Outdoor Explorer: Recent Episodes
Alaska Public Media
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 Varrier
GUESTS:
Cherie Yanek, race director for the annual Burning Man Ultramarathon
Miguel Guzman and Iyvone Khoo, artists
LINKS:
Burning Man website
Burning Man Ultramarathon 50k
Miguel Guzman's Instagram page
Iyvone Khoo's website
BROADCAST: Thursday, September 28th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT 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 Twardock
GUESTS:
Daryl Miller, retired Denali Mountaineering ranger
Tucker Chenoweth, South District Ranger for Denali National Park
LINKS:
Leave No Trace.org: Plan Ahead and Prepare
National Park Service: Climbing Denali
REI: Food Planning
The 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 Twardock
GUEST: Don Rearden, author
LINK:
Don Rearden's website
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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 Bike
Summit.
HOST: Paul Twardock
GUESTS:
Will Taygan, Chugach Mountain Bike Riders
Rene Dervaes, Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers
LINKS:
Chugach Mountain Bike Riders
Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers
Alaska Trails
Single Track Advocates
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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 Twardock
GUEST: Joe Kurtak
LINKS:
"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
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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 Keller
GUESTS:
Petra the Adventure Cat, meowtaineer
Nicole Chamberlain, meowtaineer guide
LINKS:
Petra and Nicole’s Instagram
Petra and Nicole’s TikTok
Petra and Nicole’s Website
Sheldon Chalet Website
BROADCAST: Thursday, August 10th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, August 10th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
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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. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, August 3rd, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
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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 Keller
GUEST: Alison Mariella Dèsir
LINKS:
Alison Mariella Dèsir website
Harlem Run
Run4AllWomen
The Running Industry Diversity Coalition
Run Alaska Trails POC Trail Running and Adventure Retreat
Skinny Raven Book Signing
Out & Back with Alison Mariella Dèsir
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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 Twardock
GUEST: Peg Tileston
LINKS:
Alaska Women's Hall of Fame
Alaska Center
Alaska Common Ground
Alaska Conservation Foundation
Trustees for Alaska
BROADCAST: Thursday, July 20th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, July 20th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
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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 Rosenstein
GUESTS:
Sara Wendling, President, Fireweed Board of Directors
1wheel1ders, unicycle team
LINKS:
Fireweed race website
BROADCAST: Thursday, July 13th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, July 13th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
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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 Rosenstein
GUEST: Mark Kelly
LINKS:
Mark Kelly Photography
BROADCAST: Thursday, June 1st, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, June 1st, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
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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 Keller
GUEST: Tom Walker, author
LINK:
"The Wanderer: An Alaska Wolf’s Final Journey" at Mountaineers Books
BROADCAST: Thursday, May 25th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT 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 Keller
GUEST: Ben Americus
LINKS:
Chugach Front Linkup website
Alaska 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 Twardock
GUESTS:
Erin Boklage, Alaska Search and Rescue Dogs
Mark Miraglia, Alaska Mountain Rescue Group
Amy Holman, Alaska Incident Management Team
Zach Liller, Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol
LINKS:
Alaska Incident Management Team
Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol
Alaska Mountain Rescue Group
Alaska Search and Rescue Dogs
Alaska Search and Rescue Association
BROADCAST: Thursday, May 11th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT 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 Twardock
GUEST:
John Schoen, author, former Fish and Game field scientist
LINKS:
"Tongass Odyssey: Seeing the Forest Ecosystem Through the Politics of Trees: A
Biologists Memoir"
More information about John Schoen
Southeast Alaska Conservation Council
The Landmark Trees Project
Audubon Alaska
Prince William Sound Natural History Symposium
BROADCAST: Thursday, May 4th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, May 4th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
HOST: Paul Twardock
GUESTS:
Arlene Blum, mountaineer, scientist
Pam Miller, Alaska Community Action on Toxics
LINKS:
Arlene Blum website
Alaska Community Action on Toxics
Green Science Policy Institute
BROADCAST: Thursday, April 27th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, April 27th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
HOST: Lisa Keller
GUEST: Harlow Robinson, executive director of Healthy Futures and the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame
LINKS:
Alaska Sports Hall of Fame
Healthy Futures 100 Miles in May
HOST: Lisa Keller
GUEST: Holly Brooks, two-time Olympian and licensed professional counselor
LINKS:
Holly Brooks’ website
Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance with link to “Winning at All Costs: Breaking the Silience on Athletes and Eating
Disorders”
Project Red-S
HOST: Lisa Keller
GUESTS:
Steve Cleary, Executive Director of Alaska Trails
Donnie Hayes, Director of Parks and Recreation for the Fairbanks North Star Borough
