Baked Alaska
THE definitive Alaska experience: a story told in eight and a half parts
Since the new year, I’ve come across quite a few tapes centered around America’s largest state, Alaska, so that’s what I’m highlighting in this week’s article. From Juneau to Denali, the dawn of civilization to the year 2000, there’s no way to cover everything Alaska has to offer, but this week we tour the Inside Passage and beyond.
There were a few hiccups, however. I took a gamble with a couple of these tapes, something I likely wont do again, unless I have the proper equipment to deal with the issues I had. Both “The Biggest Bears! Alaska's Grizzly Bear” and “Our Alaska” came from a box in a thrift store that had obvious water damage. It honestly looked like the whole box had been left out in the rain.
Most magnetic tape, no matter the intended application (video, audio, data, etc.) manufactured after the 1970s has three layers. The top layer contains magnetic particles, and is where the data is stored, the middle layer is made from polyester, and is what gives the tape its strength, and the back layer has a micro texture that helps the machines used to play or record to tape wind properly.
The issue arises when the middle layer is exposed to moisture, either through humidity over an extended period of time, or when the tape inside a cassette comes directly in contact with water. The spool of tape often becomes “sticky” in this instance and two things happen.
First, the motors inside a VCR, in this instance, cannot provide enough stable power to continue winding the tape, as it’s having to peel each layer of tape off from the one behind it, often causing a typical consumer VCR to automatically shut off without ejecting the cassette. This usually leaves a few inches of tape loose inside the machine, so powering it back on and pressing the eject button will cause it to “eat” the tape.
Second, the tape material begins to shed, and because the middle layer has started reacting to the moisture, it leaves a layer of gunk on the play heads and pinch rollers inside the machine, making it difficult to play even good condition tapes until it has been properly serviced or cleaned. This also detaches the first layer of material containing the data, leaving mostly just the backing layer causing portions of the tape to become rendered unreadable by the machine.
As far as I know there have never been any commercial products claiming to fix this issue. The most common fix is to “bake” the tapes by placing them in a food dehydrator at a very low temperature for a very long time (up to a few days). I attempted a DIY version of this by setting the two tapes I couldn’t get to play right in front of a space heater with a box fan between the two in order to circulate warm, dry air through the cassettes.
Unfortunately I had mixed results. While I was able to get “The Biggest Bears! Alaska's Grizzly Bear” to play mostly properly, I was not able to get “Our Alaska” to ever play correctly. Twenty-two of the twenty-eight minute runtime are extremely unstable, often dropping out entirely, and the last 6 minutes were just completely unplayable, with the tape seizing up the VCR no matter how much I tried.
It’s a shame, honestly, because the footage on that tape in particular is really stunning. Many readers will already be aware, but tapes containing advertisement material for cruise lines are of particular interest to me. I’d never tried digitizing anything water damaged before, and I suppose I wont be trying again until I have the proper equipment.
Well, despite a few distractions, I’ve got a whole stack of Alaska media for y’all this week so let’s get right into the tapes!
The Alaska Experience
1987 | Runtime 54 minutes
Enjoy this magnificent video journey across the great land of Alaska and marvel at the diversity of its people, its wildlife and its unmatched scenic beauty. Experience the natural wonders of DENALI, the wildlife of KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK and the awesome beauty of the NORTHERN LIGHTS and the VALLEY of 10,0000 SMOKES. Cruise the famed INSIDE PASSAGE and visit KETCHIKAN, WRANGELL and the Norwegian town of PETERSBURG, on the way to SITKA, with it's fascinating RUSSIAN history. Visit the major cities of JUNEAU and ANCHORAGE, then journey to the fishing ports of SEWARD and HOMER. Find out why Alaska's reputation for FISHING is unparalleled in the world, then stop over in FAIRBANKS and NOME on the way to KOTZEBUE, the land of the ESKIMO and the MIDNIGHT SUN.
Alaska: Highlights of the Inside Passage
2000 | Runtime 34 Minutes
From its emerald forests to its diverse wildlife to its vast glacier fields, Alaska's Inside Passage is as unique as it is beautiful. Join us as we take a breathtaking journey through a land truly blessed by nature. You'll explore the top attractions in Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka and Skagway. As well as find out about each town and its people. Come with us now as we explore one of the world's most fascinating and unspoiled places.
Alaska Travel Adventure Collection
2000 | Runtime 116 Minutes
The Alaska Highway:
One of the most remarkable construction feats in history, the Alaska Highway lies within some of the most beautiful, yet forbidding, terrain in North America. Traversing British Colombia and Yukon Territory in Canada and into Alaska, this breathtaking video traces the story of how The Alaska Highway got built. 58 Minutes.
