by

SAIL Senior Hiking Club sets next hike for the morning of Thursday, Jan. 27

The Sitka office of Southeast Alaska Independent Living Inc. (SAIL) has announced its next Senior Hiking Club hike event.

The hike will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Jan. 27. Seniors should meet at the Thimbleberry Lake trailhead to hike the K’aan Heeni Trail. Rides are available for those who need them. Participants should be prepared to wear masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and practice distancing while on the hike.

Normally, the group picks the trail on the day of the hike, but occasionally a trail is picked before the event. SAIL makes trekking poles available for hikers to use (trekking poles are great on ice or uneven terrain, and they help seniors keep their balance), and hikers are encouraged to bring ice cleats such as YakTrax during the icy months of winter.

SAIL offers Senior Hiking Club events for those age 60 or older once or twice a month, and now plans to alternate them on Mondays with Adventure Club events. There is a $5 fee, but nobody will be turned away because of finances. (NOTE: Due to funding concerns, starting in February the fee for the hikes will increase to $10 and there will be a fee of $3 one way and $5 both ways to use the shuttle bus. Please use this link to fill out the scholarship form, https://forms.gle/SYCKpaVjCoKXpzqz5.) The hikes are open to people of all abilities and fitness levels. To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, check out our January 2013 post introducing the club.

To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, senior and adaptive kayaking trips, senior cycling events, and and a variety of other outdoors skills and survival classes, contact SAIL ORCA (Outdoor Recreation and Community Access) program coordinator Matt Millado at 1-888-487-1029 or email him at mmillado@sailinc.org.

• SAIL events calendar for January 2022

by

SAIL Senior Hiking Club sets next hike for the morning of Thursday, Jan. 20

The Sitka office of Southeast Alaska Independent Living Inc. (SAIL) has announced its next Senior Hiking Club hike event.

The hike will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Jan. 20. Seniors should meet at the Indian River Road trailhead to hike the Kaasdaheen Trail. Rides are available for those who need them. Participants should be prepared to wear masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and practice distancing while on the hike.

Normally, the group picks the trail on the day of the hike, but occasionally a trail is picked before the event. SAIL makes trekking poles available for hikers to use (trekking poles are great on ice or uneven terrain, and they help seniors keep their balance), and hikers are encouraged to bring ice cleats such as YakTrax during the icy months of winter.

SAIL offers Senior Hiking Club events for those age 60 or older once or twice a month, and now plans to alternate them on Mondays with Adventure Club events. There is a $5 fee, but nobody will be turned away because of finances (NOTE: Due to funding concerns, starting in February the fee for the hikes will increase to $10 and there will be a fee of $3 one way and $5 both ways to use the shuttle bus). The hikes are open to people of all abilities and fitness levels. To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, check out our January 2013 post introducing the club.

To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, senior and adaptive kayaking trips, senior cycling events, and and a variety of other outdoors skills and survival classes, contact SAIL ORCA (Outdoor Recreation and Community Access) program coordinator Matt Millado at 1-888-487-1029 or email him at mmillado@sailinc.org.

• SAIL events calendar for January 2022

by

SAIL Senior Hiking Club sets next hike for the morning of Thursday, Jan. 13

The Sitka office of Southeast Alaska Independent Living Inc. (SAIL) has announced its next Senior Hiking Club hike event.

The hike will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Jan. 13. Seniors should meet at the Blue Lake Road to hike the Gijuk Heen Yikaayi Trail. Rides are available for those who need them. Participants should be prepared to wear masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and practice distancing while on the hike.

Normally, the group picks the trail on the day of the hike, but occasionally a trail is picked before the event. SAIL makes trekking poles available for hikers to use (trekking poles are great on ice or uneven terrain, and they help seniors keep their balance), and hikers are encouraged to bring ice cleats such as YakTrax during the icy months of winter.

