Girdwood Alaska Lodging

'Emerging leaders' gain perspective in rural Alaska

A forum that connects promising young leaders while introducing them to Alaska's diversity made its first trip to the Bush earlier this month for a four-day swing through Kotzebue, Noatak and Red Dog Mine.

Participants from a variety of backgrounds praised the gathering of more than 75 people. At least one called it the best so far of the four annual Emerging Leaders Dialogues that have been sponsored by the Institute of the North.

Rob Kinneen, a Tlingit and former executive chef at Orso in Anchorage, is now engaged in efforts to increase Alaska agricultural production, including with a budding web site, www.fresh49.com.

Kinneen's enjoyed past dialogues - two have been held in Girdwood and Sitka. But being in Western Alaska was exceptional. It provided a chance to learn about the challenges faced by Alaskans living off the road system, something many urbanites don't get.

The event, held the first weekend in June, was "intense."

"I think it's good for Anchorage to realize there's more to the state than Anchorage," he said. "There's a lot of things to wrap your mind around (in rural Alaska)."

Kinneen, from Southeast originally, lived a short spell in Nome in Western Alaska.

During his Kotzebue visit, he saw firsthand how rural Alaska's remoteness and limited population pushes up the cost of living. Gas prices, for example, run almost $9 a gallon in Noatak.

The group watched locals fishing for herring in Kotzebue. Such traditions are reminders that "subsistence doesn't mean weekend fishing. It means feeding your family."

Far-reaching conversations with other young leaders - above the legal drinking age but below the age of 40 - touched on ideas to promote long-term prosperity in Alaska.

Topics included alternative energy, creating a home-grown food supply, the urban-rural divide, social services, lowering rates of domestic violence and the emotional topic of racism.

"The first time I went to one of these, I told my wife I don't feel so alone anymore," Kinneen said. "You've got people thinking what Alaska will be like in 40 years."

There's some follow-up discussion happening on Facebook at the Emerging Leaders page .

Speakers this year included Martha Siikauraq Whiting, mayor of the Northwest Arctic Borough, Marie Greene of NANA, Liz Medicine Crow and Jorie Paoli of First Nations Institute, as well as state Rep. Reggie Joule of Kotzebue.

Girdwood, Alaska and Alyeska Resort — the yin of dirt roads and ...

My last time driving up Turnagain Arm from Anchorage to Alyeska Resort was in the winter of 1993. At that time the resort was a cluster of low condos and single-family vacation homes at the base of what could generously be called a rustic ski resort. Today, it hasn’t changed much at all, except that around the bend from the old resort base area stands what is arguably Alaska’s most luxurious hotel.

Frommer's Alaska Day by Day

Washington

City profiles USA 2008-2009, a traveler's guide to major U.S. cities

Fodor's Alaska 2010

Insiders' Guide to Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska, Including the Kenai Peninsula, Prince William Sound, and Denali National Park