Sports

Runners compete in a men’s 5,000-meters heat during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Disappointing World Championships track finish for Ketchikan’s Isaac Updike

Last-place finish in first global competition will serve as experience entering Olympic year.

Runners compete in a men’s 5,000-meters heat during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Mount Mageik, a 7,103-foot volcano, stands in the Valley of 10,000 Smokes. (Photo by Taryn Lopez)

Alaska Science Forum: Scientists spend nights on top of volcano

Note: This story turns 10 years old this year. I am revisiting it because it shows the uncertainties of doing science outdoors in Alaska. And… Continue reading

Mount Mageik, a 7,103-foot volcano, stands in the Valley of 10,000 Smokes. (Photo by Taryn Lopez)
Anthony Garcia (22) celebrates with Juneau Huskies teammates after intercepting a pass with less than two minutes left in the third quarter against the Dimond High School Lynx on Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Field. The interception sparked a rapid 19-point rally by the Huskies, who were trailing 32-14 at the time, as they took a 33-32 lead with about 10 minutes in the fourth quarter before going on to lose by a final score of 40-33. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Big plays and a big rally for Huskies, but Dimond gets final score to win

Juneau scores TDs of 91, 73, 71 and 51 yards, turns 24-7 deficit into 33-32 lead before losing 40-33

Anthony Garcia (22) celebrates with Juneau Huskies teammates after intercepting a pass with less than two minutes left in the third quarter against the Dimond High School Lynx on Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Field. The interception sparked a rapid 19-point rally by the Huskies, who were trailing 32-14 at the time, as they took a 33-32 lead with about 10 minutes in the fourth quarter before going on to lose by a final score of 40-33. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sarah Clark pushes a stroller with her 16-month-old daughter Faye across the finish line of the 5K course during the 32nd Annual Beat the Odds: A Race Against Cancer that started and ended at Kax̱dig̱oowu Héen Elementary School on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A course in pushing together toward a common cause

More than 300 people run and walk in the 32nd Annual Beat the Odds: A Race Against Cancer

Sarah Clark pushes a stroller with her 16-month-old daughter Faye across the finish line of the 5K course during the 32nd Annual Beat the Odds: A Race Against Cancer that started and ended at Kax̱dig̱oowu Héen Elementary School on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Thunder Mountain High School cross-country team begin their workout during practice outside of the high school Thursday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

The TMHS cross-country team is back — bigger and better than ever before

Practice is underway as runners prepare for an upcoming joint race with JDHS.

The Thunder Mountain High School cross-country team begin their workout during practice outside of the high school Thursday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A wildfire creeps toward a glacial river in Alaska on this window-seat view from a Boeing 737 flying from Fairbanks to Seattle on Aug. 6. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Alaska’s weird fire season ain’t over yet

Waking to the smell of a wet ashtray (which, as a Child of the Seventies, I can still remember), I knew the wind had shifted.… Continue reading

A wildfire creeps toward a glacial river in Alaska on this window-seat view from a Boeing 737 flying from Fairbanks to Seattle on Aug. 6. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
The author, his wife Abby and his friend Danny wait out the weather under a rock and a tarp on opening day of deer season. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: The price of comfort

After a week of rain, I relished the few minutes of sunshine from my glassing spot on top of a ridge. Just behind me was… Continue reading

The author, his wife Abby and his friend Danny wait out the weather under a rock and a tarp on opening day of deer season. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
Senior captains Edgar Vera and Etta Eller lead the Juneau-Douglas Yadaa.at Kalé High School cross-country team in a warmup jog during a rainy day practice near the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center on Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

JDHS runners return to Juneau’s roads and trails with big ambitions

Cross-country coaches and captains share early season goals ahead of joint race with TMHS.

Senior captains Edgar Vera and Etta Eller lead the Juneau-Douglas Yadaa.at Kalé High School cross-country team in a warmup jog during a rainy day practice near the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center on Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Photos by Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
Robin Welling, a Juneau resident, sprints to the finish line to win the Nifty Fifty 50K race Saturday afternoon with a time of four hours, 56 minutes and 55 seconds.

Runners dominate slippery trails for annual Nifty Fifty races amid rain storm

The 50K, 25K and 10K races were a success despite weather, race director says.

