After a full day or technical know how from PolarTREC's web wizard Ronnie, a handful of teachers hit the town for Fairbanks' Water Walk and Run 5K. We missed the official start due to scoping out mammoth tusks and the like at the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Museum of the North. Due to some kindly professors at UAF, were were able to see the University's inventory of archaeological and biological artifacts. Our botanist guide informed us that Alaska is in a unique position given the vast amount of knowledge that is still unknown regarding Arctic wildlife. There is much work to be done in terms of finding and documenting what plants and animals live where across the state. Any budding biologists ought to consider investigating this last frontier...
The University of Alaska keeps many ancient large mammal remains inventoried underneath the museum of the North. Included in the collection are bones of Mammoth and Steppe Bison.
The Polar Bear - called Nanook by native peoples - is extremely revered in Arctic coastal regions. A predator along sea ice and coastlines, it is not unusual for male polar bears to reach 1200 lbs.
Current PolarTREC teachers, alum, and staff pose in the snow in front of the University of Alaska's Museum of the North.
The snow that had been falling all day finally started to wane once the race began. While rare for Fairbanks in May, the blistery weather served as a tell-tale taste of things to come.
Posing for a post-run, pre-hot dog podium shot.
Representing the home team at the Fairbanks finish line.