Outdoor news from Alaska

Outdoors hot line (9/7/10)

EMERGENCY TRAINING

Breaking trail: 60 years of nordic skiing

Artwork and photos of ski trails and two small wood figures of skiers decorate Jim Mahaffey's living room. At least two dozen bound skis in his garage collect dust, awaiting winter's arrival. Wax shavings accumulate around an old wooden table. Posters from ski races are taped to cabinet doors; the inside of the doors have more adornments than a high school girl's locker. Photos, signed posters, an old ski bib and a handmade wooden replica of the Olympic rings fill his Anchorage home.

Glennallen man tops Valdez derby

Some 300 people gathered Sunday night at the Valdez Civic Center for the Spawn 'til Dawn party that handed out the awards in the Valdez Fish Derbies.

Valdez halibut derby leader disqualified over assistance

The 364-pound halibut that brought pride to Valdez — and the promise of a $15,000 prize for hometown angler George Lavasseur — was disqualified from the Valdez Halibut Derby on Saturday, one day before the end of the summer-long derby.

Brown bears get reprieve from 'death zone' on Kenai rivers

A brown bear death zone near the confluence of the Kenai and Russian rivers has suddenly become something of a sanctuary.

Mountain bikers can take tram at Alyeska

For the first time since its tram opened in 1994, Alyeska Ski Resort will let mountain bikers take their bikes uphill in the tram for a rousing ride down later this month.

Southcentral fishing forecast

Mat-SU

Take advantage of fishes' fall gluttony

Labor Day weekend harkens the beginning of the end for Southcentral anglers.

Sitka hunter missing for days found dead after apparent fall

SITKA -- The body of a 41-year-old Sitka man missing on a hunting trip has been found. The Sitka Sentinel reports the body of Bruce Robertson was found Monday in a steep ravine on the east side of Harbor Mountain.

Ski Train to Curry will return in March after a year's hiatus

A rollicking winter tradition, the Anchorage Ski Train, will roll down the tracks to Curry in March after a one-year hiatus.

Outdoors hot line (8-31-10)

EMERGENCY TRAINING

Anchorage angler lands beefy silver

Anchorage angler Brian Hull narrowly missed breaking into the top three sports on Saturday when he landed an 18.46-pound silver salmon in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby.

Proceed with caution when river crossing

FAIRBANKS -- The way Rocky Reifenstuhl sees it, there are two types of river crossings in Alaska.

Fur Rondy sled dog race will kick out a record purse again

The world's richest sprint dog race confirmed on Monday that February's purse will match the record $80,000 paid out in February -- with at least $1,000 of day money purses thrown in.

Olvera claims the lead in Homer derby

The next three days could be long ones for Jamie Olvera of Fairbanks.

Seward police shoot bear, hit bystander

A shotgun round fired by Seward police to kill a black bear Thursday night pierced the animal, ricocheted and hit a bystander in the abdomen, police say.

State to close Fortymile caribou hunt after one day

Blink and the season's over.

Russian River hits miminum goal in red salmon count

A late surge of red salmon up the Russian River has allowed the clear-water stream that flows into the Kenai River to meet its minimum escapement goal for the fish that fuels a frenzy among anglers each summer.

'A fish like no other'

You'll find it among fishing books at bookstores. But Cecilia "Pudge" Kleinkauf's third fishing title, "Fly-Fishing For Alaska's Arctic Grayling -- Sailfish of the North" (Frank Amato Publications, $19.95) is more an ode to a fish that reaches trophy status at three pounds than any run-of-the-mill how-to fishing book.

Southcentral fishing forecast

MAT-SU

Glennallen angler Loren Bell hauls in 277-pounder in Valdez