Life

In this undated photo, In fall, bright yellow quince fruits call out to be harvested from among the small tree's craggy stems in New York. (Lee Reich via AP)

Quince: Grow and taste the ‘forbidden fruit’

In Genesis, the Bible mentions the “forbidden fruit.” Commonly identified as an apple, many people contend it was actually a quince.The quince’s Mideast origin, as… Continue reading

In this undated photo, In fall, bright yellow quince fruits call out to be harvested from among the small tree's craggy stems in New York. (Lee Reich via AP)
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Area Manager Jeff Selinger collars a caribou from the Kenai Mountain herd in 2003. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: Radio, GPS collars help manage moose, caribou on the Kenai

Opportunities to view wildlife around our neighborhoods on the Kenai Peninsula are one luxury we often take for granted. Whether it’s a moose in your… Continue reading

Alaska Department of Fish and Game Area Manager Jeff Selinger collars a caribou from the Kenai Mountain herd in 2003. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

An Outdoor View: White kings

Author’s note: Readers with little or no taste will be overjoyed to see that I’m still working on my romance novel, featuring a hunky river… Continue reading

ADVANCE FOR THE WEEKEND OF NOV. 14-15 AND THEREAFTER -FILE - In this July 24, 2014, file photo, packrafters hike up Youngs Creek Pass on a trip through Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness. Marshall, the co-founder of the Wilderness Society, was an early crusader for wilderness protections and the Wilderness is named after him. (Erin Madison/The Great Falls Tribune via AP, file) MANDATORY CREDIT NO SALES

Photographer retraces Bob Marshall’s wilderness trek

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) — Bob Marshall hiked 288 miles over eight days through the northwestern Montana wilderness in 1928.Marshall would average 36 miles a… Continue reading

ADVANCE FOR THE WEEKEND OF NOV. 14-15 AND THEREAFTER -FILE - In this July 24, 2014, file photo, packrafters hike up Youngs Creek Pass on a trip through Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness. Marshall, the co-founder of the Wilderness Society, was an early crusader for wilderness protections and the Wilderness is named after him. (Erin Madison/The Great Falls Tribune via AP, file) MANDATORY CREDIT NO SALES
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)