Goldstream Sports Fairbanks Alaska

Our monthly slide show presentation series is growing in popularity! Our first evening with Jeff Oatley attracted over 50 people, and Ed Plumb’s presentation attracted over 60 people! Thanks to everyone for coming out and showing your interest in this series. We are thrilled to be able to offer this event on a continuous basis, and are very happy to see it well received.

In February (Friday February 11th), Adventure musher, rock climber, and school teach Ron Koczaja will speak about travels in the wilderness – long, remote, beautiful and dangerous routes – mushing, climbing, hiking. Ron’s presentation titled “Adventures of a White-Collar Dirtbag” follows him into the Alaskan wilderness by all modes of transport. Ron, when not venturing in the wilderness, works as a math teacher teacher at Ryan Middle School (and has also taught in remote Alaskan village schools). But, as soon as school is out he takes off his teacher hat and puts on his vagabond hat, often venturing far north to the North Slope, and far south to South America for climbing trips and other grand adventures.

Our March show (Thursday March 10th) brings us to the granite walls of Baffin Island, in the Canadian Arctic. Pete and his team spent nearly a month in 2005 working to make the first ascent of the Wilson Wall — a 2000 foot overhanging granite spire in a remote valley near Sam Ford Fjord. The story will bring us into the world of big wall climbing in a surreal yet hash landscape, and explore the motivations behind such irrational endeavors. As the team learns, anything can happen!

As usual, there will be delicious food and beverages available at no charge. Come and be fed and be entertained! Who could ask for more. If there is someone you are really interested in seeing here, please let us know and we will try to arrange it!

Rockfall sucks. Pete Dronkers photo

Scoping lines on mostly unclimbed walls. Pete Dronkers photo

Life on the wall. Pete Dronkers photo

After the pitches were led, I re-fixed the lines through this notch. Pete Dronkers photo

Ed Plumb is an avid adventurer who has raced in the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic, the Iditarod Invitational 350 mile race, and many other adventure races.  Last year Ed started the White Mountains 100, a 100 mile race traveling through the White Mountains by foot, bike, or by ski.

Ed has a wealth of knowledge of what Alaska has to offer avid adventurers.  Watch his presentation, and have the chance to ask all of those burning secret hot springs route questions you have always wanted to know but were too shy to ask!  Want to know how to pack for such adventures? This will be the place to find out.

There will be free food and beverages!  This event will be held at Goldstream Sports, at the foot of Ester Dome!  Plenty of parking for cars and bikes!