Sports

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Emilio Holbrook (37), shown in a game this season against North Pole at Treadwell Ice Arena, had three goals and two assists in two Crimson Bears wins at Kodiak over the weekend. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

JDHS hockey dominates at Kodiak

Southeast’s Crimson Bears bigger, faster, stronger than Kodiak Bears.

 

Members of the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears Nordic Ski Team pose for a photo at Eaglecrest Ski Area during a recent practice. (Photo courtesy Tristan Knutson-Lombardo)

Crimson Bears on skis a sight to see

JDHS Nordic season begins, but obstacles remain in and out of the snow

 

A good life in Southeast Alaska is often made better with good gear. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: ‘Buy gear not stuff’

If anyone needs shopping clarity this holiday season, quote writer Michael Easter who champions the idea “buy gear, not stuff.” In order for us to… Continue reading

 

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls head coach Tanya Nizich talks to Crimson Bears players during the first day of girls varsity basketball tryouts Wednesday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS holds first day of basketball tryouts

Crimson Bears head coaches Casperson, Nizich open court to roughly 100 players.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls head coach Tanya Nizich talks to Crimson Bears players during the first day of girls varsity basketball tryouts Wednesday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The Porcupine lift on the beginner’s hill at Eaglecrest Ski Area is scheduled to open Saturday, but rain is keeping the main portion of the resort closed, officials announced Wednesday. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)

Eaglecrest to open Porcupine lift on Saturday with tickets as low as $11, but rain thwarts full opening

Ski area offering 50% off ticket price for beginner hill lift for people donating to food drive.

The Porcupine lift on the beginner’s hill at Eaglecrest Ski Area is scheduled to open Saturday, but rain is keeping the main portion of the resort closed, officials announced Wednesday. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)
Oregon Ballet Theatre principal dancer Daniela DeLoe (left) performs a grand jete to open the snowflakes dance in the Land Of Snow during a performance of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker.” At right, Misha Culver stretches in her Snow costume during a 2009 dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” ballet at the Juneau Dance Unlimited studio. (Photos by Klas Stolpe)

Pure Sole: The sport of dance

The anniversary of one of the holiday’s most heartbreaking and heartwarming events still chills me to this day. I remember the headlines. “Giant Mice Storm… Continue reading

Oregon Ballet Theatre principal dancer Daniela DeLoe (left) performs a grand jete to open the snowflakes dance in the Land Of Snow during a performance of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker.” At right, Misha Culver stretches in her Snow costume during a 2009 dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” ballet at the Juneau Dance Unlimited studio. (Photos by Klas Stolpe)
A climbing goby known as ‘o’opu ‘alamo’o, or Hawaiian freshwater goby. (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources photo)

On the Trails: Fish locomotion

There are about 28,000 species of bony fishes — the largest taxonomic group of vertebrates — and they have been around for a very long… Continue reading

A climbing goby known as ‘o’opu ‘alamo’o, or Hawaiian freshwater goby. (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources photo)
A red squirrel pauses on a tree on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: The secret life of red squirrels

Stan Boutin has climbed more than 5,000 spruce trees in the last 30 years. He has often returned to the forest floor knowing if a… Continue reading

A red squirrel pauses on a tree on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
John Kern is shown after finishing the Berlin Marathon on Sept. 25, 2022. (Photo courtesy John Kern)

After completing marathon goal of all 50 states, John Kern looks ‘around the world’

Juneau runner seeks to complete Six World Marathons challenge in Tokyo — and what’s beyond.

John Kern is shown after finishing the Berlin Marathon on Sept. 25, 2022. (Photo courtesy John Kern)
The author is moving down the Perseverance Trail this Thanksgiving. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Pure Sole: Thankful

What am I thankful for? Selfishly thankful? Or salt-of-the-earth thankful, you know, not thinking about myself but those who really make me who I am?… Continue reading

The author is moving down the Perseverance Trail this Thanksgiving. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Austin Treston (wearing Santa hat) and Oliver Albrecht, both 11, lead off participants in the mile-long course during the annual Turkey Trot 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run on Thursday along the Airport Dike Trail. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Snow makes things extra flaky for more than 300 people at 11th annual Turkey Trot

Big costumes and big strollers still show up to plunge along the pre-Thanksgiving feast trail.