Mark 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 Twardock
GUESTS:
Randy Dowd, Executive Director and founder of Onward and Upward
Onward and Upward Staff
LINKS:
Onward and Upward website
Youtube
BROADCAST: Thursday, March 16th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, March 16th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
HOST: Lisa Keller
GUESTS:
Beth Nordlund, executive director Anchorage Park Foundation
Joe Connolly, chair of the Glen Alps Road Service Area Board of Supervisors
LINKS:
Anchorage Park Foundation
Glen Alps Board of Supervisors
Ballot information
HOST: Paul Twardock
GUEST: Steve Mock, Denali Rescue Volunteers, the Alex Lowe Foundation, and the Khumbu Climbing Center
LINKS:
Denali Rescue Volunteers
Khumbu Climbing Center
Denali Climbing History
Alex Lowe Foundation
HOST: Adam Verrier
GUESTS:
Sara Studebaker-Hall, Director of Operations at TeamUSA Biathlon
Zach Hall, Team Manager and Head Coach at the Soldier Hollow Olympic Legacy Program
LINKS:
Biathlon Alaska
Anchorage Biathlon Club
Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage: Biathlon
Team USA: Biathlon
HOST: Adam Varrier
GUEST: Jim Burkholder
LINKS:
Kincaid Park Web Page
Kincaid Park Ski Trail Map
BROADCAST: Thursday, February 9th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: February 9th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
HOST: Lisa Keller
GUESTS:
Sally Burkholder, the Alaska Ski for Women co-founder
Molly Mylius, Alaska Ski for Women race director
BROADCAST: Thursday, January 26th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, January 26th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
HOST: Paul Twardock
GUESTS: Dan Osborne, Dick Jabonowski, Ed Minot, Steve O'Brien, Tom Kensler, and Mike
Sallee
LINKS:
Denali Climbing History
BROADCAST: Thursday, February 2nd, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT 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 Keller
GUESTS:
Chris Reynolds, treasurer of Friends of the Stewart Public Trail
Kelly Becker, a long-time trail adjacent homeowner
LINKS:
Recreation Access in Anchorage Vol 1
“Judge rules that Anchorage’s historic Stewart Trail is open to the public” - The Alaska Landmine
Friends of Stewart Public Trail Facebook page
“Road rage AK” - Craig Medred
HOST: Paul Twardock
GUEST: Tom Choate
LINKS:
Tom Choate Biography
BROADCAST: Thursday, December 1st, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, December 1st, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
HOST: Paul Twardock
GUESTS:
Ricky Geese: Director, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Zachary Babb: Program Manager, Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA)
Alaska; NPS
LINKS:
Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan
Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Barneys Sports Chalet
Hoarding Marmot
Play It Again Sports
REI Anchorage
BROADCAST: Thursday, November 17th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT 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.
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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 Keller
GUESTS: Laura Marcus and Zach Brown, the founders and co-executive directors of the Tidelines
Institute
LINKS:
- Tidelines Institute Facebook page
- Tidelines Institute
BROADCAST: Thursday, October 27th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, October 27th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
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HOST: Lisa KellerGUEST: Beth Nordlund, executive director of Anchorage Park Foundation
LINKS:
Anchorage Park Foundation
Register for the Moose Loop Virtual Race
BROADCAST: Thursday, September 15th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, September 15th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
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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 Club
Scott Patterson's bio
Fogrunner by Jen Jolliff
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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 Club
Scott Patterson’s bio
Fogrunner by Jen Jolliff
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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 worldwide
Chugach State Park 120 Peak List (official Mountaineering Club list)
Mountaineering Club of Alaska
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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.]]>
On the next Outdoor Explorer, our guests are congressional candidates, Nick Begich and Mary Peltola. They will answer outdoor policy questions from four leaders in the Alaska outdoor industry and share their own experiences in the Alaska outdoors, including the places that bring them the most happiness.
On the next Outdoor Explorer, our guest is Alli Harvey, outdoor columnist for the Anchorage Daily News and landscape artist. Alli is making a return to the show to share her adventures after picking up her new mobile art studio in Ohio. The custom-built Airstream trailer allows her to connect with the outdoors as she creates her paintings.
Youth Employment in Parks offers Anchorage High Schoolers the opportunity to work on trails and parks in Anchorage. Host Paul Twardock visits a trail crew at University Lake to learn about the program
Alaska Indigenous Peoples have been living, playing, and thriving in Alaska for thousands of years. Outdoor recreation and tourism is perceived as being primarily a white person's game. Jody Potts-Joseph, Han Gwich'in and founder of Native Youth Outdoors is breaking that stereotype. Join Outdoor Explorer host Paul Twardock to hear Jody tell her story
On the next Outdoor Explorer, we will be exploring Alaska’s most iconic park, Denali National Park and Preserve. Sharon Stiteler, the park’s Public Affairs Officer, and Tucker Chenowith, the park’s South District Ranger, will cover ground from the first successful summit of Denali to the impact of the Pretty Rocks landslide on travel in the park.
