Engineer Lake Cabin can be seen in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on Nov. 21, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Public comment accepted for proposed rate increases for overnight fees at refuge

Campsites would increase $5 per night and cabins would increase $10 per night

Engineer Lake Cabin can be seen in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on Nov. 21, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
North Kenai Beach, Aug. 1, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: The Circle Game

I don’t feel like I’ve been outside much lately. The problem is I have been outside a lot lately. In “The Circle Game,” Joni Mitchell… Continue reading

North Kenai Beach, Aug. 1, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Ryan Chen lopping seasonal growth at a vista on Emma Lake Trail during a weeklong camping trip. (Photo by Shea Imgarten)

Refuge Notebook: That’s a rap — YCC leaves a trace on refuge’s legacy

They’re everywhere: a munched branch on the trail, muddy boot prints in the house, the rippling of water after a floatplane takes off. All of… Continue reading

Ryan Chen lopping seasonal growth at a vista on Emma Lake Trail during a weeklong camping trip. (Photo by Shea Imgarten)
A very scary butterfly is seen at the side of a lake along Hidden Creek Trail near Cooper Landing, Alaska, on July 8, 2023. (Photo courtesy Ashley Every)

Out of the Office: Moments of joy

Sometimes I make a cup of coffee just to feel something. That is, holding a warm mug and sipping some delicious — caffeinated — beverage… Continue reading

A very scary butterfly is seen at the side of a lake along Hidden Creek Trail near Cooper Landing, Alaska, on July 8, 2023. (Photo courtesy Ashley Every)
A close-up view of spruce tip rust on spruce tips on the Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by USFWS/Kris Inman)

Refuge Notebook: Another big year for spruce tip rust

Much like 2018, the orange tips of young spruce trees are catching people’s attention and reminded me of 2018 when a co-worker asked, “What is… Continue reading

A close-up view of spruce tip rust on spruce tips on the Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by USFWS/Kris Inman)
The Anchor River flows in the Anchor Point State Recreation Area on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Creek walking in cool summer

Growing up spending my summers in one outdoor activity camp or another, my favorite days of all were the ones when the instructor told us… Continue reading

The Anchor River flows in the Anchor Point State Recreation Area on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
The Sterling Highway crosses the Kenai River near the Russian River Campground on March 15, 2020, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Russian River Campground closes Wednesday

The road is set to be reopened on May 29

The Sterling Highway crosses the Kenai River near the Russian River Campground on March 15, 2020, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
A beautiful stop along Skyline Trail on the way to collect vegetation surveys in the Swan Lake Fire. (Photo by USFWS/Jackie Morton)

Refuge Notebook: Wild and free — My summer as an intern in Alaska

Dozens of Dall sheep pellets pelted my face like hail on a windshield. A celebratory selfie, finished off with “confetti” after a long day of… Continue reading

A beautiful stop along Skyline Trail on the way to collect vegetation surveys in the Swan Lake Fire. (Photo by USFWS/Jackie Morton)
Trail River cabin is already under construction. (Photo courtesy Harvey Hergett/United States Forest Service)

Construction of new public use cabins begins in Moose Pass

Two other cabins are being constructed at the Porcupine Campground in Hope and by Meridian Lake in Seward

Trail River cabin is already under construction. (Photo courtesy Harvey Hergett/United States Forest Service)
Hikers walk around the base of Byron Glacier on Sunday, June 18, 2023 near Girdwood, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Surveying the Chugach

The longer I live in Alaska, the more I worry that I’m taking it for granted. Like a lot of transplants, I spent the first… Continue reading

Hikers walk around the base of Byron Glacier on Sunday, June 18, 2023 near Girdwood, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A brown bear cub "catches" a salmon carcass. (Photo by C. Canterbury/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Keeping it wild while fishing, camping on Refuge

Sliding one foot in front of another, we crossed the Russian River; our quest for the day was not fishing but checking on terrestrial invasive… Continue reading

A brown bear cub "catches" a salmon carcass. (Photo by C. Canterbury/USFWS)
Signage points the way to the Swan Lake Cabin in the Chugach National Forest on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Chugach National Forest to hold meetings on 5 proposed cabins

The Chugach National Forest this week set dates for four public meetings about five new public use cabins that are proposed for construction on and… Continue reading

Signage points the way to the Swan Lake Cabin in the Chugach National Forest on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Skyline Trail, June 25, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Mind game

Sunday at the Skyline Trail, a lost jacket gave me a chance for an endurance experiment. At about 6 p.m., I finished a three-mile climb… Continue reading

Skyline Trail, June 25, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Contestants race down the Kenai River during the 16th Annual Cooper Landing Drift Boat Regata near the Eagle Landing Resort in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Officials: Wear life jackets, use caution when recreating on water

A group of seven people were rescued Saturday from Mile 80 of the Kenai River

Contestants race down the Kenai River during the 16th Annual Cooper Landing Drift Boat Regata near the Eagle Landing Resort in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Bill Farrell leads a Guided Discovery Hike on the Bear Mountain Trail, near Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Friday, June 23, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Working their way up

Refuge offers summer guided hikes

Bill Farrell leads a Guided Discovery Hike on the Bear Mountain Trail, near Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Friday, June 23, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye looks out from the top of Gull Rock in Hope, Alaska, on Saturday, May 13, 2023. He does not yet know that the hike back is far more challenging than the hike out. (Photo courtesy Ashley Every)

Out of the Office: Off the map

All my life, I’ve been the member of the group who’s in charge of the map. Somewhere along the way, I began to conflate that… Continue reading

Jake Dye looks out from the top of Gull Rock in Hope, Alaska, on Saturday, May 13, 2023. He does not yet know that the hike back is far more challenging than the hike out. (Photo courtesy Ashley Every)
The Devil’s Creek Trail in Chugach National Forest, seen June 15, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly backs expanded use of e-bikes in Chugach

The nonbinding resolution calls for class I and II electronic bicycles to be allowed on the forest’s nonmotorized trails, roads and other areas

The Devil’s Creek Trail in Chugach National Forest, seen June 15, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Signage points the way to the Swan Lake Cabin in the Chugach National Forest on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Comment sought for proposed public use cabins

The five cabins are set to be constructed in four locations in the Glacier and Seward Ranger Districts

Signage points the way to the Swan Lake Cabin in the Chugach National Forest on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Anglers gather along the banks of the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing in September 2018. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Anglers gather along the banks of the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing in September 2018. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Muddy runners move down the Tsalteshi Trails’ Porcupine Loop in Soldotna, Alaska, as they participate in the KDLL Mud Run on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo provided by KDLL 91.9 FM)

Becoming ‘one with the mud’

Runners get dirty in support of public radio

Muddy runners move down the Tsalteshi Trails’ Porcupine Loop in Soldotna, Alaska, as they participate in the KDLL Mud Run on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo provided by KDLL 91.9 FM)