Life

Gastropod shells collected near St. Lawrence Island were studied to assess if their populations affected hermit crab populations. (Photo provided by Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: Local seashells provide more than just a home for hermit crabs

After beachcombing at low tide, perchance coinciding with a full or new moon to maximize your success, be it at Captain Cook State Park or… Continue reading

Gastropod shells collected near St. Lawrence Island were studied to assess if their populations affected hermit crab populations. (Photo provided by Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

An Outdoor View: Passing stuff on

As Comic George Carlin said, “A house is just pile of stuff with a cover on it.”Lately I’ve been sorting through my fishing stuff, deciding… Continue reading

These fall-planted bulbs pay off later in flavor

When you think of fall-planted bulbs, it’s usually the flowering kind — old standards like daffodils, tulips and hyacinth.But edible bulbs, particularly garlic and shallots,… Continue reading

Enjoy the wilderness adventure film "Arctic Son - Fulfilling the Dream" on Nov. 7 with filmmakers Tom Irons and Jeannie Aspen from Homer. (Photo courtesy of Tom Irons and Jeannie Aspen)

Refuge Notebook: Upcoming free fall events at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

October marks the 6-month anniversary of the new Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. To celebrate, we are hosting a series of three special free… Continue reading

Enjoy the wilderness adventure film "Arctic Son - Fulfilling the Dream" on Nov. 7 with filmmakers Tom Irons and Jeannie Aspen from Homer. (Photo courtesy of Tom Irons and Jeannie Aspen)

An Outdoor View: Fish tacos

Fish tacos are a go-to meal at the Palmer house. As chief chef, I’ve made them with freshly cooked halibut, and I’ve made them with… Continue reading

In this photo taken Sept. 15, 2015 and provided by Art Ekerson, Ekerson center, sits on the summit of Mount McLoughlin for his 80th birthday near Butte Falls, Ore.,with his daughter, Cheryl Krieg, left, and son Kevin Ekerson, 45 years after the first time he led them to the summit. During the previous 41 times climbing to the top of Mount McLoughlin, Art Ekerson would soak up the views of Southern Oregon and Northern California in a panorama like none other. But trip No. 42 had a distinctly familial feel. (Art Ekerson via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

80-year-old climbs beloved peak one more time

BUTTE FALLS, Ore. (AP) — During the previous 41 times climbing to the top of Mount McLoughlin, Art Ekerson would soak up the views of… Continue reading

In this photo taken Sept. 15, 2015 and provided by Art Ekerson, Ekerson center, sits on the summit of Mount McLoughlin for his 80th birthday near Butte Falls, Ore.,with his daughter, Cheryl Krieg, left, and son Kevin Ekerson, 45 years after the first time he led them to the summit. During the previous 41 times climbing to the top of Mount McLoughlin, Art Ekerson would soak up the views of Southern Oregon and Northern California in a panorama like none other. But trip No. 42 had a distinctly familial feel. (Art Ekerson via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
A tiny seed clam (Pisidium sp.) from Headquarters Lake was identified using a LifeScanner DNA barcoding kit (http://bit.ly/1XiwOkA).

Refuge Notebook: Online citizen science: Making your interests count

Many of us who spend time on the Kenai Peninsula have to some extent been drawn by our love of nature.  Midsummer traffic slow-downs at… Continue reading

A tiny seed clam (Pisidium sp.) from Headquarters Lake was identified using a LifeScanner DNA barcoding kit (http://bit.ly/1XiwOkA).

An Outdoor View: What’s a fisherman to do?

It happened a couple of weeks ago on one of those foggy, fall days when the temperature likes to hover around the freezing mark. I… Continue reading

This Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 photo shows Autumn Joy sedum's flowers that offer a long season of beauty as they morph from pink to rose to bronze and, finally, to coppery red, in New Paltz, N.Y. (Lee Reich via AP)

Autumn Joy sedum lives up to its name

For some visual joy in autumn, plant Autumn Joy sedum.The plants’ domed flower clusters now smile skyward like heads of pink broccoli. Autumn Joy is,… Continue reading

This Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 photo shows Autumn Joy sedum's flowers that offer a long season of beauty as they morph from pink to rose to bronze and, finally, to coppery red, in New Paltz, N.Y. (Lee Reich via AP)
The invasive white sweetclover spreads down the Seward Highway toward the 10-mile wide isthmus at Portage that separates the Kenai Peninsula from the Anchorage area. Photo by John Morton)

Refuge Notebook: The Kenai Isthmus is a management conundrum

The Kenai Peninsula is a big chunk of land. With more than 6 million acres, it’s about the size of Belgium or Maryland. You could… Continue reading

The invasive white sweetclover spreads down the Seward Highway toward the 10-mile wide isthmus at Portage that separates the Kenai Peninsula from the Anchorage area. Photo by John Morton)

An Outdoor View: On salmon

Author’s note: This column first appeared in the Clarion in 1993. I still believe this stuff. — LPBy the time you’re through reading this, you… Continue reading

Brian Beeson rounds the corner on the Tsalteshi Trails Oct. 8 at the first Chainwreck Cyclocross event.

