Life

This undated photo shows vegetable beds readied for winter in Rosendale, N.Y. Blanketing the ground with a layer of mulch, autumn leaves in the foreground bed, or sowing a winter cover crop, as in the background bed, protects the surface layers from pounding rain and wide swings in temperature, as well as providing other benefits. (Lee Reich via AP)

Soil needs some kind of protection for winter

Don’t leave your soil nude this winter. Or, at least don’t leave it nude and smooth. You don’t see Mother Nature cavorting around in this… Continue reading

This undated photo shows vegetable beds readied for winter in Rosendale, N.Y. Blanketing the ground with a layer of mulch, autumn leaves in the foreground bed, or sowing a winter cover crop, as in the background bed, protects the surface layers from pounding rain and wide swings in temperature, as well as providing other benefits. (Lee Reich via AP)

An Outdoor View: Fishing around

A video on YouTube shows Royal Marines helping appreciative locals catch fish in Afghanistan. If you’re thinking, “Good for those Marines,” consider that they’re fishing… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion A cyclist makes his way up a hill on the Tsalteshi Trails during the Polar Vortex race Oct. 22 in Soldotna.

Waiting for the snow: Peninsula recreationists find other ways to get outside

During recent winters on the central Kenai Peninsula, ice has become the new snow. Following the trend of several consecutive abnormal winters that have left… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion A cyclist makes his way up a hill on the Tsalteshi Trails during the Polar Vortex race Oct. 22 in Soldotna.
These local high school students worked together this past summer as the Youth Conservation Corps crew on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. From left to right: Grant Knauss, Haley Buckbee, Matthew Zorbas, Whitney Esteban and Talon Musgrave. (Photo by Allie Cunningham/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Local high school students monitor fire management

“The GPS says the plots are on the other side of the swamp in front of us. There isn’t a way around it,” Grant says… Continue reading

These local high school students worked together this past summer as the Youth Conservation Corps crew on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. From left to right: Grant Knauss, Haley Buckbee, Matthew Zorbas, Whitney Esteban and Talon Musgrave. (Photo by Allie Cunningham/USFWS)
This July 3, 2016, photo provided by Dean Fosdick shows a wildflower mix in a Langley, Wash., yard. Many gardeners like perennials because they continue to flower year after year but add some annuals for instant color. Combination seed packets seem to be the most popular choice for wildflower buyers but check the packages to ensure they contain more seeds than filler. (Dean Fosdick via AP)

You can prepare the ground now for sowing wildflowers

Wildflowers are among the easiest plants to grow, especially if you copy Mother Nature. For cool climate gardeners, that means spreading seed over the ground… Continue reading

This July 3, 2016, photo provided by Dean Fosdick shows a wildflower mix in a Langley, Wash., yard. Many gardeners like perennials because they continue to flower year after year but add some annuals for instant color. Combination seed packets seem to be the most popular choice for wildflower buyers but check the packages to ensure they contain more seeds than filler. (Dean Fosdick via AP)
ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, NOV. 12-13 - In this Oct. 25, 2016 photo, Jeff Garmire poses in Vancouver, Wash. Garmire is among the elite cadre of hikers who have completed the Appalachian, Pacific Crest and Continental Divide trails in a calendar year. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian via AP)

Hiker conquers 3 iconic long-distance trails in 252 days

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — Jeff Garmire of Vancouver hiked America’s three iconic long-distance routes — the Appalachian, Pacific Crest and Continental Divide trails — this… Continue reading

ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, NOV. 12-13 - In this Oct. 25, 2016 photo, Jeff Garmire poses in Vancouver, Wash. Garmire is among the elite cadre of hikers who have completed the Appalachian, Pacific Crest and Continental Divide trails in a calendar year. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian via AP)

An Outdoor View: Of grouse and cutthroat

I can remember a few fall days when I wished I’d stayed in bed, but most of my memories of fall days are good. So… Continue reading

Dave Spencer, the first manager of the Kenai National Moose Range (now Kenai National Wildlife Refuge) surveys a trumpeter swan nest on the Moose River in May 1957. Two months later, oil was discovered in the Swanson River Field, setting off an era of active oil exploration and development on the refuge under the management of John Hakala. Both managers were pilots in WWII. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: World War II veterans contributed to Kenai Refuge history

