Life

A section of the Diamond Creek beach has built up, with plants growing where 10 years ago there had been bare mud, as seen here on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Out of the Office: Annual CoastWalk beach trek reveals changes, transformation

Volunteers in annual Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies program clean up, monitor beaches

A section of the Diamond Creek beach has built up, with plants growing where 10 years ago there had been bare mud, as seen here on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
The author is seen here, sharing the world at Lassen Volcanic National Park in California. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Lewis)

Tangled Up in Blue: Me, me, me

When I wait until the last minute to write Tangled Up in Blue, inspiration can be hard to come by. This morning, mere hours before… Continue reading

The author is seen here, sharing the world at Lassen Volcanic National Park in California. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Lewis)
A long, white strip of soft, white feathers running down the back gives the downy woodpecker its name. (Photo by Colin Canterbury/USFWS.

Refuge Notebook: The smallest woodpecker

On a recent sortie looking for grouse in the spruce forest of the northern Kenai Peninsula, I heard what sounded to me like a squeaky… Continue reading

A long, white strip of soft, white feathers running down the back gives the downy woodpecker its name. (Photo by Colin Canterbury/USFWS.
The climb up April Bowl provides expansive views, seen here Aug. 3, 2020 in Hatcher Pass, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Out of the Office: Out of your bubble

Exploring wilderness around the state

The climb up April Bowl provides expansive views, seen here Aug. 3, 2020 in Hatcher Pass, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Andrew Berg outside his ҈omesteadӠcabin, which stood originally on Tustumena Lake and now stands at the headquarters of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo provided by Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: If these walls could talk

Big game guide Berg led remarkable life

Andrew Berg outside his ҈omesteadӠcabin, which stood originally on Tustumena Lake and now stands at the headquarters of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo provided by Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
A photo of the author’s hands during a drier October full of blueberry picking. (Photo provided by Kat Sorensen)

Tangled Up in Blue: In between

A spectrum of Octobers

A photo of the author’s hands during a drier October full of blueberry picking. (Photo provided by Kat Sorensen)
Refuge Notebook: Greater duckweed on Kenai Peninsula refuge

Refuge Notebook: Greater duckweed on Kenai Peninsula refuge

Plant has tremendous growth rate

Refuge Notebook: Greater duckweed on Kenai Peninsula refuge
The Kenai River curls to Skilak Lake, as seen from the Hideout Trail on July 5, 2020. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Burn it all down

The plastic paradox and rockwork on Skyline Trail

The Kenai River curls to Skilak Lake, as seen from the Hideout Trail on July 5, 2020. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Refuge Notebook: New trail makes Ski Hill safer

Refuge Notebook: New trail makes Ski Hill safer

Path welcomes all nonmotorized user groups

Refuge Notebook: New trail makes Ski Hill safer
A sign welcomes travelers to the Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: From Anchorage to Soldotna for the 1st time

Beauty overwhelms on initial drive

A sign welcomes travelers to the Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A promo screen for the app “Agents of Discovery.” (Photo provided by Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: Become a secret agent at refuge headquarters

App allows for outdoor discovery

A promo screen for the app “Agents of Discovery.” (Photo provided by Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
Nick Varney

Reeling ‘Em In: Nick wraps up his summer fishing column

It was a short, strange, summer but it looks like the season for doubling the layers of my rain gear has finally arrived. Soon the… Continue reading

Nick Varney
Refuge Notebook: Kenai birches came from Asia

Refuge Notebook: Kenai birches came from Asia

Evidence still needed to show what Kenai birch conclusively is

Refuge Notebook: Kenai birches came from Asia
Tangled Up in Blue: Last looks

Tangled Up in Blue: Last looks

From a splendidly placed saddle near Callisto Peak, you can see Bear Glacier and it’s iceberg-laden lagoon. The ridgeline isn’t an easy trek, or well… Continue reading

Tangled Up in Blue: Last looks
Out of the office: Checking items off the list

Out of the office: Checking items off the list

Hail to the king

Out of the office: Checking items off the list
Nick Varney

Reeling ‘Em In: Silver action is picking up in Anchor River

Varney reports on fishing

Nick Varney
Refuge Notebook: Mosquito serves as unofficial Alaska state bird

Refuge Notebook: Mosquito serves as unofficial Alaska state bird

Insect makes life in backcountry tough

Refuge Notebook: Mosquito serves as unofficial Alaska state bird
Nick Varney

Reeling ‘Em In: Try out Nick’s smokin’ salmon brine recipe

I was watching some cool looking, single engine, private jets rocketing out of the airport the other day when I realized they were a nice… Continue reading

Nick Varney
Fireweed dots the landscape on Skyline Trail on Sunday, August 16, 2020. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Tangled Up in Blue: Something about Taylor Swift

I had an interesting style during my middle and high school years, to put it softly. I showed up to school photos sporting a bowl… Continue reading

Fireweed dots the landscape on Skyline Trail on Sunday, August 16, 2020. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Refuge Notebook: Landslides awakening in our glaciated mountains

Refuge Notebook: Landslides awakening in our glaciated mountains

In 2015, a slope above Taan Fiord — an arm of Icy Bay not too far from Yakutat — suddenly collapsed. It had been creeping… Continue reading

Refuge Notebook: Landslides awakening in our glaciated mountains