Something about Alaska’s rugged landscape and wide-open skies seems to invite exploration. Great journeys can begin anywhere in the world, but it should come as no surprise that a couple of the world’s coolest outdoor adventure races would take place amid the wild terrain of the New Frontier.

In adventure racing, the finish line is often beside the point; it’s really all about the journey. Some competitions put a focus on teamwork and cooperation rather than individual gain. Other races challenge competitors to push themselves to the limit of what they think they are physically and mentally capable of. Then there’s the ridiculous splendor of the Underwater Bike Race.

If you find yourself dreaming of adventure, here are a few amazing races to check out.

Iditarod

In the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, mushers race through harsh backcountry terrain with a team of 16 dogs. This Alaskan race celebrates the state’s history, traditions, wild landscape, and the pioneering spirit of its people. The current record time for completing the route, which extends about from Anchorage to Nome (about 1,000 miles) is a little under 9 days.

Although, it’s clearly impossible for spectators watch on the sidelines as the race unfolds, each year finds more and more fans gathered around the starting line to see the mushers off. Fans can keep up to speed with frequent updates on the Iditarod website, which also provides a handy timer for counting down the seconds between yearly races.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & Half-Marathon

In today’s world, many of us will live well into old age without ever really needing to know how to purify river water for drinking or navigating the wilderness. Barring some sort of zombie apocalypse scenario, the chances that you’ll ever have to fend for yourself in the wild for very long are slim. But if you’ve ever almost slammed into the car ahead of you while trying to send off a quick text, you know the dangerous allure that everyday distractions can have.

In truth, for most of us one of the most important survival skills we can employ is the ability to not be distracted by the constant barrage of stimuli that surround us. Where better to hone your skills for focus and determination than in the city where distraction is the name of the game: Las Vegas. Circus acts, strippers, Elvis impersonators, laser shows, and dozens of bands will all vie for your attention as you make your way through this quintessentially Vegas race.

Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic

The ultimate test of backcountry skills, the Wilderness Classic isn’t so much about finishing first as finishing at all. Each year over half of the contestants fail to complete this physically and mentally onerous race, which traversed the Alaskan wilderness for over 4 decades now.

There’re no cameras waiting to snap photos as contestants cross the finish line. No cheering fans at the start, no teammates to turn to for comfort. This race is as simple and straightforward as it gets. Each contestant enters alone and must complete the route without any type of outside assistance, bringing any food and supplies they need on their backs and leaving no trace as they go. Offering no frills, official website, or commemorative sweatshirts; the Wilderness Classic is adventure racing stripped down to the very basics of man and wilderness.

Underwater Bike Race

In Beaufort, North Carolina every 4th of July, Americans celebrate their independence from Great Britain by hosting BBQs, lighting fireworks, and, of course, riding bicycles underwater. Divers meet for a brief orientation and then are taken to the dive site about 30 miles offshore. Suited up in scuba gear and fins, contestants carry, drag, or ride their bikes for the length of a sunken landing ship called the Indra.

Clearly not the kind of race that aims to challenge participants to the limits of their endurance, prizes are awarded for the most creatively decorated bike and rider, and food and drinks commonly follow the event.

Mongol Rally

Part charity, part endurance test, and part complete ridiculousness; in the Mongol Rally contestants race from Western Europe to Mongolia in small-engine cars, which are comically unsuited for such a task. The voyage usually takes successful racers about a month to finish. Each year many contestants are unable to finish due to accident, injury, or even (in a couple cases) death.

Rally vehicles that arrive safely in Mongolia are donated to local charities. Only vehicles with engines under 1200cc are allowed to be used, although Rally rules state that exceptions can be made for emergency vehicles that may be of special use to the people of Mongolia, or vehicles of “high comic value.”

Of course here in the Land of the Midnight Sun, you don’t have to cross the continent to find new thrills. In addition to the Iditarod and the Wilderness Classic, Alaska is home to a whole slew of other adventure races like Bushwhack This!, Women Rock, and even a few city-centered urban races. For those who love to get their endorphins flowing, there’s truly no better place to be.

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One of the prettiest sights to see has to be the aurora borealis with its swirls of green, blue, yellow, or pink shimmering and pulsating across the night sky. Caused by a reaction of ionized particles in the atmosphere near the Earth’s poles, the Northern Lights are typically visible in northern latitudes from late autumn to early spring.

In fact, Alaska is the only place in the United States where the Northern Lights are an everyday occurrence. Which means, we get asked about them all of the time. First, people want to know, “Are there Southern Lights?” and secondly, they want to know the best places to see them. The answer to the first question is yes, there are in fact Southern Lights, better known as aurora australis.

The answer to the second question? Of course we know all the best spots in Alaska to check out the Northern Lights. Following is a list of our favorite places to peer up at the beauty of solar flares dancing across the night sky.