Need ideas for summer adventure? Join your host Paul Twardock and guests Helen Nienhueser, and John and Rebecca Wolfe as they discuss their new book Alaska Adventure 55 Ways Southcentral Wilderness Explorations. Not only will they introduce us to the new book, but they'll share about researching and writing it as a family.
Dave Johnston has had many firsts: the first winter ascents of Denali and Mount Foraker, and the first Denali State Park Ranger being just a few. He also has climbed the 50 highest peaks in the U.S. with his family. Join your host Paul Twardock with Dave, his wife Cari and son Galen for the next Outdoor Explorer.
On this Outdoor Explorer, Harlow Robinson will catch us up on the 2022 Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Directors’ Awards and the Healthy Futures 100 Miles in May. The Directors’ Awards honor athletes and supporters who have made a significant impact on the culture of sport in Alaska. 100 Miles in May is the annual fundraiser for Healthy Futures.
Every spring millions of birds stream into Alaska from all over the globe to feed, mate, and raise their young. On this Outdoor Explorer features Dan Ruthrauff with the USGS Alaska Science Center and Melanie Dufour with the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival.
On this show we hear from several guests about climate change and its impact on the sports and recreational activities that so many of us love. 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.
Part two of Pieces of History with Lisa's guest Millett Keller. After playing a key role in the exploration for oil on the North Slope, Millett continued to impact our history through his work as a Republican insider and his grass roots advocacy for community recreation.
On this Outdoor Explorer, our guest is Millett Keller. Millett came to Alaska in the early 1960s with a great love for the outdoors. In his 30 years in Anchorage, he touched critical parts of our history. His influence ranged from the initial development of Prudhoe Bay to the first community YMCA to providing opportunities for girls in sports.
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.
March is decision time for college bound students. This Outdoor Explorer features Alaska's outdoor university degree programs and the value they add to the outdoor profession.
On this Outdoor Explorer, we’ll have a conversation about regenerative tourism. It’s a concept that has been around for a while but is gaining traction around the world, driven by indigenous communities and other protectors of our wild spaces. Our guests, Mary Goddard, Lee Hart, Sarah Leonard are out to make Alaska the world leader in regenerative tourism.
March is prime time for winter sports in Alaska. The light is back, the snow is good, and Alaskan's are ready to enjoy it all. This show will introduce us to dog mushing and discuss trail etiquette with skier Alice Knapp.
On this next Outdoor Explorer, our guest is Alli Harvey, outdoor columnist for the Anchorage Daily News. Her columns often explore the connection between happiness and outdoor adventure. Alli is also a 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.
On this Outdoor Explorer, we’ll go to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, to visit with doctor, mountaineer, and author Peter Steele. 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.
The Winter Olympics begin soon in Beijing, China. On this Outdoor Explorer, will be speaking with bi-athlete and former Alaskan John Morton, who's participated in 10 Olympics, as an athlete, a coach, a team leader, and 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 70s in the Army biathlon program.
This week's Outdoor Explorer features Seth Kantner, Author of Ordinary Wolves and his latest book A Thousand Trails Home. Host Paul Twardock and Seth discuss his life and insights of growing up and living on the Kobuk River.
The first five-kilometer ski loop was cut by Service High School families and coaches in 1971.
On this Outdoor Explorer, our guest is Daniel Lieberman, author of “Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do is Healthy and Rewarding.” Dr. Lieberman is a professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University. If you are familiar with the book “Born to Run,” you’ll recognize his name as one of the foundational researchers on humans and running.
As the year of 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. This week's Outdoor Explorer features these winter festivities, plus some holiday wishes with co-host Lisa Keller and others.
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. Joe and Martha Senungehtuck join host Paul Twardock to talk about their long lives of adventure and art in Alaska.
On this Outdoor Explorer, the journey back to activity after a Covid infection. Our guests will include the team physician for the University of Washington football team who has been researching the impacts of Covid on athletes, a physical therapist who treats post-Covid breathing issues, and an Ironman athlete who has had his season turned upside down.
Trip planning and risk analysis are key to safe and successful outings. Luc Mehl joins host Paul Twardock to share his insights gleaned from his life time of adventures in Alaska.
On this week's Outdoor Explorer, our guest is Olympic gold medalist Kikkan Randall. When Randall was young, she participated in Junior Nordic, a popular Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage program. Now Kikkan has returned to her roots as the new executive director of the organization.
