2019 Winter Survival Guide

Winter Survival Guide 2019

Focus on: Trails

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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

WINTER SURVIVAL GUIDE

Outdoor winter activity good for health, happiness FOR THE NEWS-MINER

Fairbanks winters are cold and dark, which makes it that much more important to get outside and be active.

Research shows that physical activity is good for your mind and body.

Research also shows that spending time outside in nature is good for your mind.

Both reduce stress and help fight depression, so exercising outdoors is an excellent way to stay positive in winter.

New to outdoor winter exercising? Don’t know how to start? Talk to the personnel at our local sporting goods stores, such as Goldstream Sports, Beaver Sports, and REI. The combined knowledge of their staff members is

A winter bicyclist is framed by a sundog as he rides along a trail on the lower University of Alaska Fairbanks campus.

ERIC ENGMAN/NEWS-MINER FILE PHOTO

impressive. If one salesperson doesn’t have an answer about a particular activity, they can find someone who can.

Another way to learn is to

attend clinics put on by local outdoors stores. Most are free or come with a minimal fee.

Checking Facebook pages is usually the best way to learn

about those. For REI, check its events page: www.rei.com/ events/p/us-ak-fairbanks For skiing, the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks and Beaver Sports offer basic lessons (see more below). The University of Alaska Fairbanks sometimes offers skiing courses. Check the recreation class offerings (www.uaf.edu/coursefinder/).

That’s how you get started, but how do you keep going?

Fortunately, Fairbanks offers a variety of group outings, lessons and races to keep you active throughout the winter.

Hiking The Fairbanks Area Hiking Club has a fan page on Facebook. The group holds organized outings, which it advertises on the page. People

also use the page to organize informal hikes. The outings sometimes involve snowshoes, but often they are held on trails packed hard enough that snowshoes are not needed.

Running/ snowshoeing Almost anyone can run in winter and it doesn’t require a lot of equipment. You will need a good pair of running shoes, proper clothing and good lights if you plan to run at night.

Reflective gear is especially important if you run on roads. Running Club North has a great page on winter running: www.runningclubnorth.org/cold-weather-runOUTDOORS » 3

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By Eric Troyer

WINTER SURVIVAL GUIDE

OUTDOORS

Continued from 2

ning/. Make sure to check out all the tabs.

Running Club North offers a couple of regular runs: Fahrenheit Be Darned Runs leave from the UAF Patty Center on Wednesdays at 5:45 p.m.

HooDoo Beer Runs leave from the HooDoo Brewing Co. on Thursdays at 6 p.m.

The club also holds several races and fun runs throughout the winter. The races include the Snowshoe Series, composed of six snowshoe races on a variety of trails around Fairbanks.

Loaner snowshoes are available for those who want to try out this unique way of running. Check out all of Running Club North’s events on its calendar: www.runningclubnorth.org/

Cycling Cycling can be done the year round, though some specialized equipment is usually needed for winter. Fatbikes have boomed in popularity in recent years. They are the best way to cycle on packed snow trails. You don’t need a fatbike unless you’re heading out on the trails out of town, but you will probably need studs on your tires. Falling on ice is painful! The Fairbanks Cycle Club has a great page on winter cycling (www.fairbankscycleclub.org/resources/ winter-riding/). Beaver Sports and Goldstream Sports also offer occasional demo rides.

Watch their Facebook pages or on the FCC Facebook page.

Between the bike club and local bike shops, several weekly rides are offered.

FCC Winter Rides are lowkey but usually long rides (often three to four hours) starting at noon every Sunday

at Ivory Jack’s parking lot in the Goldstream Valley. They will start when there is enough snow. Watch the FCC Facebook page for announcements.

Rides are canceled if the temperature is minus 25F or colder. All riders must be FCC members.

Goldstream Sports offers harder rides that demand a high level of fitness. Rides start at Goldstream Sports and have no temperature cutoff. Saturday rides start at 8 a.m. and Tuesday rides start at 7 p.m. They last about two hours. The store is hoping to offer intermediate level rides on Tuesday evenings, but nothing has been set yet.

Beaver Sports will be offering intermediate-level rides starting at the shop on Thursday evenings. The start time for winter hasn’t been set, but will probably be 5 or 5:30 p.m.

The rides last about 60-90 minutes.

UAF Green Bikes will be

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Friday, October 25, 2019

offering periodic winter rides around campus. Check their Facebook page for announcements.

