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From reindeer tourism to accessible fishing, Alaska entrepreneurs throw new ideas into the Shark Tank

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From reindeer tourism to accessible fishing, Alaska entrepreneurs throw new ideas into the Shark Tank


Final week I manned a sales space at a conference commerce present in Sitka.

The Alaska Journey Trade Affiliation’s end-of-season meetup gives insiders a sneak peek at a number of the new journey choices across the state.

There’s one occasion referred to as the “Shark Tank,” based mostly on the favored TV present. Right here, journey and tourism enterprise leaders take into account new concepts from Alaska entrepreneurs.

Ryne Olson of Chena Out of doors Collective in Fairbanks desires to develop what she calls “reindeer tourism.”

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“Reindeer have a novel historical past in Alaska,” mentioned Olson.

Olson is better-known as a musher who has fielded groups within the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest.

“We’re already providing brief walks with the reindeer for $65 per individual,” she mentioned.

However Olson desires to supply extra choices, together with sleigh rides with reindeer, backpacking journeys and a “vacation spot” setting for bigger teams.

Her aim is to make the Chena Out of doors Collective a hub for reindeer tourism.

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Haley Johnston has guided wilderness journeys for greater than 10 years. Now, although, she has her personal firm referred to as Tundra Travels.

Johnston makes a speciality of backpacking journeys in a few of Alaska’s extra distant areas: the Arctic Nationwide Wildlife Refuge and Gates of the Arctic Nationwide Park.

I requested her if she took teams down the scenic rivers in ANWR and Gates of the Arctic. “Oh sure,” she mentioned. “I’ve led these journeys. However we’re hikers, not floaters,” she mentioned with a smile.

As she constructed out her journeys, she added parts that had been essential for her. She needed her guides to be year-round Alaska residents. Additionally, she needed to develop a mannequin to donate a considerable sum to nonprofit organizations dedicated to conservation.

Johnston got here to the Shark Tank to assist fund extra tools for extra guides to supply extra journeys.

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Down in Juneau, Peter Nave has adopted the story at Eaglecrest Ski Space. Eaglecrest just lately bought a gondola to take guests up the mountain year-round.

Nave thought Eaglecrest could be an excellent web site for a “by way of ferrata,” which he calls a “mixture between mountaineering and mountain climbing.”

Extra particularly, a by way of ferrata is a course over steep, uncovered mountain routes utilizing fastened cable, chains and ladders. Actually translated as “iron method,” climbers placed on a harness and make their method by means of the course.

“Our proposed course is a couple of half-mile and it will be very family-friendly,” mentioned Nave.

Nave nonetheless is understanding some particulars with Eaglecrest, however seems to be ahead to providing an “expertise steeped in mountain tradition.”

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Capt. Jack Finnegan has provided fishing journeys in Ketchikan for a few years. However Finnegan additionally has years of expertise working with adults experiencing quite a lot of disabilities.

These two skillsets lastly mashed up in Finnegan’s head when it turned apparent that his fishing boats weren’t wheelchair-accessible. The thought for “Fishability Alaska” was born.

Finnegan’s quest is to assemble a customized boat with accessibility as a core design element. Vacationers utilizing wheelchairs are only one set of holiday makers. “Not all disabilities are seen,” mentioned Flannigan. “Typically guests with disabilities contains listening to or imaginative and prescient impediments, or PTSD,” he mentioned. “Many vacationers are on the autism spectrum.”

Flannigan has some good tales about serving to blind guests catch fish. However with the bow lander on his boat-of-dreams, he may run up on the seaside so people may go beachcombing, tide-pooling or discover wilderness trails on a far-off island.

The viewers in attendance on the tourism Shark Tank was listening rigorously. Most of the concepts offered provided utterly new classes for vacationers, such because the by way of ferrata and reindeer backpacking journeys.

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This made it tough for the judges to decide on winners, who obtained between $8,000 and $10,000 towards their thought.

“These entrepreneurs are actually placing their hearts on the market,” mentioned Dale Wade, director of selling on the Alaska Railroad. “There’s an software course of, then pre-session vetting and eventually the presentation on the present. I actually admire them.”

Winners of the Shark Tank competitors embody Ryne Olson and her mountaineering reindeer, in addition to Haley Johnston and her Arctic backpacking firm. Judges based mostly their determination partially on how a lot of a distinction the Shark Tank funding would make within the general success.

A lot of the Shark Tank members had been concerned in quite a lot of different fundraising, together with private financial savings, funds from mates and kin and different crowd-funding sources.

The Shark Tank contestants didn’t have a monopoly on new actions and adventures in Alaska. There are numerous new adventures, together with new cruises to new ports, a brand new emphasis on cultural tourism that includes Native Alaskans and new consideration on Alaska’s distinctive culinary choices, together with microbreweries.