The National Outdoor Leadership School, or NOLS, has been operating in Alaska since 1971 This week's Outdoor Explorer highlights the many influences NOLS has had on Alaska and the outdoor industry. We'll be joined by John Gans, former NOLS President, and Ashely Wise, current NOLS Alaska Operations Manager.
On this Outdoor Explorer, our guest will be Max Romey. Max is a watercolor artist and outdoor filmmaker from Anchorage whose creative films have gained international recognition. His most recent film, “If You Give a Beach a Bottle,” is a finalist at this year’s Banff Mountain Film Festival at the end of this month.
It’s been said that Alaska’s a land of ten million lakes but in the winter time when all that water turns to ice I can’t think of anything better than going out speed skating. This week on Outdoor Explorer we’ll be speaking with Carl Oswald and Paxson Woelber about speed skating in all its forms.
On this Outdoor Explorer, our guest will be Lee Hart, Executive Director of Alaska Outdoor Alliance, an organization that advances the political and economic power of outdoor recreation in Alaska. The outdoor economy is an under- recognized economic driver in our state with the average Alaskan spending almost $5000 per year on outdoor gear and services.
In this Outdoor Explorer, we will learn about the First People in what is now Chugach State Park. My guest will be 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.
On this show, our guests are Sarah Histand and Heather Caldwell. 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. 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.
On the next Outdoor Explorer, we’ll stay close to home and explore our own backyards. Jeff Lowenfels, author of a series of books on organic gardening and long-time Anchorage Daily News garden columnist, will talk about the changing gardening climate, sustainable yardening, and the amazing role bacteria plays in growing your plants.
Enjoying the outdoors can be done on a tight budget or with all the latest gear and gadgets. All you really need is a pair of shoes and a sense of adventure. But what about when you want to go on a big trip or you need to upgrade your jacket? On this Outdoor Explorer our guest is financial planner and outdoor enthusiast Mike Branham. We talk about finding balance between your outdoor pursuits and saving for your future, ways to maximize your gear budget, and more.
Late summer and fall are the time for picking blueberries, hunting for mushrooms, and getting ready for winter. Gathering edible berries and plants has many benefits besides their great taste. Jackie Qataliña, Tony Perelli, and Dana Diehl join me, your host Paul Twardock, to discuss what their favorite edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms are, their uses, the physical and emotional benefits of foraging, and ethical considerations.
Do you like mountain biking? If so, you’ll want to join Adam Varrier, your host for this Outdoor Explorer, where we’ll be speaking with the president of Singletrack Advocates, Lee Bolling. We’ll talk about all the best riding spots in town, and how they got to be there.
Alaska has thousands of unheard of world class outdoor men and women. On this show we'll hear from one, John Bauman, who completed numerous first winter ascents and sea kayaking routes.
On this Outdoor Explorer, we will air a repeat of the show “Fly for Pie.” The show about women pilots in Alaska, which first aired in May 2020, has won awards from the Alaska Professional Communicators and the National Federation of Press Women.
As we prepare for the boating season it is worthwhile to review the equipment and safety precautions needed.
On thi next Outdoor Explorer, we will have the last of the series Travel School with Jodi Harskamp and Neal Stanbury and their children, Tui and Leif. The last time we checked in they were visiting the parks of Florida. Unexpectedly, Jodi gets called back to work and the homeward bound journey begins.
Most accidents occur for similar reasons: not being prepared, poor equipment, being in a rush, or a lack of skill. Some accidents, however, are unpredictable. Learning from others is a great way to avoid the perils of being outdoors. Emma Walker, author of Dead Reckoning, will share her stories.
If you’re a coffee lover and an outdoor enthusiast, at some point you’ve probably wondered how you can indulge in better coffee while also enjoying your favorite outdoor spaces. This week on Outdoor Explorer, our guests are Tim Gravel, co-owner of Kaladi Brothers Coffee and fellow lover of the outdoors, and Gina Shively, an avid outdoorswoman. We talk about making better coffee in the backcountry and our favorite ways to drink this magical beverage in the outdoors.
Trails are one of the primary infrastructures in the outdoors. They lead us to destinations or are an end unto themselves. Trails provide opportunity for observing nature, getting exercise, and relaxation. Trail building in Alaska has come a long way since people went straight up the fall line. On this week’s Outdoor Explorer we will discuss the summer of 2021 trail building projects and how to get involved.
On the next Outdoor Explorer, we will continue the series Travel School with Jodi Harskamp and Neal Stanbury and their children, Tui and Leif. As they are wrapping up their time in California in Death Valley National Park, LA county goes into lockdown, forcing them to leave early and head for Arizona and beyond.