As Veteran’s Day approaches and after reading an article on the recent book “Mission to the Kurils” in the Alaska Dispatch News on Nov. 6,… Continue reading

Dave Spencer, the first manager of the Kenai National Moose Range (now Kenai National Wildlife Refuge) surveys a trumpeter swan nest on the Moose River in May 1957. Two months later, oil was discovered in the Swanson River Field, setting off an era of active oil exploration and development on the refuge under the management of John Hakala. Both managers were pilots in WWII. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
Aldo Leopold was made a Professor of Game Management at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1933, the first such program in the U.S. He wrote "A Sand County Almanac" in 1949 just before his death. (Photo courtesy oregonwild.org)

Refuge Notebook: Revisiting Aldo Leopold’s ‘A Sand County Almanac’

As part of the 75th birthday celebration for the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, I watched Jim Pfitzer’s portrayal of Aldo Leopold in “A Standard of… Continue reading

Aldo Leopold was made a Professor of Game Management at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1933, the first such program in the U.S. He wrote "A Sand County Almanac" in 1949 just before his death. (Photo courtesy oregonwild.org)

An Outdoor View: On keeping motivated

Author’s note: Earlier this week, my doctor said I should lose 15 pounds and get more exercise. This column, from the Clarion on Oct. 25,… Continue reading

In this Oct. 8, 2016 photo, a group of new mushroom hunters scour national forest land near Skykomish, Wash., for chanterelle mushrooms. (Evan Bush/The Seattle Times via AP)

Stalking the wild fungi

SKYKOMISH, Wash. (AP) — The rain is falling without mercy. It’s midmorning, but a gray blanket of low clouds tucks the forest in so cozily… Continue reading

In this Oct. 8, 2016 photo, a group of new mushroom hunters scour national forest land near Skykomish, Wash., for chanterelle mushrooms. (Evan Bush/The Seattle Times via AP)
This undated photo taken in New Market, Va., shows sun-loving vegetables the ones shown here, which can be cultivated indoors in winter enriched by supplemental lighting. But choose the right plant combinations for your four-season gardening. Some are more demanding than others. Vegetable gardening can be a year-round activity with the right indoor growing conditions. (Dean Fosdick via AP)

Vegetable gardening can be moved indoors for winter harvest

There’s no reason to stop growing vegetables just because cold weather has arrived. Sun-loving edibles can be cultivated indoors in containers enriched by supplemental LED… Continue reading

This undated photo taken in New Market, Va., shows sun-loving vegetables the ones shown here, which can be cultivated indoors in winter enriched by supplemental lighting. But choose the right plant combinations for your four-season gardening. Some are more demanding than others. Vegetable gardening can be a year-round activity with the right indoor growing conditions. (Dean Fosdick via AP)
ADVANCE FOR SUNDAY OCT. 30 - In this Oct. 15, 2016 photo, Chad Schaeffer, his wife Jen Schaeffer, both of Sioux Falls, and Carol Bothe, of Brandon, S.D., talk about a pheasant Chad had just shot after hunting their final piece of cover during the South Dakota pheasant hunting opener near Brookings, S.D. The Argus Leader reports that the number of women obtaining pheasant hunting licenses in South Dakota has almost doubled in the last 10 years, reflecting a shift in culture and the success of hunting education programs. (Joe Ahlquist/The Argus Leader via AP)

A shift in culture as more women take up hunting

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The sound of a gunshot crackled through miles of soon-to-be combined land, bringing one pheasant to the ground in a single… Continue reading

ADVANCE FOR SUNDAY OCT. 30 - In this Oct. 15, 2016 photo, Chad Schaeffer, his wife Jen Schaeffer, both of Sioux Falls, and Carol Bothe, of Brandon, S.D., talk about a pheasant Chad had just shot after hunting their final piece of cover during the South Dakota pheasant hunting opener near Brookings, S.D. The Argus Leader reports that the number of women obtaining pheasant hunting licenses in South Dakota has almost doubled in the last 10 years, reflecting a shift in culture and the success of hunting education programs. (Joe Ahlquist/The Argus Leader via AP)
Political cartoon by Ding Darling from 1936 titled "Nobody's Constituents." The University of Iowa hosts a data base archive of his cartoons at http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/ding/.(Courtesy of the Jay N. 'Ding' Darling Wildlife Society).

