Ep160 Kristen Rozell Adventures in THE Alaskan Wilderness

January 11, 2024
Kristen Rozell moved to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1997. She now works for a private consulting firm as a wildlife biologist conducting nesting studies on geese and sea duck on the North Slope of Alaska. She’s also worked all over the state conducting breeding bird and migration surveys. Kristen has been a cross country ski coach since 2004. She coaches a high school team, leads a training program for adults preparing for 50-kilometer skate-ski races, and teaches group and private lessons through the Fairbanks Nordic Ski Club. Kristen is also a strong and active competitor. Over the years she has raced in five one-hundred-mile ski races, many local races from sprints to 50 kilometers. And, as you will hear in our conversation, she has done many multi-day backpack ski trips. In the show notes, I’ve listed some details of many of those. Kristen is also a stellar runner and has completed the Equinox marathon almost 20 times, placing second twice.

Denali National Park & Preserve
Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
White Mountains National Recreation Area
Student Conservation Association
Manley Hot Springs
Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks
Oiselle Running Apparel for Women
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Cross-Country Skiing
❄️ Competed in five 100-mile wilderness ski races in Alaska (Susitna 100, and White-Mountain 100), and roughly six, 45-60 mile wilderness races
❄️ Skate-skied Denali Hwy (125 miles in 3 days) 2007
❄️ 4-day backpack ski trip from Fairbanks to Manley hot Springs with friends (about 100 miles) 2016
❄️ 4-day backpack ski trip across Seward Peninsula of Alaska (Buckland to Koyuk) (about 110 miles) 2018
❄️ Since I moved to Fairbanks in 1997, I have skied out to many cabins with a backpack or sled for weekend or longer trips with my husband, daughter, and friends
❄️ Skied 50 miles on my 50th birthday — skied from my house and connected trails to make 2 big loops.

Running
☀️ Completed Equinox marathon almost 20 times (2nd place twice) since 1997, New York marathon 2009
☀️ Won Northern Trail Series in Fairbanks, AK 2009
🏙 Empire State building run 2016