Austin Treston (wearing Santa hat) and Oliver Albrecht, both 11, lead off participants in the mile-long course during the annual Turkey Trot 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run on Thursday along the Airport Dike Trail. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Isaac Phelps (24) shoots a puck against North Pole in action earlier this season at Treadwell Ice Arena. Phelps had two assists against the Palmer Moose this weekend at Palmer. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

Crimson Bears find Moose difficult to slow down on the ice

JDHS hockey team falls twice on the road at the Palmer ice arena.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Isaac Phelps (24) shoots a puck against North Pole in action earlier this season at Treadwell Ice Arena. Phelps had two assists against the Palmer Moose this weekend at Palmer. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé freshman Joshua Beedle pins Sitka High’s JD Keith in the 112-pound division Friday at the Sitka Invitational. (James Poulson / The Daily Sitka Sentinel)

Crimson Bears grapplers swarm The Rock

JDHS wrestlers second to Mt. Edgecumbe at Sitka Invitational.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé freshman Joshua Beedle pins Sitka High’s JD Keith in the 112-pound division Friday at the Sitka Invitational. (James Poulson / The Daily Sitka Sentinel)
The delicacy of the Little Norway Pickled Herring Contest in Petersburg. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Pure Sole: Vote pickled with me!

I am voting pickled! And I am darn proud about it. Um, before I get ahead of myself, I am not voting inebriated or under… Continue reading

The delicacy of the Little Norway Pickled Herring Contest in Petersburg. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A Banff Snail (Physella johnsoni), about 3.5 millimeters in size, in a hot spring pool. (Paul M.K. Gordon / CC BY-SA 2.5)

On the Trails: Hot spring snails

From a visitor from England who visited Calgary on the way to Juneau, I learned about the Banff Springs snails, which live in thermal springs… Continue reading

A Banff Snail (Physella johnsoni), about 3.5 millimeters in size, in a hot spring pool. (Paul M.K. Gordon / CC BY-SA 2.5)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Emma Fellman signs a national letter of intent on Thursday at Augustus Brown Pool to attend and swim for the University of Minnesota. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Emma Fellman signs to swim at University of Minnesota

JDHS senior holds 17 high school and club records.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Emma Fellman signs a national letter of intent on Thursday at Augustus Brown Pool to attend and swim for the University of Minnesota. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau’s PJ Foy, shown winning the 2023 100-yard butterfly in 48.27 for Thunder Mountain High School during the ASAA state championships at the Dimond Park Aquatics Center on Nov. 4, 2023. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

Alaska Sports Hall of Fame selections end in November

Last chance to vote for your favorite Alaska athlete or moment

Juneau’s PJ Foy, shown winning the 2023 100-yard butterfly in 48.27 for Thunder Mountain High School during the ASAA state championships at the Dimond Park Aquatics Center on Nov. 4, 2023. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
Glacier Swim Club members, left-to-right, Cora Soboleff, Clara Van Kirk, Natalie MacKinnon, Ellie Higgins, Leon Ward, coach Lisa Jones, Zach Holden, Josh Ely and Henry Thatcher during the 2024 November Rain swim meet at Petersburg last weekend. (Photo courtesy Glacier Swim Club)

Glacier Swim Club competes at Petersburg’s November Rain

Juneau’s Glacier Swim Club participated in the November Rain Invitational swim meet last weekend at Petersburg’s Aquatic Center. Eight swimmers lowered at least one of… Continue reading

Glacier Swim Club members, left-to-right, Cora Soboleff, Clara Van Kirk, Natalie MacKinnon, Ellie Higgins, Leon Ward, coach Lisa Jones, Zach Holden, Josh Ely and Henry Thatcher during the 2024 November Rain swim meet at Petersburg last weekend. (Photo courtesy Glacier Swim Club)
Current senior Kerra Baxter (22) shoots a free throw for now defunct Thunder Mountain High School in last season’s ASAA state championship 4th/6th place game against the Mountain City Christian Academy Lions. Baxter has signed to play Division II college basketball with the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. Baxter will play for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé this season. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Kerra Baxter signs to play for UAA Seawolves

Twin tower elects to stay in state and close to home fan base

Current senior Kerra Baxter (22) shoots a free throw for now defunct Thunder Mountain High School in last season’s ASAA state championship 4th/6th place game against the Mountain City Christian Academy Lions. Baxter has signed to play Division II college basketball with the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. Baxter will play for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé this season. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The author's wife sets and checks game cameras as a way of continuing outdoor adventure with a baby at home. (Photo provided by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Appreciating the mini-adventure

With my left hand managing the 297 soft cover pages, I read. Tim Cahill was in Mali and having a discussion with a local about… Continue reading

The author's wife sets and checks game cameras as a way of continuing outdoor adventure with a baby at home. (Photo provided by Jeff Lund)