot fundraiser benefits Four Valleys Com-munity School, a locally operated 501 (c) 3 non-profit or-ganization. For over 30years, FVCS has provided enriching community classes and events in Girdwood for people of all ages. Money raised through the Snow Classic will be used to supplement our program, making scholarships, rental fees, and operational aspects possible, ultimately keeping our program affordable.

Swimming with SuzyLocal youth who took the plunge in January to begin or

revisit swimming with Suzy Knudsen soaked up their skills during their final week of lessons last week. Many kids were fortunate enough to have small group and semi-private les-

sons with an experienced and fun instructor. Thank you Suzy for teaching countless youth in the community and turning them into capable swimmers with a love for the wa-ter. Healthy lifestyle activities are available to FVCS through generous community members who take time to teach and coach our programs.

50+ YogaSlow Yoga rolls into another session this week for those

ready to take their bodies through yoga in a gentle practice. Come drop in and try it during a week that works for you and learn what your body is missing out on. Strengthen your spine and connectivity on Wednesday mornings in the com-munity room. Other classes for adults include Back on Track Tuesday evenings through the month of April. Lace up your running shoes and walk or run in the company of others, shed a layer and stay dry from any precipitation. Open gym games for adults continue Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the inviting, warm, dry gym. Was there an emphasis on dry? Grab a punch pass or drop in with your friends. Also, an adult indoor tennis clinic will be held April 14.

Tennis ClinicThe Indoor Tennis clinic for youth begins early April:

Tennis I on April 4 and Tennis II April 18. This clinic is exciting for Girdwood, as the tennis courts will be a brand-new place to play this summer. With all the looming con-

struction ahead, playing in a safe fenced-in location sounds attractive. Visit fourvalleys.org for a complete list of classes for your kids.

Four Valleys Community School

Erin Leighton / Special to the Glacier City GazetteFused Glass class participants created color-ful mirror pieces recently in February through Four Valleys Community Schools.

ATTENTIONGIRDWOOD

ARTISTS

�The Girdwood Forest Fairis looking for the

2016 Forest Fair T-shirt design

Please submit your design at Four Valleys Community Schools or the Great Alaskan Tourist Trap

by March 30th.

PLEASE BE SURE YOUR NAME AND ANY IDENTIFYING MARKS ARE ON THE BACK

OF YOUR ARTWORK!

Volume 1, Issue 3 | March 9, 2016 Page 11Glacier City Gazette

Heather Thamm worked for 12 years on ski patrol with Alyeska, where she used explosives to manage the snowpack during avalanche control work. Now she is in her second year with Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center (CNFAIC) where she and her coworkers regularly go out into the field with snow machines or cross-country skis to assess avalanche risk and relay it to the public.

“We want to get out in the field and see what conditions are like,” Thamm said, “so we can report information and observations in the field to help people understand what the actual danger is, if it’s going to be low, moderate, consider-able, or high danger. Are there any signs of obvious instability? We’re documenting them by taking pictures and digging snow pits and doing different types of stability tests on the snowpack.”

The data gathered from field tests is combined with the previous days observa-tions, the next day’s weather forecast and sometimes information from the public. Then a projection is made of what the ava-lanche danger is and given to the public as a forecast. Such information is necessary and even life saving in an avalanche prone area like Turnagain Pass, where people in the region like to use snow machines and cross-country skis on separate sides of the Seward Highway. If conditions are too dangerous, such as when there is lot of rain, snow and wind, fieldwork is left aside until the danger goes down.

“A good part of it is understanding how

to read the terrain and knowing what type of terrain is safe and has less consequences than terrain that is more dangerous,” Thamm said. “Obviously if you go ski right underneath a very big, steep slope, and you’re not thinking about all of the snow that is above you, you’re putting yourself in a bad situation as opposed to staying on mellower slope angles below 30 degrees.”

CNFAIC is a nonprofit organization funded by the community and businesses in the region, and it works in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service. The organi-zation was created by the community be-cause of the need for this type of informa-tion when recreating in the backcountry in the Alaska winter. The forecast lessens unnecessary risks and dangers by making participants in winter activities in Turn-again Pass aware of the conditions likely to be faced instead of going in without warning.

CNFAIC began after a massive ava-lanche occurred on March 21, 1999 in Turnagain Pass and six snowmachiners were killed. The Forest Service followed the business plan set up by the National Avalanche Center, which guides these centers toward success. In the fall of 2001, a phone line and a basic web site, designed by the late Jeff Nissman, put out snow pack and weather observations five days per week for the Turnagain Pass Area. To-day, forecasts are updated by 7 a.m., seven days a week during the winter at http://www.cnfaic.org/ or at (907) 754-2369.

Avalanche Information Center forecasts warn of winter dangers

by the slides banded togeth-er for days of isolation and limited provisions.

Elsewhere, more recently in 2014 a series of slides (natural and triggered), on Richardson Highway cov-ered the road and railway, and choked the Lowe River creating dangerous flood conditions that threatened the already-stranded resi-dents and delayed crews from removing the snow. Valdez was cutoff for days.

During the season, the Alaska Department of Transportation monitors the known avalanche paths. When the conditions are ripe, they bring in the big guns, in-cluding a World War II vintage Howitzer cannon, to trigger slides. The trailer-mounted Howitzer uses a relatively small propellant charge to fire a 40-pound projectile at a steep angle of trajectory up to a distance of six miles. The crew is skilled at zeroing in on their target to mitigate the potential danger.

After artillery is used to cause a controlled avalanche, ADOT crews clear the road of massive amounts of snow, ice and debris, historically a very dangerous undertaking.

