March 1, 2014 - Fur Rendezvous

Today's walk began at the Anchorage Westmark Hotel where tourists were ebbing in and out like the tide, holding their souvenirs like trophies.  Our route passed by several Fur Rondy venues and several opportunities to partake of unique forms of transportation. There were dogsled rides, pony rides, horse-drawn carriage rides, helicopter rides and carnival rides. Old-time Alaska entertainment was available in the form of a fur auction, an Eskimo blanket toss, and the ceremonial start of the Iditarod. If you hung around until later in the afternoon you could see (or participate in) the Running of the Reindeer, or a vintage snow machine parade,  or the Fur Rondy Melodrama ("The AlaskAvengers vs. Dr. Despicable"), or Yukigassen (whatever that is).

It was a sunny day in the mid 30's, perfect for a nice walk downtown. Well, maybe not quite perfect. It has been a little too warm recently. The Fur Rondy snow sculptures were not in good condition. They had to truck snow in and spread it on the downtown streets so that the Iditarod dogs had the proper surface to run on.

Sagging snow sculpture

An angel in front of what was once a speed-skating Olympic moose

You could buy an ulu or a reindeer sausage sandwich. You could choose from among all kinds of fur hats, from stylish to the kind with an animal head hanging down one side.

In addition, today's walk showcased the Performing Arts Center, the Anchorage Museum, the Convention and Visitors Bureau Log Cabin, the Alaska Railroad Depot, and several other points of interest. 

The 10k option allowed you to enjoy all the foregoing, plus fabulous views of the Chigmit Mountains and the Alaska Range from the Coastal Trail and ice skaters on Westchester Lagoon.

Do come Rondy with us next year! 2015 will mark the 80th anniversary of Fur Rendezvous.

Here comes a dog team

There it goes

It takes a village to raise a child  . . . up in the air