The Bureau of Land Management may expand allotted helicopter landings on the 320,000 acres of mountain terrain in the Chilkat Valley from 300 to 11,000 annual landings (5,500 in the Haines), though local protesters believe that might negatively affect mountain goat habitat. In October, BLM released its final environmental impact statement for the Haines amendment […]
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Posted inNews
Heliport re-application in the works
Borough planning commissioners Thursday delayed voting on a tour operator’s eight-year push for a permit to construct a commercial heliport near 26 Mile Haines Highway, opting to first consult with the borough attorney. The application, brought forward by Big Salmon Ventures co-owner Scott Sundberg, has been repeatedly denied by both the planning commission and borough assembly since […]
Posted inThank You Letters
Big Air was a big success
The 2019 Olen Nash Memorial Big Air Contest was a great success! Thanks to the crowd, of about 40, for hiking up to egg us on, the judges-Luck Dunbar, Ira Henry, and Dennis Durr, and the GENEROUS donors: AK Backcountry Outfitters, AK Heli Guides, AK Sports Shop, Alpenglow Pizzeria, Delta Western, Fjordlines, Mike’s Bikes & […]
Posted inNews, Climate
‘Snow Drought’ bodes ill for ski season
For the past three seasons, drought conditions have marred the heliski industry, which depends on adequate snowfall. Snowfall in Southeast is 50 to 80 percent lower than average, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the problem of abnormally low snowpack has become so pronounced that the National Drought Mitigation Center coined a new […]
Posted inNews
Heliski company offers terrain near Petersburg
Beginning in January, adrenaline junkies heading to Alaska for heliskiing can now launch off a boat moored at the foot of untouched mountains in Petersburg. After three consecutive bad winters, Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures (SEABA) has secured a two-year permit with the U.S. Forest Service to operate in Petersburg and partnered with a boat to […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor
Finished with Mud Bay ‘spring’ Regarding the test results for the Mud Bay “spring.” I applaud the assembly for ordering further testing of the “spring” and commend the city manager for directing a sign to be posted describing the water quality and, apparently, the fact that it is not a spring at all but groundwater runoff. No […]
Posted inNews
Low snow causes worst heliski season on record
Haines heliski companies had one of the worst seasons ever this year as bad weather and snow conditions limited time in the mountains. Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures (SEABA) owner Scott Sundberg said persistent cold, dry and windy weather didn’t allow the buildup of a stable snowpack. SEABA, Alaska Heliskiing and Alaska Mountain Guides used an average of […]
Posted inNews
New weather station will monitor the pass
Whether you use Haines Pass to backcountry ski or get to the Alaska Highway, you can head out a little more informed this winter. An automated weather station will be built about 30 miles north of the U.S.-Canada border to collect data and more accurately monitor conditions in the area. The Haines Avalanche Center will […]
Posted inNews
‘There is no snow’
Bare, unusual winter leaves skiers high and dry A sharp decrease in snowpack this winter has winter sports enthusiasts, backcountry skiers and heli-ski operators pining for powder. “Spent a day discovering Haines Pass. To summarize things: there is no snow,” an observer noted Monday for a Haines conditions observation thread on alaskasnow.org. Erik Stevens, director […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted
An appreciation dinner for Pete Lapham will be held 3 p.m. Sunday at the Elks Lodge. Donations for the dinner will be accepted at the door. A dinner and auction fund-raiser for Merrick Bochart is slated for 5:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Haines School cafeteria. Merrick, 24, was diagnosed this fall with B-cell, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and is undergoing […]