Every year at the end of August in the Black Rock Desert of northwest Nevada, Black Rock City is built, and for about a week it becomes the third largest city in Nevada, with around 60,000 inhabitants. It is the host city for the annual event called Burning Man and it has all the amenities you’d expect to see in any other city of this size. It has with bars, restaurants, bike shops, clothing boutiques, auto mechanics and recreation centers. But the thing that differentiates this city from other American cities is that nothing at Burning Man is bought or sold, traded or bartered; Black Rock City runs on a gift economy. Every resident is expected to participate, and to bring something to contribute for the common good. What you decide to contribute – that’s up to you.On this episode of Outdoor Explorer host Adam Varrier explores Burning Man. He speaks with Cherie Yanek. She’s the race director for the annual Burning Man Ultramarathon, which takes place in the middle of the week at 5 o’clock in the morning, to beat the mid-day desert heat. In the second half of the show, we hear from the artist Miguel Guzman about the art piece he created along with his partner, Iyvone Khoo, using recycled and biodegradable materials including Mycelium. The sculpture is presented in an area of Burning Man called “Deep Playa," which is open desert, some distance from the tent city that holds the occupants of Black Rock City. The art piece represents the Mayan Rain God, Chaac, and our conversation took place at around 3:00am under a full moon and the stars of the Milky Way galaxy stretching from horizon to horizon across the night sky.HOST: Adam VarrierGUESTS:Cherie Yanek, race director for the annual Burning Man UltramarathonMiguel Guzman and Iyvone Khoo, artistsLINKS:Burning Man websiteBurning Man Ultramarathon 50kMiguel Guzman's Instagram pageIyvone Khoo's websiteBROADCAST: Thursday, September 28th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, September 28th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

What makes an outdoor expedition successful? Most trips in the outdoors, whether one day or two weeks, are enjoyable and fun, that's why Alaskans, even on wet summers like this one, flock to the outdoors. But some outings turn into epics and even tragedy. On this Outdoor Explorer host Paul Twardock talks about what makes a good expedition happen with retired Denali Mountaineering ranger Daryl Miller and current South District Ranger for Denali National Park Tucker Chenoweth. They discuss what made some of their expeditions succeed despite life-threatening weather and what they've learned advising and observing expeditions on Denali.HOST: Paul TwardockGUESTS: Daryl Miller, retired Denali Mountaineering rangerTucker Chenoweth, South District Ranger for Denali National ParkLINKS:Leave No Trace.org: Plan Ahead and PrepareNational Park Service: Climbing DenaliREI: Food PlanningThe Hall of the Mountain King]]>

Alaska author Don Rearden grew up in Southwest Alaska living and observing rural life. His books "Raven's Gift," a novel, and "Without A Paddle," a collection of poems, reflect his Alaska experiences and life. Don also co-authored books featuring two of Alaska's professional military rescuers. Don joins host Paul Twardock to discuss Alaska's culture, history and environment and how they influenced his writing.HOST: Paul TwardockGUEST: Don Rearden, authorLINK:Don Rearden's website]]>

Biking single track trail on mountain bikes has become very popular in Southcentral Alaska. Trails have proliferated and more are planned. Long trails like the Alaska Traverse will help connect communities and increase non-motorized recreational opportunities. In the Matanuska Susitna Valley and Chugiak/Eagle River individuals and groups are busy building and maintaining trails. On this Outdoor Explorer host PaulTwardock welcomes Will Taygan with the Chugach Mountain Bike Riders and Rene Dervaes with the Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers to discuss what is happening in Mat-Su Valley and Chugiak/Eagle River and the upcoming Alaska Mountain BikeSummit.HOST: Paul TwardockGUESTS:Will Taygan, Chugach Mountain Bike RidersRene Dervaes, Valley Mountain Bikers and HikersLINKS:Chugach Mountain Bike RidersValley Mountain Bikers and HikersAlaska TrailsSingle Track Advocates]]>

Joe Kurtak embodies a modern day Alaskan. He was raised at a remote mining camp in eastern California, went to college, then came to Alaska in 1971 for a summer job. He quickly fell for everything the Great Land had to offer, especially its geology. Joe worked for 40 years mapping Alaska's geology while working for both private firms and the federal government. Along the way he also pursued his love of skiing and sea kayaking. On this Outdoor Explorer Joe shares his wealth of knowledge of Alaska's geology, including Prince William Sound, and some of his many adventures with host Paul Twardock. HOST: Paul TwardockGUEST: Joe KurtakLINKS:"Mine in the Sky : The History of California's Pine Creek Tungsten Mine and the People Who Were Part of It""Of Rock and Ice: An Explorer's Guide to the Geology of Prince William Sound, Alaska"Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol]]>

On the next Outdoor Explorer our guest is Nicole Chamberlain and the Meowtaineer, Petra the Adventure Cat. Petra is a Siberian Forest Cat, well-adapted to the cold, and Nicole has taken her on many adventures on the snow and the water. They recently spent time at the Sheldon House in Denali and Petra became the first cat to ski on the Ruth Glacier.HOST: Lisa KellerGUESTS:Petra the Adventure Cat, meowtaineerNicole Chamberlain, meowtaineer guideLINKS:Petra and Nicole’s InstagramPetra and Nicole’s TikTokPetra and Nicole’s WebsiteSheldon Chalet WebsiteBROADCAST: Thursday, August 10th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, August 10th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

HOST: Paul TwardockGUESTS:Jessica Cherry, editor of "Wheels on Ice"Andromeda Romano-Lax, author, contributor to "Wheels on Ice"LINKS:"Wheels on Ice"More than a century of tales from the trails in ‘Wheels on Ice: Stories of Cycling in Alaska’BROADCAST: Thursday, August 3rd, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, August 3rd, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

On this Outdoor Explorer we're joined by Alison Mariella Dèsir, author of "Running While Black: Finding Freedom in a Sport That Wasn’t Built for Us." Her book unveils the running movement as being centered around and represented by White people, not only ignoring the foundational work and performances of Black distance runners but also not acknowledging that running while Black can be dangerous.HOST: Lisa KellerGUEST: Alison Mariella DèsirLINKS:Alison Mariella Dèsir websiteHarlem RunRun4AllWomenThe Running Industry Diversity CoalitionRun Alaska Trails POC Trail Running and Adventure RetreatSkinny Raven Book SigningOut & Back with Alison Mariella Dèsir]]>

Many Alaskans have helped preserve the open spaces we enjoy. Their hard work, dedication and perseverance gave us our state parks, trails and environmental standards that we enjoy. This Outdoor Explorer features Peg Tileston. Peg has been active in organizations including the Alaska Center for the Environment (now called the Alaska Center), the Alaska Women’s Environmental Network, the Alaska Conservation Foundation, the Alaska Water Resource Board, Trustees for Alaska, the Alaska and Alaska Common Ground. She has also been on the board of Chugach Electric Association, the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Council, and the Anchorage Recycling Task Force to name a few. She has received numerous awards including being inducted into the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame. Along the way she explored much of Alaska. She joins host Paul Twardock to discuss her many contributions and adventures.HOST: Paul TwardockGUEST: Peg TilestonLINKS:Alaska Women's Hall of FameAlaska CenterAlaska Common GroundAlaska Conservation FoundationTrustees for AlaskaBROADCAST: Thursday, July 20th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, July 20th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

The bike race formerly known as the Fireweed 400 is back. Now simply called “The Fireweed,” this 200-mile race makes its comeback this weekend taking riders from Sheep Mountain Lodge to Valdez! This week on Outdoor Explorer, we talk with president of the board of directors, Sara Wendling about all things race details and catch up with the a few members of the 1wheel1ders, a unicycle team that will be participating in this years race.HOST: Martha RosensteinGUESTS: Sara Wendling, President, Fireweed Board of Directors1wheel1ders, unicycle teamLINKS: Fireweed race websiteFacebookInstagramBROADCAST: Thursday, July 13th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, July 13th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

People come to Alaska for a variety of reasons. Award-winning photographer Mark Kelley came with the hopes of meeting a whale, and almost 50 years later, he’s still here. On this episode of Outdoor Explorer host Martha Rosenstein and Kelley talk about the challenges of photographing wildlife in Alaska, turning his passion into a career and what it’s like to return to a special spot year after year to observe and photograph bears.HOST: Martha RosensteinGUEST: Mark KellyLINKS:Mark Kelly PhotographyFacebookInstagramBROADCAST: Thursday, June 1st, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, June 1st, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

On the this Outdoor Explorer, host Lisa Keller is joined by Tom Walker, author of the book "The Wanderer." In less than 6 months, Wolf 258 traversed almost 3000 miles in Alaska and Canada. His amazing journey, documented through his GPS tracking collar, is the subject of a story that mixes what we know about his movement with speculation on what he was doing during his travels.HOST: Lisa KellerGUEST: Tom Walker, authorLINK:"The Wanderer: An Alaska Wolf’s Final Journey" at Mountaineers BooksBROADCAST: Thursday, May 25th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, May 25th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

In March, Ben Americus accomplished many firsts on the Linkup: the first late winter completion, the first to ski off the peaks and the first to complete the Linkup since Ptarmigan Peak was added as the 13th summit over 5000 feet. This week on Outdoor Explorer Ben joins host Lisa Keller to talk about how he added his name to Chugach Front Linkup history.HOST: Lisa KellerGUEST: Ben AmericusLINKS:Chugach Front Linkup websiteAlaska Public Media Outdoor Explorer, May 2018, “The 12-Peak Challenge and Chugach Trails.”Alaska Public Media Outdoor Explorer, October 25, 2019, “Imagine hiking all the tallest summits of the Chugach Front Range in one trip. These people did it this year.”Alaska Public Media Outdoor Explorer, March 10, 2020, “Sophia Tidler’s Winter Solstice Adventure.”]]>

Summer in Alaska brings a plethora of outdoor adventure opportunities. Boating, hiking, climbing, fishing, wildlife viewing, fishing, and hunting ramp up and so do the calls for help. Southcentral Alaska is fortunate to have good search and rescue capabilities compared to most of the country. However much of it is provided by volunteer organizations. This Outdoor Explorer has representatives from the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group, the Alaska Search and Rescue Dogs, the Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol, and the Alaska Incident Management Team. With host Paul Twardock they will discuss their roles, how search and rescue works in Alaska, how to volunteer, and most importantly how avoid needing a rescue.HOST: Paul TwardockGUESTS: Erin Boklage, Alaska Search and Rescue DogsMark Miraglia, Alaska Mountain Rescue GroupAmy Holman, Alaska Incident Management TeamZach Liller, Anchorage Nordic Ski PatrolLINKS:Alaska Incident Management TeamAnchorage Nordic Ski PatrolAlaska Mountain Rescue GroupAlaska Search and Rescue DogsAlaska Search and Rescue AssociationBROADCAST: Thursday, May 11th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, May 11th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