Anchorage and Surroundings

Though not positioned as far north as Fairbanks, Anchorage also offers some great opportunities for Northern Lights viewing. You will generally be able to spot them a bit lower on the horizon. Though you might be able to see something of the aurora borealis after sunset in the city, the dense population and light pollution make it a lot more difficult. Again, you’ll want to head away from those city lights.

As far as how to venture out of the city for a viewing, there are plenty of great options. If you’re the do-it-yourself type, a great option is Nancy Lake State Recreation Area. Many locals rave about the views from Flattop Overlook. You can also venture into the Glenn Alps for a chance at some spectacular borealis action.

Finally, you could always book a day-tour up to Fairbanks. You’ll get to see some of the countryside, have a better chance of glimpsing the lights, and also get the benefit of a tour guide who will have the best idea of where to find a cloudless evening sky.

The Sparkling City of Fairbanks

Many people consider Fairbanks the single best place for viewing the Northern Lights in Alaska. While it’s not directly beneath the oval of the Northern Lights, the northerly location of Fairbanks means that aurora borealis hunters don’t have to venture too far away from the city in order to spot the lights. To get the best view, you’ll want to drive away from the ambient lights of the city.

Wait for a cloudless night and make certain you check in with the Geophysical Institute’s website to see how active the northern lights will be. Once you’re away from the city, the landscape darkens quickly. Be cautious, of course, since the winter temperatures here can be dangerously cold. Make certain you bundle up and stay on roads that have been cleared of snow. You might also consider pairing your Northern Lights viewing with a trip to one of the hot water spring pools outlying the city.

If you have access to a 4-wheel drive, you can venture further into the back country and try either Ester or Murphy Dome.

Staying at Denali

Because of its solitude, 6+ million acres, and lack of light pollution, Denali National Park is an amazing destination for outstanding Northern Lights views. Denali Viewpoint South off of the Parks Highway offers you a great chance to view the Mt. McKinley rising majestically beneath the sparkling aurora borealis.

One of the best ways to see the Northern Lights is to book lodging around the park. Since the Northern Lights can be temperamental and aren’t always visible every night, this will give you the best chance at catching an unobstructed view. Many lodges will also ring an alarm—or give you a wakeup call if you’ve requested one—if the lights suddenly appear overhead.

Braving Barrow

Barrow, Alaska is located at the extreme Northern edge of Alaska. It’s actually 330 miles north of the Arctic Circle and the most northern settlement in the US. Though many folks aren’t adventurous enough to head up to these northern climes in the wintertime, those who do can be in for a real treat. Not only does Barrow have front row views of the beautiful aurora borealis, but there’s a lot of traditional Alaskan culture that can be found there, too.

If you head up to Barrow for the lights, you’ll also be able to explore the Inupiat culture. Visit the Inupiat Heritage Center to learn more about how people traditionally whale hunted in Alaska. You can also learn more about dogsledding and participate in traditional Inupiat arctic games.

Nome during the Iditarod

Finally, one of our favorite places to see the Northern Lights has got to be in Nome, Alaska during the Iditarod Not only can you get a chance to dog mush and watch some of the best racers in the world, but Nome offers so, so much more this time of year. The official finish line of the race, the city spends the two weeks preceding the race celebrating in a lot of fun ways. There are snow machine races, bar game tournaments, basketball, art shows, and craft fairs. Basically, it’s considered the Mardi Gras of the North.

Though the lights aren’t viewable every night in the winter, when they do show up they can be remarkable. The best part, however, is that one only has to venture a mile or two away from the city for the Northern Lights to come into full view. Just about any local can give you solid advice on the best places to see the lights.

Though Alaska might not be the first place you’d think of for a wintertime vacation, we guarantee you that our views of the Northern Lights are an once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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One question us Alaskans get asked often is, “People actually live in Alaska?” Yes! Not only do people live here, they love it here. In fact, while Alaska might have one of the smallest state populations in the United States, the diversity of its residents, and the ways in which we got here, more than make up for it. And us Alaskans love our open spaces, breathtaking scenery, colorful locals, fresh air, abundant natural resources, flora and fauna that’s unlike anywhere else, the Northern Lights, we could go on and on.

So how did we get here? Here’s the history of some of Alaska’s largest migrations of peoples.

The Crossing

Somewhere between 20,000 and 16,000 BC, in the age of wooly mammoths and saber-tooth tigers, the first migration of Paleolithic people crossed over into Alaska via the Bering Land Bridge. These early North American arrivals slowly spread out across the continent, but some stayed in the region and formed very distinct tribal groups. Today, descendants of these ancient people still reside in Alaska. They are the Tlingit, the Haida, the Tsimshian, Inuits, the Athabaskan, the Aleuts, the Yupik, and the Inupiat. In fact, over 15% of Alaska’s population is of native heritage.

