Mat-Su Outdoors Briefs

Oosik ski race and tour is Saturday in Talkeetna

Oosik Classic Ski Race and Tour is from noon to 11 p.m., Saturday starting at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar, 22249 S. D St., Talkeetna. Bib pickup begins at 9 a.m. A dinner banquet, awards ceremony, prizes and live music are planned afterward. Early registration is $40 and is $60 the day of the race. For more information, visit anchoragenordicski.com/Events/oosik.htm.

Beware of avalanche danger

The North America Outdoor Institute would like to remind Alaskans that new snow takes time to bond.

This is spring break in the Mat-Su Valley and the perfect time to get outdoors and enjoy this fresh snow, but slow down and use the most important tool you have in your outdoor gear bag — your brain.

Use caution on or around slopes that are steep enough to slide. How steep is that? Put some rice in a cardboard box, flatten it out and then tilt it until it starts to move. That’s about how steep.

There is granulated grapple snow under wind blasted hard pack, and now fresh fluffy snow on top. That’s like lasagna for an avalanche. It’s all about weight versus angle. If you get on that slope, you could be the trigger to set it off. Always carry safety equipment, make sure your friends do, too, and practice using it.

Learn more at besnowsmart.org or call 376-2898.

These websites provide information on the avalanche forecast around the state:

• cnfaic.org.

• avalanche-center.org/Bulletins.

• avalanche.org.

• alaskasnow.org.

The state Public Safety Department also recommends filing a trip plan that includes details about travel plans and leave it with someone who will report you missing if you do not return as planned. A form to use to create such a plan is online at dps.state.ak.us/pio/docs/WildernessTripPlan.pdf.

Denali Overflights Advisory Council meets in Talkeetna

The ninth meeting of the Denali National Park Aircraft Overflights Advisory Council is taking place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 24 at the AMS Mountain Shop, 22131 F Street, Talkeetna.

The council advises the superintendent, through the Secretary of the Interior, on mitigation efforts that should be made to reduce the impacts from aircraft overflights at Denali National Park and Preserve.

The group is developing voluntary measures for assuring the safety of passengers, pilots and mountaineers, and for achieving desired future resource conditions at Denali that were outlined in the 2006 Backcountry Management Plan.

For additional information on the meeting, contact Miriam Valentine at (907) 733-9102 or email miriam_valentine@nps.gov.

Prince William Sound 2011 shrimp fishery update

The number of shrimp pots allowed for harvesting shrimp in the Prince William Sound noncommercial shrimp pot fisheries (sport, personal use, and subsistence) will remain at 5 pots per person with a maximum of 5 pots per vessel for the 2011 season. The noncommercial pot shrimp fishery is open from 12:01 a.m., April 15 to 11:59 p.m., Sept. 15.

ADF&G has estimated a total harvestable surplus of 132,000 pounds of spot shrimp for the 2011 season. Noncommercial fisheries have been allocated 60 percent of the harvestable surplus. The allowable harvest for noncommercial fishermen in 2011 will be 79,200 pounds of shrimp. In 2010, the noncommercial pot shrimp fisheries were allowed additional pots and harvested an estimated 87,700 pounds of shrimp, exceeding the allocation by about 5,000 pounds.

Noncommercial fishermen are required to have a permit in their possession when fishing for shrimp. There is no fee for this permit and permits are available at ADF&G offices by the beginning of April.

Outdoorsman Show returns

Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show returns to the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center March 25-27. The show is open Friday from noon to 7 p.m., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday. Tickets are $5 and parking is free. Admission is free for children under 12, for people with a military ID and everyone gets in free from 10 to 11 a.m., Sunday, the last day of the show.