Drones, or unmanned aircraft, are becoming more common in Alaska and elsewhere every month. We'll discuss the capabilities and challenges of drones on this Outdoor Explorer.
Do you remember what it's like to be a beginner at something? This week, on Outdoor Explorer our guest is Sarah Histand, she'll talk about overcoming the things that keep us from getting started, how to be a beginner when it seems everyone else is an expert, and functional strength at home.
On the next Outdoor Explorer, we will continue the series Travel School with Jodi Harskamp and Neal Stanbury and their children, Tui and Leif. We will pick up their journey as they leave Oregon and begin exploring the parks of California. But just as they get started, they encounter trouble.
Sepp Weber has climbed, skied and kayaked for 80 years, mostly in Alaska. Join him and your host Paul Twardock as Sepp shares his stories on Outdoor Explorer.
On the next Outdoor Explorer, we will be joined by a family that took school on the road this winter. Jodi Harskamp and her husband Neal Stanbury, along with their children Tui and Leif and dog Nukka, traveled in their retrofitted truck to state and national parks across the lower 48 for a back to nature education.
On this week’s Outdoor Explorer, we’ll speak with the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation’s executive director, Ben Popp, about the changes that were put in place to allow thousands of competitors to gather in Wisconsin for America’s largest ski race, even during the pandemic.
On the next Outdoor Explorer, our guest is Hank Lentfer, author of the book “Raven’s Witness: The Alaska Life of Richard K. Nelson.” Richard was Alaska’s Writer Laureate from 1999 – 2001, but he is maybe best remembered for his National Public Radio show “Encounters” that was centered around the sounds of Alaska.
What is emotional intelligence how does it affect our outdoor activities? This week we'll discuss why it's important in contributing to enjoyable outdoor experiences.
On the next Outdoor Explorer, we will dive deep into the history, planning and development of Chugach State Park with guests Monica Alvarez with the Department of Natural Resources, Ben Corwin the Park’s Chief Ranger, and Ryan Yelle, the Chairman of the Park’s Citizen Advisory Board.
Have you ever thought you needed to live in a yurt off the grid in order to be more connected to nature? This week on Outdoor Explorer our guest is author Chri/stine Byl. We discuss how you have to be a beginner in order to become an expert and misconceptions around what being more connected to nature actually means.
- Independence Mine, photo courtesy MatSu Ski Club.
- Hatcher Pass, photo by Paul Twardock.
- Pearl Creek at Sunset. Photo courtesy Nordic Ski Club Fairbanks
- Anchorage Coastal Trail, photo by Paul Twardock.
- Talkeetna Oosik Trail, photo byPaul Twardock.
- Talkeetna Oosik Trail, photo by Paul Twardock.
- Government Peak Recreation Area, photo courtesy MatSu Ski Club.
- Biathlon Prone Shooter, photo courtesy Nordic Ski Club Fairbanks.
Alaska has a plethora of cross country ski trails and in this year of COVID novices to experts in record numbers are enjoying them. Those trails take organized groups of people to create, maintain and groom. We are fortunate to have numerous clubs that fill that role. Besides building and maintaining trails the clubs offer lessons for kids and adults, organize races, lead tours, rent cabins, put on ski swaps, and even (in non-Covid years) have a ski train. This show talks with the people that make it all happen. Club representatives from Girdwood, Anchorage, Chugiak-Eagle River, Mat-Su, Talkeetna, and Fairbanks answer questions about the trails and programs they offer.
HOST: Paul Twardock
GUESTS:
- Joey Caterinichio– Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage
- Deb Essex- Girdwood Nordic Ski Club
- Jackie Welge- Chugiak Eagle River Nordic Ski Club
- Lucas Parker and Ailis Vann- Mat Su Ski Club
- Laura Wright and Jon Korta- Denali Nordic Ski Club
- Eric Troyer- Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks
LINKS:
- Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage
- Girdwood Nordic Ski Club
- Chugiak Eagle River Nordic Ski Club
- Mat-Su Ski Club
- Denali Nordic Ski Club
- Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks
Other clubs not on the show:
- Seward Nordic Ski Club
- Tsalteshi Ski Trails (Soldotna)
- Kachemak Nordic Ski Club (Homer)
- Valdez Nordic Ski Club
- Juneau Nordic Ski Club
BROADCAST: Thursday, February 11th, 2020. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, February 11th, 2020. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
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- Les Stroud, photo courtesy Les Stroud.
- Les Stroud, photo courtesy Les Stroud.