Russian Colonization

The next migration of people to Alaska didn’t occur for thousands of years. In the early to mid-18th century, fur trappers and traders from Russia began settling along the Alaskan peninsula and the Aleutian Islands. At first peaceful, these early Eurasian settlers soon found themselves at odds with the native peoples over resources. They also brought with them Old World diseases that wreaked havoc on native populations who did not have immunity to these illnesses.

By the early 19th century, the Russian settlers had established permanent settlements along Alaska’s panhandle, the largest of which was Sitka. Until the Alaska Purchase of 1867, this area was considered Russian America. After the signing of the purchase treaty, many of these Russian citizens opted to return to their homeland, but a few stayed. It’s not uncommon to run across Alaskan citizens with Russian surnames even today.

British Settlements

During the years of colonization, the British cast a notoriously wide net across the globe. They laid claim to most of what is now Canada. Not surprisingly, some British traders also settled in Alaska, with an eye on claiming it for the British crown. In fact, one of history’s most famous explorers, Captain James Cook, even sailed up from California to the Bering Strait, a move that prompted other British explorers to set up outposts along the coastal ways.

19th Century Goldrushers

Because of Britain’s expansion across the Northern reaches of Canada, then called British North America, the Russian Tsar Paul I, worried they were moving in to close to Russian shores. He declared it illegal for foreigners to benefit from trade in the region and doubled efforts to shore up Russian settlements in the area. After years of unrest in the region, the Russians finally sold the Alaska settlements to the United States as part of the Alaska Purchase, also popularly known at Seward’s Folly because many Americans believed the land to be basically useless.

However, they couldn’t have been more wrong. In the late 19th century, gold was discovered in the Canadian Yukon. Though people weren’t sure whether or not there would also be gold in Alaska, thousands of people came north in the hopes of striking it rich. Gold was ultimately discovered outside of Nome, and a steady stream of goldrushers flocked to the surrounding region.

Oil Boomers

For the rest of the 19h century and on into the 20th, Alaska’s population continued to enjoy steady growth due to copper mining, fishing, and canneries. Yet it wasn’t until oil was discovered in Prudhoe Bay that Alaska experienced another boom in its population. People looking for jobs streamed up to Alaska to work on the pipelines. Today, oil remains a major industry in Alaska and still draws people to the state in search of employment.

The Adventurous

Tourism has been a huge part of Alaska’s economy since the mid-20th century. Today, millions of people come to visit our millions of acres of national parks, glaciers, volcanic mountains, and coastal waterways. Many people who come for a visit find themselves enchanted with the natural beauty that Alaska has in spades, and it isn’t unusual for those adventurous spirits to decide to settle here. Which is fine by us, there’s plenty of land up here for everyone.

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Joe Brannon- Rail Guide, Rail Services

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I was just a shy, young, wallflower, and left my home state of Washington after graduating from Seattle University to pursue a new adventure in Alaska. This adventure turned into a job that became my career in customer service.  I first took a position as a Front Desk Clerk, and then rose up the ranks to Accountant, Night Auditor, and Night Manager until my current position as our Front Desk Manager. 

I am at the forefront of customer relations and have been our main spokesperson for the hotel when dealing with our customers.  Since I started working for the Baranof we have had over 1.3 million hotel guest’s walk through our front doors.  I have worked for the Westmark Baranof for the past 29 years and enjoy my job!

The post Job Story: Pat Cooley- Front Desk Manager, Juneau (Baranof) Hotel appeared first on Alaska Tour Jobs.

Being a Tour Concierge with Holland America-Princess has been and continues to be one of the most rewarding work experiences in my journey of life. I am able to meet interesting people from all over the world, aid in their process of touring Alaska/Yukon Territory, and work inside one of the most beautiful “offices” imaginable.

A typical day for me begins rather early (yet it is worth it) as I look over my daily itinerary and plan for the exciting day ahead while the seemingly ever-present sunlight shines inside. Next I pack my luggage and step out into the day, making sure to be cognizant of the fresh air up here as I meet my Driver Guide in front of the hotel. We work as a team to count/load guests luggage then discuss the flow of our day together. Within little time, our guests are ready to load the motorcoach and we head out on the road. Each day of tour is a new adventure and a beautiful dance played out between the Driver Guide and myself to cover local and regional history in each given area, interact with our guests through conversation in small groups, playing games as a whole, discussing exciting excursion options such as landing a helicopter on a glacier or white water rafting along the Nenana River in Denali National Park, and watching videos which are relevant to that particular location. By early evening we have reached our next destination where we get our guests into their rooms and deliver luggage. Finally I review the day and begin preparing for the next and typically enjoy dinner with a different couple from the tour and hear about their adventures in life.

