Pics!

I hiked up Rendezvous Peak in Eagle River with my coworkers Jen and Jonathan, and John's friend Brennan (And the dog!). It was great (But very cold and windy at the top!)

Jen!

Myself, Brenden, and Jonathan

There's the pooch

Quick update

Hello all!

This past weekend was the solstice - up north in Fairbanks, people experience the "midnight sun," but down here in Anchorage it does, unfortunately, dip below the horizon for a couple of hours. I hiked up a small peak on Saturday with some friends and the dog and saw some stunning views of Anchorage and Eagle River. It was only about 2 miles up. 

Some exciting news! Next week I'll be tagging along with Chris Rose on the demo ride and dedication of the Railroad's new DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit). It will be a roundtrip from Ships Creek to Grandview, which is on the Kenai peninsula. (I think everywhere in Alaska should be named Grandview, but that's just me!) More on this to come! 

Laura and I had our first weekly "brown bag" meeting of the ACF interns. Those of us in Anchorage met up at ACF's boardroom and via conference call, reached everyone elsewhere in AK. Sam from AYEA (Alaska Youth for Environmental Action), Marty from AlaskaCoal.org and Sarah from ACE (Alaska Center for the Environment) updated us on their work thus far this summer. Once again, I want to mention what a wonderful group of women this is! 

I can't believe I've already been here a month - I wish time would slow down. I never thought I'd say so, but New York has a lot to live up to when I get back :P

-Nora

ACF Orientation, Work, etc!

Well, Laura just laid out a great description of our ACF orientation, so I won't go over it all again. However, I will say that for three days spent (mainly) in a board room, it was a great experience. Alaska is the perfect lens through which to to view the globe's environmental challenges (the term "canary in the coal mine" is used a lot), and it was really interesting to hear about the history of conservation here from major figures like Deborah Williams and Peg Tileston. 

It was also very interesting to learn about the history of native peoples from Vernita Herdman and Andrea Sanders, a history which differs so significantly from that of the native populations in the lower 48. The creation of native corporations - although assimilative and contrary to many native traditions and attitudes towards land ownership - gave native populations considerable political and economic clout that is absent in the lower 48. 

About work....

I've begun some design work for REAP, and am creating a logo for their 5th annual Alaska Renewable Energy Fair (August 1st!). I'll be creating posters and programs for the fair. 

I'll be sure to post my work when it's presentable!

I'm continuing to familiarize myself with the transit issues I'm working on. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm creating a marketing document for the creation of a commuter rail line going from Anchorage to the Mat Su borough, north of here. Here's the low-down: 

Hundreds of commuters drive along the Glenn Highway from places like Wasilla and Palmer to Anchorage and back  every day, a distance of about 45 miles. The Alaskan Railroad has tracks running along the same route, but despite the fact that the infrastructure is in place, no commuter service exists. For years commuter rail has been talked about, promoted, and pushed by people my my boss, Chris Rose, and former Sierra Club employee and REAP board member Mary Ellen Oman. The railroad itself has completed various projects in anticipation and support of the commuter rail. 

More about that here:  http://AlaskaRailroad.com/pdf/2009%20Commuter%20Partnership%20&%20Opportunities.pdf

Also, a study commissioned by the railroad in 2002 by a transportation consulting firm about the potential for commuter rail concluded that a RTA (Regional Transit Authority) is critically important for the success of the project. All parties agree on this point. The RTA would allow for multi-jurisdictional coordination between Mat Su and Anchorage as well as between the railroad and the Anchorage bus system (people mover) to create a cross-borough, "multi-modal" transportation system. The RTA was introduced in the Senate this year but did not pass, so at the earliest, it will be established by this time next year. 

Long story short, it's been on the ARRC's (Alaskan Railroad Corporation) agenda for a long time....too long. The goal here is to push the schedule up, not back, and begin the next phase of commuter rail sooner rather than later. I'm simply working in conjunction with people who have been pushing for this for years, creating a tool they can work with and helping in any other way I can.

About home...

I've moved out of my temporary home with Caren Moss, office manager of REAP, and her roommate, Megan Sharkey. They very generously put a roof over my head for two weeks! I'm now house sitting for Paul Twardock, a professor of the outdoors at APU (Alaskan Pacific University) while he takes a kyaking trip. His husky mix, Aglu, is my care for the duration. She is VERY energetic!  (a sled dog)

Sorry for the lack of photos, I still do not have a functional camera, aside from my phone. Enjoy Laura's in the meantime! 

I'm still loving Alaska and am beginning to understand why so many stories start with "I just came here for a two week trip, but ended up staying for 15 years!" I feel incredibly lucky to be in such a magnetic, beautiful place. 

That's all for now, folks.

-Nora

Settling in

I’ve been in Alaska now for about a week, and loving every minute of it. The weather lifted after Friday morning and I’ve been experiencing some gloriously sunny days (and nights).

            I started work at REAP on Thursday and am spending most of my time researching. My boss, Chris Rose, has commissioned me to work on a marketing document aimed at creating a commuter rail line running north from Anchorage to Mat-Su on the already existing main line of the Alaskan Railroad. This line runs along the Glenn Highway, a route frequented by commuters living in towns north of the city. Basically, the infrastructure and the riders are there, but funding and a managing body is not. The purpose of the document I’m working on is to get major parties excited about the project and show them that it is doable and affordable with the proper funding. If the project is taken on, it would have significant impacts on reducing highway congestion and fossil fuel usage/carbon emissions. It’s a very exciting project! Also, this week the office will be gearing up for the planning stages of the energy fair, which occurs two months from now.

            More on Anchorage and Alaska: I’m not in Kansas (well, New York City) anymore! Alaska has a unique character that feels different from any place I’ve ever visited or lived in before both culturally and geographically. It’s difficult to explain in few words. Demographically, there is a large population of native Alaskans, and for all the diversity of NYC, this is a new experience for me. It’s also an odd feeling to be in such a large, sprawling city – one that could be anywhere in America in terms of planning and design –then look out and see stunning mountains with endless cloud patterns rolling above. I’m still learning a lot about the place, so I don’t want to characterize or generalize too much.

            This week is the intern orientation, from Wednesday to Friday. I’ll be meeting other interns working in and outside of Anchorage at various conservation-type organizations. We’ll all be updating each other throughout the summer on what we’re working on via weekly teleconference.

            It’s going to be (and already is) a great summer J