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National Geographic
5 days ago
- National Geographic
Alaska's untamed wilderness is about to get more accessible
Overnighting in Alaska's wilderness is about to get easier. The Alaska Cabins Project, a joint initiative from the Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation, will bring 25 new, easily reachable abodes to the untamed Tongass and Chugach national forests by 2027. Several have already opened—or will open—this year. The project marks a milestone for the state. 'This is the largest expansion of public use cabins on Alaska's national forests in 50 years,' says Patrick Shannon, the NFF's Pacific Northwest and Alaska director. And it comes from growing demand. America's national forests experienced an uptick in tourism post-pandemic, too. Rising visitation has made it tougher than ever to reserve the roughly 150 cabins across the Tongass and Chugach forests, two enormous and wild landscapes with old-growth woodlands, glaciers, intricate cave systems, and eye-popping wildlife, from fishing bears to bald eagles. (The essential guide to visiting Alaska) Anan Wildlife Observatory is a popular viewpoint to watch brown and black bears fish for salmon. Photograph by Acacia Johnson, Nat Geo Image Collection Bringing 'soft adventure' to Alaska's wilderness The Alaskan backcountry allures intrepid travelers with remote camping and pristine nature, yet Shannon says travelers increasingly crave more cabins within easy reach. The Alaska Cabins Project's new builds will be accessed via either a short walk or a several-mile hike, giving families and soft-adventure-seekers a chance to enjoy the state's intimidating wilderness in a safer way. 'I think people sometimes underestimate the nature here,' says Alaina Brown, owner of adventure outfitter Tongass Treks, who grew up frequenting the cabins for everything from birthday parties to holiday gatherings. The forests have high bear concentrations, Brown says, including black bears and grizzlies, not to mention limited cell service and unpredictable weather. Elevated boardwalks allow for wildlife viewing at Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site. Photograph by Sébastien Lecocq, Alamy History-steeped accommodations The two-dozen new accommodations will build upon Alaska's long history of cabins. The Forest Service first constructed these public dwellings in the 1930s, and they've been a staple ever since. '[The cabins] were developed early on as a way to help people get outdoors for hunting, fishing, and recreation,' says Shannon. 'They really took off in the '50s and '60s when recreation became a big thing.' While upscale glamping getaways are popping up in and around public lands throughout the country, these largely cedar digs aren't about frills and pampering—and that's part of the allure. 'A lot of the old cabins are trapper-style cabins,' says Shannon. Guests bring their own sleeping bags and pads to sleep on wooden bunk beds. Many of the spartan outposts do have wood stoves for heat and ample indoor and outdoor seating, but overnighters should pack their own utensils, cooking stoves, food, and, depending on the location, water. Most accommodations will offer sleeping room for at least eight people. Nearly all cabins will be situated along the Alaska road system; some are also wheelchair accessible. 'They're ABA compliant when they're able to be,' says Shannon, noting compliance largely depends on the cabin location and surrounding topography. Depending on funding, the Alaska Cabins Project could expand beyond the initial 25 builds—but for now, here's a peek at the first four dwellings that either have opened, or will soon open, in the Chugach and Tongass woodlands. Trail River Cabin: Chugach National Forest The exterior of the Trail River cabin in Chugach National Forest. Photograph by Victoria Granado via USDA Forest Service The two-story cabin can accommodate up to seven people. Photograph by Victoria Granado via USDA Forest Service (Top) (Left) and Photograph by Victoria Granado via USDA Forest Service (Bottom) (Right) Set lakeside among a patchwork of hemlocks and spruces, Trail River Cabin, which is now open, is accessible in the summer via a brief walk from a parking lot and in the winter by way of a 1.2-mile ski or snowshoe jaunt. It's set in Chugach National Forest's Trail River Campground near Moose Pass, a small town rich in Gold Rush history, as well as glacier-sourced waterways for paddling and wildflower meadows crisscrossed by hiking trails. The recreation opportunities abound from camp as well, including trout fishing on the nearby Kenai Lake and forested hiking trails that commence with one mile of the cabin. The two-story abode offers bunk space for up to seven people, with a vault toilet in the adjacent campground. During the summer, potable water is available for guests; overnighters must bring their own in the off season. (Visiting Alaska? Here's what locals love) Anan Bay Cabin: Tongass National Forest No outdoor fires are allowed at Anan Bay Cabin, given its secluded location. Photograph via USDA Forest Service (Top) (Left) and Photograph via USDA Forest Service (Bottom) (Right) Anan Bay Cabin, which opened in 2024, gives travelers a taste of Alaska's remote backcountry. The water-view getaway, accessible either by float plane or boat from the town of Wrangell, is among the Tongass' best safari spots. It's a one-mile hike from Anan Wildlife Observatory, a popular viewpoint to watch brown and black bears fish for salmon. Observatory permits are required during the peak July and August months, but up to four permits are available to cabin guests for each rental night. Given its seclusion, Anan Bay Cabin does require a bit of preparation and planning. Visitors should bring their own water supply, or be prepared to treat water from natural sources, including a nearby creek. No outdoor fires are allowed, but guests can pack a cooking stove—and don't