‘Crossed up: Cyclocross comes to Soldotna

A herd of cyclists gathered outside Skyview Middle School on the Tsalteshi trailhead Oct. 8 for the inaugural Chainwreck Cyclocross event.“Hopefully we won’t have anybody… Continue reading

Brian Beeson rounds the corner on the Tsalteshi Trails Oct. 8 at the first Chainwreck Cyclocross event.
Tight Lines: Autumn fishing: So many options, so little time

Tight Lines: Autumn fishing: So many options, so little time

With our summer visitors long gone, and school well underway, the restlessness that accompanies the long days of an Alaskan summer has begun to fade.… Continue reading

Tight Lines: Autumn fishing: So many options, so little time
In this photo taken Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, Joe Neumann goes pheasant hunting near St. Joseph, Minn. with his dog Bam, an 8-month-old English pointer. (Briana Sanchez/St. Cloud Times via AP) NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT

For some, pheasant season starts at preserve

AVON, Minn. (AP) — The 8-month-old English pointer followed the pheasant scent, sometimes ranging in circles, sometimes diving into cover so thick only the tip… Continue reading

In this photo taken Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, Joe Neumann goes pheasant hunting near St. Joseph, Minn. with his dog Bam, an 8-month-old English pointer. (Briana Sanchez/St. Cloud Times via AP) NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT
In this photo taken Aug. 28, 2015, Bethany Hughes shows six tattooed footprints on her foot that represent countries she has lived in. Growing up with missionary parents has fostered a wandering spirit in Hughes, who plans to spend five years in an attempt to become the first woman to trek from the southern tip of South America to the northern tip of Alaska all by non-motorized means. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Walking the Americas: Woman preps for 5-year trek

SMITHVILLE, Mo. — The night before Bethany Hughes started on the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,650-mile hike from Mexico to Canada, she was so wired… Continue reading

In this photo taken Aug. 28, 2015, Bethany Hughes shows six tattooed footprints on her foot that represent countries she has lived in. Growing up with missionary parents has fostered a wandering spirit in Hughes, who plans to spend five years in an attempt to become the first woman to trek from the southern tip of South America to the northern tip of Alaska all by non-motorized means. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
The Yellow-rumped Warbler was one of seven bird species examined in detail as part of this pilot study. (Photo courtesy Doug Lloyd)

Refuge Notebook: A summer of birdsong

The early bird catches the worm they always say, but what if you want to catch the bird? You get up even earlier. Hiking through… Continue reading

The Yellow-rumped Warbler was one of seven bird species examined in detail as part of this pilot study. (Photo courtesy Doug Lloyd)

An Outdoor View: Extreme fishing

At daybreak one morning this week, I was fishing from the bank of the Kenai River for silver salmon. The air temperature was a balmy… Continue reading

A male hooded oriole perches on sign at the Juneau Community Garden on Sept. 22. (Photo by Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)

Teen IDs hooded oriole in Juneau

When 14-year-old Owen Squires first looked through a pair of binoculars and told his mother the bird she’d seen flitting around the Juneau Community Garden’s… Continue reading

A male hooded oriole perches on sign at the Juneau Community Garden on Sept. 22. (Photo by Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)
Second and third grade participants in this summer's Critter Camp learn how salmon transform as they migrate from saltwater to freshwater enroute to their birth stream. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: Refuge intern has best summer by far

I didn’t know what to expect when I accepted the visitor services internship at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. I’m from Oklahoma, also known as… Continue reading

Second and third grade participants in this summer's Critter Camp learn how salmon transform as they migrate from saltwater to freshwater enroute to their birth stream. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

An Outdoor View: The king of Alaska’s rivers, Part 3

Author’s note: This is the third and final part of a story that first appeared in the the December/January 2003 issue of Alaska magazine. It’s… Continue reading