End of Ski-son Shout-outs and Appreciations!

Alas, despite the wintery mix that hit us over the weekend (and more to come this week...), the end of the snowy season is inching closer! The days are long, the sun is warm, and the ice is surely starting to disappear. While many of us are rejoicing in the shift to the springy weather- and some of us lamenting as we pack away our skis- we would all be remiss to not reflect on the people in the community who make our Winter City run smoothly during the long season that is now coming to an end.

Taken from Public Works Anchorage Facebook. Law of Snow Plows: a plow in motion stays in motion until the last snow falls (and the roads are clear)!

Our first shout-out goes to Public Works Anchorage, the DOT, and all of the individuals on street maintenance crews who work tirelessly throughout the year-- but especially in the winter-- to make sure our roads, sidewalks, and bus stops are safe to traverse. Working around the clock, 24/7, these individuals had a mighty season dealing with record breaking snowfall in January (total of 39 inches) and steady storms throughout the season. Members of the street maintenance crews wake up at the crack of dawn to make sure we can get to work or school on time, OR they start their days when many of us are cozy and snug in bed. We cannot begin to express our gratitude for all their hard work this season and beyond!

Sharing some ice cream with the street maintenance crews as an end of season THANK YOU -- the least we can do to after a long season of hard work and dedication!

So, THANK YOU to the State of Alaska Department of Transportation plow drivers for maintaining our highways and other major roads, as well as the Municipality of Anchorage Street Maintenance crews for clearing our sidewalks, neighborhoods, and other main roads in the Anchorage Bowl! Click here to check out some more of their incredible work and stats from this winter!

Throwback photo of Elissa participating in one of the many community events (races) organized by the NSAA!

Next up, if you're a classic skier, a skate skier, or anything in between and ever thought to yourself this season: "WHOA, this trail is so sick and smooth and beautiful" (or something similar) you have the Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage to thank! The NSAA is an organization dedicated to making recreation accessible by grooming and maintaining over 160km of trails throughout the year, hosting local/statewide/international events, and offering programs and events that serve to teach and inspire recreators of all ages and skill levels. According to AK Public Media, "cross-country skis come in almost as many varieties as ice cream flavors at Wild Scoops. It can be very confusing, even for seasoned skiers" so many kudos to NSAA for providing the resources to learn and thrive in the sport!

Annual Ski-Train Fundraising Event to raise money for NSAA efforts. We had the awesome privilege to donate our time and some ice cream sammies to the day long event! Check out more photos and info about the event here!

SHOUT-OUT to the grooming and maintenance crews, all of the volunteers, and the rest of the staff over at the NSAA for your continued stewardship of our trails, your dedication to making recreation accessible, and passion for community engagement! Last note about the NSAA from the NSAA... "Many assume taxes cover grooming and year around maintenance costs, but NSAA is responsible for most of the soft-surface trails in our community with help of individual contributions, volunteer time and local support." Click here to see how you can support the NSAA this season and beyond!

Symbiosis of the city: Public Works and People Mover working in tandem to make transportation accessible after a big snow!

Our last appreciation (but by no means the last of the community organizations that helped us make it through the long winter) is for the People Mover and all the drivers and maintenance crews who make it run so smoothly! A year-round pillar of the community, the People Mover connects our community with safe, reliable, and eco-friendly transportation options year-round! Thank you for providing an essential service to all community members and for providing a safe space to warm up during the cold snaps early this season. WE LOVE BUS! THANKS BUS!

Wild Scoops in the Wild featuring BUS!!

In conclusion, this city would not be as functional, cohesive, safe, or joyous if not for the individuals behind these efforts. We see you and we thank you!