The Unique Natural Environment of Thompson Pass

Jeffery Scott Fraser is an accomplished executive who led the National Information Consortium (NIC) for several years working with internet applications that could connect businesses with government bodies. Jeffery S. Fraser now focuses on owning and running the Tsaina Lodge near Valdez on the Thompson Pass in Alaska. 

Thompson Pass is known for its beauty and for its winter sports, especially skiing. It represents a gap in the Chugach mountain range whose unique climate produces more snow than anywhere else in the world. The average annual snowfall is more than 700 inches, and this past December, the region saw a storm that dumped 15 inches of snow in an hour and a half. The region also holds the highest concentration of Alaska’s glacial ice. 

In addition to its extreme snowfalls, Thompson Pass is often bright and sunny, avoiding a marine effect that can make other snowy mountainous regions too overcast for heli-skiing. The Chugach snow also tends to stick to the steep mountain sides, which is why Thompson Pass is known as a place where extreme skiers practice and show off their skills. Snowboarders also enjoy these slopes, but even individuals who are not into extreme downhill sports can enjoy heli-hiking, glacier trekking, and many other ways of experiencing the unique natural environment of Thompson Pass.

Weather in Casablanca

An accomplished business executive with more than two decades of experience, Jeffery Scott Fraser retired from his position as the CEO of NIC Inc. nearly a decade ago. The owner of the Tsaina Lodge in Valdez, Alaska, he invests in such companies as Job Pose. Outside of overseeing operations at the lodge and assisting the businesses he has sponsored, Jeffery S. Fraser enjoys Casablanca.

As the largest city in Morocco, Casablanca is a popular tourist destination, but its varying weather can keep some travelers away during certain months. The city experiences its warmest temperatures between June and September. On average, summer high temperatures hover between 75 and 80 degrees. These months are also extremely dry and experience less than 1 inch of rainfall. As the year continues, temperatures start dropping as rainfall increases. Average high temperatures in October and November range from 70 to 73 degrees, and rainfall is between 1 and 3 inches.

From December to May, Casablanca is at its coolest and wettest. Average rainfall increases to 2.9 inches by December and stays above 2 inches until April. Meanwhile, high temperatures hover between 64 and 69 degrees during these months. However, these cool temperatures do not block out beach activities, and many tourists still enjoy time in the water through January.

First Chairlifts Invented for Sun Valley Ski Resort

On February 2011, Jeffery Scott Fraser opened the Tsaina Lodge in Valdez, Alaska. He manages the lodge, which offers guests outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and fishing. Since retiring, Jeffery S. Fraser devotes most of his time to the day-to-day operations of his ski lodge.

Sun Valley is known as the first ski resort to open with chairlifts, back at the time when skiers had to walk or get towed up the mountain. This started the indulgence of having to sit down during the ride to the top, and was considered a major advancement in the skiing industry.

Before the introduction of chair lifts, every ski resort around the globe used the same engineering and machinery to take their skiers up the slopes. Some cable-dragged their skiers, while others used J-bars, T-bars, or rope tows.

W. Averell Harriman, chairman of the Union Pacific Railroad, commissioned railroad engineers to develop a more efficient way for skiers to get up the mountains. After being inspired by the methods used to load train cargo, the engineers developed the chairlift for Sun Valley.

Top Fishing Spots in Wyoming

Entrepreneur and executive Jeffery Scott Fraser divides his time between Alaska and Wyoming, overseeing operations at the historic Tsaina Lodge and serving as an investor in Job Pose. Outside of work, Jeffery S. Fraser enjoys a wide range of hobbies, such as fishing.

Thanks to its plentiful rivers, streams, and lakes, Wyoming is a great state for fishing. Anglers can find everything from crappie and bass to trout, but identifying the best fishing spots can be a challenge. Following are just a few of Wyoming’s best fishing areas.

Bighorn Lake: Located in Kane, Bighorn Lake covers 5,500 acres. Fishers can enjoy more than 50 miles of accessible shoreline or get out on the water in a boat. While the lake is perhaps best known as a bass fishing spot, it is also home to plenty of trout, catfish, and walleye.

Guernsey Reservoir: A popular spot for bass, crappie, and panfish, Guernsey Reservoir was created by the North Platte River dam in eastern Wyoming. It covers 2,400 acres and is known for having aggressive fish.

Flaming Gorge Reservoir: Teeming with bass, trout, and salmon, Flaming Gorge Reservoir is located near Green River in the southern part of Wyoming. Many record-setting catches have taken place here.