What was it like to be a field scientist in Alaska during the 1970s and 80's? John Schoen spent 20 years working for Alaska's Department of Fish and Game as a scientist studying Sitka black-tailed deer, mountain goats and brown bears in the Tongass National Forest. John's research influenced the prevailing thoughts on the effects of clearcutting on deer habitat, and added to our understanding of Brown Bears importance to their ecosystem. His strong conservation ethic, influenced by Aldo Leopold and others, melded with science and advocacy continued after he left Fish and Game to work for Audubon Alaska. John is a wealth of knowledge for anyone interested in field science, the Tongass temperate rainforest, and conservation. John joins host Paul Twardock to discuss his fascinating career and memoir titled "Tongass Odyssey: Seeing the Forest Ecosystem Through the Politics of Trees, A Biologist's Memoir."HOST: Paul TwardockGUEST:John Schoen, author, former Fish and Game field scientistLINKS:"Tongass Odyssey: Seeing the Forest Ecosystem Through the Politics of Trees: ABiologists Memoir"More information about John SchoenSoutheast Alaska Conservation CouncilThe Landmark Trees ProjectAudubon AlaskaPrince William Sound Natural History SymposiumBROADCAST: Thursday, May 4th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, May 4th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

HOST: Paul TwardockGUESTS:Arlene Blum, mountaineer, scientistPam Miller, Alaska Community Action on ToxicsLINKS:Arlene Blum websiteAlaska Community Action on ToxicsGreen Science Policy InstituteBROADCAST: Thursday, April 27th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, April 27th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

HOST: Lisa KellerGUEST: Harlow Robinson, executive director of Healthy Futures and the Alaska Sports Hall of FameLINKS:Alaska Sports Hall of FameHealthy Futures 100 Miles in May]]>

HOST: Lisa KellerGUEST: Holly Brooks, two-time Olympian and licensed professional counselorLINKS:Holly Brooks’ websiteAlaska Eating Disorders Alliance with link to “Winning at All Costs: Breaking the Silience on Athletes and EatingDisorders”Project Red-S]]>

HOST: Lisa KellerGUESTS: Steve Cleary, Executive Director of Alaska TrailsDonnie Hayes, Director of Parks and Recreation for the Fairbanks North Star BoroughMark Kimerer,]]>

The first migratory birds are showing up and bear tracks have been sighted in the Chugach. That means it's time to dust off the backpacks, boats, and tents and start planning for summer! Join host Paul Twardock and guests on this week's Outdoor Explorer to get a start on summer.]]>

HOST: Paul TwardockGUESTS: Randy Dowd, Executive Director and founder of Onward and UpwardOnward and Upward StaffLINKS:Onward and Upward websiteFacebookInstagramYoutubeBROADCAST: Thursday, March 16th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, March 16th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

HOST: Lisa KellerGUESTS: Beth Nordlund, executive director Anchorage Park FoundationJoe Connolly, chair of the Glen Alps Road Service Area Board of SupervisorsLINKS:Anchorage Park FoundationGlen Alps Board of SupervisorsBallot information]]>

HOST: Paul TwardockGUEST: Steve Mock, Denali Rescue Volunteers, the Alex Lowe Foundation, and the Khumbu Climbing CenterLINKS:Denali Rescue VolunteersKhumbu Climbing CenterDenali Climbing HistoryAlex Lowe Foundation]]>

HOST: Adam VerrierGUESTS:Sara Studebaker-Hall, Director of Operations at TeamUSA BiathlonZach Hall, Team Manager and Head Coach at the Soldier Hollow Olympic Legacy ProgramLINKS:Biathlon AlaskaAnchorage Biathlon ClubNordic Skiing Association of Anchorage: BiathlonTeam USA: Biathlon]]>

HOST: Lisa KellerGUEST: Beth Bragg, former sports editor at the Anchorage Daily News]]>

HOST: Adam VarrierGUEST: Jim BurkholderLINKS:Kincaid Park Web PageKincaid Park Ski Trail MapBROADCAST: Thursday, February 9th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: February 9th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

HOST: Lisa KellerGUESTS: Sally Burkholder, the Alaska Ski for Women co-founderMolly Mylius, Alaska Ski for Women race directorBROADCAST: Thursday, January 26th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, January 26th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

HOST: Paul TwardockGUESTS: Dan Osborne, Dick Jabonowski, Ed Minot, Steve O'Brien, Tom Kensler, and MikeSalleeLINKS:Denali Climbing HistoryBROADCAST: Thursday, February 2nd, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, February 2nd, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

What draws us to the outdoors? Marybeth Holleman is an Alaskan writer who's new book of poetry, titled tender gravity, expresses many reasons. Marybeth is a long time Alaskan whose works include The Heart of the Sound and Among Wolves. Her collection of poems are accessible and cover everything from moss to comets and from her garden to the Brooks Range. In her interview with host Paul Twardock she discusses how loss, exploration, activism and day to day life intertwine with her poetry to create this deep and lovely collection.

On the next Outdoor Explorer, the first part of a continuing series of stories about Title IX, the historic legislation passed 50 years ago that changed the landscape of women’s sports. We'll learn about the start and evolution of Title IX and you’ll hear from Chloe Ivanoff, who is bringing her love of wrestling to the girls of Alaska.

HOST: Lisa KellerGUESTS:Chris Reynolds, treasurer of Friends of the Stewart Public TrailKelly Becker, a long-time trail adjacent homeownerLINKS:Recreation Access in Anchorage Vol 1“Judge rules that Anchorage’s historic Stewart Trail is open to the public” - The Alaska LandmineFriends of Stewart Public Trail Facebook page“Road rage AK” - Craig Medred ]]>

HOST: Paul TwardockGUEST: Tom ChoateLINKS: Tom Choate BiographyBROADCAST: Thursday, December 1st, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, December 1st, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

HOST: Paul TwardockGUESTS: Ricky Geese: Director, Division of Parks and Outdoor RecreationZachary Babb: Program Manager, Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA)Alaska; NPSLINKS:Statewide Outdoor Recreation PlanDivision of Parks and Outdoor RecreationBarneys Sports ChaletHoarding MarmotPlay It Again SportsREI AnchorageBROADCAST: Thursday, November 17th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, November 17th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

On this next Outdoor Explorer, our guests are Jeff Landfield and Paxson Woelber from The Alaska Landmine. The two journalists have reported extensively on disputed access to public lands in Anchorage. Our conversation focused on the history and battle for access to Chugach State Park from the Stewart Trail.]]>

On this Outdoor Explorer, we’ll go for a walk with a man known as The Walking Monk, because he’s walked across North America five separate times and he recently published a book about the people he’s met along the way. Join host Adam Verrier on Outdoor Explorer tohear our discussion about the joys and pleasures of taking a good long walk.]]>

Anchorage's Off the Chain Bicycle Collective is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization aiming to increase bicycle ridership, awareness, and safety. Started as a UAA bike club Off the Chain is housed in a full, but well organized, workspace in Spenard. Open a few evenings a week the shop has all the tools and most parts to fix a bike and volunteers that teach you how to do it. Off the Chain also sells used bikes, and accepts bikes as donations, as a way to cover their costs. Low cost and fun, the organization also offers clinics and outreach all meant to make biking affordable and accessible. On this show host, Paul Twardock visits the shop, with his bike, and gets a tour of the facility, along with some bike repair advice! ]]>

ur guests for this show are Laura Marcus and Zach Brown, the founders and co-executive directors of the Tidelines Institute. On two campuses along Icy Strait in Southeast Alaska, Tidelines Institute offers a variety of programs from a six-month immersive gap year experience to short courses lasting one to three weeks to community workshops. They also host research scientists and a residency program for anyone seeking to advance knowledge, beauty, justice, health,or sustainability. A key piece of the Tidelines Institute experience is being outdoors working, harvesting, hiking, and paddling. Laura and Zach both have unique life paths that led them to collaborate on an environmental leadership and science education experience in one of the most remote and beautiful locations in the world.HOST: Lisa KellerGUESTS: Laura Marcus and Zach Brown, the founders and co-executive directors of the TidelinesInstituteLINKS:Tidelines Institute Facebook page Tidelines InstituteBROADCAST: Thursday, October 27th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, October 27th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT]]>

On this Outdoor Explorer, we’ll talk to Alice Tower Knapp, who grew up in Anchorage, skiing on the local ski trails and participating in events organized by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage (NSAA). She eventually ended up in the Middlebury College Athletics Hall of Fame, and was named to the US Ski Team. She recently published a book about the NSAA, called “On Track!”. The book focuses on the history of the organization, its role in the broader community, the advocacy and events organized by the group, and the individuals who have made the NSAA what it is today. Our conversation was recorded while out for a walk during a steady, cold rain at Russian Jack Springs Park one afternoon, soon before the arrival of the first snowfall of the winter.]]>

On this show, our guest is Rick Steves. If you’ve watched public television in the last 20 years, you likely know him from his travel shows Rick Steves Europe and Travel with Rick Steves. Our discussion covers how he turned his passion for travel into a business as well as climate change and travel, why it’s important to say yes to travel opportunities, and his new show The Art of Europe.]]>

HOST: Lisa KellerGUEST: Beth Nordlund, executive director of Anchorage Park FoundationLINKS:Anchorage Park FoundationRegister for the Moose Loop Virtual RaceBROADCAST: Thursday, September 15th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, September 15th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKTSUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via:iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast]]>

Orienteering is the sport of using a map and compass to navigate the outdoors. The Arctic Orienteering Club in Anchorage organizes orienteering races and events during the summer months that are open to everyone, competitors, or those just out to learn new trails and open spaces. This Outdoor Explorer introduces the sport, discusses how new technology and mapping are influencing orienteering, and we learn from Olympic nordic skier Scott Patterson what it's like to be a beginner. Also on the show are Jen Jolliff, author of Fogunner, and Mike Robinson, Arctic Orienteering Club board president.LINKS:Arctic Orienteering ClubScott Patterson's bioFogrunner by Jen Jolliff]]>

