"Rock Star" road tripper checking in! Self-proclaimed anyway! Road trips and visits to all 50 states are my game. Find your next road trip destinations here. Fill your bucket list with fantastic US journeys. I love road trips and spare no effort in making my travels and experiences inviting for members of the road-tripping family! Pick a trip you want to take, or get inspired to plan your own. - - The Driveby Tourist (or call me Stan!)
The World’s Most Misnamed Race? 🏔️🏃♂️
|
If you’re in Seward, Alaska, on July 4th, don't expect a standard road race. If you are visiting Alaska for any reason, why not see this race? Whether you are here because it’s Alaska, or if you are on a 50-state quest, or you just love Alaska, check it out! The legendary Mount Marathon Race 🏔️is one of the oldest and most grueling traditions in the U.S., but there’s a catch: it isn’t actually a marathon! While a traditional marathon is 26.2 miles, this race is only 3.1 to 3.5 miles. However, don't let the short distance fool you. Runners scramble up 3,022 vertical feet to the summit of Mount Marathon and then "controlled fall" back down through treacherous shale and scree. 📉💨 The name stems from a 1915 bar bet. Legend has it that two locals argued over whether it was possible to climb the mountain and return in under an hour. The challenger lost the bet by just two minutes, but he sparked a tradition that has lasted over a century! 🍻⏱️ Today, thousands of spectators flock to Seward to watch elite athletes navigate "the cliffs" and "the gut." It’s a muddy, bloody, and exhilarating spectacle that defines Alaskan ☔️ grit. Whether you’re brave enough to run or prefer cheering from the sidelines, it’s the ultimate way to celebrate Independence Day! ✨ Stay gritty, The Driveby Tourist “Team” ✌️🏔️ "Run for your life!” Classic Rock song: "Country Roads” by John Denver Please email me about your Alaska adventures or why you want to visit there! Here is the Premium Subscription page: You will get early access to new blog posts, one extra weekly newsletter, and access to all past newsletters. And occasionally, I'll ask for votes on content! Stan Featured Post: I’ve had material for a post about Sitka, AK, for a long time but haven’t written it. Maybe this will be the push? Here’s a link to dangerous road trips, featuring one in northern Alaska. |
Stan Wiebe
"Rock Star" road tripper checking in! Self-proclaimed anyway! Road trips and visits to all 50 states are my game. Find your next road trip destinations here. Fill your bucket list with fantastic US journeys. I love road trips and spare no effort in making my travels and experiences inviting for members of the road-tripping family! Pick a trip you want to take, or get inspired to plan your own. - - The Driveby Tourist (or call me Stan!)
Sorry, it went out on Sunday. By mistake! However, since you are a subscriber, I'm sure you know about visiting all 50 states? Of course, it's a common theme in here. One of my daughters just joined the All Fifty Club. She has 36 states ( you need 35 to join.) But you can sign up for the newsletter any time. Another daughter believes she has 35 or more but needs to count them and sign up also. My oldest daughter (I have three) believes she's at 34. I'm going to tell her that I'll help fund a...
Ever dreamed of finding a fortune in the dirt? At Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, that dream is a daily reality! 🚜💎 (The dream of mining for them, as very few “strike it rich,” but it’s fun to try!) This unique destination is the only place in the world where the public can search for real diamonds at their original volcanic source—and the best part? Finders keepers! 🎒🙌 Whether it’s a white, brown, or yellow diamond, if you dig it up, it’s yours to take home. (What’s...
I left New Orleans on Friday and got back home ten days later. That would be Monday. My family had some health issues, so that’s taken some time, but now I’m working to get “caught up.” I visited NPS units and historical and scenic locations along the way. I updated the Great River Road Plus preview post, and here’s the link. Many of the updates are about Louisiana, so if you want to go there directly, here’s the link. There will be more updates, and I’ll publish individual posts about many...