Sports

A light dusting of snow covers the ground at Eaglecrest Ski Area on Wednesday morning. The planned opening for the ski area has been delayed a week until Saturday, Dec. 9, according to General Manager Dave Scanlan. (Photo courtesy of Eaglecrest Ski Area)

Eaglecrest delays scheduled opening by one week until next Saturday, Dec. 9

Warm temperatures and rain dissolved much of ski area’s snowpack, but cold and snow in forecast.

 

A female robin carries a wad of earthworms to her chicks. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: November gloom and cheers

I like to live where there are seasonal changes in weather and natural history activity, but sometimes those changes, including the most recent conditions, just… Continue reading

 

Participants, many clad in fowl weather gear, head out onto the Airport Dike Trail during the annual Turkey Trot 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run on Thursday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Turkey Trot participants thankful for fowl conditions

“Worst weather we’ve had in 10 years” just means burning off more calories.

 

Kristen Rozell skate skis in Valdez in January 2023. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Surfing in winter on cross-country skis

With mild temperatures and ample snow, much of Alaska is now primed for cross-country skiing. It’s a sport for all ages, made possible by friction.… Continue reading

Kristen Rozell skate skis in Valdez in January 2023. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
The author guides his skiff in the direction of muskegs free from digital connectivity, but there is no escaping thoughts of contemporary life. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Freedom of gratitude

I have fumbled for years attempting to put into words what the outdoor world means to me and succeed only in doing it well enough… Continue reading

The author guides his skiff in the direction of muskegs free from digital connectivity, but there is no escaping thoughts of contemporary life. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
(Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Soldotna hockey bounces back against Juneau

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale loses 3-1 on Saturday after 4-3 win Friday

(Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Casey Blackwell, 10, crosses the finish line after running 27 laps around the indoor track at Dimond Park Field House to complete the 5K Pajama Jog on Sunday.

Juneau Girls on the Run go the distance during 5K Pajama Jog

Participants finish looking like stars — 27 of them — after completing that many laps around track.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Casey Blackwell, 10, crosses the finish line after running 27 laps around the indoor track at Dimond Park Field House to complete the 5K Pajama Jog on Sunday.
Lance Fenumiai, a Juneau resident seen here carrying the ball in a rugby match for St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania, has signed a Major League Rugby contract with the Dallas Jackals. (Photo courtesy of Lux214 Media Group)

JDHS grad Lance Fenumiai signs pro rugby contract with Dallas Jackals

Former college All-American to spend holidays training intensely for season that starts in February.

Lance Fenumiai, a Juneau resident seen here carrying the ball in a rugby match for St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania, has signed a Major League Rugby contract with the Dallas Jackals. (Photo courtesy of Lux214 Media Group)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Samantha Schwarting and Thunder Mountain High School seniors PJ Foy and Olivia Mills (shown with Glacier Swim Club teammates) sign National Letters of Intent (NLI) on Tuesday at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center to swim and study in college. (Klas Stolpe for the Juneau Empire)

JDHS’ Schwarting, TMHS’ Foy, Mills sign

Longtime Glacier Swim Club teammates will compete collegiately.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Samantha Schwarting and Thunder Mountain High School seniors PJ Foy and Olivia Mills (shown with Glacier Swim Club teammates) sign National Letters of Intent (NLI) on Tuesday at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center to swim and study in college. (Klas Stolpe for the Juneau Empire)
Basketball players face off at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at for a basketball game in December 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Transgender sports ban now in effect, but Juneau and other school districts in no rush to comply

“I’ve never seen such unity against a policy,” local school member says after statewide conference.

Basketball players face off at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at for a basketball game in December 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau’s Zack Bursell, 30, wins the Run The Rock 50-mile ultra race at Smith Rock State Park, Saturday, in Terrebonne, Oregon. (Photo courtesy Jamie/John Bursell)

Bursell wins Oregon 50 miler

New ultra runner hits new personal best.

Juneau’s Zack Bursell, 30, wins the Run The Rock 50-mile ultra race at Smith Rock State Park, Saturday, in Terrebonne, Oregon. (Photo courtesy Jamie/John Bursell)
George Houston, head coach of what at the time was Juneau-Douglas High School, watches his team play Colony High School in February of 2002 at JDHS. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

George Houston: A remembrance

Lifelong Juneau coach, mentor, educator and friend passes.