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The Alaska Journey Trade Affiliation hosts travelalaska.com, which produces an annual journey planner. It’s a brand new catalog of year-round excursions and adventures. A lot of the planners are despatched Outdoors to potential guests. However you’ll be able to order one for your self and begin planning a go to to some new components of Alaska.





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Alaska

Short-lived cold snap, with another warming trend this weekend

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Short-lived cold snap, with another warming trend this weekend


ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Temperatures across the state are cooling off, as our strong low from the weekend moves into the Chukchi Sea. This will set up for colder air to spread across the state this week, as another short-lived cold snap is expected. While some light snow is possible for the Interior, areas of the Slope and Western Alaska, Southcentral will stay on the drier side until the night. Meanwhile, Southeast will continue to hold onto moderate rain with gusty conditions.

SOUTHCENTRAL:

Temperatures this morning are 10 to 20 degrees colder than yesterday, as colder air has settled back into Southcentral. Clear skies and calm winds are evident this morning for parts of the region, with light snow falling through the Copper River Basin. We’ll see fairly quiet conditions today, outside of Kodiak which will see increasing snow and rain into the afternoon and evening hours. This comes as our next area of low pressure moves up the Alaska Peninsula.

We’ll see light snow spreading north across the Kenai overnight into Wednesday, with light snow expected through Prince William Sound. Several inches are likely through the Kenai and Chugach Mountains, with the pass expected to see a couple of inches of accumulation. Western parts of the Kenai will see the potential for a few inches, while inland areas of Southcentral largely stay dry. If Anchorage and surrounding locations see any accumulation, it’ll amount to less than half an inch.

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As snow tapers off Wednesday, we’ll see the return to colder and drier conditions into Thursday. Thursday may be the coldest day this week across the region, before another warming trend carries us into next week. Right now holding with snow through early next week, but areas of wintry mix are possible as highs warm above freezing.

SOUTHEAST:

The winter storm warning for Skagway and higher elevations expired at 6am this morning. While some light snow showers are still possible, little accumulation will occur the rest of the day. Scattered to periodic showers are occurring elsewhere across Southeast today, with less than half an inch of rainfall through the day. Any moisture available into the evening will see a transition to some wintry mix or snow into Wednesday morning. However, the better chance will come from another low lifting north into the panhandle. Any snow and wintry mix we see for Wednesday will primarily stay confined to the central and southern panhandle. We’ll see much cooler weather taking hold this week for Southeast.

INTERIOR:

Some areas of light snow are possible this morning, with less than half an inch to be expected. While temperatures are still warm for much of the Interior, highs will steadily fall throughout the day. Many areas will see lows bottom out near or below zero by tomorrow morning. We’ll see high pressure keep things dry and sunny through the next couple of days, with the coldest stretch of weather from Wednesday morning into Thursday morning. Much like the rest of the state will experience, a warming trend arrives this weekend. We’ll see the return to highs in the 20s, with some snow in the forecast. Be prepared for some gusty conditions through the Alaska Range by the close of this week.

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SLOPE/WESTERN ALASKA:

Areas of light snow and blowing winds will continue to impact the Slope, with a winter weather advisory remaining in place for the Central Brooks Range and the Beaufort Sea Coast. Both locations will see up to 1 inch of snow and gusty winds up to 35 mph. While the winter weather advisory will expire for the Central Brooks Range this afternoon, the Beaufort Sea Coast will see the alert continue into Tuesday evening. Snow and blowing snow will be the primary impact today, with a return to colder weather through the rest of this week, this comes as high pressure settles into the area.

The storm responsible for the damaging winds for Southcentral over the weekend, has pushed north into the Chukchi Sea. We’ll still see some light snow accumulations for Western Alaska, with 1 to 3 inches expected. Some fo the heaviest snow will fall across the Seward Peninsula and the Western Brooks Range.

An area of low pressure in the Bering Sea will keep gusty winds and snow in the forecast for Gambell/St. Lawrence. Be prepared for heavy snow at times and areas of reduced visibility. Overall, colder weather will settle into Western Alaska, with the possibility of morning fog in the valleys over the next few mornings.

ALEUTIANS:

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Some light areas of snow will occur for the Pribilof Islands and into parts of the Alaska Peninsula today, as a weak low moves up the Peninsula. This will be the main focus for snow into Wednesday for Southcentral. This low will bring heavy precipitation and gusty winds for the Eastern Aleutians and the Alaska Peninsula. Looking ahead through the rest of the week, we can expect to see more a ridge beginning to build into the region. This ridge will slowly shift east, keeping several upper level disturbances traversing the Aleutians. Temperatures will remain fairly warm in the 30s and 40s.