On this week’s show, our guest is Les Stroud. You may know him as Survivorman but his passion for the outdoors extends far beyond survival. Our discussion covers many topics including survival, getting kids outside, urban adventures, and we talk about his numerous upcoming projects. His albums are available for streaming on Spotify. His podcast, Surviving Life with Les Stroud is available on most podcast platforms.
HOST: Martha Rosenstein
GUEST:
- Les Stroud – documentary film producer, musician, and author
LINKS:
- Les Stroud’s website
- Les Stroud on Facebook
- Les’ photos on Instagram
- Les Stroud’s Youtube channel
BROADCAST: Thursday, February 4th, 2021. 10-11 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, February 4th, 2021. 8–9 p.m. AKT
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- Bjorn Dihle, photo credit Mary Catharine Martin.
- Monica Devine, photo courtesy Monica Devine.
- A brown bear feeds on a whale carcass on Admiralty Island, photo by Bjorn Dihle.
- A Shape in the Dark cover
- Water Mask cover.
On this Outdoor Explorer, we’ll be chat with two Alaskan authors, reflecting on Alaska through their relationships with our unique and challenging environment. First up is Monica Devine of Eagle River, author of “Water Mask.” Monica’s book is a memoir of short stories set throughout Alaska and New Mexico. In the second half of the show, author Bjorn Dihle of Douglas Island will share historical and personal brown bear stories. His soon to be released book is “A Shape in the Dark: Living and Dying with Brown Bears.”
HOST: Lisa Keller
GUESTS:
Segment 1: Monica Devine, author of “Water Mask”
Segment 2: Bjorn Dihle, author of “A Shape in the Dark: Living and Dying with Brown Bears”
LINKS:
- Monica Devine website
- Bjorn Dihle on Facebook
- Bjorn Dihle’s Instagram
- University of Alaska Press
- Mountaineers Books
BROADCAST: Thursday, January 28th, 2021. 10-11 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, January 28th, 2021. 8–9 p.m. AKT
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- Gina Shively
- Anna Garner
In the first segment of today’s show, our guest is Gina Shively. Gina is a health coach, passionate about sheep hunting, and working towards becoming a commercial pilot. In the second segment, my guest is Anna Garner. Anna grew up in Alaska, moved to Hawaii, became a boat captain, and is now in Colorado working with a different kind of boat.
HOST: Martha Rosenstein
GUEST:
- Gina Shively – health coach, hunter and pilot
- Anna Garner – boat captain, currently working for Alpacka Packraft
LINKS:
- Gina’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildwellfed/
- Gina’s website: https://wildandwellfed.com/
- Kohola film project: https://www.koholafilm.org/
- Our previous show featuring women pilots: https://www.alaskapublic.org/2020/05/09/fly-for-pie/
BROADCAST: Thursday, Jan 21st, 2021. 10-11 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, Jan. 21st, 2021. 8–9 p.m. AKT
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- Two-time olympian Sadie Maubet-Bjornsen. Photo: Sadie Maubet-Bjornsen.
- JC Schoonmaker. Photo courtesy of JC Schoonmaker.
- Sadie Maubet-Bjornsen and Marine Dusser Bjornsen out skiing together.
On this week’s Outdoor Explorer, we’ll be talking with two of the Alaska elite ski racers about how their racing schedules have changed and about new opportunities for growth and improvement that have arisen from these changes. Our first guest is two-time Olympian Sadie Maubet-Bjornsen. Typically, at this time of year she’d be in Europe on the pro racing circuit, but this fall she decided to skip a few World Cup races to stay home in Anchorage and study for her certified public accountant (CPA) exams. Our second guest will be UAA Ski Team athlete and NCAA All-American JC Schoonmaker, a college student at UAA who decided this fall to accept the US Ski Team’s invitation to compete in several World Cup races in Europe, since his classes were all online anyway.
HOST: Adam Verrier
GUESTS:
- Skiers JC Schoonmaker and Sadie Maubet-Bjornsen
BROADCAST: Thursday, January 14th, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, January 14th 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
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- Damen Bell-Holter, photo courtesy Damen Bell-Holter
- Reid Harris, photo courtesy Reid Harris
- Janice Tower, photo courtesy Janice Tower
- Miguel Ramos, photo courtesy Miguel Ramos
This show is a bit different in that it is a recording of the Alaska Outdoor Alliance’s Lunch & Learn session from October 14, 2020. The session is called Bikes Belong and the discussion brought together a diverse group of stakeholders in the future of Alaska biking. Opening the session is Lee Hart, Executive Director of the Alaska Outdoor
Alliance. She will introduce the moderator, Christina Grande. Christina has worked in local bike shops for 10 years and is the co-owner of Alaska Bike Adventures. The panelists are Janice Tower from Anchorage, founder of Single Track Advocates and co-founder of Mighty Bikes; Reid Harris from Juneau, president of the Juneau Mountain Bike Alliance;
Damen Bell-Holter from Hydaburg a former professional basketball player who founded a movement called Break the (Bi) Cycle centered around Black and Indigenous men; and Miguel Ramos from Homer, a former professional cyclist who is now a coach, mountain bike guide, and trail builder.
