Alaska Answers

Q. I would like to visit Nome. How do I get there? – Mohsin

A. You didn’t ask anything ‘about’ Nome, but since there are others reading this who might like to know, I’ll tell you a bit first before I answer your actual question.

If you look on a map of Alaska and look about midway up along the western coast, just a bit below the Arctic Circle, you will find Nome. It owes its name to a misinterpretation of a chart in 1850. It listed “? Name” meaning they didn’t know what it should be called. Someone read the question mark as a “C” and thought it stood for Cape……and then read the word Name as Nome! Pretty silly way for a town to be named sez I!

In 1898 gold was found in the Anvil Creek area and soon 30,000 hopeful miners were rushing there. There was even gold found in the sands of the beaches there; however, by 1906, most of the gold and the prospectors were gone. While it boomed though, it really boomed, powered by alcohol and gambling. Sadly, lots of ‘fortunes’ never made it home!

A 3,350 foot granite wall protects Nome from the sea. It is 65 feet wide at the base, and 16 ft wide at the top. It was built by the Army Corp of Engineers.

Average winter temperatures are below zero and summers only get up to betweenn 40 and 50 usually. Although not connected by road to the rest of the state, Nome does have about 300 miles of roads within the area; however, they are not maintained in the winter. Your car probably wouldn’t start anyway! Better rely on your snowmobile or your dog team!

Nome has many festivals and celebrations thruout the year, so it is a fun place to visit. The most famous is the finish of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Then there is also the Bering Sea Ice Classic Golf Tournament, played on the sea ice in March; the Polar Bear Swim on Memorial Day; a Midnight Sun Festival in June, a Bathtub Race in the fall and several others.

The city today is a jumping off point for flights to Russia, which is only an hours flight away. Also, a point of departure for tours of the Arctic. You can look at www.nomealaska.org

Now, how do you get there? Well, flying is the only way. Check with Alaska Airline 1-800-252-7522 or www.alaskaair.com It is about a 90 minute flight from Anchorage. Prices are around $400. round trip from Anchorage.

Compared to Barrow, Nome isn’t as far north, it isn’t as rich in native history, doesn’t have as sizable a museum or polar bear viewing tours, but it does have an advantage over Barrow. There are lots of shops, historic sights, and you don’t need to be part of a tour. You can rent a car and see lots of stuff on your own. You should even encounter a good share of wildlife. You can walk around town, and in good weather will even encounter some die hard hopeful prospectors sifting the sands of the beach! Get yourself a gold pan…..and who knows? It could happen! There are several good restaurants also, so you sure won’t go hungry. And yes, they even take Visa and Mastercard. So, come on up and enjoy your trip to Nome. -BJ

Q. Are there any direct websites to use in ordering gift boxes from Alaska? -Janis

A. Here are a couple or three possibilities – all of them reputable and good. Try www.alaskawildberryproducts.com; www.alaskasausage.com; or www.newsagaya.com There is also a wonderful seafood place which ships gift boxes and it is called 10th and M Seafoods. You can reach them toll free at 1-800-770-2722. Happy gifting, and eating!

Q. Who were the framers of your state constitution? How many of them are still alive? Thanks, Larry

A. What a question this was! I had to do some digging; but then, that’s what I’m here for, eh? Here’s what I found:
55 men and women composed the constitution. The process took 4 months, beginning in November 1955. Alaska had been part of the United States for 88 years already, when the delegates met to frame a constitution. Two years and two months after the constitution was ready, we were admitted into the union of states.

The delegates to the constitution convention came from all walks of life. The professions represented were: Pilot, Clergyman, Lawyers, Merchants, Businessmen, Bankers, Fishermen, Two Housewives, a Hotel Manager, a City Planner, Journalist, Photographer, Builder, Teacher, Miner, Newspaperman, and a Pharmacist.

If they were all alive today, they would range in age from 81 to 133. I didn’t find out for you how many are still alive (not quite sure how to do that) but anyway, I would guess not many because I know that only 10 of them would be less than 90 years old today. I personally know that two of them are still alive and that would be Victor Fischer, who is now 82 and John B. Coghill, who is now
81.

Jack Coghill was mayor of Nenana for 22 yrs and served the state as both a representative and a senator. He was also Lt. Governor from 1990 – 1994. He is still serving the public as a councilman for Nenana, where he lives.

Victor Fischer has served the state faithfully also, as a representative and senator, and on the faculties of both U of A Fairbanks, and U of A Anchorage. He has done a lot in the study of native issues also.