Cross-country skiing There’s nothing quite like gliding across the snow on your own power. Skiing requires a bit more skill than hiking, running or cycling, but Nordic skiers will tell you it’s worth it. Once you learn how to get your arms and legs working together in unison, it’s like an art form.

Fairbanks has a variety of lessons, races and group outings for skiing.

The Nordic Ski of Fairbanks offers a variety of classes for all levels. Junior Nordics are for children and adult lessons are for older skiers. The club also has a whole calendar of races and offers tours periodically throughout the winter. You’ll need to keep an eye on their website (www.nscfairbanks.

org/) or Facebook page to keep up on all the offerings.

Beaver Sports offers free cross-country skiing lessons for those just learning or wanting to try out the sport.

The monthly lessons start at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays. Check their Facebook events page.

Two groups have weekly low-key ski outings at Birch Hill Recreation Area. Ladies of Leisure (LOLs) meet at 6 p.m. on Mondays and 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. Each LOL session usually has several mini-groups that ski at various speeds, from a relaxed pace to a faster tempo, depending on ability levels and group desires. SCUM (Susan’s Class of Untrainable Men) meet at 11 a.m. on Sundays. SCUM are mainly men over 50 years old.

Their levels of skill and endurance vary widely and they also break into smaller groups.

Eric Troyer is a local freelance writer who does all the activities listed above.

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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

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Winter rambling is easy on nearby groomed trails

By Alistair Gardiner AGARDINER@NEWSMINER.COM

As winter approaches, Fairbanks loses about 7 minutes of light every day and temperatures typically drop below zero. On Dec. 21, the winter solstice — which is the shortest day of the year — the sun will rise at roughly 11 a.m. and set 3 hours, 42 minutes later. On top of that, Fairbanks see an average annual snowfall of 65 inches.

People with day jobs who enjoy hiking are probably thinking that short daylight hours don’t leave a lot of time for a ramble; and trekking through thigh-high snow sounds like a chore. You’re not wrong. Fortunately, there are a number of trails close to town that are maintained

A plowed dog walking path, situated next to a multi-use trail at Tanana Lakes Recreation Area. COURTESY FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR BOROUGH

throughout the winter — and some of them are even lighted.

Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent

John Hosk recommends Griffin Park, which features a lit and maintained pathway that runs along the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks. Hosk said that path is frequented

by “a lot of people” during the dark, cold months.

“People walk from Pioneer Park all the way to Fort Wainwright,” he said. “There’s a few miles there. A lot of people walk that or jog it.”

If you opt to walk from Pioneer Park to Fort Wainwright, it’s roughly six miles and you can amble along river almost the entire way. Hosk said the trail is lit almost the entire way.

“We don’t maintain the whole length,” he said. “It’s broken up and taken care of by a couple of different entities.”

Bryant Wright, the borough’s trails coordinator, concurred with Hosk on Griffin Park — but recommended that hikers give Tanana Lakes Recreation Area a go, as well.

“I’d throw a plug in for Tanana Lakes,” he said. “It’s a great place to walk in the middle of the day when you’ve got a few hours of light.”

Wright suggested the middle of the day because Tanana Lakes does not have lighted trails. But, don a headlamp, and you’ll be set, Wright said.

“We do maintain a couple of kilometers there,” he said.

“It’s just plowed and hardpacked.”

According to Wright, a popular section of the Tanana Lakes area is the north side of Goose Island. He said you can walk about 3 miles of trails if you hike around the whole thing. There are several other local recreation areas that the borough maintains RAMBLING » 6

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“The three places that we’re maintaining are Chena Lakes (Recreation Area), Birch Hill and Tanana Lakes,” Wright said. “Chena has some stuff that’s multi-use and Tanana Lakes is the same way. People can walk on them, bike on them or ski on them.” Birch Hill trails are maintained for skiers after the snow flies.

If you live or work on the west side of Fairbanks, your best bet for winter trails may be the University of Alaska Fairbanks North Campus, which features a system of trails across about 1,100 acres.

“We do recreation, we also have a lot of research that happens out there, because it’s so close to campus. And classes are held there,” said North Campus Manager Kara Axx. “We have about 25 miles of groomed trails that we

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maintain and a small portion of the trails are lit.”

Frank Olive, who serves as an outdoor adventures assistant programming coordinator at the university, has lived in Alaska for more than 25 years. He said roughly 3 miles of the ski trails are lit during the winter and noted that one of the walking trails runs alongside a lit skiing trail, so there’s “probably a mile or two” that’s lit for walkers.

