Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage sits in a geographic bowl, bounded by the Chugach Mountains to the north and east, and by the Cook Inlet to the west and south. With a population of 265,000, it is the largest city in Alaska (41% of the state's population). The majority are Caucasian (approximately 75%), with the remaining 25 percent split between Native Alaskans, Asians, Hispanics and African-Americans.

Anchorage is the commercial center of Alaska and in many ways looks like any other major U.S. city, with shopping malls, housing developments and office buildings (primarily oil and government). There are two military bases nearby as well.

In general, team members should plan for a wide variety of weather. It may be 85 degrees and sunny in Anchorage but cold near glaciers, or it may rain the entire time and be very cold in the mountains.