Alyeska Resort will close public access to Mt. Alyeska from the top of Chair 1 to the base of the mountain for the Summer of 2007 due to major snowmaking and trail improvements. Closing access to foot traffic on the mountain is vital to ensuring the safety of the public. These closures are essential for planned multi-million dollar upgrades to the mountain including snowmaking, Magic Carpet installations, trail improvements, reconstruction and maintenance. We know many residents and visitors enjoy taking day hikes on the mountain and that closures present an inconvenience but, Alyeska Resort is confident that local residents and Resort patrons will appreciate the long term benefits. Access to the mountain from the Tram to the Glacier and the Mighty Mite trail will remain available for hikers, climbers and sightseers. The recent expansion of the Winter Creek trail will also provide hikers with an alternative summer activity. Ascending Path will continuezas to offer a variety of hikes, climbs and expeditions. Please watch for signs that will indicate which area of the mountain will be open and closed throughout the summer. For the latest information on hotel and mountain improvements visit www.alyeskaresort.com. Alyeska Tram hours of operation for the summer are 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily. Ride the Tram to view panoramic views from the Glacier Express Deck, hike to the top of Mt. Alyeska, or just relax at the Seven Glaciers Lounge opening daily at 5:00 p.m.
It’s time once again for the 32nd Annual Girdwood Forest Fair and we need your help! Volunteers Needed for the following tasks: Friends of Forest Fair Work Party (show up ready to work on Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1 from noon until the work gets done), hourly shifts in the T-Shirt Booth and Information Booth, hourly shifts in the KIDS Booth, security shifts for Security and Traffic Control, Earth Maintenance shifts, Artists for Sign Painting and Forest Fair Pin Painting, Clean Up Crew post event (just show up ready to work on Monday, July 9). If you would like to volunteer for the Girdwood Forest Fair, contact Terri @ 783-1218. The theme for this year’s parade is “Out of this World” a general celebration of 2007 marking 32 years of the Girdwood Forest Fair. The Alyeska Highway will be closed at 11a.m. until noon on Saturday, July 6 for the parade. All participants are required to be ready to roll at the Daylodge Parking lot at 10:30 a.m.
Girdwood little league has two teams playing this year, minor and super minors. Games in Girdwood started May 31- June 29th, Monday through Friday, 6:30 p.m. at the Girdwood Baseball field. We would like to thank all our sponsors for their generous support. Rich Eidem at Alyeska Resort, Girdwood 2020, Girdwood Rotary club, Gary Bucy, Walmart, and The Mercantile. Come out and watch our Girdwood kids play.
Gena Beam, a Girdwood Graduating Senior, received a Four Valley Community School’s Community Service Scholarship. This fall she will attend Reed College in Portland, Oregon.
State Representative Mike Hawker secured financial support for community priorities in Girdwood, Whittier and Hope. The fiscal 2008 capital budget, SB53, includes funding that will benefit Turnagain Arm communities. Appropriations will be available on July 1, after the capital budget is signed into law. Representative Hawker stated, “Last session we were successful securing $2.5 million for the new Girdwood Community Center. This session we have kept the legislature’s attention on other priorities in our Turnagain Arm communities.” The list of funding appropriations includes: $83,879 Revenue Sharing for the Community of Whittier, $20,000 Revenue Sharing for Hope, Inc., $13,536,127 Revenue Sharing for the Municipality of Anchorage (area wide)—revenue sharing is to defray increasing energy and other costs as determined by the community, $1.275 million for the Girdwood Department of Transportation Maintenance Shop and to replace the highway equipment maintenance shop that was recently lost in a fire, $60,000 to the Girdwood Volunteer Fire Department Operations and Support for operations and responses on state owned rights of way, equipment acquisitions and training, $25,000 for Hope, Inc. Community Develop-ment, $25,000 for Hope, Inc. Public Safety Needs for continued public safety, EMS, community planning and facility improvements as determined by the community, $500,000 to extend Whittier Tunnel Hours—increasing Winter Operating Hours—this funding increases winter Whittier Tunnel hours to 14 to 16 hours per day, and $250,000 for Chugach State Park to survey the Park Boundary, which allows DNR to complete boundary and title surveys for Chugach State Park.