Photos by Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
Robin Welling, a Juneau resident, sprints to the finish line to win the Nifty Fifty 50K race Saturday afternoon with a time of four hours, 56 minutes and 55 seconds.
Exposed by a low tide, a clone of plumose anemones shows varied sizes and no extended tentacles. (Photo by MaryAnne Slemmons)

On the Trails: An intertidal excursion

A very low tide in early August enticed me and a couple of friends out to see what we could see in the intertidal zone.… Continue reading

Exposed by a low tide, a clone of plumose anemones shows varied sizes and no extended tentacles. (Photo by MaryAnne Slemmons)
A team photo of the 2023 Juneau Huskies, who kick off their season with a home game against East Anchorage at 3 p.m. Saturday. (Courtesy of Juneau Huskies Football)

Juneau Huskies start another title prowl

After losing state title game last year, there’s only one way to go up as season starts Saturday

A team photo of the 2023 Juneau Huskies, who kick off their season with a home game against East Anchorage at 3 p.m. Saturday. (Courtesy of Juneau Huskies Football)
An adult peregrine falcon in flight over Alaska. (Photo by Ted Swem)

Alaska Science Forum: Population of Yukon River peregrines nosedives

Numbers of adult peregrine falcons on the upper Yukon River in Alaska have decreased by more than a third in the last three years, according… Continue reading

An adult peregrine falcon in flight over Alaska. (Photo by Ted Swem)
A black bear yearling carries a chum salmon up the bank, but discards it later. (Photo by Stacey Thomas)

On the Trails: High summer in Juneau

As July came to an end, fireweed was in bloom everywhere, the early flowers, low on the stem, already putting up big seed pods. Many… Continue reading

A black bear yearling carries a chum salmon up the bank, but discards it later. (Photo by Stacey Thomas)
Volunteers work on the intermediate-level trail for the new Thunder Mountain Bike Park on Saturday. The new park, scheduled to be ready to ride early next week, will also initially feature a beginner’s trail. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Volunteers ramping up for new Mendenhall Valley mountain biking trails

Two trails at new Thunder Mountain Bike Park expected to open during coming week.

Volunteers work on the intermediate-level trail for the new Thunder Mountain Bike Park on Saturday. The new park, scheduled to be ready to ride early next week, will also initially feature a beginner’s trail. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Bog blueberries Zuzana Vaneková picked when she visited Alaska recently fill a plastic container. (Photo by Zuzana Vaneková)

Alaska Science Forum: Alaska blueberries are good for you. Right?

Our beloved Alaska blueberry seems to have a bad reputation in parts of Europe and Scandinavia. There, people have called it the “mad berry,” “intoxicating… Continue reading

Bog blueberries Zuzana Vaneková picked when she visited Alaska recently fill a plastic container. (Photo by Zuzana Vaneková)
A nanny and kid cool down on a patch of snow near the author. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: The (Hunting) New Year

Of all the ways to begin a new year, the agreed upon one is the least interesting. That is not to say the historical reasoning… Continue reading

A nanny and kid cool down on a patch of snow near the author. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
Juneau catcher Isaac Kirsch looks to catch a pop-up foul against Dimond West in the deciding fifth game of the Alaska Little League Majors Baseball State Tournament in Anchorage. (Screenshot from Gastineau Channel Little League video of game)

Juneau all-stars defeated 14-7 in state Little League championship game

Anchorage’s Dimond West breaks away from earlier close games to win best-of-five series

Juneau catcher Isaac Kirsch looks to catch a pop-up foul against Dimond West in the deciding fifth game of the Alaska Little League Majors Baseball State Tournament in Anchorage. (Screenshot from Gastineau Channel Little League video of game)
Golfers test their skills at the “chip shot challenge” during the Annual Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic on Saturday at the Mendenhall Golf Course. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

It’s not easy being on the green

88 participants brave heat, go clubbing on “fast” turf during annual Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic.

Golfers test their skills at the “chip shot challenge” during the Annual Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic on Saturday at the Mendenhall Golf Course. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A Juneau player connects on a hit against Dimond West during the fourth game of the Alaska Little League Majors Baseball State Tournament in Anchorage on Sunday. Juneau won the game 3-1, tying the best-of-five series at two games apiece. The deciding fifth game for the state title is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Monday in Anchorage. (Screenshot from video of game by Gastineau Channel Little League)

Juneau’s all-star Little League baseball team to play for state title Monday

Win on Sunday ties best-of-five series against Anchorage’s Dimond West at 2-2.

A Juneau player connects on a hit against Dimond West during the fourth game of the Alaska Little League Majors Baseball State Tournament in Anchorage on Sunday. Juneau won the game 3-1, tying the best-of-five series at two games apiece. The deciding fifth game for the state title is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Monday in Anchorage. (Screenshot from video of game by Gastineau Channel Little League)
Samuel and Justine Carlisle, a couple from Asheville, North Carolina, cross the finish line of the Juneau Half Marathon on Saturday at Savikko Park. Organizers of the event, which includes full and half marathons, estimate about half of the participants are from outside Juneau because it is considered a "destination" race. (Photo courtesy of Juneau Trail and Road Runners)

A smokin’ Saturday for big crowd of racers in Juneau Marathon and Half Marathon

Big increase in runners this year who take on full- and half-length courses on hot and hazy day.

Samuel and Justine Carlisle, a couple from Asheville, North Carolina, cross the finish line of the Juneau Half Marathon on Saturday at Savikko Park. Organizers of the event, which includes full and half marathons, estimate about half of the participants are from outside Juneau because it is considered a "destination" race. (Photo courtesy of Juneau Trail and Road Runners)