SAIL offers Senior Hiking Club events for those age 60 or older once or twice a month, and now plans to alternate them on Mondays with Adventure Club events. There is a $5 fee, but nobody will be turned away because of finances. The hikes are open to people of all abilities and fitness levels. To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, check out our January 2013 post introducing the club.

To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, senior and adaptive kayaking trips, senior cycling events, and and a variety of other outdoors skills and survival classes, contact SAIL ORCA (Outdoor Recreation and Community Access) program coordinator Matt Millado at 1-888-487-1029 or email him at mmillado@sailinc.org.

• SAIL events calendar for January 2022

by

SAIL Senior Hiking Club sets next hike for the morning of Thursday, Jan. 6

The Sitka office of Southeast Alaska Independent Living Inc. (SAIL) has announced its next Senior Hiking Club hike event.

The hike will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Jan. 6. Seniors should meet at the Sitka High School entrance to the Sitka Cross Trail. Rides are available for those who need them. Participants should be prepared to wear masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and practice distancing while on the hike.

Normally, the group picks the trail on the day of the hike, but occasionally a trail is picked before the event. SAIL makes trekking poles available for hikers to use (trekking poles are great on ice or uneven terrain, and they help seniors keep their balance), and hikers are encouraged to bring ice cleats such as YakTrax during the icy months of winter.

SAIL offers Senior Hiking Club events for those age 60 or older once or twice a month, and now plans to alternate them on Mondays with Adventure Club events. There is a $5 fee, but nobody will be turned away because of finances. The hikes are open to people of all abilities and fitness levels. To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, check out our January 2013 post introducing the club.

To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, senior and adaptive kayaking trips, senior cycling events, and and a variety of other outdoors skills and survival classes, contact SAIL ORCA (Outdoor Recreation and Community Access) program coordinator Matt Millado at 1-888-487-1029 or email him at mmillado@sailinc.org.

• SAIL events calendar for January 2022

by

Sitka National Historical Park reopens all trails as bear activity subsides

Photo courtesy of Sitka National Historical Park

SITKA NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK – No recent bear activity has been observed since 4:41 a.m. on Dec. 6. All trails are now open for regular winter hours, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m through May 14, 2022. 

After 8 p.m., pedestrians may pass through the section of trail between Sawmill Creek Road, over the Indian River footbridge, and to or from the upper Visitor Center parking lot, but may not loiter. All other portions of the trail system and grounds are closed before and after grounds hours. 

Visitors should continue to be bear aware, as bears may be present at any time in the park. 

For additional information visit the park’s web page or call the Visitor Center at (907) 747-0110. 

by

SAIL Senior Hiking Club sets next hike for the morning of Thursday, Dec. 16

The Sitka office of Southeast Alaska Independent Living Inc. (SAIL) has announced its next Senior Hiking Club hike event.

The hike will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Dec. 16. Seniors should meet at Whale Park for a hike along the Xíxch’i Geeyí Trail (Silver Bay) to the Gary Paxton Industrial Park. Rides are available for those who need them. Participants should be prepared to wear masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and practice distancing while on the hike.

Normally, the group picks the trail on the day of the hike, but occasionally a trail is picked before the event. SAIL makes trekking poles available for hikers to use (trekking poles are great on ice or uneven terrain, and they help seniors keep their balance), and hikers are encouraged to bring ice cleats such as YakTrax during the icy months of winter.

SAIL offers Senior Hiking Club events for those age 60 or older once or twice a month, and now plans to alternate them on Mondays with Adventure Club events. There is a $5 fee, but nobody will be turned away because of finances. The hikes are open to people of all abilities and fitness levels. To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, check out our January 2013 post introducing the club.

To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, senior and adaptive kayaking trips, senior cycling events, and and a variety of other outdoors skills and survival classes, contact SAIL ORCA (Outdoor Recreation and Community Access) program coordinator Matt Millado at 1-888-487-1029 or email him at mmillado@sailinc.org.

