Mushers on the trail between Nikolai and McGrath. March 6, 2012

Martin Buser in Ophir on Thursday, March 8, 2012.

The northern lights in Ruby on Friday morning, March 9, 2012.

Jeff King's team stopped in the trail 12 miles before Unalakleet. King layed down in the trail to shelter his team from the wind. Sunday, March 11, 2012.

Dallas Seavey leading the way to Golovin in Iditarod 2012. March 12, 2012

Ian McKeever, as Nacho Libre, winning the "biggest splash" award at the 2012 Slush Cup at Alyeska Resort on Saturday, April 21, 2012. Eric Frampton, dressed as Lance Mackey, won the event.

Mark Montalvo, Senior from Wasilla, practices the two foot high kick at the Native Youth Olympics on Friday, April 27, 2012.

A young moose walks through a downtown Anchorage neighborhood on May 16, 2012. Moose encounters are common in Alaska's largest city.

Girls and their dog enjoying a warm early summer day on the mudflats near Kincaid beach, with Redoubt Volcano visible behind them, May 23, 2012.

Surfers and paddleboarders wait for the bore tide near Bird point on June 4, 2012.

Emcee Daphne DoAll LaChores reads out bingo numbers during drag queen bingo, held June 7, 2012 at Snow City Cafe.

Hikers enjoy a spectacular summer solstice sunset from atop Flattop mountain, June 20, 2012.

Anchorage Fire Department rescuers pull a man from the mudflats ahead of the rising tide. July 6, 2012

Colony Glacier, emptying into Lake George, is the site of a salvage operation underway by the Air Force. They are recovering the remains of a C-124 airplane that crashed in 1952. July 12, 2012

After 5 hours dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai river on Sunday, Allyssa Frost and her friends had managed to catch over 100 sockeye salmon. July 15, 2012

An airplane taking off from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport passes over a wind turbine under construction on nearby Fire Island. July 18, 2012

Ruth glacier, Alaska Range, Denali National Park. July 19, 2012

The Air Force Thunderbirds perform during Arctic Thunder 2012. July 28, 2012

3-year-olds Bodi Anderson, left, and Loden Johnson get distracted from their task of vegetable picking at Pyrah's Pioneer Peak Farm. August 17, 2012

From left, Jesse Hobart, nachos, and Jessy Hastings at the Alaska State Fair. Hobart and Hastings are Wasilla residents, while the nachos are more of a world traveler. August 23, 2012

A member of the Acilquq Singers and Dancers performs at the Arctic Imperative Summit. August 24, 2012

Savoonga residents breakdancing to traditional native drumming, in a song entitled "Rock and Roll." August 30, 2012

Polar bears play on the beach in Kaktovik. September 6, 2012

Polar bear wave, Kaktovik. September 7, 2012

Issac Akootchook, 90 years old, walks home after church in Kaktovik. September 9, 2012

Bull moose sparring in Powerline Pass during the rut, or mating season. October 12, 2012

Sunrise at Bird Point. October 23, 2012

Offshore oil platforms in Cook Inlet. November 1, 2012

Northern lights dance above the Knik river as the moon rises early morning November 8, 2012.

The Northern Lights dance above Tahneta pass in the early morning hours of November 13, 2012.

The moonrise over downtown Anchorage, photographed from the roof of the 15-story Inlet Tower. Nov 29, 2012

4th grader Larry Swan leg wrestles with 6th grader Shannon Knox in Kivalina's McQueen School gym. Leg wrestling is a traditional Iñupiat Eskimo game, one of many that the students practice regularly. Dec 13, 2012

Bowhead whale bones greet visitors to the town of Kivalina, Alaska. Located 85 miles above the Arctic Circle, when the sun sets on December 4 it won't rise again until January 7. Dec 10, 2012