Denali Flyers of Alaska:
Only four air taxi firms are authorized to land on Mount McKinley's massive glaciers in Denali National Park. The weather is too unpredictable, the terrain too rough, and the environment too fragile to extend this privilege to others less familiar with the unique challenges of flying next to North America's highest mountain. See the rugged beauty and feel the sense of adventure that keeps these pilots flying in some of the most challenging conditions on earth in Denali Flyers. You'll hear, in their own words, why there's no greater job in the world. 28 minutes.
A History Of The Alaska Railroad:
Running from tidewater Seward some 500 miles north to Fairbanks in the interior, The Alaska Railroad crosses some of the most physically demanding terrain in all Alaska. Now, you can follow the saga of how the railroads tamed the great Alaskan frontier. You'll witness the drama behind the construction of this renowned line across the tundra-covered ground as crews contend with some of the most severe climatic conditions on the globe. 30 minutes.
Our Alaska
1989 | 28 Minutes 22 Minutes **Damaged Tape Alert**
Alaska...the very name awakens the pioneer spirit within and evokes im- ages of Gold Rush prospectors, a rich diversity of cultures and wildlife, majestic mountains and shimmering glaciers. At two-and-one-half times the size of Texas, Alaska is truly The Great Land. Offering an exciting spectrum of natural and man-made wonders, Our Alaska highlights Holland America Line-Westours unique way of showing you the Last Frontier. From Mount McKinley towering above Denali National Park- home to moose, grizzlies and caribou-to the thundering blue glaciers and colorful villages of the coastline-Alaska's bold beauty and contrasts never fail to astound visitors. Discover Alaska's spectacular jewels: fjord-like Lynn Canal, Katmai National Park's impressive Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, the Russian dancers of Sitka, and thousand-year-old ice-walls crashing into Glacier Bay. Our Alaska shows you these and other tantalizing glimpses of The Great Land. After you have enjoyed this film, we invite you to heed "the call of the wild" and see The Great Land with Holland America Line-Westours. Your travel agent can assist you in making your vacation plans.
Touring Alaska
1986 | Runtime 55 Minutes
Alaska, the last part of America left for you to explore. This fascinating video captures the uniqueness of Alaska, from the wilderness of the great parks to the life of the people in the cities and countryside. Cruise up the Inside Passage and visit the colorful coastal towns of Southeastern Alaska. Explore Glacier Bay's tremendous fjords and glaciers. Ride the Alaska Railroad from Fairbanks and see Denali National Park (Mt. McKinley), the Matanuska Valley, and Anchorage. Travel to the remote Eskimo lands in the Far North. Other wonders of Alaska included are Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, Homer, Katmai National Park, Kotzebue, Gates of the Arctic National Park, the sternwheeler "Discovery," Alaskaland and Earthquake Park.
Alaska's Great Wilderness: Denali
1997 | Runtime 53 Minutes
Travel to Alaska's great wilderness, a place of incomparable beauty and power where you will witness close-up the amazing cycles of life in one of the last pristine corners of our planet Earth. Soar over Mount McKinley, the tallest peak in North America, crown jewel of the vast Alaska Range, piercing clouds nearly four miles high. Explore the vibrant territory beneath this stunningly beautiful mountain. Watch caribou roam the plains, listen to the haunting howl of the wolf, witness the flight of the majestic golden eagle, meet a mother grizzly and her two cubs as they emerge from winter's hibernation. You'll be swept up in the drama and beauty of this unique wilderness and you'll enjoy for many years to come its unforgettable story.
The Biggest Bears! Alaska's Grizzly Bears
1994 | Runtime 24 Minutes
Through beautiful animal photography, original music and song, and through a fun-filled educational story narrated by a five year old Alaskan boy, we discover the mighty Alaska grizzly and take a really great romp through some of the wildest places in The Last Frontier. Visit giant Alaska grizzlies and their friends including:
Eagles, Dall Sheep, Caribou, Fox, Black Bear, and Sea Otter
The Biggest Bears was photographed by Emmy Award winning wildlife photographer Daniel Zatz. It's been specially made for kids ages 2-8, but also for anyone who loves nature and the wonderful animals alive in our world.
Well, that’s it for this week! I hope you enjoyed the tapes! If you’re looking for more, please check out my page on Archive.org for the full list of digitized media. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message right here or drop a comment below. If you haven’t already, please check out this scenic railroad tour through Alaska or any of my other previous posts here. Thanks so much for checking out this week’s edition of Diptych!
See you soon!
—Forrest
It's a shame about those tapes, but I can't wait to watch these tonight! I love Alaska!
Alaska Is So Pretty!