In 2014, ADOT acquired a “Daisy Bell,” a device mounted in a helicopter that uses a high-velocity cone of oxygen and hydrogen gas to loosen snow packs.

Avalanches aside, traffic accidents are by far the number-one cause of death on Seward Highway. Alaska is a wild, amazing place. The spectacular scenery on Turnagain Arm can be distracting. Don’t make the journey any more extreme by tailgating or speeding.

Public notification of avalanche work includes LED signs at Potter’s Marsh and Moose Pass on the Seward Highwa, and on the ADOT website. Call 511 or visit www.511.alaska.gov for current road and weather information, updates on avalanche control work, and to sign up for 511 e-mail/text alerts.

Road crews battle avalancheswith fire and iron

(907) 783-5225

JACK SPRAT

Continued from front page

Lauren di Scipio Kinsner / Glacier City GazetteThe Kerry Brookman memorial near where he was killed by a secondary avalanche on his bulldozer in 2000 as a ADOT crewman at Bird Point.

March 9, 2016 | Volume 1, Issue 3Page 12 Glacier City Gazette

a goal that the organization achieves through therapeutic recreation which pairs education with adaptive athleticism.

“Programs like Challenge AK are what got me back into snowboard-ing,” said Bobby Donnelly, Sport Manager to Team Semper Fi. The on-snow program for disabled veterans brings its advanced riders to Alyeska slopes with the help of Challenge AK. Donnelly is a competitive rider in World Cup events as a Paralympics BoarderX athlete.

“Adaptive programs get people out and having fun,” he said.While off-snow events are overseen from Challenge AK’s Anchorage

Offices, Girdwood’s Adaptive Ski and Snowboard School has held oc-cupancy of its current on-slope facilities since 1995. A hand woven rug of Nepalese origin hangs over its great room in gifted appreciation from one of the program’s many thankful associates. The 426 Crystal Moun-tain Road location thrives through the efforts of four paid staff directing a veritable army of volunteers.

“Volunteers basically run our programs,” said Anderson. “Without them we couldn’t do what we do.”

Lindsey Kerr of Soldotna is an occupational therapist and has been a Challenge AK volunteer for five years.

“I first started volunteering in High School,” she said. “It’s fun to get other people excited about being on the snow. I love the program at Chal-lenge.”

Participants with Challenge AK undergo autumnal, indoor train-ing sessions focusing upon adaptive skills, awareness, and assessment utilized as stepping stone to formal certifications through PSIA and AASI. As the seasons transition so too do the clin-ics. Outdoor training com-mences with the opening of ski operations. On-piste educational sessions target comprehension of all on-snow disciplines as well as competent use of all associ-ated equipment.

Volunteer and instructor daily duties detail inter-per-sonal skills and the capable operation of mono-skis, dual skis, snow-sliders and the ski EZ, as well as tradi-tional ski and snowboard gear.

Challenge AK’s multi-faceted, sport-based line-up builds confidence and mobility while improving overall wellness. Year-round activities include sled hockey, soccer, fishing, camping, book clubs, hospital-based therapy, cooking groups, wheelchair basketball and, of course, ski and snowboard scheduling.

“Community support has powered 35 years of Challenge AK,” said Anderson. “The orga-nization’s biggest challenge now is fundraising.”

“[Challenge] is a feeder program for the Paralympics Pipeline under the umbrella of na-tionwide organization Disabled Sports U.S.A.,” he said. “And inter-organization communi-cation and cooperation keep adaptive sport moving forward. But federal and state budgets are shrinking which puts more pressure on the community to keep this thing rolling.”

The NPO’s perpetuity is sustained by volunteer efforts, private donations, fundraising initiatives, and the 2005-initiated Challenge Alaska Endowment. Businesses; Amazon.com, Fred Meyer, and filmmaker Teton Gravity Research offer additional support via partner-ship equating to percentile donations based upon retail purchases.

“Everyone deserves the chance to recreate and have access to the same types of activities,” said Anderson. “[Challenge] creates, and allows to blossom, a level playing field for all.”

Backed by strong business and private sector support Challenge AK looks to host the Paralympic Experience, a March 12th downhill ski and snowboard event which prequels the annually held philanthropic throw-down, SnowBlast. Challenge AK’s largest fundrais-ing enterprise, SnowBlast is a March 26th mountain day of meals and prizes to benefit the Adaptive Ski and Snoboard School.

“The future of Challenge AK is owed to the power of community. With its support the organization will continue to evolve the training for instructors and the athletes,” said An-derson. “[Challenge] is all about growth and maintenance of great atmosphere – that relies on community.”

“Skiing and Snowboarding are vehicles to overcome barriers,” continued Anderson. “[Challenge] has grown from the many years of different participants shaping what we do and how. This is done by sharing creative ideas and willpower to create an environment where success occurs naturally.”

For more information on how to become involved with the adaptive sport at Challenge Alaska, visit challengealaska.org or ring their Girdwood location at 783-2925.

Challenge Alaska: Inspiration in ActionContinued from front page

PLEDGES SKI FOR FREE!@ Alyeska Resort

Saturday March 26, 2016 • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.challengealaska.org

“Let’s get everybody a chance to slide on the snow.”

- CHALLENGE DIRECTOR,JEREMY ANDERSON

Photos by P.M. Fadden / Glacier City GazetteTOP: Challenge AK members atop Glacier Bowl Express ready them-selves for powder turns to come.

ABOVE LEFT: Challenge Alaska Adaptive Ski and Snowboard School Director, Jeremy Anderson has held the position for eight years.

ABOVE RIGHT: The equipment cave at Girdwood’s Adaptive Ski and Snowboard School stocks anything the incumbent student might require.