“Basically the trails are multi-use. Each season, there are different things the trails can do,” he said. “A wide portion of the trails are regularly groomed for cross-country skiing. There are also walking and snowshoe trails; they’re packed to a degree.”

Olive recommended what are referred to as “commuter trails,” some of which take you all the way across campus.

“One of the trails you can walk goes from Yankovich

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Friday, October 25, 2019

WINTER SURVIVAL GUIDE Continued from 6 Road over to West Ridge (Research Building),” he said. “Those trails also allow dogs on leashes.”

In order to take full advantage of what the trail system has to offer, however, Olive said that it’s worth looking at which trails connect with others.

“So many of the trails here on campus connect in with other trails that are maintained,” he said. “You can cross over Farmers Loop Road and get onto the Jeff Studdert Mushing Trails.

Those lie between College Road, Steese Highway and Farmers Loop.

There’s a huge trail system out there.”

Likewise, he said, if you were to walk through the North Cam-

pus trail system and cross Yankovich Road, you can access the Skarland trails.

“You can cross Sheep Creek Road and you can get onto Goldhill Ace Lake Trails, which is another awesome set,” Olive said. “Many of them aren’t formally groomed by someone who gets paid, but there are volunteers and some are groomed by users.”

According to frequent News-Miner Outdoors section contributor Eric Troyer, an example of a trail set that is user-maintained is the Goldstream winter trail system, which is semi-regularly groomed by mushers.

Olive advises that any walker take a headlamp or a flashlight with them, but for newcomers to Fairbanks his

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“I know people are intimidated by the dark — but I find that once the snow falls … we just get so much ambient light that I’ll regularly walk or ski without a lighting system,” he said. “The one dilemma I’d say with the huge vast network of trail systems in Fairbanks is there isn’t a comprehensive way to find them all — beyond exploration.”

You can access all the UAF trail maps online here: bit.ly/33OzUoR .

For more information on the trails that are maintained by the Fairbanks North Star Borough, visit its website: bit.ly/2YOPgI7

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SNOWFALL • Average date of first measurable snowfall: Oct. 1 Month High Low Mean • Average date of last measurable October 31.9 16.5 24.2 snowfall: April 22 November 10.9 -5.7 2.6 Average date of establishment of December 4.8 -12.9 -4.1 winter snowpack (1 inch or more): January DINE 1.1 IN /-16.9 -7.9 18 TAKE OUT / Oct. CATERING TAKE CATERING February DINE 10.0 IN /-12.7 -1.3OUT• /Average snowfall: 65.0 inches Information is based on National Weather March 25.4 -2.5 11.4 Service records dating back to 1930.

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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

WINTER SURVIVAL GUIDE

Walk in the warmth at Big Dipper Ice Arena

By Alistair Gardiner AGARDINER@NEWSMINER.COM

ERIC ENGMAN/NEWS-MINER FILE PHOTO

trails coordinator, said it’s one of the very few options in town for people who want to get some miles in, but don’t fancy walking in cold temperatures.

we have over 200 people that walk here a day,” she said.

To walk one mile, you have to make it around the circumference of the rink seven and a half times. Arthur noted that, while it’s a rubberized tile floor, it’s sensible to wear shoes that are good for walking. She also pointed out that the Big Dipper has public lockers; if you bring your own lock, you can store your valuables for free while you walk.

“It’s great,” she said. “There’s a lot of regular people who come through. We used to charge people 15 years ago, but one mayor made it free and it’s been that way ever since. It’s been really well received.”

Arthur also asks walkers to sign in using a clipboard in front of the skateroom. She DIPPER » 9

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League — the Big Dipper also houses an indoor walking/jogging track.

Bryant Wright, the Fairbanks North Star Borough’s

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For those willing to brave the darkness and the cold, elsewhere in this issue you can find an article about the local trails that are maintained and lit during the winter months.

If, however, you’d prefer to take shelter during the cold season but are still keen to do some strolling, Fairbanks has a solution: The Big Dipper Ice Arena.

Located at 920 Lathrop St., the Big Dipper is an all-purpose arena that’s open yearround. Its main attraction is an 85 by100 foot indoor ice rink, which boasts seating for 2,200. While primarily known as a hockey rink — it’s home to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, a Junior ‘A’ hockey team in the North American Hockey

“It’s pretty nice because there’s a big loop and typically there’s either hockey practice or free-skating or figure skating, so it’s pretty fun to have something to watch while you’re walking,” he said.