OUTLOOK AHEAD:

Model consensus continues to agree on another warming trend heading our way into next week. This stretch of warmth will likely lead to many spots cementing themselves within the top warmest January’s on record. While we’ll spend the rest of this week on the colder side, highs steadily climb this weekend into next week. We’ll see highs in Southcentral climbing back above freezing, with areas of the Interior climbing back into the 20s.

Have a safe and wonderful Tuesday!

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com

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Anchorage, Alaska hit by hurricane-force winds, structures damaged across city

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Anchorage, Alaska hit by hurricane-force winds, structures damaged across city


Associated Press

Hurricane-force winds cause widespread damage in Alaska’s largest city

Thousands of residents across Alaska’s largest city were still without power Monday, a day after a powerful storm brought hurricane-force winds that downed power lines, damaged trees, forced more than a dozen planes to divert, and caused a pedestrian bridge over a highway to partially collapse. A 132-mph (212-kph) wind gust was recorded at a mountain weather station south of Anchorage. A large low-pressure system in the Bering Sea brought the high winds, moisture and warmer than average temperatures — in the low 40s Fahrenheit (slightly over 4.4 degrees Celsius) — to Anchorage on Sunday, said National Weather Service meteorologist Tracen Knopp.



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Thousands without power in Alaska after hurricane-force winds hit

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Thousands without power in Alaska after hurricane-force winds hit


Thousands of residents in Anchorage, Alaska, faced widespread devastation and power outages Monday after hurricane-strength winds battered the city on Sunday.

Why It Matters

This latest incident comes as power outages across the United States have become a growing concern as extreme weather events increase in frequency and intensity, often leaving millions of Americans in precarious situations. Hurricanes, wildfires, ice storms and heatwaves have caused widespread disruptions, highlighting the vulnerability of aging electrical grids to severe conditions.

Prolonged outages not only hinder daily life by cutting off access to heating, cooling and essential appliances but also pose significant risks to public health, particularly for the elderly and those with medical conditions reliant on powered devices.

What To Know

The Anchorage storm, which began Sunday, delivered gusts reaching 132 mph at a mountain weather station south of the city, according to the National Weather Service. Within Anchorage itself, winds hit 75 mph, toppling trees, scattering debris and partially collapsing a pedestrian bridge over the Seward Highway, the city’s main southern thoroughfare.

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At the height of the storm, 17,500 customers were without power, according to Julie Hasquet, spokesperson for Chugach Electric Association. As of Monday, roughly 5,700 homes remained offline with full restoration expected to stretch into Tuesday.

Dick Powell cuts a birch tree blocking Steeple Drive in South Anchorage during the windstorm on January 12, 2025. A powerful storm in Anchorage left thousands without power.

Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/ AP

The storm’s chaos wasn’t limited to neighborhoods. Anchorage’s airport, a vital hub for passenger and cargo traffic, saw significant disruptions. Winds forced 13 aircraft, including a U.S. Air Force plane, to divert to Fairbanks, which sits nearly 360 miles away.

On the ground, emergency crews scrambled to clear bridge debris, which had obstructed traffic on the highway. However, no injuries were reported when the side fencing and roof of the bridge fell onto the four-lane divided highway on Sunday. Traffic was rerouted and crews removed the debris.

Alaska Department of Transportation spokesperson Shannon McCarthy pointed to the winds as the probable cause of the bridge failure. However, structural engineers are investigating to determine the full extent of the damage.

Meanwhile, the storm marked a rare convergence of high winds, warmer-than-average temperatures and moisture from a low-pressure system in the Bering Sea, said National Weather Service meteorologist Tracen Knopp. Anchorage saw temperatures in the low 40s Fahrenheit, unusual for mid-winter.

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What People Are Saying

Alaska Department of Transportation spokesperson Shannon McCarthy said: “The winds were the leading cause, but our bridge engineers will be out there today and may be able give us a more comprehensive analysis of what happened.”

Julie Hasquet, a spokesperson for Chugach Electric Association, said some customers may not have power back on until Tuesday. She said: “When our crews show up for repairs, they don’t know what they’re going to find.”

Resident Steven Wood told Anchorage television station KTUU about how he and his family was watching the winds blow things around the yard Sunday morning when they saw their neighbor’s roof partially blow off and head right toward them.

“All of a sudden, I see the roof start to peel off, and all I can yell is, ‘Incoming! Everybody run!’” Wood said.

What Happens Next

Cleanup efforts are underway in Anchorage as the city begins recovering from the powerful storm.

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This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.



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