She can bring home the bacon …

TALKEETNA -- Yank on a pair of bunny boots, grab a couple of 5-gallon buckets of water in 10-below weather, then run as fast as you can down Talkeetna's Main Street without spilling a drop. That was the first challenge for the contestants in the weekend's Wilderness Woman Contest, part of the community's month-long Winterfest 2003.

Many of the 14 women who competed in the contest Saturday had done it before, and for many most of the tasks -- which also included fishing, shooting, driving a snowmachine and hauling wood -- are familiar to their everyday lives. The Wilderness Woman Contest events are somewhat different, however. For instance, the "fishing" portion consisted of snagging a brightly painted foam fish from the street -- a task that proved difficult for many of the contestants. The five contestants that proceeded from the water-hauling event were also required to shoot "ptarmigan" that were "cleverly camouflaged as balloons," according to the rules, and also shoot a charging moose -- with a paintball gun. Aaron "Tennessee" Dunn played the role of the moose this year, dying a staggering death upon each shot of the gun as the contestants ran for the finish line.

The Wilderness Woman Contest is put on by the Talkeetna Bachelor Society. Dunn was one of the many bachelors on hand to assist the women during the various events. The men, who were auctioned off to the highest bidder later in the evening, helped the contestants put on snowshoes, hand them their guns and several had their turn at waiting for a sandwich and beer to be thrown at them as another part of the course.

The winner of the contest, Heidi Weigner of Anchorage, took home a fox-tail hat and a gold nugget. Lisa Cammilleri of Anchorage took second place in the event and won a bearclaw necklace for her efforts. Third place went to Becky Steinburg of Palmer. She won a diamond willow walking stick. Each, of course, also walked away with bragging rights. Each of the items were hand-made by members of the Talkeetna Bachelor Society, according to organizer DX Russell.

Though cold, the day wasn't without its share of fun -- and humor. Following the first event one woman was overheard telling an official, "I wish I had worn a bra."