According to Lorri Arthur, facilities supervisor at the Big Dipper, the track is typically open to walkers and joggers from 6 a.m. -6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. -4 p.m. Sundays.

“It just happens to be an extra byproduct of having the rink down below,” Arthur said.

“We don’t charge for it either.”

There is also a Walking Club for seniors, which takes place 9 a.m. -10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Arthur said. In addition, the Big Dipper has seniors who walk every day.

“As it gets colder, more and more people come inside, and

WINTER SURVIVAL GUIDE

DIPPER

Continued from 8 explained that it helps the Big Dipper to keep track of the number of users, so that the borough — which owns the facility — knows that it’s getting used. Her other piece of advice is to keep an eye on any activity that’s going on in the rink, for safety reasons.

“I would love to say that we keep all the pucks in the rink, but, you know, sometimes they come out,” she said. “It is a hockey rink first and foremost.”

The walking/jogging track open times may be subject to change, due to hockey games or other events. As such, those looking to check it out should either look at the Fairbanks North Star Borough website or call the facility to get the most up-to-date schedule.

“I try to post well in advance so the walkers know in advance,” Arthur said. “Once we get into January, February, and March we have big tournaments.”

You can see a full schedule for all activities at the Big Dipper here: bit.ly/2MxFx5c . Call a staff member at the Big Dipper’s skate room at 907459-1104.

Contact staff writer Alistair Gardiner at 459-7575. Follow him on Twitter: @FDNMoutdoors.

Friday, October 25, 2019

W9

Explore Interior Alaska’s many backcountry trails by snowmachine Staff Report

With countless miles of trails and seemingly limitless horizons, one of the best ways to see Interior Alaska in the winter is by snowmachine.

Snowmachines (sno-gos in rural Alaska or snowmobiles in the Lower 48) offer a fun way to get outside in the winter. But before you ride, here are a few tips from the Alaska Department of Public Safety and Transportation: • Know Alaska’s snowmachine laws and regulations.

• Read your owner’s manual.

• Check your snowmachine and equipment.

• Wear proper clothing.

• Find out about weather, snow, and ice conditions.

• Tell someone specifically where you are going and when you expect to return. Cell phone service may be spotty, so a satellite phone may be helpful.

Be sure to: • Let weather, lighting and trail conditions determine a safe speed.

• Ride sober — no alcohol or drugs.

• Be considerate of other trail users, private landowners, and fellow riders.

• Respect public and private property.

• Be safe in state highway rights-of-way: always yield to pedestrians, non-motorized users and other motor vehicles.

• Use your headlight and taillight.

• Maintain adequate spacing

between machines to avoid collision.

• Reduce your speed when riding in the dark to less than 40 mph.

Two of the most popular snowmachine trail systems near Fairbanks are the Chena River State Recreational Area off Chena Hot Springs Road, (dnr.alaska. gov/parks/units/chena/) and the White Mountains National Recreational Area (www.blm.gov/ visit/white-mountains) The Chena rec area, about a 45 minute drive northeast of Fairbanks, is popular year-round for fishing, hiking, berry-picking and hunting, as well as skiing, dog mushing and snowmachining.

Multi-use trails lead to several SNOWMACHINE » 11

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SNOWMACHINE

Continued from 9

cabins in the backcountry located an easy day’s travel from the road.

The Chena Hot Springs Winter Trail, used by the Yukon Quest sled dog race, runs through the recreation area for about 26 miles.

After a day on the trails, it’s a quick drive to Chena Hot Springs Resort at the end of the 56-mile Chena Hot Springs Road for a soak in the hot springs, food, drink and maybe a peek at the aurora borealis.

The resort also offers guided snowmachine tours.

The 1 million acre White Mountains rec area is located about an hour north of Fairbanks.

It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and is accessible by both the Steese and Elliott highways. While there are options for summer recreation, the bulk of the area is really a winter paradise. In winter, visitors travel by ski, snowshoe, dog team and snowmachine to enjoy the 12 public-use cabins and 250 miles of groomed trails.

The Fairbanks Snow Travelers offer a variety of rides on trails all over the Interior, as well as maintain a trails database. For more informa- Mount Hess and Mount Deborah adorn the skyline as a snowmachiner crosses the field behind the Musher’s tion, visit www.snowtravelers.org/ Hall off Farmers Loop Road. ERIC ENGMAN/NEWS-MINER FILE

ing way.

Snow blow eese High on the St Cooper, is nn

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