As with every line of work, there are challenges in this position. At times you are trying to set and maintain a positive group mood. You must also remain diplomatic and tactful while attempting to lay out the expectations for group travel. There are many early mornings and at times, difficult situations to maneuver through. However, it is well worth it.

I feel fortunate to spend my summers here in Alaska and the Yukon! I am able to watch the shift in seasons from frozen rivers in early May to the most vibrant flowers in July and a sea of multiple colors as fall trickles in during late August and early September. All the while, I get to travel through scenic landscapes with active wildlife and share in the trip of a lifetime for our guests. I hope to continue returning year after year up here.

The post Alaska Jobs: Day In The Life: Escorted Tour Operations, Tour Director appeared first on Alaska Tour Jobs.

Lucie Payment, Whitehorse Westmark Hotel

The post Why I Like to Work Here: Lucie Payment, Whitehorse Westmark Hotel appeared first on Alaska Tour Jobs.

It was 1994 and I was working full time while going to college.  A friend approached me and said you should work in Alaska and be a driver guide, it is so much fun and the money is good.  I thought, sounds fun, but drive a bus?  Intrigued another friend and I applied, we were hired to train in Seattle and before I knew it I was behind the wheel of a 40 foot Motorcoach maneuvering through a skills course while trying to avoid cones.  After several weeks of focused training and ultimately achieving a CDL license I found myself in Fairbanks, Alaska with a few friends from before and others that I met during training.  I’ll never forget shopping at 1:00AM with the sun shining as bright as can be!  It is safe to say it was hard to get my 8 hours of sleep those first few weeks. 

I was a driver guide for three years and in that time covering much of Alaska and the Yukon, travelling to Beaver Creek, Whitehorse, Skagway, Tok, Dawson, Denali and Anchorage!  My experiences driving have given me stories I still talk about today along with some lifelong friends.

I went on to work various other seasonal positions while attending college including; Driver Trainer, Dispatcher, Operations Manager in Skagway, and Sales and Marketing with Holland America.

After I graduated college I found myself interested in full time employment and became an inventory specialist for Holland America in my hometown of Seattle, after a short time, I realized that Alaska was calling to me and an opportunity for Sales and Service Manager came open for Holland America in Fairbanks.  I was so excited to move back to the great north and experience Fairbanks at 40 below!  I went on to accept an opportunity as Passenger Services Manager with Princess, then Transportation Manager ultimately resulting in my current role as Division Manager for HAP Alaska/Yukon in Fairbanks.

While the novelty of 40 below has certainly worn off, my love for Alaska, cruising, travel and adventure certainly have not!  I have gone on five cruises ranging from Caribbean, Mexico and Panama Canal and will be going on my sixth cruise around Fiji this fall (see a theme…I need to thaw out from my Alaskan winters).

I treasure all my years in Alaska and the memories that go along, I am never short of storytelling for my family and friends in the lower 48.  Some of what I treasure about Alaska include Moose, Bears, Caribou, Denali, walking on glaciers, seeing whales breach, Kayaking, Camping, hiking, flightseeing and yes of course the amazing Northern Lights.

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Following my third season at the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge, my role as head bartender here at the Lodge as well as my second job working at the local bar have assisted me in creating a fantastic relationship with the locals and Copper Center community. I wake up and put my power boots in preparation for a great day. After clocking in on time, I set up the bar and serve both food and drinks to hungry Princess cruisetour passengers! Between slinging drinks and selling the heck out of our delicious food offerings at the Whistle Stop Bar & Grill, I entertain my guests with an open sense of humor and genuine interest in them. During my day, I have the pleasure to meet people from all over the world and inspire them with my story and travels. Before I wrap up my shift and often head down to my other job, I complete a proper setup for the evening bartenders.

When off the clock, I enjoy the activities that made me first fall in love with this area – namely, the amazing rivers we have to fish; many days off will find me casting away on the Copper, Klutina and Gulkana Rivers!

This has been our busiest season yet, which keeps my spirits up and wallet happy! Also, the busy days at the Copper River Princess Lodge exercises my skills and helps me gain knowledge of how to give the best in guest service. Each day is different, but the consistency of working at Copper makes work easier – and makes my outside-of-work time stress free! My favorite side factor is creating new relationships with coworkers that are now lifelong friends.

The post Alaska Jobs: Day In The Life: Copper River Princess Lodge, Bartender appeared first on Alaska Tour Jobs.

Everyone is like family to me. There are so many fun, unique personalities here at the Westmark Anchorage Hotel. I have formed so many great friendships at work that will last a lifetime.

It is also such an amazing experience to interact with each guest, learning about where they are from and discussing their time here in our vast and beautiful state of Alaska. I am so blessed to be able to share my love of the place I call home with each of our guests. I absolutely love working at the Westmark in Anchorage, AK.

Brittany Boggs- Wait Staff, Anchorage Westmark Hotel

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