Alaska Adventures

The 27th annual Alaska Heart Run drew about 7446 participants this year. An event that benefits the American Heart Association seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. The race had repeat winners in both the Womens and Mens divisions.

The mens champion Jerry Ross defended his title with a slim 2 second victory over Kenyan and UAA redshirt freshman cross country runner David Kiglagat in a time of 15:09. Trailing behind Kiglagat most of the race, Ross was able overcome the lead to win by the smallest of margins.

The womens champ Najeeby Quinn defended her title with a winning time of 17:30. Coming in 29 seconds later to claim second place was Luanne Coulter. Twin 13 year olds, Delia and Letitia Luch placed 4th and 5th respectively in the womens division, and their 12 year old sister Marcelyn placed 12th. WOW.

On a personal note, my wife placed 54th in the womens division, not bad for a gal that runs just to keep in shape. I guess I better treat her well, she might be a little hard to catch if she wants to aviod me.

Let's hope that the money raised will help to continue the strides being made in the fight against heart disease.

Deals on Alaska Cruises.

May 2, 2005 00:24 - Golfing in Alaska in April.

Although it's only the 2nd of May, some golfers in southcentral Alaska already have several round of golf under their belt. That's right, the Palmer Golf course opened for play in the middle of April.

The Palmer Golf course has a history of opening every chance they get, whether the temperatures are cooperative or not. However this year golfers have not only been treated to an early opening, but warm weather to boot.

Temperatures have been in the low 70's for more than just a day or two. This is unheard of in this country this early in the season.

Hopefully this is a sign of more high temperatures and a great season for golfing.

Deals on Alaska Cruises.

April 18, 2005 22:46 - Alaska Facts

Here are a few facts about Alaska you might find interesting.


1. Alaska is the U.S.'s largest state, over 586,000 square miles, and twice the size of Texas.

2. Alaska is 1,400 miles top to bottom.

3. It is 2,700 miles wide. East to West.

4. The state's coastline extends over 47,000 miles.

5. The Alaska State Park System covers 3.5 million acres making it the the largest park system in the United States.

6. The Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the United States. It is located in Southeast Alaska.

7. 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the U.S. are located in Alaska.

8. Mt. McKinley is the highest point in North America, at 20,320 feet above sea level. Originally called Denali by the natives and later named for president McKinley. It is now the centerpiece of Denali National Park.

9. Alaska's state capital is Juneau, a city of 30,000 people located in southeast Alaska, and is only accessible by boat or plane.

Deals on Alaska Cruises.

April 7, 2005 23:35 - Alaska and Alaska Railroad History.

As the daylight here in Alaska starts to dominate the darkness, it is becoming very apparent that a new spring and summer are just around the corner. Springtime in Alaska is a very anticipated event for many, bringing to an end the long winter months, often dominated by cold and darkness. With spring come longer hours to enjoy the outdoors and generally very mild temperatures. Along with spring, Alaskans also know that the tourists can't be far behind. I thought I might explore an often overlooked method of seeing Alaska, the Alaska Railroad.

Consider traveling by train if you happen to be in Alaska, it offers some very scenic trips. You can do some travel planning at the Alaska Railroad's official website.

I also thought a little history might be interesting. Here's a timeline of important dates in Alaska Railroad History.

1898 - Skagway is largest city in Alaska; work starts on White Pass and Yukon Railroad.

1900 - White Pass railroad completed.

1905 - Tanana railroad built. Alaska Road Commission established under Army jurisdiction.

1911 - Copper River and Northwestern Railroad begins service to Kennecott Copper Mine.

1914 - Congress authorizes the construction of the Alaska Railroad, clearing the way for the only railroad in history which would be owned and operated by the U.S. government. Surveying begins for Alaska Railroad; City of Anchorage born as construction campsite.

1915 - President Woodrow Wilson selects the railroad's route that will run between the Port of Seward through the coal fields of the Interior to the gold claims near Fairbanks. What is now Anchorage is picked as its headquarters. Thousands of job seekers and adventurers pour into the area, living in a tent city on the banks of Ship Creek.

1918 - The first train from Seward steams into Anchorage, marking the completion of the southern half of the railroad line.

1923 - President Warren G. Harding drives in the golden spike at Nenana, signaling the completion of the Alaska Railroad.

1985 - State purchases Alaska Railroad from the federal government.

The Alaska Railroad is now ran by a quazi-government organization for the state of Alaska. Last summer a project was completed linking the Railroad to Ted Stevens International Airport.

Timeline source: www.shgresources.com

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