Some call us crazy! We call ourselves Alaskan. The Premier Alaska Tours team really do live in the north year-round! We thought this edition of our E-News should feature some of the more entertaining parts of northern living, rather than feature our great land tour products. We believe travel professionals like yourself know that we are available to provide support, build incredible itineraries and assist with 2008 and 2009 Alaska land product. So, we are not going to delve on what makes Premier the most authentic tour company in Alaska. You let us know...do we know our state, or what? Premier Alaska Tours. Uniquely Alaskan. __________________________________

First up, the Running of the Reindeer Anchorage, Alaska's largest city is celebrating Fur Rendezvous or as Alaskans call it, Rondy for the next several weeks.  Fur Rondy is a festival celebrating that spring is on the way and is a great way to relieve cabin fever (this is what happens when we have been cooped up during the long, cold winter months). New to the festival in 2008, is a charitable event; the Running of the Reindeer.  Several Premier team members have signed up to participate (Laura Welsh/sales; Stefanie Gorder/sales & marketing and Annette King/tour director).  Depending on who you ask, it's either a race where participants duck as the reindeer take off and fly above our heads or an opportunity to try to outwit a herd of non-interested reindeer as they chase excited runners through downtown Anchorage streets.  No matter what happens, we know it will be a good time for all and that our entrance fee will go towards a great cause, Toys For Tots.  Be sure to watch our web site for an update (and photos!) of the race which takes place this Sunday, February 24th.

Opportunity knocks in the Far North In mid-December, Premier sent four of our MCI Renaissance motorcoaches up the haul road to Prudhoe Bay Alaska. If you look at an Alaska map, look for Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse between the coast of the Beaufort Sea and the North Slope of the Brooks Mountain Range. It's about 1200 miles south of the North Pole and 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Our team of eleven have entertained the banana belt community of Anchorage (where Premier's corporate offices are located) with tales of living in the far north.  Since their arrival they have, viewed the first sunrise since November; experienced minus forty degrees Fahrenheit; and have transported oil crew on the frozen Beaufort Sea.  This project ends in March which allows for our team to be able to rest up for the summer season.  What great tales they will have to tell!   Crazy Northern Facts Longest Night:  54 Days, 22 hours, 51 minutes Official sunset: 12:27 PM - 24th of November Official sunrise: 11:18 AM - 18th of January Lowest recorded temperature: Minus 62 degrees F on 27th of January, 1989 Highest wind speed recorded: 95 knots (109 mph) on 25th of February, 1989 Official lowest wind chill factor: 28th of January, 1989: temperature of minus 54 degrees Fahrenheit and wind speed of 31 knots (36 mph) gave a chill factor of minus 135 degrees Fahrenheit.    Photo: Stephanie Horine, a senior driver volunteered to go to the North Slope.  Here she is with one of Premier's coaches set against the backdrop of the first sunrise.

Iditarod, the Last Great Race The first Saturday in March marks the start of one of the most remarkable events in the world, the Iditarod Sled Dog Race!  A race over 1150 miles of the roughest and most beautiful terrain.  From Anchorage in south central Alaska, to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast; each team of 12 to 16 dogs and their musher cover the miles in 10 to 17 days. In the midst of the race, mushers travel around jagged mountain ranges, frozen rivers, dense forest, desolate tundra and miles of windswept coast.  Add to the challenge are temperatures far below zero, winds that can cause a complete loss of visibility, and hours of darkness.  This is the Iditarod.    We are proud to count members of the mushing family as our friends and are delighted to include private events during the summer months with champions (mushers and dogs). Our team looks forward to cheering on our friends at the starting gate in Anchorage on March 1.  Keep an eye on the news or link through to the Iditarod site to follow this amazing race.  Or, act like an Alaskan and pick your favorite musher to track through the race!

Polar Bear Plunge in Virginia Beach! Earlier this month, Premier team members were at the American Bus Association Marketplace in Virginia Beach. Sales & Service Manager Laura Welsh participated in the Polar Bear Plunge, a benefit for the American Cancer Society and had this to say upon returning home: "Living in Alaska entitles us to participate in the Polar Plunge in other regions.  We are seasoned cold water swimmers! Check out the photo featuring our local Alaska tourism partners who jumped too.  See the sticks and duct tape? We were a herd of caribou.  You might wonder what duct tape has to do with Alaska and caribou.  Alaska ranks first in being the number one consumer of Duct Tape and we use it for everything...including making antlers for a plunge!" Alaskans! Living the good life wherever we go. For more information on any of the events featured in this E-News, contact the Alaskans at Premier Alaska Tours!  Toll free...888-486-8725.