HOST: Lisa Keller
GUESTS:
Lee Hart, Executive Director Alaska Outdoor Alliance with Christina Grande, as moderator.
Panel: Janice Tower, Reid Harris, Damen Bell-Holter, Miguel Ramos
LINKS:
- Alaska Outdoor Alliance
- Alaska Bike Adventures
- Single Track Advocates
- Mighty Bikes
- Janice Tower’s website
- Juneau Mountain Bike Alliance
- Break the (Bi)Cycle
BROADCAST: Thursday, December 17th, 2020. 10-11 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, December 17th, 2020. 8–9 p.m. AKT
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- HIlltop ski area.
- Alyeska Ski Resort. Photo by Paul Twardock.
- Artic Valley ski area.
- Skeetawk Ski Area, in Hatcher’s Pass.
- Moose Mountain near Fiarbanks.
- Eaglecrest Ski Area. Photo by Chris Miller.
“Ski Well, Be Well” is this year’s motto of the Alpine ski industry. Ski areas are opening this month with lots of uncertainty surrounding COVID. After having shut down at the peak of their season last March, the ski industry has worked hard to welcome skiers back to the slope in as safe a manner as possible. This show features interviews with some of the areas in Alaska. Staff from each area will describe their area, their opening plans, and what COVID precautions they are taking.
HOST: Paul Twardock
GUESTS:
- Hilltop: Trevor Bird
- Alyeska: Tatiana Lawson and Cody Burns
- Arctic Valley: John Robinson-Wilson
- Skeetawk: Scott Patridge and Brian McGorry
- Moose Mountain: Roger Evans
- Eaglecrest: Charlie Harrington
LINKS:
- National Ski Area Association “Ski Well, Be Well” web site
- Hilltop Ski Area
- Alyeska Resort
- Arctic Valley
- Skeetawk (Palmer)
- Moose Mountain (Fairbanks)
- Eaglecrest (Juneau)
Other areas not on the show:
- Mount Eyak (Cordova)
- Ski Land (Fairbanks)
BROADCAST: Thursday, December 10th, 2020. 2:00 pm – 3:00 p.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, December 10th, 2020. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
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Sonja Wieck. (Sonja Wieck) Ironman athlete turned adventure racer Sonja Wieck recently competed in the World’s Toughest Race: Eco Challenge Fiji. Wieck talks with host Martha Rosenstein about what it was like to compete with a team of Ironman athletes, how a mental health crisis turned her into an adventure racer, and her shift in mindset from racing to win to racing for the journey.
HOST: Martha Rosenstein
GUEST:
- Sonja Wieck: Ironman athlete turned adventure racer
LINKS:
- Sonja’s website: https://gosonja.com/
- A link to her podcast
- A link to her on Instagram
BROADCAST: Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. 2-3 p.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. 8–9 p.m. AKT
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- Pioneer Peak and the city of Palmer. Photo: Paul Twardock
- Ice skating on Westchester Lagoon. Photo: Paul Twardock
- Skiing on the Gasline Trail in Chugach State Park. Photo: Paul Twardock
- Turnagain Pass. Photo: Paul Twardock
- Virgin Creek Falls, in Girdwood. Photo: Paul Twardock
Winter has arrived in Alaska and it’s time to get prepared for outdoor recreation in the snow! The COVID pandemic pushed many Alaskans into the state’s easily accessible public lands where they enjoy our great natural beauty. With Alaska’s public health officials’ encouragement, we responded in seemingly record numbers. As summer turned to fall and then winter you may be nervous about going out in the winter: it brings new risks and many rewards. Being prepared for the cold and snow requires proper clothing, equipment, food, and liquids. In the summer one needs just running shoes, pants, and a top. Winter requires us to be prepared for temperatures in the teens, or colder! Small mistakes are amplified by harsh weather, short days, and deep snow. A well-prepared person, however, can get the joy of the midday sun streaming through the trees or the Northern Lights doing their green dance on an absolutely quiet night. We’ll have Alli Harvey, Anchorage Daily News Columnist, and Rick Roth from Alaska Mountaineering Hiking answering questions about winter recreation for beginners.