Orienteering is the sport of using a map and compass to navigate the outdoors. The Arctic Orienteering Club in Anchorage organizes orienteering races and events during the summer months that are open to everyone, competitors, or those just out to learn new trails and open spaces. This Outdoor Explorer introduces the sport, discusses how new technology and mapping are influencing orienteering, and we learn from Olympic nordic skier Scott Patterson what it’s like to be a beginner. Also on the show are Jen Jolliff, author of Fogunner, and Mike Robinson, Arctic Orienteering Club board president.LINKS:Arctic Orienteering ClubScott Patterson’s bioFogrunner by Jen Jolliff]]>

Our guest for this show is Jen Aschoff, a geology professor at UAA who recently became the tenth person and the second woman to complete the Chugach 120. The Chugach 120 is the 120 peaks in the Chugach State Park with a prominence of 500 feet or more. Unlike the Chugach Linkup, which links all front range 12 peaks over 5000 feet in one go, the Chugach 120 can only be achieved over a period of years. It entails some relatively easy walk-up summits but also some technical climbs, including rock and ice climbing, with long approaches that may include glacier travel. Jen looks at the Chugach 120 as a personal challenge that anyone who likes to hike can work up to; she will share how to get started and connected to the peak bagger community.Peakbagger “List of Lists,” listing peaks worldwideChugach State Park 120 Peak List (official Mountaineering Club list)Mountaineering Club of Alaska]]>

What is it like to be an avalanche specialist? A conservationist? A wilderness traveler? A Buddhist? Brad Meiklejohn is a long-time Alaskan who has written a new book titled The Wild Trails that explores these topics and more. On this show Brad discusses the challenges and rewards of helping others and the natural world, including his work on restoring the Eklutna watershed by removing an old dam by working with the Eklutna People and others. His insights on recreation, conservation, and self-growth are based on his work as an avalanche forecaster and educator, co-founder of the American Packrafting Association, his role as the Alaska State Director of the Conservation Fund, and his many significant trips to the Arctic and other wild places. ]]>

Our guests for this show are congressional candidates Nick Begich and Mary Peltola. Your host, Lisa, reached out to the Sarah Palin campaign three times but never received a response. In these interviews with Nick and Mary, she asked questions sourced from four leaders in the outdoor industry in Alaska: Mary Goddard of Sustainable Southeast Partnership, Steve Cleary of Alaska Trails, Lee Hart of Alaska Outdoor Alliance, and Kikkan Randall of Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage. They also chatted about their own personal experiences in the outdoors, what makes the Alaska outdoors special, and where they are happiest in the Alaska outdoors.]]>

• A commission in progress of Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, on the easel near Reno, photo by Alli Harvey. The happy artist pictured with the Colorado aspen in autumn commission, photo by Wes Hoskins The Airstream boneyard at P&S Trailer Service in Ohio, photo by Alli Harvey. The newly minted Alli Harvey Mobile Art Studio in New Mexico, photo by Alli Harvey. Our guest for this show is Alli Harvey, outdoor columnist for the Anchorage Daily News and landscape artist. The last time she was on Outdoor Explorer she shared that she would soon pick up her new custom-built Airstream trailer that would serve as a mobile art studio. In May, she headed out to Ohio to see her new mobile art studio for the first time and drive it back to Alaska. On the way home, she hit some of the most beautiful country in the Lower 48, painting outside as she went and even dropping off commissioned art pieces as she finished them. HOST: Lisa Keller SEGMENTS: Segment 1: Alli Harvey, traveling artist LINKS: Alli Harvey Art websiteAlli Harvey Art Facebook pageAlli Harvey Art InstagramP & S Trailer ServiceWood & Locks (interior design)Palmer Museum Camping Apps: Campendium, best for RV sitesGreat for “pull off to the side of the road” style boondocking; works without cell serviceFederal public land fee camping (and more); great for planning longer stays in protected wild areasLike Airbnb but home/landowners rent out their land for campersA membership-only network of people providing free boondocking for RVs and trailers BROADCAST: Thursday, July 28th, 2022. 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, July 28th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

A Youth Emplyment in Parks crew. Photo by Paul Twardock. A Youth Emplyment in Parks crew. Photo by Paul Twardock. The Youth Emplyment in Parks logo. A Youth Emplyment in Parks crew. Photo by Paul Twardock. A YEP crew member. Summer camps are ubiquitous in Alaska. Though few offer the chance to get paid to learn new skills and build a resume. Anchorage’s Youth Employment in Parks (YEP) provides that opportunity for Anchorage high schoolers ages 16-19. YEP is a program of the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Department in partnership with the Anchorage Parks Foundation and Alaska Trails. Crews work on trails, learn to work in a team and about land management, remove invasive plants and plant trees, and have fun! This past June a crew was working on improving the trails around University Lake, a popular dog-friendly park. Host Paul Twardock spent some time with them and their supervisors learning about what they were doing and learning. HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Annie Dubois, Brant Hylinski, Kaytherine Pugh, EnzioRangel, Nathan Worden, and Ben Ervin LINKS: Youth Employment in Parks (YEP) BROADCAST: Thursday, July 21st, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, July 21st, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Jody Potts-Joseph Jody Potts-Joseph, Arctic Wild Alaska Indigenous Peoples have been living, playing, and thriving in Alaska for thousands of years. However outdoor recreation and tourism are generally perceived as being primarily a white person’s game. Many people are trying to change that by encouraging, many times by example, people of color to venture outdoors. Jody Potts-Joseph is Han Gwich’in and grew up in Eagle Village. She is a dog musher, a wilderness guide, founded “Native Youth Outdoors,” and is a North Face Explorer Fund Council member all while living in rural Alaska. On this Outdoor Explorer, we talk with Jody about her life and efforts to diversify the outdoors. HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Jody Potts-Joseph, founder of Native Youth Outdoors LINKS: Arctic Wild Alaska Wilderness League Data for Indigenous Justice North Face Explorer Fund Teton Gravity: Indigenous Outdoor Organizations BROADCAST: Thursday, June 2nd, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, June 2nd, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Walter Harper, photo courtesy NPS The view from the spotting scope of a busy day on the headwall, photo courtesy of NPS Photo, Chris Erickson Tucker Chenowith ice climbing, photo courtesy NPS Photo, Kakiko Ramos-Leon View of tents at the 14,200-foot camp looking at Mount Foraker, photo courtesy of Menno Boermans. Denali, by Emily Mesner photo courtesy of NPS Denali National Park and Preserve, website cover image courtesy of NPS Denali National Park and Preserve, established in 1917, is Alaska’s most iconic park. Our guests in this show are Sharon Stiteler, the park’s Public Affairs Officer, and Tucker Chenowith, the park’s South District Ranger. As the park is opening for summer tourism and the mountain is hosting its first climbers of the season, Sharon and Tucker will cover ground from the first successful summit of Denali in 1913 to the impact of the Pretty Rocks landslide on travel in the park this summer.  HOST: Lisa Keller SEGMENTS: Segment 1: Sharon Stiteler, Public Affairs Officer for Denali National Park and Preserve Tucker Chenowith, South District Ranger for Denali National Park and Preserve LINKS: Denali National Park and PreserveWalter HarperPretty Rocks landslideDenali DispatchesDenali Kennels BROADCAST: Thursday, May 26th, 2022. 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, May 26th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

iking Resurection Pass by John Wolfe. Skiing to the Skookum Glacier, byJohnWolfe Rebecca Wolfe, credit Gretchen Nelson. John Wolfe, credit Anne Raup. Becca Wolfe and Helen Nienhueser, by John Wolfe Alaska Adventure 55 Ways Cover 50 years ago the first edition of 55 Ways to the Wilderness in Southcentral Alaska was published, written by Helen Nienhueser and Nancy Simmerman. After five editions Helen’s son John Wolfe and granddaughter Rebecca Wolfe are following in Helen’s footsteps and publishing a new version titled Alaska Adventure 55 Ways: Southcentral Wilderness Explorations. The book will be available in June 1st. Helen, John, and Becca join host Paul Twardock to talk about the genesis of the series and the latest version. Not only will they introduce us to the new book, but they’ll share about researching and writing it as a family. Finally, we’ll learn a little about the 4th annual Prince William Sound Natural History Symposium on May 23rd.   HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Helen Nienhueser, John Wolfe, and Rebecca Wolfe LINKS: Alaska Adventure 55 Ways Southcentral Wilderness Explorations 55 Ways on Instagram Mountaineers Books Outerspacial mapping app Alaska Huts Alaska Long Trail Prince William Sound Natural History Symposium BROADCAST: Thursday, May 19th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, May 19th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Dave Johnson and family camping on Curry Ridge, Denali State Park. Photo courtesy of Pete Robinson. Adventure Journal Art Dave Johnston has had many firsts: the first winter ascent of Denali, the first winter ascent of Mt Foraker, and the first Denali State Park Ranger being just three.  He also has climbed or visited the 50 highest peaks in the U.S. with his family, and in the winter. He and his wife Cari Sayre and son Galen lived off the grid near Talkeetna and were a big part of many of Dave’s adventures, including summitting Denali when Galen was 11!  Dave, Cari, and Galen join us on this episode of Outdoor Explorer to share some of their stories.  HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: –Dave Johnston, Cari Sayre, and Galen Johnston LINKS: Denali Climbing History Project Jutebox: Dave Johnson Bio and Interview Book: Minus 148 Alaska Hall of Fame account Adventure Journal State Park History BROADCAST: Thursday, May 12th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, May 12th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Hannah Halvorsen (r) accepts the Trajan Langdon Award from Nina Kemppel (l), photo courtesy Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. Beth Bragg accepts the Joe Floyd Award, photo courtesy Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. Jeremy Lane and supporters, photo courtesy Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. Scott Patterson accepts the Pride of Alaska Award, photo courtesy Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. Lydia Jacoby accepts the Pride of Alaska Award, photo courtesy Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. Jeremy Lane of Point Lay accepts the Trajan Langdon Award, photo courtesy Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. 2022 Alaska Sports Hall of Fame The Alaska Sports Hall of Fame is in its 16th year honoring Alaska’s sports community. This year’s annual award ceremony was held last month, the first ceremony held since the start of the pandemic. The class of 2020 – Marcie Trent and Matt Carle in the Individual category, The Yukon 800 in the event category, and the UAA hockey upset of Boston College in 1991 in the moment category – became the class of 2022. Harlow Robinson, executive director of the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame, joined me for the first time since the fall of 2020, to chat about this year’s Directors’ Awards and the Healthy Futures annual fundraiser 100 Miles in May. The Directors’ Awards include the Pride of Alaska Award for consistent excellence in athletic competition, the Joe Floyd Award for significant and lasting contribution to Alaska through sports, and the Trajan Langdon Award for leadership, sportsmanship, and inspiration. The Healthy Futures program 100 Miles in May is an annual fundraiser that encourages Alaskans to get out and move during the month of May. HOST: Lisa Keller SEGMENTS: Segment 1: Harlow Robinson, founding board member and Executive Director of the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame LINKS: Alaska Sports Hall of FameOutdoor Explorer Episode 2020/2022 Hall of Fame inducteesHealthy Futures 100 Miles in May BROADCAST: Thursday, May 5th, 2022. 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, May 5th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

