Life

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge trails in Soldotna, Alaska, are still covered with snow on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Refuge trails emerge from winter

It’s officially the end of the groomed winter trail season

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge trails in Soldotna, Alaska, are still covered with snow on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
The view from the van on Sunday, March 13, 2022. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Of cars and cliches

It’s cliche to say that the journey is more important than the destination. Sometimes that looks like rerouting how you end up at the destination,… Continue reading

The view from the van on Sunday, March 13, 2022. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The use of birding apps and iPhones to play songs has become a popular way to locate target species. (Photo by L. Eskelin/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Play that song one more time

Imagine hearing unrecognized voices in your backyard. Immediately, your heart rate shoots up, and you begin planning on whether to call 911 or go out… Continue reading

The use of birding apps and iPhones to play songs has become a popular way to locate target species. (Photo by L. Eskelin/USFWS)
Debris from a large natural avalanche that occurred Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, can be seen along the Seward Highway. (Photo courtesy Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center)

Backcountry avalanche awareness event Saturday

Forecasters with the Avalanche Center and officials from other agencies will be in attendance

Debris from a large natural avalanche that occurred Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, can be seen along the Seward Highway. (Photo courtesy Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center)
Skiers take off for the men’s 40K freestyle race at Sunday’s Tour of Tsalteshi event just outside of Soldotna on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Back in rhythm

At the beginning of February, I began reading “If Beale Street Could Talk” by James Baldwin. The first 100 pages were slow but worthwhile as… Continue reading

Skiers take off for the men’s 40K freestyle race at Sunday’s Tour of Tsalteshi event just outside of Soldotna on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
The author unloading helicopter H551 on Mt. Hoffman, Yosemite National Park. (Photo by NPS)

Learning the ropes on the Wildland Firefighter Apprenticeship Program

It’s a sunny day in May 2020 at the Crane Flat Helibase. Myself and four other “rookie” (new) rappelers have undergone days’ worth of ground… Continue reading

The author unloading helicopter H551 on Mt. Hoffman, Yosemite National Park. (Photo by NPS)
Mt. Chiginagak on Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge 30 miles southeast of Ugashik. (Photo by B. Wishnek/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Protecting Alaska from invasive species: A common goal near and far

Many regard Alaska for its wild and free landscapes and its importance to fish, wildlife, plants and people. However, while most Alaska landscapes are wild… Continue reading

Mt. Chiginagak on Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge 30 miles southeast of Ugashik. (Photo by B. Wishnek/USFWS)
Drew Slegers, a fourth grader at Soldotna Elementary, snowshoes on Headquarters Lake in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge just outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021. The refuge is offering spring break snowshoe walks for kids. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Refuge offering spring break walks for kids

Guided walks will be held daily for those 8 years and older from Tuesday through Saturday of next week

Drew Slegers, a fourth grader at Soldotna Elementary, snowshoes on Headquarters Lake in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge just outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021. The refuge is offering spring break snowshoe walks for kids. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
My mom Alex Botello, my aunt Melissa Botello, myself, and my aunt Kim Davis take a photo in Talkeetna on Friday Feb. 25, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Chasing the lights

My mom loves looking up at the night sky. When we were kids, she’d wake my sister and me up and make us watch a… Continue reading

My mom Alex Botello, my aunt Melissa Botello, myself, and my aunt Kim Davis take a photo in Talkeetna on Friday Feb. 25, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Mt. Redoubt can be seen across Cook Inlet from Diamond Ridge on the Marathon Ski Trail on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Out of the Office: Falling in love with Diamond Ridge and winter

Since winter lasts from October to May on Diamond Ridge, you’d better love winter.

Mt. Redoubt can be seen across Cook Inlet from Diamond Ridge on the Marathon Ski Trail on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
A recently hatched rufous-tailed hummingbird with one more egg to hatch. (Photo by T. Eskelin/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: A mother’s work is never done

Bird nerd, bird geek and bird brain are just a few of the accolades I have acquired over the years. Of course, these labels were… Continue reading

A recently hatched rufous-tailed hummingbird with one more egg to hatch. (Photo by T. Eskelin/USFWS)
A beautiful Arctic char caught while ice fishing on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo by Nate Perrine)

Refuge Notebook: Winter camping and ice fishing on the refuge

When people think of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, chances are the first thing that comes to mind is salmon fishing or some other activity… Continue reading

A beautiful Arctic char caught while ice fishing on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo by Nate Perrine)
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Out of the Office: It’s all about ‘give and take’

My fiance and I on Monday celebrated our third Valentine’s Day together with a trip to city hall. And before you get ahead of yourself,… Continue reading

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Out of the Office: Catching COVID

I caught COVID a couple of weeks ago and it sucked. I’m not sure how I was exposed, or by whom, but the symptoms hit… Continue reading

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A hairy woodpecker on the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. Notice the bill is as long as the head? (Photo by Laurie Sheppard, USFWS National Digital Library)

Refuge Notebook: Woodpecker doppelgangers

I was listening to the distinct sound of a woodpecker drumming a few days ago and caught a flash of a black and white bird.… Continue reading

A hairy woodpecker on the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. Notice the bill is as long as the head? (Photo by Laurie Sheppard, USFWS National Digital Library)
The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Nov. 3, 2021. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Best ski of the year

Memory is strongly tied to place. That’s why I can never take the ski from Arc Lake to Slikok Lake without thinking of Alan Boraas,… Continue reading

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Nov. 3, 2021. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Moose, the impetus, for David Spencerճ start on the Kenai National Moose Range. (Photo by C. Canterbury/FWS)

Refuge Notebook: Introduction to David Spencer, 1st manager of Kenai National Moose Range

In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Kenai National Moose Range. Today this nearly 2-million-acre tract of public land is known as the Kenai… Continue reading

Moose, the impetus, for David Spencerճ start on the Kenai National Moose Range. (Photo by C. Canterbury/FWS)
Camille Botello and Benito hike in Denali National Park on Sept. 18, 2021. (Ashlyn O’Hara)

Out of the Office: Furry friend

Adventuring in Alaska has been much better with my fur buddy. Moving to the Kenai Peninsula from the Lower 48 is a pretty large feat… Continue reading

Camille Botello and Benito hike in Denali National Park on Sept. 18, 2021. (Ashlyn O’Hara)
The Kenai National Moose Range's three LeTourneau crushers off of Mystery Creek Road, March 14, 1978. (Photo provided by USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Forest regeneration efforts benefit moose on wildlife refuge

From time to time, we reshare past Refuge Notebook articles. We selected this article as part of our efforts to commemorate the Kenai National Wildlife… Continue reading

The Kenai National Moose Range's three LeTourneau crushers off of Mystery Creek Road, March 14, 1978. (Photo provided by USFWS)
Michael Armstrong, seated, in sled, gives his mother, Sylvia Jander, the unique Alaska experience of driving a sled-dog team in February 1989 in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Jenny Stroyeck)

Fill out the squares of the Alaska Adventure Bingo Card

Moose, bears, sled dogs wolves, whales oh my: Alaska offers many adventures to check off.

Michael Armstrong, seated, in sled, gives his mother, Sylvia Jander, the unique Alaska experience of driving a sled-dog team in February 1989 in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Jenny Stroyeck)