End-of-Year Potluck & Awards October 9th

The last scheduled Wednesday night event for the year is the annual End-of-Year Potluck Extravaganza and Awards Ceremony on October 9th.

In the past, this event has corresponded with the last scheduled Wednesday ride, which is September 25th this year.  We decided to move the Potluck and Awards two weeks later so that the Divas who are participating in the annual Utah trip can attend.  And we can get a full ride in on the 25th.

So pull out your favorite potluck recipe, watch for the awards poll, and mark your calendars for October 9th.  Location information will be sent through the members email list.

bring on the rain -- more mud!

Nine Divas said "what rain?" and hit the Campbell Tract and Hillside trails tonight.

Christine's new freckles

Heidi says mud makes you stronger!

Powerline in the fog

A little fog doesn't deter the Divas

building singletrack

Most of the Diva crew who worked on the new singletrack at Kincaid (plus a guy who wanted to be photographed with us -- not the first one!)

Katie and Rose shape the trail

Michele, Linda, and Katherine listen closely to instructions

1st rain ride of 2013

 

Hi …..attaching a photo of the eight women who rode tonight.  We did the wide trails for a good warm-up and finished up on the single trails…..11.5 miles and rode for one hour and a half in light rain.  Lots of fun.

Katherine

Let's keep invasive plants out of our parks

Gloria and Rose got a little muddy on this 2008 ride.

We ride because we enjoy being outside and exploring the great parks in Anchorage and south-central Alaska.  We pride ourselves on being good stewards of our parks -- we volunteer to build and maintain trails, we pack out our garbage, and we avoid creating ruts on trails by not riding them when they're especially muddy.

 We also need to be careful not to transport invasive plants into our park lands.  Invasive plants are non-native, they grow rapidly, and spread quickly. They can out-compete native vegetation, which can alter an entire plant communities. These changes can affect availability of native plants for birds and wildlife in our parks.

It's really easy to reduce the introduction and spread of invasive plants in our Anchorage parks: After muddy rides, hose off your bike and shoes at your house before going on another ride. 

 There are some good guides online to identifying invasive plants in Alaska:

• Alaska Cooperative  Extension: https://www.uaf.edu/ces/pubs/catalog/detail/index.xml?id=483
• Forest Service: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5320150.pdf
• Alaska Natural Heritage Program: http://aknhp.uaa.alaska.edu/botany/akepic/weed-identification-workshops/

2013 Riding Season has begun!

Spring Formal, May 1st

Diva for the Day - Diane Carson - leads a pack of Divas out of the ice-filled tunnel near Elderberry Park

Bev and Bonnie take a break to enjoy the view of downtown from the Coastal Trail



Princess Kristin in her bear costume

Bike For Women, May 5th

Divas at the Bike for Women

Wednesday Ride, May 8th

Leaders Jo-Ann and Corinne try to get the Divas to pay attention!  Look -- the sun was shining!

Bear Aware Clinic, May 13th

Michele, Rose, and instructor Yvette practice with inert bear spray canisters

nice night for a ride!

 

Some colorful Divas braved the gloomy weather and the traffic jam to get out for a 9 1/2 mile ride tonight (except Lori and Linda, who missed a turn and did at least 10 miles!) in Chugiak. Here we are enjoying hot tea and yummy snacks. Great way to kick off the season!

(photo and note from Lori.  thanks!)

Musher Diva

Christine and team in the Iditarod Ceremonial Start in Anchorage

We've given some in the club 'Diva' nicknames to highlight roles they've assumed (e.g. Membership Diva) or things we know they like (Stretch Diva) or to acknowledge their overall awesomeness (Ulitmate Diva), but I don't think anyone knew that we had a Msuher Diva in our midst until the Anchorage Daily News featured Christine Roalafs in its pre-Iditarod coverage this week.  Today Christine and 16 dogs start a 980+ mile trip from Willow to Nome. 

Along the trail near the real start in Willow (photo by Gloria)

Go, Christine, go!  The Divas are cheering you on!