The delegates used the U. S. Constitution of 1787 as a model. Also, since Alaska is the 2nd youngest state, we had the advantage of studying the constitutions of other states, as to what worked and what didn’t.

It was tough, but rewarding, to compose the wording that would shape the state into the future, when so many things weren’t known at the time. We didn’t know about the vast oil field we would find, didn’t have 747’s, didn’t know that Anchorage would become a hub of international air travel. We didn’t have a University. It is very much to the credit of those framers of the constitution then that it has worked so well for us. There have been only 20 amendments; and some of those were merely political. A few were very important though, such as the right to privacy and non-discrimination as to gender.

There are probably things you are still wondering, Larry, and if so I’d like to direct you to a good book written by Victor Fischer himself! It is called Alaska’s Constitutional Convention and you can probably get it from your local library, or they could order it for you on inter-library loan program. Thanks for writing! -Bonnie J.

FRESH BLUEBERRY SAUCE

Most blueberry sauce recipes start with you adding a bit of water, but I think this dilutes the flavor, so add water only if the berries aren’t very juicy. This recipe works with commercial berries too, of course, although my favorite way is picking them myself, in the late summer sunshine, on the gentle slopes up at Hatcher Pass! Well, that is how I used to do it. These days, when the old legs don’t work as well, and my ‘bender’ seems broken, I watch the grandkids pick the blueberries. Only trouble is, not as many get into the bucket as in the old days!

2 cups blueberries
1 t. cornstarch
1/4 cup sugar
1 T. lemon juice

Place the berries, sugar and cornstarch into a heavy kettle over low to medium heat. Add the lemon juice and stir gently as the sugar melts and the berries release their juice. Add 1 T. of water only if necessary to get them started. Simmer very gently then until the sauce thickens slightly – about 5 minutes. Makes about 1 1/2 cups of lovely sauce which you can use to top a piece of pound cake, or over some vanilla ice cream. You could even make blueberry ripple ice cream by sieving out the skins, then softening some vanilla ice cream and swirling the blueberry sauce thru it before freezing firm again. Bon Appetit!

Q. Are commercial tours available to the Prudhoe Bay oil field? What are the costs? -Lisa

A. Yes, you can go to Prudhoe on a tour. The costs vary from about $750.00 to $900.00 per person, and that would be from Fairbanks, Alaska. One of the tour companies told me that they take you up there, and bring you back, but that you will tour the facilities on a British Petroleum bus, because of security reasons. A lot of things have changed in our world since 9/11!

Here are a couple companies who do the Prudhoe tour. I’ll give you their websites and their toll free numbers, to help you plan.

Northern AlaskanTours/Arctic Circle Adventures
1-800-474-1986
www. northernalaska.com

Alaskan Arctic Turtle Tours
1-888-456-1798
www.wildalaska.info

You might want to ask them about the overnight part…whether the price includes your hotel or not. Some of them do, and some of them don’t. Let me know if I can help further. -BJ

Q. Can you please give me all the information on Alaska? Thanks. Jamie

A. Oh, Jamie, you have given me an impossible task! Tell you what, I need you to give me a more specific question. I’d like to suggest you read back thru all the archives, and then write me again if you still have a question. I’ve covered things like History, Cost of Living, Animals, Weather, Geography, Tours, Native Peoples, Jobs, Mosquitoes, Resources, Light and Dark, etc. actually about 52 different topics. Just scroll down to the bottom of this page and when you get there, click on ‘next page’ and continue to whatever catches your eye. Then, write me again please.

Thanks for writing and hope to hear from you again. -Bonnie J.

Q. If there are diamonds in Yellowknife, are there any in Alaska? -John

A. Wow, John! What a great question. When I read it, I thought, HUH?! Diamonds in Yellowknife? Isn’t that in Canada? Whoever heard of such a thing! This is the fun of a column such as mine, though. If I don’t know something, I have to go looking. You have increased my brain cells today for sure!

John is right. They have indeed found diamonds in Canada. There are two mines operating about 188 miles north of Yellowknife which is the capital of Northwest Territories. Ekati Diamond Mine began operation in 1998 and the Diavik Diamond Mine began operating in 2003. The mines pull out the equivalent of about a coffee can full of diamonds a day – or $1.4 million dollars worth.

Since mining began worldwide, there have been about 1 million pounds of diamonds found, compared to 260 million pounds of gold. Diamonds are much rarer; which probably makes it all the more exciting when they are found. We always seem to value the rare.

Experts are thinking that in 20 years time, Canada will lead the world in diamond production, even topping South Africa and Australia! Who knew?