forget a flashlight for night visits to the outhouse toilet. Porcupine Campground Cabin: Chugach National Forest This fall, the two-story Porcupine Campground Cabin—one of the largest shelters in the Chugach—will treat forest overnighters with a spacious porch, wood stove, and outdoor fire pit. The birch-shaded accommodation, which is located around a half-mile from the parking lot in Porcupine Campground, offers a wheelchair ramp to the front door. It lies on the southern coast of the Turnagain Arm waterway, which separates the Kenai Peninsula and mainland Alaska. The cabin is within a stone's throw of scenic hiking routes like the Hope Point Trail, a two-mile climb up 3,600 feet with sweeping views across the Cook Inlet toward Anchorage. The town of Hope, a hot spot for salmon fishing, cycling, and local dining, is a one-mile drive from camp, too. El Capitan Cabin: Tongass National Forest El Capitan Cabin on Prince of Wales Island. Photograph courtesy USDA Forest Service (Top) (Left) and Photograph courtesy USDA Forest Service (Bottom) (Right) Tongass' El Capitan Cabin will also welcome travelers to the spruce- and hemlock-dotted Prince of Wales Island beginning this fall. Its location—America's third-largest island—is accessed by flight from Ketchikan, Juneau, and Sitka, or via three-hour ferry from Ketchikan. Rental cars are the best option for exploring this island; it's a three-hour drive to El Capitan Cabin from the island's main transit hub, Hollis. The cabin sits near its namesake El Capitan Cave, the longest-mapped cave in Alaska. Free guided daily tours lead visitors into the two-mile karst wonderland, where animal kingdom wonders, like 12,000-year-old brown-bear bones, have been discovered. Other adventures on Prince of Wales Island include hiking, birding, and wildlife-spotting—all staples on any visit to South-central Alaska's biodiverse Inside Passage. (Avoid crowds at the 10 least-visited U.S. national parks) Stephanie Vermillion is a Cleveland-based travel writer who covers outdoor adventure, astrotourism, and conservation for National Geographic, Outside Magazine, and the World Wildlife Fund's World Wildlife magazine. She's also the author of National Geographic's 100 Nights of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Adventures After Dark, which was published in December 2024.
Boston Globe
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Nantucket Film Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary
Brabbée said this year's festival feels like both a celebration and reunion as past festivalgoers, talent, staff members, filmmakers, and community members prepare to return to Nantucket. 'We're really excited to have so many people who have been part of the festival's fabric over the years be woven back in,' she said. 'And of course, the audience, we're really excited to just share what we've created for them.' Advertisement For over a year, Brabbée and her team have planned numerous events to celebrate NFF's three decades of storytelling. One of those is this year's seaside garden soiree, ' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Elin Hilderbrand Nantucket Film Festival Brabbée also highlighted an event where journalist Lesley Stahl will lead a discussion with historian Nathaniel Philbrick and filmmaker Ken Burns about Burns's new 12-hour documentary series, ' After a seven-year hiatus, Advertisement The heart of the festival, of course, is film. The week kicks off with a pre-festival screening on June 24 of NFF's centerpiece film, ' The documentary celebrates the film's cultural impact with never-before-seen footage from director Steven Spielberg. It'll be followed by a panel discussion of the film's effects on the industry and the public's perception of sharks. Then on the festival's official first day, NFF has two films lined up. There's the documentary ' from 2017 to 2023 as she navigates national crises and motherhood. For those interested in a more narrative film, there's ' Film still of Jacinda Ardern working from home with her baby from "Prime Minister." Nantucket Film Festival Basil Tsiokos, NFF's senior programmer, said figuring out an opener for a festival can be challenging because it's about getting a sense of what audiences want to see while considering the tone being set for the rest of the festival. 'I think that's one of the reasons why we did two films for opening night, is to kind of capture the complexity of a festival that celebrates not only screenwriting fictional, but also storytelling in the sort of documentary sense,' Tsiokos said. 'So, both of those films are incredibly strong and so we thought it was a great way to kick things off.' Dylan O'Brien and James Sweeney in "Twinless." Nantucket Film Festival Outside of the documentaries and features, Anita Raswant, NFF's lead programmer, highlighted the shorts programming as a great selection that allows audiences to take in strong stories in shorter segments. Advertisement With so many offerings, the NFF team emphasized festivalgoers' ability to personalize their experiences, so they can get the most out of their trips to Nantucket and enjoy the festival community. 'It is important to gather people together to watch film,' Tsiokos said. 'Films open up the world to audiences and, yes, you can get access to films down the line, on streamers and on whatever, which is great, and that's part of the ecosystem as well, but there's something to be said for being in person.' NANTUCKET FILM FESTIVAL June 25-30. Single screening tickets start at $20. For more information, including films, locations, and screening times, visit
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
RGIII named to NFF 2026 HOF Ballot
