The Alcan 200 is recognized as the longest and last major snowmachine road race in North America. In previous years, racers have reached speeds over 110 mph on the 154-mile route from the Canadian border to Dezadeash Lake and back. This year, Colby Hill of Fairbanks took first overall. Hill’s average speed was 108.9 mph. Ohlin Brooks took second overall and his father, Chris Brooks, took 3rd.
Jeff Bochart went on a roadtrip in his 2007 Nissan Pathfinder that took him through Wyoming, on to Boise, Idaho, and all the way to Australia. Bochart visited national parks along the way and was happy to encounter elk and antelope as he made his way to Washington. Bochart made it to Washington state to celebrate his mom Mary Bochart’s 90th birthday. Along the way, he had the best crab Louise of his life in Florence, Oregon. Bochart rented a Toyota van for the Australia portion of the trip. He did not hesitate to take it to the nearest roundabout as a test of his driving skills. While he was in Australia, Bochart did get to see a koala, a funnel spider (in a controlled environment), an emu fight a kangaroo, and even encountered a saltwater crocodile named Elvis. Bochart’s takeaway from this experience was the super-friendly people he met along the way. When the temperature soared above 110 degrees — a stranger sprinkled him with refreshing hose water. When his vehicle got a bit high-centered on a dirt road, and Bochart was digging out with his frying pan, a nice fellow unhooked the boat that he was towing to help. Bochart says that the kookaburra and parrot songs at sunset and sunrise might have been his favorite memory of the journey, although he is unsure if sunrise kookaburra songs or sunset ones are best.
The Kat to Koot adventure race route was set in place this year by Jeff Moskowitz and Graham Kraft after Lindsay Johnson, Nate Arrants, Jeff Moskowitz and Andy Hedden got turned around route setting at 2,700 feet Friday because of poor visibility. Arrants says that 27 people raced up and over Ripinsky during a perfect six-hour sunny weather window. The sweep crew of Colin Arisman and Brittany Dunbar cleared the trail at the end with photographer Andy Hedden. Erik Stevens and Mark Mencel of Haines came in first with a time of 3 hours13 minutes. Sabrina Krammer of Austria and Dave Turcotte of Whitehorse came in second with a time of 4:11:45, Genevieve and Pat Bell followed in a close third at 4:15:24. The “Galentines Day” team of Jenn Walsh, Sarah Elliot and Alissa Henry were the fastest team on snowshoes, finishing in 4:19:48. SJ Durand and Reece Lecompte won best dressed. Sixteen-year-old Finn Crow and Calvin Bell were best and only youth athletes, finishing in 4:45.
Miles Klehini Classic celebrated a big first for the longstanding event. This was the first year that a portapotty was available. Jane Pascoe and Tom Morphet were among the many who have helped organize the Nordic ski event on the Klehini River flats for years. He confirmed two clean portapotties with TP at the event. The Ski Classic had a staggered start on some of the best crosscountry ski tracks that Jim Stanford and Glenn Scott could set. Stanford says that the 1.5 inch of fresh snow the night before was the key. Connie Staska was keeping a steady supply of grilled burgers and dogs for the finishers. Sarah Ammons’ dog Bug Boi was a stand-out for dogs that showed up to ski. She says that Bug Boi thoroughly enjoyed his skijor adventures with Mattie, ski dog of Ryan Irving. Mattie is a 3-year-old shepherd-malamute mix. She is the only dog to do the Kat to Koot as well as the ski classic. She had steak bites for a post-work-out snack. Erika Merklin’s dogs, Ellie and Starla, were also among the ski dogs. The perfect ski conditions were not just noticed by the dogs. A fast ski track and crisp bright weather were enough reason for Chip Lende to put a couple laps in before this Duly Noted writer ever saw the finish line.
The Valentine’s Tea at Haines Presbyterian Church has a long-standing history as the event to drop in and visit on Valentine’s Day. This year was no different. One hundred fifty plates were served while tea drinkers from toddler to senior citizens enjoyed the collection of fine china and antique teacups. The collection includes donations from Verle Lewis, Lib Hakkinen, Merle Howser, Mimi Gregg and Betty Israelson.
Martha Mackowiak said that servers this year included Ruth Mason, Meg Davis, Corinna Duncan and Madigan Tersteeg. Piano music was provided by Holly Davis’s grade school piano students, plus Bill Annis, Meg Davis and Ruth Mason. The setup and table decorating was done by Kaitlynn Jim, Phyllis Sage, Lisa Flory, Dory Thompson, Martha Mackowiak and Christie Loney. Plenty of earl grey tea was shared and an ample amount of crust-free cucumber sandwiches as well. The brie and fig jam on sourdough might have been the high point, until you noticed Annette Smith’s chocolate-covered cherries that looked like tiny mice. Each mouse had almond sliver ears and a tail made from a cherry stem.
Haines’ elementary school music teacher and itinerant musician Josh Colosky is living that bifjordal life this week between teaching and gigging in Juneau. He was on the Hubbard headed to Juneau on Friday for an all-ages show at the JAHC playing with his band, doom metal band Bards of Mendenhell. The clock was ticking as the show started at 7 p.m. The ferry docked in Juneau at 8:45 and bandmate picked Colosky up at 8:48 p.m. to head to the show and play as the closing act. Colosky spent most of the ride over warming up on a Mystic Seafoam green Fender American Stratocaster in the galley. He made it on time to hear the tail end of Oregon hardcore punk band Pauses wrap up their set before going on. But that was just the start of the weekend. Colosky also played a show on Saturday night at the Alaskan for Valentine’s Day. That show was attended by Senate candidate Mary Peltola who he says stayed for four songs, and danced a bit. Colosky swears he later saw her at Pel’mini. Unfortunately that sense of time urgency permeated the whole weekend as his ferry on Tuesday was cancelled so he had to take the Wednesday morning ferry which was getting into town right before class. “As soon as I get off the ferry, gotta load my truck and head straight to the school to teach Kindergartners at 12:35,” he said.