Latest news with #Alaskan
New York Post
9 hours ago
- Climate
- New York Post
Denali National Park introduces adorable new sled dogs, live Puppy Cam
Sled dog puppies at Denali National Park and Preserve can now be watched through their live Puppy Cam, National Park Service (NPS) officials announced on Thursday. Raised at Denali Sled Dog Kennels, this year's litter includes five Alaskan husky puppies that were born less than a month ago on May 3. Two of the pups are females named Squall and Storm, while the other three are males named Graupel, Dew and Fog. They were recently spotted via their Puppy Cam during their feeding time on Saturday. Park officials said the pups' weather-themed names come from the diverse and dramatic ways water affects the weather. As sled dog pups in every litter are named after a theme, the NPS noted that the names for this year's 'Weather Litter' are in honor of a 100-year partnership between the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Kennels, in which mushing rangers of Denali collected and shared weather data with the weather agency. Why Denali National Park has sled dogs The Denali Sled Dog Kennels is one of the oldest sled dog kennels in the U.S., the only sled dog kennel in the NPS for more than a century and the only dog sled kennel within the federal government, according to park officials. 'This special group of dogs is tasked with preserving unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations,' the NPS said on their website. It noted that the sled dogs perform necessary wintertime duties throughout Denali, such as giving park rangers the most effective means of patrolling the Alaskan wilderness during the long winters. National Park Service (NPS) officials announced that sled dog puppies at Denali National Park can now be observed through the live Puppy Cam. NPS How sled dogs are selected for breeding To provide the best sled dogs for these duties, the NPS said the Kennels look for certain qualities as they create each year's litters. For example, some physical characteristics include long legs to help the pups move through the snow, compact paws to help prevent ice from building up between their toes and robust coats and tails to keep them warm. Ideal characteristics also include personality traits, such as tenacity, love for pulling and working as part of a team and social skills that allow them to thrive when given attention by thousands of people who visit the kennels every summer. The raised dog kennels feature five Alaskan husky puppies that were born less than a month ago. NPS The pups of the Weather Litter seem destined to have such ideal characteristics for being sled dogs, given their lineage. Their mother, Merlyn, exhibited such traits. Part of a litter named after 9/11 Search and Rescue dogs, Merlyn has a sweet disposition and shows strong leadership with her team, the NPS said. They also added that she is most likely to smile with teeth. Officials said their father, Drumlin, came from a well-respected kennel in Lake Minchumina, which lies north of Denali National Park. How to watch the sled dog puppies The pups can be watched every day through their live Puppy Cam. Of note is their feeding times, which are displayed in their kennel at 11:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Alaska Standard Time. Park officials said the Puppy Cam is made possible through their partnership with Alaska Geographic. For those who might want to care for their own sled dog, retired sled dogs from the Kennel can be adopted.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Denali's live sled dog cam is back with 5 adorable new puppies
The Brief Denali National Park is celebrating the birth of five new sled dogs, and you're invited to watch them live in their kennels. The Alaska national park has been breeding sled dogs since 1922 to help patrol the park's 2 million acres of designated wilderness. Denali National Park has resurrected its live puppy cam to celebrate the birth of five sled dogs born at the park on May 3. The national park in Alaska is the only one in the National Park Service that breeds sled dogs. They work with the mushing rangers to patrol and haul materials over the park's 2 million acres of designated wilderness. Local perspective This year marks 100 years of partnership between the mushing rangers and the National Weather Service to collect weather data at Denali. To celebrate the anniversary, the new weather litter puppies are named after the "diverse and sometimes dramatic ways water influences our weather: Storm, Squall, Graupel, Fog and Dew." RELATED: National parks saw record number of visits in 2024, but reported memo says not to publicize Their mother (dam) is Merlyn, who was born in the park in 2021, and their father (sire) is Drumlin, who hails from a partner kennel in Alaska. Dig deeper: According to the National Park Service, arranged breeding and splitting litters with partners "strengthens the health of the Kennel's lineage, as well as the health of all freight-style Alaskan huskies." Check out the live cam here. The backstory Sled dogs were introduced to the park in 1922 to help patrol the park's boundaries and look out for poachers. The park has had working dog teams ever since, though the sled dogs' roles have evolved. RELATED: Here are the most-visited states for national parks Mushing is a cultural tradition in Alaska that dates back thousands of years, the park service says. NPS says sled dogs are the most effective way to patrol the vast designated wilderness during the long winter season. The Alaskan huskies are bred to inherit specific physical and character traits, including: Long legs to trek through deep snow Compact paws to resist ice build-up Sturdy coats and puffy tails to keep warm Tenacity A desire to pull and run with their team Social skills to handle the thousands of tourists who admire them at the kennels each summer The Source This report includes information from the National Park Service.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
USC football countdown to kickoff continues—Brandon Pili in focus
USC football countdown to kickoff continues—Brandon Pili in focus Brandon Pili comes from a family of athletes The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 91 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. Today, we take another fairly recent look back at former USC defensive lineman Brandon Pili. Position: Defensive line Years played at USC: 2017-2022 Career highlights: Pili was USC's first ever football player from the state of Alaska. Between 2017 and 2022-he served as a key backup defensive lineman for the Trojans. His final season at USC was his best statistical one, when he recorded 25 tackles, one sack, and one pass defended. For two years, Pili shared the USC campus with his younger sister, Alissa, who played for the women's basketball team. The younger Pili later transferred to Utah, and currently plays for the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx. After USC: Pili signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft. He made the team, becoming the first Alaskan to play in the league since 2014. He appeared in 12 games for Miami over two seasons, before being waved last November. Pili is currently a member of the Seattle Seahawks' practice squad.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Alaska's Longest Bridge Moves Forward with Nordholm's Marine Logistics Expertise