George Houston, head coach of what at the time was Juneau-Douglas High School, watches his team play Colony High School in February of 2002 at JDHS. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Thunder Mountain High School’s Ashlyn Gates, seen hitting the ball past Ketchikan High School defenders during the Region V Volleyball Tournament last Saturday, was named the outstanding player for the Falcons during their elimination game against Dimond High School in the statewide 4A Volleyball Championship on Friday in Anchorage. Thunder Mountain lost the match in four sets. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News File)

Thunder Mountain’s volleyball season ends with loss to defending state champs

Strong rallies by Falcons keep match close before decisive fourth set.

Thunder Mountain High School’s Ashlyn Gates, seen hitting the ball past Ketchikan High School defenders during the Region V Volleyball Tournament last Saturday, was named the outstanding player for the Falcons during their elimination game against Dimond High School in the statewide 4A Volleyball Championship on Friday in Anchorage. Thunder Mountain lost the match in four sets. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News File)
The Thunder Mountain High School volleyball team, seen here in the official program for the 2023 Alaska School Activities Association’s 4A Volleyball Championship, lost their opening game of the double-elimination tournament to South Anchorage High School on Thursday. (Photo courtesy of ASAA)

TMHS loses opening game at state finals, plays elimination game Friday morning

Eighth-ranked Falcons will face either top-ranked Wasilla or second-ranked Dimond.

The Thunder Mountain High School volleyball team, seen here in the official program for the 2023 Alaska School Activities Association’s 4A Volleyball Championship, lost their opening game of the double-elimination tournament to South Anchorage High School on Thursday. (Photo courtesy of ASAA)
A red fox carries a muskrat to a birthing den in Interior Alaska. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Secret lives playing out all around us

While we were sleeping, they were out there. Two red foxes, a male and female, pawing into spring snow on a hillside. The foxes had… Continue reading

A red fox carries a muskrat to a birthing den in Interior Alaska. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
High tides make getting the skiff loaded a little tricky. The author’s wife avoids low branches on her way to the skiff after a successful hunt. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Tasty memories

The buck raked a small cedar tree glazed in frost, swollen neck twisting the antlers around the brutalized trunk. I reached behind me to get… Continue reading

High tides make getting the skiff loaded a little tricky. The author’s wife avoids low branches on her way to the skiff after a successful hunt. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
Thunder Mountain High School players celebrate after scoring a point during their 3-1 victory over Ketchikan High School to win the Region V Volleyball Tournament in Ketchikan on Saturday. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

TMHS completes threepeat as regional volleyball champs

Falcons begin quest for state title Thursday; JDHS plays Ketchikan tough in elimination game.

Thunder Mountain High School players celebrate after scoring a point during their 3-1 victory over Ketchikan High School to win the Region V Volleyball Tournament in Ketchikan on Saturday. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears girls swim team pose on Saturday with their first-place team trophy after the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

TMHS’ Foy, JDHS’ Fellman top state swimmers

Crimson Bears girls win title, Falcons girls place second at ASAA Swim & Dive State Championships.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears girls swim team pose on Saturday with their first-place team trophy after the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School senior Olivia Mills prepares to start the 50 free at last weekend’s Region V Championships in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)

Foy, Schwarting, Peimann top local title hopes as state championships come to Juneau

Two-day ASAA Swim Dive State Championships start Friday at Dimond Park Aquatic Center.

Thunder Mountain High School senior Olivia Mills prepares to start the 50 free at last weekend’s Region V Championships in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)
Scientist/explorer Ernest Leffingwell spent nine winters on Flaxman Island off Alaska’s northern coast. (Photo from the book “Conquering the Arctic ice,” by Ejnar Mikkelsen)

Alaska Science Forum: Ernest Leffingwell, fan of the far north

One hundred years ago, a group of men sailed to the northern coast of Alaska to find a land mass rumored to protrude from the… Continue reading

Scientist/explorer Ernest Leffingwell spent nine winters on Flaxman Island off Alaska’s northern coast. (Photo from the book “Conquering the Arctic ice,” by Ejnar Mikkelsen)