DALLAS, Texas (FOX 44) — The National Football Foundation released the 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Ballot on Monday, including Baylor legend Robert Griffin III. RGIII becomes one of 79 players and nine coaches from the FBS named to the ballot, with the chance to be cemented in the NFF College Football Hall of Fame forever. Currently, just .02% of players and 247 coaches make up the Hall. 'When you look at what what Robert did and how good Baylor was when he was there, I don't want to say it's a no brainer, but it comes under the category of an automatic,' NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell said. 'He made Baylor very good, very strong, very solid. You look at the whole package and if you've got touch points on all of it, Robert fits in very easily to the Hall of Fame.' The ballot is emailed to all NFF chapter members, NFF academic members and Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) members today for a vote. The results are provided to the NFF Honors Court, which determines the final class members. The 2026 class will officially be revealed in January, with induction occurring in December of 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mike Leach, Les Miles eligible for College Football Hall of Fame after rule change
Mike Leach and Les Miles are among the coaches that will benefit from the National Football Foundation changing the eligibility criteria for the College Football Hall of Fame. The NFF announced on Thursday that coaches with a winning percentage of .595 are considered eligible for induction. Previously, the requirement was for coaches to have a winning percentage of .600, which affected coaches worthy of consideration such as Leach (.596), Miles (.597) and Jackie Sherrill (.595). In 21 seasons as a college football head coach at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State, Leach compiled a record of 158-107. He died in 2022 at the age of 61. However, besides his winning percentage, Leach is lauded among his peers for his influence on the sport with his wide-open "Air Raid" offensive system that influenced many offenses throughout the nation. "Mike Leach was instrumental in changing the way football is played, and has made it more enjoyable for fans and players," Leach's mentor, Hal Mumme, told ESPN's Dave Wilson. "He had a huge role in that and he should be in the Hall of Fame." Leach was Mumme's offensive coordinator and developed the "Air Raid" at Iowa Wesleyan, Valdosta State and Kentucky from 1989-98. Miles is also affected by the Hall of Fame eligibility rules changing. Last year, he sued LSU for vacating 37 of his wins. (The NFF and NCAA were also named as defendants in the lawsuit.) The school imposed the penalty due to recruiting violations involving alleged payments totaling nearly $200,000 to the father of offensive lineman Vadal Alexander by a former booster. Every win in which Alexander played from 2012–15 was vacated. Losing those 37 wins dropped Miles' winning percentage from .665 (145-73) to .597 (108-73), putting him below the threshold for Hall of Fame eligibility. Miles coached at Oklahoma State, LSU and Kansas in his 18 years as a head coach. A Louisiana judge dismissed the lawsuit earlier this year. Another coach who could benefit is Jackie Sherrill, who registered a .595 winning percentage (179-121-4) at Washington State, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M and Mississippi State in a 26-year head coaching career. Active head coaches who are now eligible if they maintain their current winning percentages are Iowa's Kirk Ferentz (216-145, .598) and West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez (190-129-2, .596).
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mike Leach, Les Miles eligible for College Football Hall of Fame after rule change
Mike Leach and Les Miles are among the coaches that will benefit from the National Football Foundation changing the eligibility criteria for the College Football Hall of Fame. The NFF announced on Thursday that coaches with a winning percentage of .595 are considered eligible for induction. Previously, the requirement was for coaches to have a winning percentage of .600, which affected coaches worthy of consideration such as Leach (.596), Miles (.597) and Jackie Sherrill (.595). In 21 seasons as a college football head coach at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State, Leach compiled a record of 158-107. He died in 2022 at the age of 61. However, besides his winning percentage, Leach is lauded among his peers for his influence on the sport with his wide-open "Air Raid" offensive system that influenced many offenses throughout the nation. "Mike Leach was instrumental in changing the way football is played, and has made it more enjoyable for fans and players," Leach's mentor, Hal Mumme, told ESPN's Dave Wilson. "He had a huge role in that and he should be in the Hall of Fame." Leach was Mumme's offensive coordinator and developed the "Air Raid" at Iowa Wesleyan, Valdosta State and Kentucky from 1989-98. Miles is also affected by the Hall of Fame eligibility rules changing. Last year, he sued LSU for vacating 37 of his wins. (The NFF and NCAA were also named as defendants in the lawsuit.) The school imposed the penalty due to recruiting violations involving alleged payments totaling nearly $200,000 to the father of offensive lineman Vadal Alexander by a former booster. Every win in which Alexander played from 2012–15 was vacated. Losing those 37 wins dropped Miles' winning percentage from .665 (145-73) to .597 (108-73), putting him below the threshold for Hall of Fame eligibility. Miles coached at Oklahoma State, LSU and Kansas in his 18 years as a head coach. A Louisiana judge dismissed the lawsuit earlier this year. Another coach who could benefit is Jackie Sherrill, who registered a .595 winning percentage (179-121-4) at Washington State, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M and Mississippi State in a 26-year head coaching career. Active head coaches who are now eligible if they maintain their current winning percentages are Iowa's Kirk Ferentz (216-145, .598) and West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez (190-129-2, .596).