EVERETT, WA / / May 30, 2025 / Nordholm Companies has announced the successful completion of a high-stakes sea fastening and marine logistics operation for the Juneau Creek Bridge, which will become Alaska's longest bridge. In collaboration with Curtin Maritime, Traylor Bros., Stinger, and Connolly Pacific, Nordholm engineered and executed the barge-based transport of over 40 massive steel girders across the Pacific Ocean to the remote Alaskan site. The Challenges of the Operation This operation enabled the timely delivery of all girders to Alaska, without which bridge construction would have stalled. To add even more pressing urgency to the matter, with Alaska's unique climate and low temperatures, it would have brought about severe weather risks if the shipping were delayed until late fall. In addition to this ticking clock, there were numerous other challenges at play. For example, the ultra-tight deck layout left only about a foot between beams. Additionally, the bridge needed components forged in accordance with a custom structural steel plan to account for ocean movement. Furthermore, orchestrating multi-party coordination between five different entities in total, all to meet a seven-week deadline, proved to be a taxing process, as did the complex lifting and securing of the over-dimensional beams. "The real challenge wasn't the weight," said Greg Nordholm, P.E., lead engineer and founder of Nordholm Companies. "It was how tight the layout had to be. There was barely a foot of space between each girder. Designing a steel plan that allowed us to keep everything low and secure on that limited deck area-that's where our decades of expertise came in." "This was a true team effort across companies and states," added Chris Weinman, Construction Manager at Nordholm Companies. "The girders had extreme dimensions-13 feet tall with a 36-inch base-and had to be secured precisely to ensure a seaworthy journey to Alaska." A Massive Alaskan Undertaking Every girder, measuring over 100 feet in length and weighing as much as 160,000 pounds, was manufactured by Stinger in Arizona and subsequently shipped to Long Beach, CA. In Long Beach, Connolly Pacific oversaw the crane operations to "trip and fly" the girders onto the barge, where Nordholm Companies installed custom-engineered sea fastening under significant time constraints. David Dugan, the Superintendent at Nordholm, and Chris Weinman, the Construction Manager, guided the field team during a challenging seven-week period to prepare all girders for transport. Curtin Maritime managed the barge and shipping logistics, while Traylor Bros. is ready for the deliveries to commence the bridge construction in Alaska. "We had to hit the shipping deadline before the Gulf of Alaska's weather turned dangerous," said Nordholm. "If we missed that window, the entire project could have been delayed." "The teamwork between Traylor, Curtin Maritime, and Nordholm was excellent," Greg added. "It made an extremely challenging project both fun to execute and professionally satisfying." The Future of Nordholm Companies Nordholm Companies is currently planning several major international moves, including: Three container cranes from Long Beach to Chile A dry dock move from San Diego to Namibia Drill rig transport in Prudhoe Bay For large-scale marine logistics, Nordholm seeks cargo transport projects exceeding $100K, particularly those involving heavy lifting and limited barge space. For more information, visit About Nordholm Companies With over 35 years of experience in ocean cargo transport, including ship-to-shore cranes, dry docks, and oversized equipment, Nordholm Companies continues to be a leading name in marine heavy logistics. ContactRiley EvansEmail: 425-259-0213 Everett, WAWebsite: SOURCE: Nordholm Companies View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Alaskan man cheats death after pinned by 700-pound boulder in icy creek
SEWARD, Alaska – What began as a tranquil Alaskan hike rapidly escalated into a desperate fight for survival for one couple. Last Saturday, 61-year-old Kell Morris and his wife sought to avoid holiday crowds by venturing onto a quiet, untracked path near Seward, firefighters said. Their peaceful outing, however, was shattered when a massive boulder dislodged from the canyon wall, striking Morris and pinning him in the frigid Fourth of July Creek. What unfolded next was a complex, multi-agency rescue effort. The Seward Fire Department, alongside various other agencies, immediately responded, locating Morris about 2 miles upstream from their command post. Due to the extreme terrain, crews advanced slowly on foot and using ATVs. Alaska Slammed By Atmospheric River As Summer Cruise Season Revs Up A critical turning point in the rescue came when a neighboring firefighter, employed by a helicopter tour group, overheard the emergency call. He and a pilot swiftly volunteered their helicopter, airlifting six firefighters directly to Morris's location and cutting 45 minutes off the crucial travel time, according to the Seward Fire Department. "The patient was in a boulder field and the helicopter could only hover while firefighters had to jump from the helicopter to the ground as the helicopter could not land safely," the Seward Fire Department said. Rescuers found Morris lying face down in the creek with a 700-pound boulder pinning him while his wife held his head above the water. "The patient was hypothermic and in and out of consciousness," firefighters said. "Crews used air bags, ropes and brute force to lift the boulder off the patient and pull him to safety." Rare Tornado Spotted In Alaska's Chugach State Park May Only Be State's 5Th On Record Once out of the icy water, rescuers worked quickly to warm him. As his body temperature rose, Morris became more alert and his vital signs stabilized, firefighters said. However, it quickly became apparent that traditional methods of transporting him down the treacherous canyon were neither safe nor feasible. In a final critical move, pararescue jumpers with the 176th Wing Air National Guard were called in and successfully hoisted Morris out of the canyon and transferred him to an awaiting ambulance. Morris was then rushed to a local hospital, where he is expected to make a full recovery. "It is no doubt that without the help from Seward Helicopter tours this incident could have had a much different and potentially fatal outcome," firefighters emphasized. "It is community members and businesses that we work so well with that make our jobs easier and more productive."Original article source: Alaskan man cheats death after pinned by 700-pound boulder in icy creek