• SAIL events calendar for December 2021

by

Celebrate Sitka with the Virtual Art Walk 2021, from Nov. 26 to Dec. 31

There is a different look to the Greater Sitka Arts Council‘s annual Winter Art Walk this year. Usually, it’s on the night of Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving, which also is a local sales tax holiday). This year, due to Covid-19, it’s taking place from Nov. 26 to Dec. 31, with a variety of artists being featured.

In other words, the Greater Sitka Arts Council Virtual Art Walk is happening now. Check it out to support local businesses and artists.

Also, we are highlighting Sitka artists, think of them for your holiday shopping list. Artists include Elizabeth Borneman, Kaitlyn Hull, Tam Kyle, Lisa Teas Conway, Rebecca Poulson, and Shelby Oredson.

Virtual Art Walk: https://www.sitkaartscouncil.org/winterartwalk2021

Local Artists Page: https://www.sitkaartscouncil.org/additional-artists

by

Sitka National Historical Park to host morning bird walks with Connor Goff

Planning to participate in the Christmas Bird Count this year? Just interested in what winter birds we have in Sitka? Join us for a morning bird walk. 

The bird walks, led by Connor Goff, are offered on Sunday, Dec. 12, and Saturday, Dec. 18. Meet up with Connor at Sitka National Historical Park Visitor Center at 9 am. Conversation, refreshments, a nice stroll in the park and learning to ID birds — what a fabulous way to start your weekend morning. 

Binoculars are available for participants to borrow. Please bring your mask in case you decide to come indoors. There is no fee or sign up necessary for this event. 

This is a great way for beginners to gear up for the Christmas Bird Count. (NOTE, due to Covid-19 and the inability to host the usual pre-count planning meeting, the Christmas Bird Count is restricted to people who have participated in past years). We look forward to seeing you.

by

Girls on the Run closes out 13th season with 5K fun run

The 13th season of Sitka’s Girls on the Run program will close out its 13th season with a free five-kilometer fun run on Saturday, Dec. 11.

Runners register at 9:15 a.m. at the Crescent Harbor Shelter, and the race starts at 10 a.m. The course follows the Sitka Sea Walk to the Sitka National Historical Park, follows part of the Totem Trails, and returns to the Crescent Harbor Shelter.

Community members are welcome to join in the 5K run, or be cheerleaders along the course. Please be Covid-safe and wear a mask. The theme is Winter Wonderland, and costumes are encouraged.

Girls on the Run is an after-school program for girls in third through fifth grades inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates physical activity. It is sponsored by the Pathways Coalition, aka Pathways to a Safer Sitka, a group of 10 organizations working together to prevent sexual assault and domestic violence in Sitka.

If you would like to be a running buddy or volunteer for the event, or if you have any questions, email gotr@safv.org or call Emma Thompson at 747-3493.

by

SAIL Senior Hiking Club sets next hike for the morning of Thursday, Dec. 9

The Sitka office of Southeast Alaska Independent Living Inc. (SAIL) has announced its next Senior Hiking Club hike event.

The hike will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Dec. 9. Seniors should meet at the Nelson Logging Road parking lot to hike the Forest and Muskeg Trail. Rides are available for those who need them. Participants should be prepared to wear masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and practice distancing while on the hike.

Normally, the group picks the trail on the day of the hike, but occasionally a trail is picked before the event. SAIL makes trekking poles available for hikers to use (trekking poles are great on ice or uneven terrain, and they help seniors keep their balance), and hikers are encouraged to bring ice cleats such as YakTrax during the icy months of winter.

SAIL offers Senior Hiking Club events for those age 60 or older once or twice a month, and now plans to alternate them on Mondays with Adventure Club events. There is a $5 fee, but nobody will be turned away because of finances. The hikes are open to people of all abilities and fitness levels. To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, check out our January 2013 post introducing the club.

To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, senior and adaptive kayaking trips, senior cycling events, and and a variety of other outdoors skills and survival classes, contact SAIL ORCA (Outdoor Recreation and Community Access) program coordinator Matt Millado at 1-888-487-1029 or email him at mmillado@sailinc.org.

• SAIL events calendar for December 2021