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Francesca on the Trail

Francesca Fenzi

It was an adventure that she describes as one of the most incredible highlights of her year of service. In April, news volunteer Francesca Fenzi hit the trail for a sled dog race that offers a unique look of what makes rural Alaska so special.

In 2015, a Special Race Season

Deb and Rolland Trowbridge and Tara Cicatello, departing Nome for Bethel to compete in the Kuskokwim 300, a mid-distance sled dog race in southwestern Alaska.

In Western Alaska, it’s race season: the time for the sled dog races that so inspire and excite our region. This year’s races are a special source of pride for our mission, since KNOMers are involved in the races both as reporters and as competitors.

Here comes race season

Sled dog teams

The later winter months in Western Alaska are made busy, each year, through the sled dog and snowmachine (or snowmobile) competitions that our listeners and community members follow so intently. We’re in the thick of race season, which means our entire mission is keeping extra busy. Last month, news director Laureli Kinneen had the opportunity […]

“A call that changed my life”

We continue to be amazed – both by the challenges that life in rural Alaska presents, and by the goodwill and hard work that those challenges bring forth from those within our KNOM family. This month, we conclude with the reflections of our volunteer engineer Rolland Trowbridge. [box]The following is an excerpt; we encourage you […]

The Last Great Race returns

In March, it was the news in Western Alaska: once again, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race was passing through our region. It was an exciting time for our listeners and staff, and KNOM was at the forefront of coverage for this inspiring and unique competition. The Iditarod – the “Last Great Race” – is […]

March 2008: The All-Alaska Sweepstakes returns

March 26, 2008 Paul Korchin and Amy Flaherty hop onto borrowed snowmobiles to follow the 100th anniversary running of the All Alaska Sweepstakes, a 408-mile sled dog race through the wilderness. They report using a satellite telephone lent by Nome police chief Paul Burke.

The difference weather can make

What a difference the weather can make: especially in Western Alaska, and especially at this time of year. On cloudy days, the dull light blurs the snowy landscape, and depth perception, over long distances, is more difficult. This “flat light” is a challenge for all who travel on land and the frozen sea. On sunny […]

A special sled dog race returns

February 2013 marked the second running of a sled dog race with special significance for Western Alaskans: the Paul Johnson Memorial Norton Sound 450. The NS450 honors the memory of Paul “Putty” Johnson, a dog musher and community leader from Unalakleet (YOU-nuh-luh-kleet), Alaska, a town well within KNOM’s listening range located on the coast of […]