A bar-tailed godwit. Photo courtesy of Steve Maslowski. Dan Ruthrauff Bird migration is one of the natural wonders of the world.  Every spring millions of birds stream into Alaska from all over the globe to feed, mate, and raise their young. Their stories include a hummingbird’s journey to Florida and back, a whimbrel’s commute to and from Chile, and the northern wheatear trip from Africa. Their ability to navigate and endure makes them the ultimate endurance athletes. Dan Ruthrauff, a USGS wildlife biologist with the Alaska Science Center, discusses bird migration biology.  We’ll also learn about some of the shorebird festivals in Alaska including the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival with Melanie Dufour. HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: -Dan Ruthrauff, a USGS wildlife biologist with the Alaska Science Center-Melanie Dufour, a coordinator with the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival LINKS: Dan Ruthrauff, USGS Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival Yakutat Tern Festival Audubon Alaska Alaska Fish and Game Birding information Prince William Sound Natural History Symposium BROADCAST: Thursday, April 28th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday, April 28th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

There’s a lot less sea ice in the Arctic, and only 1% of it is old ice, which is thicker and more resilient. (Image: NOAA Climate.gov) In this Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, file photo, flames burn up a giant tree as part of the Windy Fire in the Trail of 100 Giants grove in Sequoia National Forest, Calif. California firefighters battled fast-growing forest fires threatening giant sequoias and small communities in the Sierra Nevada on Monday, Sept. 27, and worked to fully surround a suspected arson wildfire that destroyed homes the week before. More than 2,000 firefighters were on the lines of the Windy Fire burning on the Tule River Indian Reservation and in Sequoia National Forest, including Giant Sequoia National Monument. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) On July 12, 2011, crew from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy retrieved a canister dropped by parachute from a C-130 during the ICESCAPE mission, or “Impacts of Climate on Ecosystems and Chemistry of the Arctic Pacific Environment.” (Photo by Kathryn Hansen/NASA) On this show, in celebration of Earth Day, we hear from several guests about climate change and its impact on the sports and recreational activities that so many of us love. Our guests on this show are Tim Hinterberer, Toby Schwoerer, Rosie Brennan, and Dave Atcheson. Tim is a volunteer with the Citizen’s Climate Lobby. Toby is an accomplished cross-country skier and a research assistant at the International Arctic Research Center. Rosie is a two-time Olympic cross country skier, and Dave is an author, a hunter, and sport fisher. We cover how the climate in Alaska is changing, what these changes mean for all Alaskans, and what we as individuals can do to help combat climate change. HOST: Martha Rosenstein GUESTS: Tim Hinterberer – a volunteer with the Citizen’s Climate LobbyRosie Brennan – a two-time Olympic skierToby Schwoerer – a skier and a Research Assistant Professor of Natural Resource Economics at the International Arctic Research CenterDave Atcheson – an author, hunter, and sport fisher LINKS: Citizen’s Climate Lobby – Anchorage FB Page IARC Rosie’s website Dave’s website BROADCAST: Thursday, April 21st, 2022. 2:00 pm – 3:00 p.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, April 21st, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Millett Keller on Mount Marathon, photo courtesy Lisa Keller. Millett Scissorhands Keller article, courtesy Lisa Keller. Millett Keller, far left, viewing perfect tracks in the Cariboo Mountains, photo courtesy Lisa Keller. This is the second of two interviews with Millett Keller, Lisa’s dad. Pat and Millet Keller arrived in Anchorage in 1963 from Palo Alto, California. They stayed for 30 years and in the process, instilled a great love of Alaska and the outdoors to Lisa and her brother. Along the way, they both were parts of key moments in Alaska history. In the first episode of this two-part series, you’ll hear about Millet’s early life in Montana, his 1964 earthquake experience, and his partnership with John Browne, the former CEO of BP. Together, they developed a crucial oil field reservoir model of the North Slope. HOST: Lisa Keller SEGMENTS: Segment 1: Millet Keller LINKS: Talk of Alaska: Remembering Don Young“Hickel Comeback Bid Angers Republicans”Heli-Skiing in the Cariboo Mountains BROADCAST: Thursday, April 7th, 2022. 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, April 7th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Millett Keller, screenshot from the interview. Pat and Millett Keller with baby Lisa, in their Turnagain neighborhood one year after the 1964 earthquake, photo courtesy Lisa Keller. Millett Keller, with his grandchildren at Lake Tahoe in 2008, photo by Lisa Keller. Our guest for this show is Millett Keller, Lisa’s dad. Pat and Millet Keller arrived in Anchorage in 1963 from Palo Alto, California. They stayed for 30 years and in the process, instilled a great love of Alaska and the outdoors to Lisa and her brother. Along the way, they both were parts of key moments in Alaska history. In the first episode of this two-part series, you’ll hear about Millet’s early life in Montana, his 1964 earthquake experience, and his partnership with John Browne, the former CEO of BP. Together, they developed a crucial oil field reservoir model of the North Slope. HOST: Lisa Keller SEGMENTS: Segment 1: Millet Keller LINKS: 1964 Alaska EarthquakeBiography Lord John Browne BROADCAST: Thursday, March 31st, 2022. 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday, March 31st, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Amy Bushatz, photo courtesy Amy Bushatz. Heather Helzer, photo by Andre Horton. The Humans Outside medal, photo courtesy of Amy Bushatz Turnagain Training kids’ duathlon start, photo courtesy Heather Helzer. Virtual Race Across Alaska Winter Challenge, image courtesy Heather Helzer On this Outdoor Explorer, we’ll have two guests who are inspiring people to get out and move. Heather Helzer, the founder of the Virtual Race Across Alaska Winter Challenge, and Amy Bushatz, host of the podcast Humans Outside, will share their enthusiasm for fun challenges that will motivate you to keep moving in the outdoors, all year long and regardless of the weather. HOST: Lisa Keller SEGMENTS: Segment 1: Heather Helzer, founder of the Virtual Race Across Alaska Winter Challenge Segment 2: Amy Bushatz, host of the podcast “Humans Outside” LINKS: Turnagain TrainingVirtual Race Across Alaska Winter Challenge Facebook pageHumans Outside podcastHumans Outside ChallengeHumans Outside InstagramHumans Outside Facebook BROADCAST: Thursday, March 24th, 2022. 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday, March 24th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Karina Movement Class Photo: Paul Twardock Yukon Classroom by Paul Twardock Snow Science by Paul Twardock Sea Kayaking by Paul Twardock Map Reading PWS by Paul Twardock. Alaska has a number of high-quality university outdoor degree programs that benefit from the great experiential learning Alaska’s mountains, oceans, rivers, and history and cultures have to offer. Starting in the ’60s and ’70s with Alaska Community College, now University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), and Alaska Methodist University, now Alaska Pacific University (APU), the programs have evolved as the outdoor profession has grown. This Outdoor Explorer welcomes representatives from APU, UAA, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Prince William Sound College, and the University of Alaska Southeast.  They’ll describe their programs and discuss the value of an outdoor education degree.  HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Eeva Latosuo:  Alaska Pacific University Benjamin Rush: Prince William Sound College TJ Miller:  University of Alaska Anchorage Peggy Keiper: University of Alaska Fairbanks Mark Oldmixon: University of Alaska Fairbanks Forest Wagner: University of Alaska Southeast LINKS: Alaska Pacific University Outdoor Studies: Undergraduate APU MS in Outdoor and Environmental Education Prince William Sound College Outdoor Leadership University of Alaska Anchorage Health, Science, PE and Recreation University of Alaska Fairbanks Sports and Recreation Business University of Alaska Southeast Outdoor Studies BROADCAST: Thursday, March 17th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday, March 17th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Mary Goddard, Regional Catalyst for Regenerative Tourism with the Sustainable Southeast Partnership, photo courtesy Mary Goddard. Lee Hart, Executive Director of Alaska Outdoor Alliance, photo courtesy Alaska Outdoor Alliance, photo courtesy Lee Hart. Sarah Leonard, President & CEO, Alaska Travel Industry Association. Last fall when Lisa was interviewing Lee Hart, Founder and Executive Director of the Alaska Outdoor Alliance, they briefly touched on the concept of regenerative tourism. She had only heard the term in passing before that, during one of the Alliance’s Lunch and Learn series, and wanted to know more. Regenerative tourism is deeply rooted in indigenous values and knowledge systems. Around the world, indigenous communities have been negatively impacted by tourism; their lands have been compromised and their culture has been expected to conform to colonial influence. But there is a big change happening now, with the influencers in Alaska tourism promoting a vision of a more authentic and reflective tourism experience in our state. Our guests for this show are Mary Goddard, Regional Catalyst for Regenerative Tourism with the Sustainable Southeast Partnership, Lee Hart, Executive Director of the Alaska Outdoor Alliance, and Sarah Leonard, President & CEO of the Alaska Travel Industry Association. Together, they’ll lay out the present and future of regenerative tourism in Alaska, led by Alaska Native communities, joined in common interest with travel and outdoor recreation groups. HOST: Lisa Keller SEGMENTS: Segment 1: Mary Goddard, Regional Catalyst for Regenerative Tourism with the Sustainable Southeast Partnership Lee Hart, Founder and Executive Director of Alaska Outdoor Alliance Sarah Leonard, President & CEO, Alaska Travel Industry Association LINKS: Sustainable Southeast PartnershipAlaska Travel Industry AssociationSarah Leonard, on LinkedInAlaska Outdoor Alliance websiteAlaska Outdoor Alliance Facebook BROADCAST: Thursday, March 10th, 2022. 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, March 10th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

