Tails from the Trail Day 1

Good morning from Anchorage.  It is great to be back in Alaska! Here is a mini-tour of some great sites in Anchorage.

Lake Hood is the world’s busiest seaplane landing base in the world. On average about 200 planes land and take off per day.

Cook Inlet was our next stop! The views were breathtaking! Clear skies over Anchorage, the Cook Inlet, Mount Denali, and Mt. Susitna “The Sleeping Lady.”   The legend of “The Sleeping Lady.”  The legend says that long ago there lived a tribe of Gentle Giant people on this land, a peaceful group that lived in harmony. Two Gentle Giant people who loved each other dearly were Nekatla and Susitna. One day they were given the news that a fierce and warlike tribe would attack. Nekatla and all the men in the tribe went to convince this warlike tribe to live in peace and harmony.  Susitna waited in the same spot where Nekatla left, hoping for his return.  She soon fell asleep in that very spot, the place she still lies today.  As she slept, news came back to the village that Nekatla was dead. The others in the village prayed for Susitna to stay asleep, as to not feel the pain of losing Nekatla, and she remains sleeping to this day. She is forever a symbol of peace and harmony.  

At the 5 second mark in the video, you will see the top of Mount Denali in the distance.  At the 12 second mark, you will see Mount Sustina.

Finally a visit to Captain Cook. Captain Cook lived from 1728-1779.  He was well known as a navigator, explorer, and chart maker. Cook took three historic voyages, the third being to Alaska in search of the North-West Passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic.  No such passage was found, however, Cook charted more than 2,000 miles of Alaska coastline. Major features that he charted and put on the map include Norton Sound, Bristol Bay, and Cook Inlet.  

A Tribute to Perseverance

During my time in Alaska, I want to pay tribute to the perseverance it takes to run in the Iditarod.  To do this, I will honor our Red Lantern recipients.  The Red Lantern Award is a symbol of perseverance and mushers feel a sense of pride and accomplishment when receiving it.  

Which Red Lantern finisher took the longest to complete the Iditarod?  Read tomorrow to find out the answer…..

Teachers

Use a variety of maps to have your students explore similarities and differences between your home state and Alaska.  Use the maps to help generate follow up questions to explore.  Alaska is the largest state, how many of your home states fit within Alaska? Here are a few maps:

Physical map of Alaska

Population per square mile map

Night lights of Alaska

Road Map of Alaska

How big is Alaska compared to your state