Boysen Reservoir: Home to the state record for black crappie, Boysen Reservoir is a great spot for trout, panfish, and crappie. The lake covers over 19,000 acres in central Wyoming and is located in Boysen State Park.

Four of the Highest Rated Airlines in North America

Jeffery Scott Fraser formerly served as the CEO for NIC, a Kansas-based firm that utilized internet applications to assist corporations and individuals in doing business with government departments. A retired executive since 2008, Jeffery Fraser enjoys traveling, and divides much of his time between Alaska and Wyoming. Travelers like Fraser will receive the opportunity to fly through a number of different airlines, although the following list includes some of the highest-rated in North America. 

1. Virgin America: Named one of the best airlines to travel with in 2016, Virgin America received top marks for its lower fees, friendly service, and overall airline experience. It also received recognition for its roomier-than-average seats, which make it one of the most comfortable airline options for flying coach. The carriage also features mood lighting and digital screens on the back of each seat. 

2. JetBlue: Featuring in-flight TV services, snacks, and reasonable prices, JetBlue received a four-out-of-five stars rating from Skytrax, and possesses one of the highest customer satisfaction ratings according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). It also launched an improved WiFi system known as Fly-Fi in 2015, and offers complimentary basic WiFi. Furthermore, it remains the only airline to promise not to overbook flights. 

3. Southwest Airlines: Southwest Airlines falls below average for on-time flight performance, yet manages to maintain a committed following, due to its numerous flier benefits and lower fees. Fliers may check in up to two bags at no additional cost and in-flight services include complimentary snacks and an entertainment system that can link to mobile devices such as iPhones and tablets. Additionally, the airline offers low-cost priority check-ins. 

4. Alaska Airlines: Alaska Airlines earned a score of 77 with the ASCI and became a preferred airline of the Wall Street Journal in 2016, due to its low costs and big ambitions. Its fleet consists of 144 planes, and its current expansion project involves acquiring Virgin America. Additionally, Alaska Airlines possesses the lowest number of complaints with the Department of Transportation and features the lowest fees for checked-in bags.

Alaskan Adventures at the Tsaina Lodge

Experienced businessman and entrepreneur Dr. Jeffery Scott Fraser operated for nearly two decades as the CEO of NIC Inc. Dividing his time between Wyoming and Alaska Dr. Jeffery S. Fraser now focuses on restoring the historic Tsaina Lodge with his wife.

Located on Thompson Pass in Valdez, Alaska, the Tsaina Lodge is a contemporary resort and lodge that features 24 guest rooms. In addition to being nestled amongst a wild but pristine Alaskan setting, the lodge itself boasts locally sourced fine dining, spa and fitness rooms, reading rooms, and other comforts. Guests can also participate in a variety of custom excursions that are easily accessible via the onsite helipad.

Guest activities at the Tsaina Lodge include guided and unguided excursions. Guided activities, which include equipment and instruction, take advantage of Alaska’s rivers, mountains, and glaciers. Some examples include mountain biking, rafting, fishing, and glacier trekking. Unguided activities occur around the lodge itself and include yoga, cooking, and trail hiking. For additional information, visit www.tsainalodge.com.

Thompson Pass - Destination for Generations of Sports Enthusiasts

Since their purchase in 2011, Jeffery S. Fraser and his wife have enjoyed rebuilding a luxury winter sports lodge in the spirit of the historic Tsaina Lodge near Valdez, Alaska. The old Tsaina Lodge had served as a popular low-key roadhouse for generations of sportsmen. Jeffery Fraser and his wife preserved as many components of the historic structure as possible, incorporating them into an upscale, contemporary Tsaina Lodge designed to welcome today’s adventure travelers.

The lodge is situated in an avalanche-safe area in the north shadow of Thompson Pass, the snowiest location in the state. On average, more than 550 feet of snow falls in the pass annually.

Thompson Pass is also the gathering point each spring for many of the world’s most accomplished and daring helicopter pilots, skiers, snowboarders, and other lovers of extreme winter sports. The 2,800-foot-high pass serves as their only land entree to the rugged glories of the Chugach Mountains beyond.

For generations, Thompson Pass has drawn legions of anglers to the lakes, rivers, and streams that crisscross the lands around it. The Tsaina River is particularly known for its wild rapids.

In 1899, Army Captain William Abercrombie named the area in honor of Frank Thomson, a native of Pennsylvania. While Thomson spelled his name without a “p,” Abercrombie’s map gave it the added letter, and this is the spelling currently in use by the United States Geological Survey. The pass had already been long known to the native Ahtna people.