HOST: Paul Twardock
GUESTS:
- Alli Harvey, Achorage Daily News columnist will give us a beginners perspective
- Rick Roth from Alaska Mountaineering Hiking answering questions about winter gear
LINKS:
- Ali Harvey’s articles from the Anchorage Daily News
- Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking
BROADCAST: Thursday, November 19th, 2020. 2:00 pm – 3:00 p.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, November 19th, 2020. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
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On this week’s show our guest is Sarah Histand. Sarah is a fitness trainer who places a huge emphasis on mental health. Our conversation covers a variety of topics including overcoming barriers to getting started with outdoor adventuring, remembering what it’s like to be a beginner again, and how to build functional strength at home in anticipation of winter sports.
HOST: Martha Rosenstein
GUEST:
- Sarah Histand: Sarah is a fitness trainer who places a huge emphasis on mental health.
LINKS:
- Sarah on Instagram
- Sarah’s website where you can find her programs
BROADCAST: Thursday, November 12th, 2020. 2:00 pm – 3:00 p.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, November 12th, 2020. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
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- A view of Baja, CA. Photo from Don and Donna Ford.
- Don and Donna Ford camping on the Yukon River. Photo from Don Donna Ford.
- A foggy view of the Yukon River. Photo from Don Donna Ford.
- A view from a Kayak of the Inside Passage. Photo from Don Donna Ford.
- Don and Donna Ford.
What do outdoor professionals do when they retire from a life in the outdoors? As baby
boomers retire life can offer many paths. Long bucket lists confront aging bodies, fixed
income, and family responsibilities. This show features a couple who have made the most of their retirement. In 2012 Don and Donna Ford retired from a long and productive career at NOLS, the well-known outdoor school. After teaching, directing and mentoring many outdoor professionals in Wyoming, Alaska, and Mexico, and raising two kids they were free to settle down. Or not. Their project, Seeking Horizons, has taken them from Cabos San Lucos, Baja, Mexico, to the mouth of the Yukon River by foot and paddle. Learn, as Don put it, what they “retired to,” and how they did it.
HOST: Paul Twardock
GUESTS:
- Don and Donna Ford
LINKS:
- Seeking Horizons website
- Navionics website
- Guthook Hikes, hiking app
- Gaia GPS
BROADCAST: Thursday, November 5th, 2020. 2:00 pm – 3:00 p.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, November 5th, 2020. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
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A runner descends the Crow Pass Trail, which could become a piece of the Alaska Long Trail, a 500-mile chain of trails from Seward to Fairbanks (Lex Treinen/Alaska Public Media) © Max Romey Productions Long trails are found all over the world and have given rise to thru-hiking, which is to travel a trail either straight through from end to end or to break it into smaller segments, returning over and over again until the hiker has completed the trail. In the United States, the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail are the most famous of the bucket list thru-hikes. Alaska already has one of the oldest National Historic Trails, the Iditarod Trail. We also have many mining and timber roads, waterways, and social trails, that if connected and maintained, would be one of the most ecologically diverse trails in the world. Our guests this week, Alaska Trails board secretary Chris Beck, former Governor Tony Knowles, and videographer Max Romey are going to share the planning process, the potential routes, and the economic benefits of the Alaska Long Trail.
HOST: Lisa Keller
Guests:
Segment 1: Alaska Trails board secretary Chris Beck, former Governor Tony Knowles, videographer Max Romey
LINKS:
- The Alaska Long Trail
- A 500-mile hiking trail across Alaska? Advocates say the pandemic is a perfect time to start
- The Alaska Outdoor Alliance YouTube channel
- Max Romey Productions, Trailbound Alaska
BROADCAST: Thursday, October 29th, 2020. 2:00 pm – 3:00 p.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, October 29th, 2020. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
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- Skier at Karl Eid Jumping Complex. Photo: Eric Bork, Alaska Public Media
- The Hilltop summer ski jump. (Photo by Ammon Swenson, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage)
- Skier at Karl Eid Jumping Complex. Photo: Eric Bork, Alaska Public Media.
On this episode of Outdoor Explorer, we talk about ski jumping with the Anchorage Ski Jumping Club. Our guests will be Karen Compton and Zak Hamill. Karen has been instrumental in the recent dramatic growth of the Anchorage Jumping Club, and she’s also a parent of two ski jumpers. Zak Hamill is the Club’s program director and head coach. Have you ever wanted to become a ski jumper? It’s not as far-fetched an idea as you might think!
HOST: Adam Verrier
GUESTS:
- Karen Compton and Zak Hamill.
LINKS:
- NSAA Ski Jumping Program
- Summer ski jumping feature from KTUU
- Ryōyu Kobayashi sets hill record in Planica – 252,0 m
BROADCAST: Thursday, October 22nd, 2020. 2:00 pm – 3:00 p.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, October 22nd, 2020. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
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