March is prime time for winter sports in Alaska. The light is back, the snow is good, andAlaskans are ready to enjoy it all. Dog mushing has been part of Alaska as long as people havebeen in Alaska. In March the sport has its best-known event the Iditarod, along with Anchorage’sFur Rondy Open World Championship Sled Dog Race. On this show, we visit Ineka Kennels andthe Forto family to learn a little about mushing life. Besides mushing, nordic skiing is one ofthe oldest winter sports and a popular one in Alaska. Ms. Uff Da was an advice columnist in theNordic Ski Association of Anchorage’s newsletter in the ’90s and ’00s. Alice and Gunnar Knapprecently compiled her columns in a new book titled “The Wit and Wisdom of Ms. Uff Da.”Alice joins us to share some of Ms. Uff Da’s advice, especially useful in these times crowdedtrails. HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Robert and Nicole Forto, mushers with Ineka KennelsAlice Knapp who put together a new book titled “The Wit and Wisdom of Ms. Uff Da.”Darcy Dugan with Ski for Women and Ski For Kids LINKS: Team Ineka Robert Forto Fur Rondy World Championship Sled Dog Race Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage Ski for Kids BROADCAST: Thursday, February 24th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, February 24th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Alli Harvey finishing the 2021 Equinox Marathon in Fairbanks, photo courtesy of Alli Harvey. Alli Harvey, photo courtesy of Alli Harvey. “Hiking Anchorage” currently on display at Stephan Fine Arts Gallery, photo courtesy of Alli Harvey. Our guest for this show is Alli Harvey, outdoor columnist for the Anchorage Daily News. Alli grew up on the East Coast but fell in love with Alaska at a young age when she first learned about the Aurora. As a teenager, she made her first visit to the state. She kept figuring out ways to return, and she was eventually able to move to Anchorage with an internship that became her first professional job with the Alaska Center for the Environment. Although her degree is in Urban Studies, she had also been writing and painting since a young age. Her blog about her adventures eventually led to an offer from the Anchorage Daily News, where she now writes a weekly column that explores the connection between happiness and outdoor adventure. She is also a professional landscape artist and is about to start her next adventure in her new mobile art studio and gallery, an Airstream trailer that she will take on the road to the places she wants to paint. HOST: Lisa Keller SEGMENTS: Segment 1: Alli Harvey, outdoor columnist for the Anchorage Daily News and landscape artist LINKS: Alli Harvey Art websiteAlli Harvey Art Facebook pageAlli Harvey Art InstagramAnchorage Daily News columns BROADCAST: Thursday, February 17th, 2022. 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, February 17th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Team doctor for the 1971 International Everest Expedition.Peter Steel in his home in Whitehorse, from early 2022. Photo: Adam Verrier.Peter Steele in Bhutan, with his family, in the 1960’s. With his wife Sarah, and children Adam and Judith. On this Outdoor Explorer, we’ll go to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, to visit with doctor, mountaineer, and author Peter Steele. Introduced to rock climbing and outdoorsmanship in the 1950s at the Outward Bound school in England, Peter Steele eventually found his way to the Pyrenees, the Alps, and the Himalayas before finding his way, with his family, to the Yukon Territory. As a medical doctor, he walked the length of Bhutan with his family over the course of five and a half months in the 1960s, conducting a goiter study at the invitation of the King – likely the first European to do so. He became friends with Eric Shipton, the most active and well-known European explorer of the Himalayas in the 1930’s and 40’s. And he was the team doctor for the 1971 International Everest Expedition. We’ll discuss Peter’s adventures as a mountaineer, a husband, and a father, his friendship with Eric Shipton, and his observations about large Himalayan mountaineering expeditions.  HOST: Adam Verrier GUESTS: Peter Steele – doctor, mountaineer, and author LINKS: 1971 International Everest Expedition DocumentaryPeter Steele’s author page on Amazon BROADCAST: Thursday, February 10th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday, February 10th 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

John Morton The Winter Olympics begin this week in Beijing, China. To mark the occasion, this week’s guest on Outdoor Explorer will be biathlete, author, and former Alaskan John Morton, who’s participated in ten Olympics: two as an athlete, five more as a coach and team leader, one as Chief of Course for the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002 and, finally, two more as a spectator. He’s got plenty of stories to tell from 50 years’ worth of Olympic experiences and his time stationed at Fort Richardson in the 1960s and ‘70’s in the Army Biathlon program. We’ll discuss changes to the Olympic Games over the years, friendships made across political borders, the art of building ski trails, the power of international competition to bring people together, and Morton’s newest book, “Celebrate Winter”. HOST: Adam Verrier GUESTS: John Morton, Olympian and author of “Celebrate Winter”. LINKS: Morton Trails websiteJohn Morton’s latest book “Celebrate Winter: An Olympian’s Stories of a Life in Nordic Skiing” BROADCAST: Thursday, February 3rd, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, February 3rd 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Seth Kantner’s new book A Thousand Trails Home: Living With Caribou details his life where caribou, hunting, and subsistence are the center of everything. Seth joins host Paul Twardock to discuss his life growing up on the Kobuk River with his parents and brother in a sod house. Living miles from the nearest village and learning to live with what the land provided Seth experiences rich in nature and culture. The changes to the arctic wrought by climate and cultural change have been rapid and incredibly challenging. Seth shares his experiences and insights as someone who has spent his entire life observing and living with those changes. HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Seth Kantner, author of A Thousand Trails Home: Living with caribou LINKS: A Thousand Trails Home: Living with Caribou Proposed Ambler Road PDF Alaska development authority signs land access agreement with Native corporation for Ambler Road project Environmental Justice Atlas BROADCAST: Thursday, January 27th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, January 27th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Service High School cross country running team in 1972.Tom Corbin in 1969.Tom Corbin today.Tom Corbin’s hand-drawn map of the Hillside Ski Trails from the 1970’s. The Anchorage Hillside Ski Trail System is 50 years old this year. The first five-kilometer ski loop was cut by Service High School families and coaches in 1971. Over time, the trail system has gradually expanded to its current 24 kilometers, many of them lighted for night skiing. The ski trails at Hillside are used by hundreds, and sometimes thousands of people each day, for exercise, recreation and sometimes racing, and the trail system’s impact on the local community is difficult to overstate. This week on Outdoor Explorer, we’ll go out skiing with Tom Corbin around some of the original Hillside Ski Trails, and find out how they came to be where they are, and who was responsible for their creation. Corbin was straight out of college and had just been hired as a ski coach at Service High School in 1971 when the original five-kilometer loop was cut through the forest. He’s been directly involved with the trail system ever since. Listen here: HOST: Adam Verrier GUESTS: Tom Corbin, one of the people who built the original Hillside ski trails in 1971. LINKS: Trail maps for all of the ski trails from the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage BROADCAST: Thursday, January 20th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, January 20th 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Daniel Lieberman at home with his dog, Echo, photo courtesy Daniel Lieberman.Exercised book jacket, photo courtesy Daniel Lieberman. If you have read the book “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougal, you are familiar with the name Daniel Lieberman.  Along with his colleague, Dennis Bramble, his research has been used to support the thesis that human beings owe some of our evolutionary success to our ability to run efficiently. Dr. Lieberman is a paleoanthropologist and professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University who has authored books about the human body and the human head. His most recent book, “Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do is Healthy and Rewarding,” explores purposeful exercise as it relates to our evolution and why it is a rarity outside of the developed world. HOST: Lisa Keller SEGMENTS: Segment 1: Daniel Lieberman, professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University andauthor of “Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do is Healthy and Rewarding.” LINKS: Exercised book from Harvard.edu‘Exercised’ Explains Why It Can Be Hard To Commit To Working Out — And Why We Should from NPR BROADCAST: Thursday, January 13th, 2022. 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, January 13th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