Refuge Notebook: Reflecting on the conservation legacy of Ding Darling

This month marks the 140th birthday of J.N. “Ding” Darling. Ding was a political cartoonist and a key figure in American wildlife management and conservation.… Continue reading

Political cartoon by Ding Darling from 1936 titled "Nobody's Constituents." The University of Iowa hosts a data base archive of his cartoons at http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/ding/.(Courtesy of the Jay N. 'Ding' Darling Wildlife Society).

An Outdoor View: Bragging rights

I’ve seen the term “bragging rights” used many times, and I recently got to wondering about it.You won’t find bragging rights specifically named in the… Continue reading

In this Oct. 6, 2016 photo, Outdoor School students Maya Herring, left, and Evie Larson enter notes in their field study notebooks during a lesson at Camp Howard in Mount Hood National Forest near Corbett, Ore. The outdoor education is unique to Oregon and is a rite-of-passage for public school students that's meant to instill a respect for nature in each generation - studies show it improves attendance and boosts test scores. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

Oregon weighs whether all kids should get outdoor education

MOUNT HOOD NATIONAL FOREST, Ore. — Each year, thousands of Oregon parents hug their kids goodbye and send them tramping into the wilderness for up… Continue reading

In this Oct. 6, 2016 photo, Outdoor School students Maya Herring, left, and Evie Larson enter notes in their field study notebooks during a lesson at Camp Howard in Mount Hood National Forest near Corbett, Ore. The outdoor education is unique to Oregon and is a rite-of-passage for public school students that's meant to instill a respect for nature in each generation - studies show it improves attendance and boosts test scores. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
This undated photo shows Seckel pears being harvested in New Paltz, N.Y. Seckel, like other European pears, can be picked mature to finish ripening off the plant. (Lee Reich via AP)

Gardening: Eat fruit at peak flavor

Pick up an apple and hold it to your ear. Can you hear it breathing?Of course you can’t. But that apple, like any other harvested… Continue reading

This undated photo shows Seckel pears being harvested in New Paltz, N.Y. Seckel, like other European pears, can be picked mature to finish ripening off the plant. (Lee Reich via AP)
At least 17 earthworms crawl out of the soil in response to mustard powder solution. Note the absence of decomposing leaves; only coarser, woody material remains above mineral soil. (Photo by Matt Bowser/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Yes, earthworms are changing the Kenai

Last month when I stepped into the woods after a day’s work on Stormy Lake I saw a sight I had seen only in pictures… Continue reading

At least 17 earthworms crawl out of the soil in response to mustard powder solution. Note the absence of decomposing leaves; only coarser, woody material remains above mineral soil. (Photo by Matt Bowser/USFWS)

An Outdoor View: Big fish, big fight

Author’s note: For various reasons, most big halibut are caught by anglers fishing from charter boats. This story is about a very large halibut that… Continue reading

This June 29, 2016 photo shows a male Saker falcon on a tether in truck parked in a driveway near Langley, Wash. Raptors used for bird abatement are trained to chase, not kill. This Saker falcon, an eastern European variety, is one of several raptor species trained by falconers to chase away birds that can damage fruit crops. Some growers have reported losing more than 40 percent of their harvest to bird pests. (Dean Fosdick via AP)

Falconers hired to discourage other birds from eating crops

Frustrated growers tired of seeing wild birds devastate their fruit crops are turning to raptors to patrol their fields, orchards and vineyards.This ancient predator-prey relationship… Continue reading

This June 29, 2016 photo shows a male Saker falcon on a tether in truck parked in a driveway near Langley, Wash. Raptors used for bird abatement are trained to chase, not kill. This Saker falcon, an eastern European variety, is one of several raptor species trained by falconers to chase away birds that can damage fruit crops. Some growers have reported losing more than 40 percent of their harvest to bird pests. (Dean Fosdick via AP)