Alaska group tours, small group custom tours, Alaska incentive tours, Alaska team building tours.

Photo by ZE CARRAPICHANO

JOIN US IN 2011
Our luxury adventures feature spectacular photo opportunities throughout the state!

Photo by SOMES MULUKUTLA

AAU COFFEE TABLE PHOTO BOOK:

Yes, we are going to finally put together a coffee table book featuing photos from our Alaska Adventures in many areas of the state.

Many photos will be from past guests with a few of their thoughts regarding thier adventure! This project will take some time, but with a bit of patience, and lots of spectacular photos, we know this book is going to offer a fun way to reminisce about your Alaska travel days of past.

Costs and shipping will be made avilable as soon as we know. We would appreciate knowing if you have any interest so we know how many to pre-oreder. So just drop as an e-mail and let us know if you would like to purchase one. We will try to keep the cost under $20 per book.

TSA FALL-OUT:

Join Me: Help Stop Unnecessary "Enhanced Body Pat-Downs"

Yes, I was one of the lucky few as a breast cancer survivor to "enjoy" the newly required "Enhanced Full-Body Pat-down". If you have been one of the folks that have experienced this, you will understand my disgust with the procedure. Now, I know some of you feel that for safeltysake, we should be subject to this pat down. I understand that point of view. But let me share with you what happend, and then you tell me - how this pat down made me a safer risk on the airplane I was about to board.

As I went throught the new imaging machine, my mastectomy scarred area showed up on the screen as a black anomoly. This sent up bells and red flags and I was pulled aside to have a full-body pat-down. Now the TSA agent performing the pat-down asked me if I had experienced any surgery in the past. I shared that I had - and that it was a mastectomy. She proceded to tell me that I would be subject to this newly enhanced full-body "pat-down" in the open passenger area, in front of all the other passengers - as there was not another TSA agent that could go into a closed room with us at this time. If I felt I needed a closed room, I would miss my flight waiting on an available TSA agent. (My flight was not for another 2 hours). I believe it was ploy to not have to stop the flow of traffic in and out of the imagery machines.

So I reluctantly agreed to the pat-down, as I had no choice inorder to fly home to Alaska. Next the TSA agent began to "feel" every part of my lower body. EVERY part. She then ran her hands down my arms and my back. Then she put her flingers inside my jeans. TSA agents are allowed to feel between your skin and your under-wear! Finally she said I was free to go.

Guess what she did not feel???

My chest area!! The area of question. The area that showed up black. They had already seen everything else naked on the scan machine - saw that I had nothing up my "sleeve" so to speak - but the one area that they could not see - the whole reason they pulled me aside - they NEVER even touched or patted down!! What good did that do? Why did I get a pat-down. Why did they touch my lower private area, put their hands into my jeans yet never search the area of question?

Were we all safer now on the plane? Were they certain I wasn't "packing" in my prosthesis?

So... what does one do? What are we all subject to next? Well, as many of you know - I am not a laid back, quiet little gal. I decided to create a petition requesting a cessation of this practice until a better answer can be found. I am asking everyone who is willing, to sign it. If you agree, I will email you a copy of the petition so you can sign it and mail it in to the address listed on the petition. I appreciate your help and hope we can make a difference.

I am not against rules or regulation, I just think we need to put more thought into this and is it really working. Thanks for your support and let me know if you would like a copy of the TSA petition.
Ms. Corky Champagne-Einarsen

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2011 APRIL NEWSLETTER
PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

Welcome to our April Second Quarter Newsletter! So much is happening in our neck of the woods...

WINNERS OF 2011 PHOTO CONTEST: Exciting news! We had many participants and many entries for this years photo contest. It was shocking how many very good photographers we have had over the years! Below, take a look at the winners and honerable mentions and you will see why we had such a hard time!
TV SHOWS FEATURING ALASKA: Alaska is on the television everywhere these days. Have you seen us? Sarah Palin's Alaska, Alaska State Troopers, Flying Wild Alaska, Gold Rush Alaska, and new ones on the horizon! I guess we finally made the cut. Take a look at the shows on live now- to relive some of your fun days in Alaska. Or take a look to view what lies ahead on your next Alaska adventure.
IDITAROD RACE WINNER: Did Lance Mackey pullit off again? Who were the top 10 leaders of the pack and what highlights this season over EVERY other race in history? Read the article below to get details.
AAU COFFEE TABLE BOOK: Over the years, many of our guests have experessed interest in photos of guests on their tour, sharing ideas, thoughts and everyones experience. Read below about what we have come up with!
TSA FALL-OUT: So have you been one of the luck ones to enjoy the full-body enhanced pat-down? I have! Take a look at my reaction and how you can make a difference!

TELEVISION SHOWS FEATURE ALASKA:

HAVEN'T SEEN ALASKA ON TV LATELY - THEN YOUR NOT WATCHING!
Alaska has been at the forefront of television crews everywhere. Take a look at some of the currently airing shows and some on the hoizon:

Sarah Palin's Alaska:
http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/sarah-palin-alaska
Alaska State Troopers:
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/alaska-state-troopers
Flying Wild Alaska:
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/flying-wild-alaska
Gold Rush Alaska:
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/gold-rush-alaska
Alaska HDTV:
http://www.alaskahdtv.com/category/video/adventures

2011 IDITAROD: THE LAST GREAT RACE ON EARTH:

DID YOU SEE IT? WERE YOU PULLING FOR LANCE MACKEY?
So many of our guests learned about the Iditarod Race while visitng Alaska and the all-time favorite Lance Mackey and his fight with Cancer. This 4-Time Winner, reached records never attained before with consecutive wins!!

But in 2011 - it was John Baker to take the title. Alaska first Native musher to win the race since 1976. But that is not all... he also took the title of FASTEST race in the history of the infamous dog sled race! 8 Days, 18 hours and 46 minutes. This shaved 3 hours off the fastest time on record originally set by Martin Buser. Take a look at the official site for details, as well as ways to support the mushers:

Official Iditarod Headquarters HomePage:
http://www.iditarod.com

2011 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS:

Enjoy viewing these few photos below. As you can well imagine, these photos are copyrighted. However, if you would like to enjoy these and many more photos from all our guests, please order a coffee table photo book.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER: OVERALL: "ZE CARRAPICHANO"
Grand Prize Photo: Eagle in Flight
Honorable Mention: Baby Grizzly Bears
Ze had so many spectacular entries, we could not begin to share them all.

FIRST PLACE WINNER: NATURE/WILDLIFE: "RICHARD VAN INWEGEN"
First Prize Photo: Grizzly chasing seagulls
Honorable Mention: Hatcher Pass Marmot. Soooo CUTE!!
Richard also entered several spectacular photos. It was near impossible to choose just one.

FIRST PLACE WINNER: PLACES/SCENERY: "STEVEN BARTH"
First Prize Photo: Otto Lake - View from the Denali Lakeview Inn
Honorable Mention: Denali - The Great One
This category was especially difficult to judge. We had beautiful photos and would love to share them with all of you. They will be in the coffee table book.

FIRST PLACE WINNER: PEOPLE/ACTIVITY: "SOMES MULUKUTLA"
First Prize Photo: Pink Hat at Knik Glacier
Honorable Mention: Denali Flightseeing

SECOND PLACE & OTHER HONORABLE MENTION PHOTOS:
We just could not believe the spectacular photos entered and we would love to give prizes to everyone - but we would like to give mention to the following entires: (These will also be in the coffee table book.)

SECOND PLACE: NAUTRE/WILDLIFE:
HANGING OUT ALASKA STYLE by CHRISTINA KAPLAN