A tree seen at the Solstice Tree Tour at Kincais park. Photo by Paull Twardock.An illuminited van at the Alaska Botanical Garden. Photo by Paul Twardock.A tree lit up at the Alaska Botanical Garden. Photo by Paul Twardock.Illuminated ice candles at the Alaska Botanical Garden. Photo by Paul Twardock.The Solstice Tree Tour map from the NSAA. As the year 2021 comes to a close we feature two traditions in Anchorage: The Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage’s Solstice Tree Tour at Kincaid Park and the Alaska Botanical Garden’s Holiday Lights. Sara Miller with NSAA and Patrick Ryan with the Botanical Garden will explain their winter programs and how to get involved. Host Paul Twardock will take you on an audio postcard of NSAA’s 2020 Solstice Tree Tour. We’ll also have co-host Lisa Keller and a few college students elaborate on their holiday wishes, from wishes for a better world to ideas for stocking stuffers.  HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Sara Miller with the Nordic Ski Association of AnchoragePatrick Ryan with the Alaska Botanical GardenWell wishers: Chloe Khokhar, Abby Jones, Toshio Matsuoka, and Lisa Keller LINKS: Alaska Botanical Garden Holiday Lights at Alaska Botanical Garden Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage Solstice Tree Tour BROADCAST: Thursday, December 16th, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, December 16th, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Mask by Joe SenungetukMask by Joe SenungetukJames TempteJoe and Martha SenungetukArtwork by Joe Senungetuk Alaska Natives have been creating art influenced by nature and culture for thousands of years. The clothing, tools, kayaks, weapons, baskets, and other items of everyday life and ceremony were, and are, functional and artistic. During the 1960s young Native artists like Joe Senungetuk started creating Indigenous art that blended the traditional to more contemporary. They started including environmental and social issues into their art along with the influences of their upbringing in rural Alaska. Joe attended UAF, taught art at Mt. Edgecumbe in Sitka, attended the San Francisco Arts Institute (in 1968!), author of Give or Take A Century: An Eskimo Chronology, and was a columnist for the Anchorage Daily News, all while being a prolific artist. Martha was born in Cordova and is an established Native artist in her own right. This Outdoor Explorer welcomes Joe and Martha to discuss the influences that their long lives in Alaska have had on their art. Currently, Joe and his wife Martha are the Elder Artists in Residence at Alaska Pacific University. Also joining host Paul Twardock is James Tempte, a young indigenous artist, and Karli Tyance Hassell. HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Joe and Martha Senungetuk, and James Tempte and Karli Tyance Hassell LINKS: Joe Senungetuk at APU Senungetuk Arts website Joe and Martha Senungetuk and APU Elder Artists in Residence Program James Tempte’s website BROADCAST: Thursday, December 9th, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, December 9th, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Aaron Ramirez and Lisa Keller at the Lavaman Triathlon, photo courtesy Lisa Keller.Alisa Carroll, photo courtesy Alisa Carroll.Dr. Kim Harmon, photo courtesy Kim Harmon. At the beginning of this summer, our host Lisa had several trips planned to support her friend Aaron Ramirez at Ironman races. It looked to be a fun summer and fall, back to our usual activities of traveling and racing. Of course, you know what happened next. Alaska was hit hard by the Delta variant, and everything changed once again. Even though Aaron was vaccinated, he developed a breakthrough Covid infection. Training was impossible and races were quickly canceled. The long journey he is on, to be able to train as before and feel comfortable racing, inspired Lisa to put together this show. You’ll hear from Dr. Kim Harmon, the team physician for the University of Washington football team who has been researching the impacts of Covid on athletes, and Alisa Carroll, a physical therapist who helps people recover lung function after a Covid infection. But first, you’ll hear about Aaron’s Covid experience and what he has learned while returning to his active life. HOST: Lisa Keller SEGMENTS: Segment 1: Aaron Ramirez, Ironman athlete Segment 2: Dr. Kim Harmon, team physician for the University of Washington football team Segment 3: Alisa Carroll, DPT, of Progressive Physical Therapy LINKS: American Medical Society for Sports Medicine/NCCA Guidelines for return to sportStudy that followed > 3,000 college athletes with COVID-19Study looking at long term issues in athletes with COVID-19Progressive Physical Therapy BROADCAST: Thursday, November 18th, 2021. 10:00 am – 3:00 p.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday, November 18th, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Luc Mehl. Photo with permission from the owner.Luc Mehl. Photo with permission from the owner.Luc Mehl packrafting the Matanuska River.Luc Mehl backcountry skating in Katmai. Photo courtesy Luc Mehl. Trip planning and risk analysis are keys to safe and successful outings, whether it is a day hike or an extended trip far from medical help. Alaska’s vast expanse, large and cold rivers, challenging weather, wild animals, and scarcity of emergency response resources add to the need for responsible and thoughtful trip preparation and execution. On this Outdoor Explorer we look at near misses and accidents from this past summer of 2021, then look forward to trip planning for this coming winter and next summer. Our guest is Luc Mehl. Luc spent a significant part of his youth in McGrath, Alaska, and has traveled throughout Alaska in all seasons as an adventurer, wilderness athlete, scientist, and educator. Besides hosting a popular trip planning website he is the co-author of the new book The Packrafting Handbook and is an avid wilderness Nordic skater and skier. He shares his insights and thoughts on trip planning and risk analysis, aiming to help us become safer in the outdoors. HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Segment 1: Luc Mehl, co-author of the new book The Packrafting Handbook LINKS: Luc Mehl’s Website, where you can purchase his bookThe Packraft HandbookReviews of The Packraft Handbook on GoodReadsAmerican Packrafting AssociationAmerican Whitewater Accident databaseAvalanche.orgAlaska Avalanche SchoolAlaska Avalanche Information CenterChugach National Forest Avalanche Information CenterHatcher Pass Avalanche CenterNordic Skate-Southcentral Alaska Facebook Group BROADCAST: Thursday, November 11th, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, November 11th, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Kikkan and Breck riding to school, photo courtesy Kikkan Randall.Former NSAA Junior Nordic skier Kikkan Randall, photo courtesy Kikkan Randall.NSAA Executive Director Kikkan Randall, photo courtesy Kikkan Randall. Our guest for this episode of Outdoor Explorer is Kikkan Randall, one of Alaska’s most popular and well-known athletes. In the 2018 Winter Olympics, Kikkan and Jessie Diggins became the first Americans to win a gold medal in Nordic skiing, in the team sprint freestyle race. Shortly after the Olympics, Randall was diagnosed with breast cancer and became an advocate for an active lifestyle while in treatment. She had been living in Canada, but now she’s back in Anchorage as the new executive director of the Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage. HOST: Lisa Keller SEGMENTS: Kikkan Randall, executive director of the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage LINKS: Nordic Ski Association of AnchorageActiv Against CancerKikkan Randall’s website BROADCAST: Thursday, November 4th, 2021. 10:00 am – 3:00 p.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, November 4th, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Kayaks at the NOLS headquarters.John Gans, former NOLS Alaska director and NOLS PresidentAshley Wise, NOLS Alaska Program ManagerThe NOLS Red Barn in Palmer. NOLS, formerly known as the National Outdoor Leadership School, has been educating and inspiring students in Alaska since 1971. Though not the first wilderness education program in Alaska, it is one of the most successful based on its longevity, number of alumni, and impact it has had on Alaska. Many of its alumni and instructors have lived and contributed to Alaska whether as educators, business people, authors, land managers, public servants, or just being active in the outdoor community. NOLS has also greatly influenced the outdoor industry’s risk management and Leave No Trace ethics, with its Alaska operations offering significant contributions. We welcome John Gans, former NOLS Alaska director, and NOLS President, and Ashley Wise, current NOLS Alaska Program Manager, to discuss NOLS’s history in Alaska, its influences, and its current status and future. HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Segment 1: John Gans, former NOLS Alaska Director and NOLS PresidentSegment 2: Ashley Wise, current NOLS Alaska Program Manager LINKS: NOLS’s websiteNOLS historyLeave No TraceNOLS Risk Management Conference BROADCAST: Thursday, October 28th, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, October 28th, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Crow Pass Trail, photo courtesy Max RomeyDebris found on the beach, photo courtesy Max RomeyMax Romey sketching Raven Glacier at Crow Pass, photo courtesy Max Romey. Our guest this week is Max Romey. Max is a watercolor artist and filmmaker from Anchorage. He has joined us before to tell us about his creative style of using watercolors in his films focusing on the outdoors. Storytelling using pictures instead of words was born from his life with dyslexia. The last time he visited us in the fall of 2020, he was developing a six-chapter project called “Trailbound Alaska.” Although the project has changed and evolved, he has finished one part of the film series, the journey from Seward to Eagle River. Another one of his films, “If You Give a Beach a Bottle,” is a story that took him many years to tell and is a finalist at this year’s Banff Mountain Film Festival at the end of this month. Max will also give us a preview of his next project, which is very close to home. HOST: Lisa Keller SEGMENTS: Max Romey, watercolor artist and filmmaker LINKS: Max Romey ProductionsBanff Centre for Arts and Creativity BROADCAST: Thursday, October 21st, 2021. 10:00 am – 3:00 p.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday, October 21st, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Much of Alaska’s landmass is covered in water. During the winter when those lakes and rivers freeze solid, and if the snow isn’t deeper than an inch or so, all that frozen water makes for great ice skating! Around the world, people have been ice skating for a very long time. But recent advances in skate and binding technology, including the popularity of “nordic skates”, have made recreational skating more comfortable and convenient than ever before. Skating on natural ice in Alaska allows access to places that can be difficult or inconvenient to reach when ice-free, like Portage Glacier, the far side of Eklutna Lake, or other remote lakes, rivers, and swampy areas all around the state. This week on Outdoor Explorer, we’ll be talking with Carl Oswald, President of the Anchorage Speedskating Club, and Paxson Woelber, a nordic skating enthusiast who has begun manufacturing his own line of nordic skates. We’ll discuss everything skating: equipment, safety, places to skate, “wild ice”, skating adventures, and skating programs. HOST: Adam Verrier GUESTS: Carl Oswald, President of the Anchorage Speedskating ClubPaxson Woelber, a nordic skating enthusiast LINKS: Anchorage Speedskating clubAnchorage skatesErmine skatePaxson’s skating film BROADCAST: Thursday, October 14 th, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, October 14th 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Economic impact of outdoor activities, image courtesy Alaska Outdoor Alliance. Lee Hart, Executive Director of Alaska Outdoor Alliance, photo courtesy Alaska Outdoor Alliance. The guest for this show is Lee Hart, Executive Director of Alaska Outdoor Alliance. The Alliance’s mission is to build the best outdoor economy in the world. The outdoor economy is an under-recognized yet important economic driver tocommunities across the Western United States. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, 81% of Alaskansparticipate in outdoor recreation each year and we have the 7th largest recreation economy in the United States. Thereis $3.2 billion spent by Alaskan consumers that can be tied to outdoor recreation, according to the State of Alaska Center for Economic Development. The Alliance is a critical player in advancing policy and promoting outdoor recreation and infrastructure in our state. HOST: Lisa Keller SEGMENTS: Lee Hart, Executive Director of Alaska Outdoor Alliance LINKS: Alaska Outdoor Alliance websiteAlaska Outdoor Alliance Facebook BROADCAST: Thursday, October 7th, 2021. 10:00 am – 3:00 p.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, October 7th, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Aaron Leggett, President of the Native Village of Eklutna, photo courtesy Aaron Leggett. This show is a follow-up to a show that aired in February of 2021 about Chugach State Park. We found a few paragraphs in the 2016 Management Plan about the First People to arrive in the Anchorage area intriguing. We will learn more about the seafaring First People who first discovered the Upper Cook Inlet and the Dena’ina Athabaskans who then moved into the area we now know as Anchorage and hunted and fished in the area we now know as Chugach State Park. Although Eklutna Inc. owns 10% of the land that Chugach State Park sits on and is the largest private landowner in the Anchorage Municipality, the Dena’ina have been called the “invisible people” because the stories of their ancestors have not been heard. Aaron Leggett, Senior Curator of Alaska History & Indigenous Culture at the Anchorage Museum and President of the Tribal Council of the Native Village of Eklutna, joins us to talk about the past, present, and future of the Dena’ina in the Anchorage area. HOST: Lisa Keller SEGMENTS: Aaron Leggett, Senior Curator of Alaska History & Indigenous Culture at the Anchorage Museum and President of the Tribal Council of the Native Village of Eklutna LINKS: Chugach State Park Management Plan“Shem Pete’s Alaska” bookAaron Leggett’s essay, “This Is My Story: “Tanaina” No More,” and the Anchorage Museum exhibit “Being Dena’ina”Native Village of Eklutna BROADCAST: Thursday, September 30th, 2021. 10:00 am – 3:00 p.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday, September 30th, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Heather CaldwellSarah Histand On this show, our guests are Sarah Histand and Heather Caldwell. Sarah is a mental health professional as well as a fitness trainer and we talk about easing the transition of both your brain and your body from summer into winter. We cover some important areas of strength and fitness to focus on as you think about winter sports as well as how a less frantic summer can lead to a less abrupt change in energy with the season change. Heather is a psychotherapist, athlete, and outdoor lover. We take a deeper dive into using a connection to nature to ease our seasonal transitions as well as preparing our minds and bodies for the arrival of winter. HOST: Martha Rosenstein GUEST: Sarah Histand – a mental health professional and a fitness trainer Heather Caldwell – a psychotherapist, althete and outdoor lover LINKS: Evolve in Nature, Heather’s site Sarah website Sarah on Instagram BROADCAST: Thursday, September 23rd, 2021. 2:00 pm – 3:00 p.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday, September 23rd, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

