By Amy Quesenberry
Special to the Turnagain Times

Mountain Bike Race
Criterium Mountain Bike Race on Saturday, July 18 at 10 a.m. on the lower mountain bike trails. Registration at Tram base at 9 a.m. $20 and open to all ages.

North Face Trail
The new North Face Trail opens to the public on August 1. The Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony take place at 2 p.m. August 22 during the Blueberry Festival, following a guided hike to the top of the Tram.

Season Passes on sale
Early bird pricing ends August 31. Beginning September 1 Pre-Season pricing will apply. Passes are available for printing and pick up NOW at the Tram Ticket Office from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily. Get your pass early and skip the lines later this winter. If you had a pass last season, just renew online with the same media from last year and head straight to the lifts on opening day. To renew online, click on the Reload Lift Passes Online icon on the main page of our website, then choose “Reload RFID media.” To verify your One Store log in or for assistance completing the order, call Tram Ticket Office at 754-2275.

New North Face Run
Most skiers are aware of Alyeska’s family friendly and beginner mountain improvements, and now we can offer something new for the experts. We are proud to announce that Cockroach will be open to the public this year as an outer area that is part of our gate system on the North Face. Unemployment gate will lead you into Cockroach, a premier ski run, with the exit on Blueberry Hill. This run will be open as soon as we have enough snow. Our trail building crew has done a lot of work in this area during the summer, including glading and logging to open in time for the 09/10 ski season.

Mountain Improvements
Other upgrades to the mountain that will debut for the 09/10 season include widening and adding fill to the top of the Chairs 3/7 offloading areas. Adding fill allows for an easier exit from the chairlift for beginners, as well as to allow more room for skiers returning to the Hotel. The Chair 3 RFID gate has been moved back 10 feet from the chair to make line flow and loading process easier for guests. A fresh coat of paint has been added to all lift stations and mountain buildings, as well as the Chair 1 lift towers. We’ve continued to improve the look of the base area and Sitzmark with an ongoing trash clean up and improved directional signage. Alyeska has recycled over 100 tons of steel this summer alone.

Blueberry Festival
Attention local artists or food vendors: Booth space is still available for the Blueberry Festival on Saturday, August 22. Registration deadline is August 10. Cost is $50 per booth for new vendors and $35 for returning vendors. See the Alyeska Resort website for registration forms or call 907-754-2545 for more info.

Mountain Learning Center
The Alyeska Resort Mountain Learning Center is seeking Professional Instructors/Coaches that are Level 2 or Level 3 (fully-certified) with PSIA/AASI or equivalent for a full-time position during the 2009/2010 winter season. For an interview, please contact the MLC Director, Garth McPhie, at gmcphie@alyeskaresort.com