Much has been made of Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's remark that she has special foreign policy insight into Russia because "you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska," but it was one of the few demonstrably true statements in her bumbling recent interview with ABC newsman Charlie Gibson. No, not the foreign policy insight part, that's silly, but there is a small island off the coast of Alaska where only four kilometers, the Bering Strait, and the International Date Line separate it from a similarly remote Russian island (pictured).

]]> Victor Ozols 2008-09-14T13:00:48-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/4/73919/06085

You know you've thought of taking an Alaskan cruise before, but let's face facts: It may not be the ideal vacation for the under-50 crowd. That's where Backroads comes in. On a six day hike along the Inside Passage, you'll cover the same turf the cruise ships do--but you'll miss out on the shuffleboard tourney.

The tour starts in Juneau, where you'll hike through spruce forests and take in the Gold Creek. The next two days take you to Skagway where you'll watch your back for moose and grizzlies and rest your feet on the White Pass and Yukon Railway, one of the steepest in the world.

The hike ends in Glacier Bay with a short cruise through the heart of the park--guess you can't completely avoid the water. The tour runs about $2,500 per person and includes all meals except one and your lodging every evening.

Related Stories:
· Backroads Tours [Official Site]
· Alaska Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: vonlohmann]]]> kjb 2008-08-04T11:31:06-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/29/173919/200

He may be the country's longest-serving Republican senator, but Ted Stevens was indicted today on seven felony counts of making false statements in a corruption case. Prosecutors say the 84-year-old took gifts of more than $250,000 in exchange for political favors.

Stevens says he's innocent of all charges, and he's the first senator to face a federal indictment since 1993.

Despite his statements, the senior senator is dogged by corruption allegations. So in honor of these latest charges, we've mapped some of the more, uh, controversial places that he's been involved with. Unfortunately we couldn't find an address for his notorious "series of tubes."

Our Ted Stevens' Alaska Faves Map

Related Stories:
· Ted Stevens Indicted, GOP Senator [AP, via Google]
· AK Senator Ted Stevens Indicted [LAT]
· Ted Stevens Anchorage International Has Free WiFi [Jaunted]

[Original photo: Steinbring]]]> pbb 2008-07-29T18:09:49-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/14/14727/2047

Umnak Island, in the Aleutians of Southwest Alaska, experienced a rocking volcano explosion Saturday morning. Because of Mount Okmok's location in the isolated island chain, the only people immediately affected were on a cattle ranch located just six miles from the base of the 3,500-foot volcano.

Ranch owner and Arizona native Lonnie Kennedy fired up his helicopter when he heard the thunderous boom and began moving his family and ranch hands off the property towards the "Deadliest Catch" territory of Dutch Harbor.

The explosion tossed smoke and ash 45,000 feet in the air, leading PenAir to cancel two regional flights. Regular service returned by Sunday morning.

The last time this volcano exploded was 1997; that time it remained active for eight months. We're more amazed by how a cattle rancher goes from Arizona to Alaska. A-state pride, baby!

Related Stories:
· 10 Rescued after Eruption [AP, via ADN]
· Volcanoes coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of Mt. Okmok in quieter times: Wikimedia]]]> DanielR 2008-07-14T16:15:16-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/9/135439/2107

What started in 1970 as a one room, Alaska themed wood cabin bar, Chilkoot Charlie's (known as Koot's to locals) has turned into Alaska's most famous drinking and live entertainment pantheon. When the original owner, Mike Gordon, bought the former piano bar, he promised to triple gross sales at his new establishment with the oil boom taking place on the north slope.

In the 38 years since, not only has Koot's tripled sales exponentially, but it's slowly consumed every business around, expanding into themed sections that include a Russian room, a swing bar (the dancing kind!), an outdoor patio and two areas for live music every night.

Previous performers have included everyone from Metallica to Eddie Money; Alaskan acts also take the stage. The long list of accomplishments has earned Koot's quite the reputation: In 2000, Playboy named it the best bar in America.]]> DanielR 2008-07-09T15:00:13-05:00 61.198049 -149.90376 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/7/3237/00002

The concept of getting a beer while you go see a movie is big in Europe, but here in the states, theater-pubs are few and far between. Leave it to the state whose motto is "The Last Frontier" to push the boundaries.

The Bear Tooth Theatre Pub is the spot in Anchorage to see a great movie on the cheap and have beers brought to your table/booth combo by young outdoorsy cuties. Located in the Spenard neighborhood of Anchorage--a place that was once known for its hookers and low-grade meth--the pub's part of a gentrification wave that also features espresso on just about every corner.

The Bear Tooth also happens to be one of the best places to see live music acts in Alaska. Case in point: On July 26th, Wilco will perform in the parking lot of sister location, The Moose's Tooth, just down the street. This might not sound that remarkable, but for Anchorage, it's like MC Hammer performing at your 8th grade dance in '91. Tickets are $35, but to see Wilco under the midnight sun with about 1,500 other people, that's a steal.

Related Stories:
· Bear Tooth Theatre Pub [Official Site]
· Moose's Tooth [Official Site]
· Alaska Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Sir Mildred Pierce]]]> DanielR 2008-07-07T11:30:12-05:00 61.196219 -149.90681 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/1/123343/4886

It's a balmy 50 degrees today in this southeastern Alaska town, and the waves are waiting: From an Inuit word meaning "the place where canoes rest," Yakutat catches great Pacific tides which keep the water warmer than the air year-round.

Don't by spooked by its proximity to the North Pole; boarders might find that with a wetsuit the ride is downright toasty. And how bad-ass is it to surf alongside a glacier? Photographer and Alaska native Scott Dickerson puts it this way:

There must be something about Alaskan surfers and the challenges that they must overcome to surf "the last frontier" that drives them to another level of addiction.

The town of 600 people, sandwiched between Mount Saint Elias and Mount Fairweather, even has its own gear outpost--the Icy Waves Surf Shop (635 Haida St.). Plus: No bears!

Related Stories:
· Surfing Yakutat, Alaska [Scott Dickerson]
· Honky Tonk Surf Towns coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Bold Searcher]]]> egw 2008-07-01T15:00:08-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/