The Teaming With Series, photo courtesy Jeff Lowenfels.Jeff Lowenfels, Lord of the Roots, photo courtesy Jeff LowenfelsDIY Autoflowering Cannabis book, photo courtesy Jeff Lowenfels. This show is about exploring your own backyard and who better to tell us all about what’s out there than my guest, Jeff Lowenfels. Jeff has written a weekly gardening column for the Anchorage Daily News since 1976, the longest-running gardening column in the United States. Along the way, he has documented our changing climate and has been at the forefront of advocating for an organic and sustainable yard and garden. He is the author of a series of books on organic gardening, with a new book coming out in the spring of 2022. Join Jeff and host Lisa Keller as we explore the changing scene of gardening in the 49th state. HOST: Lisa Keller SEGMENTS: Jeff Lowenfels– Author and ADN columnist LINKS: Jeff Lowenfels’ websiteThe New York Times Magazine article BROADCAST: Thursday, September 16 th, 2021. 10:00 am – 3:00 p.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, September 16th, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Mike Branham On this show, our guest is Mike Branham. Mike is a financial planner with a passion for the outdoors. We talk about how you can fund your outdoor adventures and save for your future, why it’s important to find a balance between these things, as well as some ideas for maximizing your dollars when it comes to the gear and gadgets you need (or think you need) for your outdoor hobbies. Also, just a quick note that while Mike is an expert in the area of financial planning, our discussion is meant to be informational only and not to be considered professional advice. HOST: Martha Rosenstein GUEST: Mike Branham – Financial planner and outdoor enthusiast BROADCAST: Thursday, September 9th, 2021. 2:00 pm – 3:00 p.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, May 13th, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Tony Perelli and Becky King with morels_Photo: Tony PerelliMushroomsRaina picking blueberries.Understory.Highbush cranberries. Late summer and fall are the time for picking blueberries, hunting for mushrooms, and gettingready for winter. Gathering edible berries and plants has many benefits besides their greattaste. Jackie Qataliña, Tony Perelli, and Dana Diehl join host Paul Twardock to discuss whattheir favorite edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms are, their uses, the physical andemotional benefits of foraging, and ethical considerations. HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Segment 1: Jackie Qataliña and Tony PerelliSegment 2: Dana Diehl LINKS: Store Outside Your Door webisodesAlaska Native Traditional Food GuideFree mushroom guide from the Forest ServiceMushrooms Book: All That The Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Field GuideMushroom Workshops by Dr. Gary Laursen BROADCAST: Thursday, September 2nd, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, September 2nd, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Lee Bolling’s book “Welcome to Earth Fellow Human”.Lee Bolling.Lee Bolling riding in Anchorage. The Anchorage Bowl is known for its trail networks, and many residents and visitors think our various trail systems are one of the city’s best features. During this Outdoor Explorer, we’ll be talking about one element of the city’s trail system: The soft surface trails built over the past fifteen years by Singletrack Advocates – a group committed to the construction and maintenance of mountain biking trails in several locations around the Anchorage Bowl. Our guest will be Lee Bolling, the President of Singletrack Advocates, and we’ll discuss the existing system of mountain bike trails, current projects in the works, and Lee’s vision for the future of Anchorage’s soft-surface mountain bike trail networks. We’ll also talk about the book that Lee recently wrote and released, titled “Welcome to Earth Fellow Human”, which explores the question, “Where did we come from, and what should we do now that we’re here?” HOST: Adam Verrier GUESTS: Lee Bolling, president of Singletrack Advocates and author of the book, “Welcome to Earth Fellow Human” LINKS: Singletrack AdvocatesWelcome to Earth Fellow Human book website BROADCAST: Thursday, August 26th, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday, August 26th 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

St Elias the trench, photoby John Bauman.Russell base camp, photo by John Bauman.Mt Deborah basecamp igloo, photo by John Bauman.Bauman Kayaking 1Paddlng the Katmai Coast 1992, photo by Paul Twardock.Bauman KayakingBaumanKayaking2 Alaska has thousands of world-class outdoor men and women. Most have gone about their business without fanfare or notice, sharing their adventures with a few friends before heading off on their next trip. John Bauman lived in Alaska making a living as a carpenter while pursuing winter first ascents and sea kayaking throughout the world. John’s climbs (primarily in the winter) include St Elias, Mt Logan, and Mt Russell. He kayaked around Kodiak, the Aleutians, Iceland, the Falkland Islands, and the length of the Alaska Peninsula. And those are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. John talks about some of these trips and what it took to live to become as they say, ‘An old mountaineer.’ HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: John Bauman, kayaker and mountaineer LINKS: Seekers of the Horizon reviewMountaineering Club of AlaskaIceland CircumnavigationMt. Russell BROADCAST: Thursday, August 12th, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday, August 12, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

This episode of Outdoor Explorer first aired on May 14, 2020. In the fall of 2020, it was submitted to the Alaska Professional Communicators 2020 – 2021 Communications Contest where it won first place in the category of “Special Programming – Radio.” First-place state winners are automatically submitted to the National Federation of Press Women’s Communications Contest. The awards ceremony for the national contest is June 11th and although we know we have won an award for the show we do not know how it placed. This was a complicated and time-consuming episode to host and produce. Lisa recorded the entire episode on her smartphone and then edited hours of conversation on the phone, submitting many segments to the producer, Eric Bork, to work his magic and put it together into the finished show. We thank the women pilots who were part of the show who not only spoke honestly about discrimination but also shared concerns common to all pilots, and as the contest judge remarked, provided “anentertaining and often funny dialogue.” Since 1980, the number of female pilots in the United States has remained stagnant at 6% of all pilots. In Alaska, however, with a per capita pilot population three times the next closest state, it’s not hard to find a group of women pilots to talk about their adventures. Jody Oyen, a pilot for Copper Valley Air Service, has a tradition called “Fly for Pie.” She meets up with other women pilots in parts of Alaska to bond over a slice of pie. I was asked to come along for a trip to Talkeetna and record the conversation among a diverse group of women pilots. Jodi Harskamp, an Alaska Airlines captain, joined us at Merrill Field to fly in Jody Oyen’s Cessna 185. Jamie Patterson-Simes, a flight instructor who owns SkyTrek Alaska Flight Training, flew her own plane and met us at the Talkeetna airstrip. The four of us walked to the Roadhouse in Talkeetna and met up with Leighan Falley, a pilot at Talkeetna Air Taxi. The conversation was honest and sometimes salty. HOST: Lisa Keller SEGMENTS: Segment 1a: The first segment of the show was recorded on the walk to the Roadhouse in Talkeetna. You will hear Jamie Patterson-Simes, Jodi Harskamp, me, and Jody Oyen, in that order.Segment 1b: Walking to the Roadhouse with Jodi Harskamp, Jody Oyen and Jamie Patterson-SimesSegment 2a: The next segment of the show was recorded in the dining room of the Roadhouse. You will hear me, Jamie Patterson-Simes, Leighan Falley, Jody Oyen, and Jodi Harskamp, in that order.Segment 2b – 2e: Lunch at the Roadhouse with Jodi Harskamp, Jody Oyen, Jamie Patterson-Simes and Leighan FalleySegment 3: Close/Pilot jokes with Becky Hrdy, Jodi Harskamp, Jody Oyen, Jamie Patterson-Simes and Leighan Falley LINKS: Alaska 99’sAOPAWomen in AviationLeighan Falley’s AOPA blogSkyTrek Alaska Flight Training BROADCAST: Thursday, June 10th, 2021. 10:00 am – 3:00 p.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, June 10th, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

A paddle boarder on Goose Lake, wearing a life vest.Children in a kayak on Goose Lake, wearing life vestsA fishing boat on the ocean.Paddle boarders all wearing life vests and protective clothing. Summer has arrived and that means it is time to go boating. Alaska has around 34,000 miles of coast line and 365,000 miles of rivers with people living, working, exploring and enjoying them. But, some also get in boating accidents of all sorts. As we prepare for the boating season it is worthwhile to review the equipment and safety precautions needed. On this week’s episode of Outdoor Explorer, we discuss boating safety with staff from the Alaska Office of Boating Safety, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium’s Injury Prevention program, the Kingikmiut Singers and Dancers of Anchorage and the Maniilaq Association of Kotzebue. HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Joe McCullough: Alaska Office of Boating SafetyAnnie Greneir: Alaska Office of Boating SafetyIngrid Stevens: Alaska Native Tribal Health ConsortiumArlo Norrik Davis: Maniilaq AssociationGregory Nothstine: ANTHC and Kingikmiut Dancers and Singers LINKS: How the Float Coat Song came about on YoutubeAlaska Office of Boating SafetyAlaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Boating SafetyManiilaq AssociationU.S Coast Guard AuxillaryAmerican Canoeing AssociationKnik Canoers and KayakersAlaska Recreational Boating Incident Report Project BROADCAST: Thursday, June 3rd, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, June 3rd, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

The Stan-Kamps on the last leg of their journey in Utah, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp.Leif and Tui Stanbury with Nukka at Capitol Reef National Park, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp.Tui and Leif Stanbury at Landscape Arch in Arches National Park, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp.Leif and Neal Stanbury at Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp.Tui and the snow Buddha, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp. When Alaska Airlines Captain Jodi Harskamp took leave due to the pandemic and her children’s school shifted to on-line learning, she and her husband Neal Stanbury decided to take school on the road. Over the past three episodes we have heard about their trips to the parks of Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Florida. In this episode, the last of our episodes, the Stan-Kamps are in Florida when Jodi gets called back to work. The homeward bound journey begins with some stops in the Southwest before heading back to Alaska. HOST: Lisa Keller GUESTS: Segment 1: Jodi Harskamp and Neal, Tui and Leif Stanbury aka The Stan-Kamps BROADCAST: Thursday, May 27th, 2021. 10-11 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday, May 27th, 2021. 8–9 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Most accidents occur for similar reasons: not being prepared, poor equipment, being in a rush, and lack of skill. Some accidents, however, are unpredictable. Learning from others is a great way to avoid the perils of being outdoors. Whether it is talking to friends, watching documentaries, or reading one can learn how to be ready for a particular activity or outing. Emma Walker, author of Dead Reckoning, is on this week’s Outdoor Explorer discussing her new book Dead Reckoning and the lessons she and others have learned from their near misses and accidents in the outdoors. HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Emma Walker, the author of Dead Reckoning LINKS: Dead Reckoning websitePre-order Dead Reckoning on AmazonEmma Walker’s siteAccidents in North American Mountaineering BROADCAST: Thursday, May 20th, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, May 20th, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Tim GravelGina Shively On this show, we are talking about enjoying coffee in the outdoors. First, you’ll hear from Tim Gravel who is the co-owner of Kaladi Brothers Coffee about his favorite backcountry coffee brewing method as well as some other ideas for making coffee on your next camping trip. Then you’ll hear from Gina Shively who is a pilot and an avid outdoorswoman about her attempts to find a good backcountry coffee option and what she is currently using that keeps her caffeinated while she’s out hunting. HOST: Martha Rosenstein GUESTS: Tim Gravel, co-owner of Kaladi Brothers CoffeeGina Shively, pilot and avid outdoorswoman LINKS: Kaladi Community PageAeropress, also available locally at Kaladi and REIGina’s websiteGina’s InstagramGenesis Coffee Lab BROADCAST: Thursday, May 13th, 2021. 2:00 pm – 3:00 p.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday, May 13th, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