I found there is a very good book by a man named Kevin Krajick called: Barren Lands: An Epic Search for Diamonds In The North American Arctic. I think you’d find it of interest.

Now….are there diamonds in Alaska? Well, I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first, John?

The bad news is that the rocks underlying Alaska are much younger than those underlying the Northwest Territories of Canada. It is the very old rocks which produce the most diamonds. So geologists say that the possibilities of such a large find is not as likely in Alaska.

The good news is that in 1982 a miner in central Alaska, busily doing his placer mining on Crooked Creek, did indeed find a diamond. Shortly thereafter, two other miners each found a diamond along the same stretch of creek. Also, it is a known fact that the big diamond cartel, De Beers, is poking around in Alaska; but, of course, their findings are secret. So who knows?

Now that I’ve done some research, do I personally think there are diamonds here? You betcha! Nothing about the Great Land would surprise me! Thanks for writing. -Bonnie J.

Q. What is the best place to find eagles in August and September? Also, is Denali Park open all year round? Thanks. -Robert.

A. Raptors, led by the bald eagle, of course, range throughout the state. We have a big one who roosts in our cottonwood trees beside the pretty creek that tumbles right by my kitchen door! (I know, Lucky Lady!) We see him nearly every day, swoop down and lift a trout from the stream. Sometimes he flies off with his prize. Other times, he sits on a limb in plain sight, tearing strips off the still, flopping, hapless fish! I always feel a bit sorry for the fish. Another thing of interest, if they fly off with a very big fish, they carry it beneath them, not crosswise, but lengthwise beneath them. This is for a very good reason. If the fish were carried crosswise, another eagle might see what they have and dive down to take it away. Held like a ‘torpedo’ beneath them, their supper is hidden from the view of another hungry eagle. Sounds like rational thinking at work here to me!

There are lots of places to view eagles in the fall as they hang out along rivers and streams, feasting on the spawning salmon. (along with hungry bears loading up for their long hibernation.) A really good place to view them though is along the Chilkat River near Haines, AK. Located there is the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, which is a meeting place for 3,000 plus eagles who assemble there. I can’t help but wonder how word gets out to the eagles to meet there! Between October and February you will find the largest gathering of eagles of anywhere in the world.

Now to your question about Denali Park. no, it is not open all year round. At least not the main body of the park. I think possibly the lodges, cafes, etc. along the highway or just outside the main gate may be open. But the main part of the park is closed from October first thru end of April. Things really pick up from June first thru mid September. We have a couple friends who work there and they report for work mid May, to get things ready for tourists and then the last part of September, they are working closing things back up for the winter. They love their jobs though as they get to meet wonderful people from all over the world.
A good # at the park to call for information would be Visitor Access Center at (907) 683-1266. The website to look up is www.nps.gov/dena Thanks for writing! -BJ

Q. How many time zones do you have? -Donna

A. We have just two, Donna. Used to be four. For an explanation of the change, please see the archives for a posting dated 10/26/05 where someone named Ginny asked me that very question. We are one hour earlier than the west coast and 3 hours earlier than Texas where my favorite sister lives. (actually she is my only sister, but I’m sure if I had others, she’d be the favorite!) Thanks for writing! -Bonnie J.

Q. Alex wants to know, What is Alaska’s biggest resource?

A. Perhaps I should look this up, but I really think I know. It would be oil as first, probably, and then military spending, tourism and fishing. Not sure in which order those would be, but they are all big.

It was 1968 when the biggest oilfield in North America was discovered in Prudhoe Bay. The oil was found on state land, so that meant that overnight the state was very wealthy, and remains so to this day; although it’s unlikely that such a large strike will ever be found again. I said unlikely. Not impossible. Discovering oil meant the building of a 9 billion dollar pipeline, and that provided the means to affluent living for thousands of people.

Our military population figures largely in boosting our economy, even with the downsizing of some bases. Quite a few military families, upon completing their military service, opt to stay and live in the state, getting jobs in the private sector and continuing to input the economy.

In the summer, we host over a million and a half tourists. Many private citizens, as well as businesses, profit greatly from this influx of visitors. I have two friends with bed and breakfaats in their homes and they make enough in the summer to totally pay their mortgages for the year round. And one of them even added a nice motor home in which they tour the lower 48 in the winter.

Our bountiful waters produce over 6 billion pounds of seafood yearly, so that is a big thing. Especially after the studies showing the superiority of wild Alaska salmon over farmed salmon, our salmon sales, already great, really leaped upward.

Hope this helps, Alex. Take care, Bonnie J.