A tool at work. Photo from MatSu Trail Parks Foundation.A trail near Kachemak BayAlaska Trails VolunteersTrails at Kincaid Park, photo by Paul Twardock.A trail crew near Kachemak Bay.A trail crew near Kachemak Bay Trails are one of the primary infrastructures in the outdoors. They lead us to destinations or are and end unto themselves. Trails get us through the bushes and into the high country. They provide opportunities for observing nature, exercise, and relaxation. A good trail is well designed and built to avoid erosion and lasts a long time. Trail building in Alaska has come a long way since people went straight up the fall line. Alaska Trails and other organizations and trail building businesses spend the winter months funding and planning for the summer trail building season. This show talks with the people who will be working on trails around the state, discussing what trail-building projects are happening this summer. HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Steve Cleary: Alaska TrailsKathy Sarns-Irwin: Friends of Kachemak Bay State ParksChristine Byl: Interior TrailsWes Hoskins: Mat-Su Trails and Parks FoundationNelson Crone: Valley Mountain Biker and Hikers LINKS: Alaska TrailsFriends of Kachemak Bay State Parks on FacebookInterior TrailsMat Su Trails and Parks FoundationValley Mountain Biker and HikersState of Alaska State Park Trail Maps BROADCAST: Thursday, May 6th, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, May 6th, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

The Stan-Kamps at Horseshoe Bend in the Grand Canyon, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp.The Stan-Kamps at the Nevada-Arizona State Border, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp.The Stan-Kamps at the Southernmost Point on the Continental USA, photo courtesy Jodi HarskampTui, Leif and Neal Stanbury sledding at White Sands National Monument, photo courtesy Jodi HarskampCamping platform in the Flamingo Park Everglades National Park, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp. When Alaska Airlines Captain Jodi Harskamp took leave due to the pandemic and her children’s school shifted to online learning, she and her husband Neal Stanbury decided to take school on the road. In the first episode of this series, Lisa spoke with the Stan-Kamp family after they had toured the parks of the Pacific Northwest. In the second episode of the series, it was the parks of California, the state with the most parks in the nation. At the end of their stay in California, they were planning a 5-day backpacking trip into Death Valley National Park. They arrived at the park just before Los Angeles county went into lockdown and were forced to leave the park and abandon plans to also visit Joshua Tree National Park. Instead, they headed for their next destination: Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. As they start to head east through the Southwest, plans again shift as the nighttime temperatures in the desert states start to dive and they find themselves heading for the warmest state during the winter: Florida. HOST: Lisa Keller GUESTS: Segment 1: Jodi Harskamp and Neal, Tui and Leif Stanbury aka The Stan-Kamps BROADCAST: Thursday, April 29th, 2021. 10-11 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday, April 29th, 2021. 8–9 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Drones, or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), are becoming more common in Alaska andelsewhere every month. This past year they were one of the hottest selling outdoor retail items with sales growing around 12% annually according to thebusinessresearchcompany.com. In Alaska, drones are quickly becoming a part of the outdoor experience. The research, photos, and videos they enable help scientists, land managers, trail builders, artists, and others with their work. On the other hand, they have the potential to disrupt wildlife and other people’s outdoor experience. We will be discussing drone capabilities, regulations, benefits, and challenges with Bill Billmeier of Corax, Dan Beutel with the State of Alaska’s Division of Parks and Recreation, and Heath Schaaf with the U.S. Forest Service. HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Bill Billmeier: CoraxDan Beutel: State of Alaska DNR Division of Parks and RecreationHeath Schaaf: U.S. Forest Service LINKS: State of Alaska UAS (Drone) web siteState of Alaska Best Practices downloadable PDFFAA Drone InformationFAA Temporary Flight Restriction web pageU.S. Forest Service Drone web siteState of Alaska email address for input on drone regulations: dpor.regulations@alaska.govCoraxAlaska Aireal Media BROADCAST: Thursday, April 22nd, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, April 22nd, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

The Stan-Kamps at Half Dome in Yosemite, photo courtesy of Jodi Harskamp.Tui and Leif Stanbury looking out over Yosemite, photo courtesy of Jodi Harskamp.The retrofitted truck before the accident, photo courtesy of Jodi Harskamp.The truck after the accident, photo courtesy of Jodi Harskamp.Tui Stanbury with a giant pinecone, photo courtesy of Jodi Harskamp.Leif and Tui Stanbury on a giant redwood, photo courtesy of Jodi Harskamp. When Alaska Airlines Captain Jodi Harskamp took leave due to the pandemic and her children’s school shifted to on-line learning, she and her husband Neal Stanbury decided to take school on the road. In the first episode of this series, I spoke with the Stan-Kamp family after they had toured the parks of the Pacific Northwest and were taking a breather at Jodi’s aunt’s house in Grants Pass, Oregon. In this episode, the Stan-Kamps are leaving Oregon and beginning their journey through California. California has the most state parks and national parks in the United States. However, before they even make it out of Oregon, they encounter trouble. HOST: Lisa Keller GUESTS: Segment 1: Jodi Harskamp and Neal, Tui and Leif Stanbury aka The Stan-Kamps BROADCAST: Thursday, April 8th, 2021. 10-11 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, April 8th, 2021. 8–9 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Sepp Weber, photo by Paul Twardock. Sepp Weber has climbed, kayaked, and skied for at least 80 years, and is still at it! Sepp’s first experience in the American Arctic was kayaking across Canada and down the Yukon. Shortly afterward he took a job coaching skiing at Arctic Valley. In his long and active life, he did the first ski ascent of Denali and Mount Logan. His trips involved paddling and skiing to the start of climbs, then returning the same way. Sepp also owned and ran a ski lodge near Denali which he built himself. In the summers he was a river guide and he wrote a book titled “Wild Rivers of Alaska.” He has a full life of adventure and experience to share on this episode of Outdoor Explorer. HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Sepp Weber, first to ascend Denali by ski LINKS: Denali View ChaletSepp’s book Wild Rivers of Alaska BROADCAST: Thursday, April 1st, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, April 1st, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Neal Stanbury, Tui Stanbury, Leif Stanbury and Jodi Harskamp at Crater Lake, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp.The retrofitted truck, photo courtesy of Jodi HarskampThe truck’s pantry, photo courtesy of Jodi HarskampSticker designed by Tui Stanbury to commemorate the family’s travels, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp When Alaska Airlines Captain Jodi Harskamp took leave due to the pandemic and her children’s school shifted to on-line learning, she and her husband Neal Stanbury decided to take school on the road. Starting in the Pacific Northwest with their truck retrofitted to accommodate their outdoor gear, they began to tour national and state parks, with a vow to only camp and cook along the way with occasional breaks at family and friends’ homes. Their five-month journey is the subject of a series of episodes in the parks of the Northwest. HOST: Lisa Keller GUESTS: Segment 1: Jodi Harskamp and Neal, Tui and Leif Stanbury BROADCAST: Thursday, March 25th, 2021. 10-11 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, March 25th, 2021. 8–9 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

For the past year, the Coronavirus Pandemic has been canceling sporting events all around the world. But the organizers of North America’s biggest ski marathon, the American Birkebeiner, were determined to find a way to hold the race anyway, and they were resolved to do it safely.  The American Birkebeiner Ski Race takes place every February in northern Wisconsin, and it usually attracts over 10,000 skiers. But this year’s participation numbers were down to less than half of the usual number, and the organizers incorporated a variety of changes intended to mitigate the potential spread of Coronavirus among participants.  On this week’s Outdoor Explorer, we’ll speak with the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation’s executive director, Ben Popp, about the changes and mitigations that were put in place for this winter’s event, and about how they made their decision to go forward with the race, even during the pandemic. HOST: Adam Verrier GUESTS: Ben Popp, Executive Director, American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation LINKS: List of events at this year’s events BROADCAST: Thursday, March 18th, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday, March 18th 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Hank Lentfer, Griselda Landa-Posas, and Richard Nelson at Lake Minichumina, photo by Davyd Betchkal.Richard K. Nelson and the cover of Raven’s Witness The Alaska Life of Richard K. Nelson, courtesy of Hank Lentfer. On the next Outdoor Explorer, our guest is Hank Lentfer. His book “Raven’s Witness: The Alaska Life of Richard K. Nelson,” won the 2020 Banff Mountain Book Grand Prize after winning best in Mountain Literature. The distinctive opening to Richard Nelson’s public radio show “Encounters” was an easily recognizable signal that you were about to take a journey into the sound of Alaska. Richard’s Alaska life spanned across the state from the North Slope to the Interior to Southeast. He immersed himself in village life and Native culture and spent his life studying the relationships between people and nature. Richard died in 2019 but he lives on through his influential radio and written work. HOST: Lisa Keller GUESTS: Segment 1: Hank Lentfer, author of “Raven’s Witness: The Alaska Life of Richard K. Nelson.” LINKS: KSKA’s last interview with him on Hometown, Alaska.Raven’s Witness websiteMountaineers Books BROADCAST: Thursday, March 11th, 2021. 10-11 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, March 11th, 2021. 8–9 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>

Emotional intelligence contributes to healthy relationships and successful adventures. Personal traits such as knowing your strengths and weaknesses, self-control, empathy, and social skills help individuals and groups make better decisions and work well together. Outdoor literature and lore are full of epic stories and tragedies caused by poor decision-making, many times due to lack of the traits associated with emotional intelligence. This Outdoor Explorer focuses on the topic with guests David McGivern, Betsy Young, and Bill Billmeier. The three of them have decades of experience teaching, guiding, and leading in Alaska and have much to contribute to the topic of emotional intelligence and its relevance to outdoor activities. HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: David McGivern, Betsy Young, and Bill Billmeier LINKS: Daniel Goleman’s Five Principles of Emotional IntelligenceClimbing through the lens of Emotion Intelligence with David McGivernCorax: Betsy Young and Bill Billmeier BROADCAST: Thursday, March 4th, 2020. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, March 4th, 2020. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via: iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast ]]>