Life

Cook Inlet is seen from Clam Gulch State Recreation Area on Feb. 7, 2020, in Clam Gulch, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)

Free parking at Alaska State Parks the day after Thanksgiving

Parking fees are usually $5

Cook Inlet is seen from Clam Gulch State Recreation Area on Feb. 7, 2020, in Clam Gulch, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
Spruce trees are dusted with snow on Dec. 22, 2020, in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Soldotna, Alaska. Some areas of the refuge are open to harvest of holiday trees for non-commercial uses beginning Thanksgiving. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Christmas tree cutting on refuge opens Thanksgiving

Tree cutting will be open until Christmas Day

Spruce trees are dusted with snow on Dec. 22, 2020, in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Soldotna, Alaska. Some areas of the refuge are open to harvest of holiday trees for non-commercial uses beginning Thanksgiving. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
An icy driveway in Kenai, Alaska, on Nov. 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: No column this week

I couldn’t write my Out of the Office column this week. Too hard. How is one supposed to settle on an appropriately outdoorsy topic amongst… Continue reading

An icy driveway in Kenai, Alaska, on Nov. 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Cook Inlet is seen from Clam Gulch State Recreation Area on Feb. 7, 2020, in Clam Gulch, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)

Parking fees at state parks to go up in 2024

Parking fees at state parks to go up in 2024

Cook Inlet is seen from Clam Gulch State Recreation Area on Feb. 7, 2020, in Clam Gulch, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
A snowmachine rider takes advantage of two feet of fresh snow on a field down Murwood Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Snowmachines allowed in parts of Chugach National Forest

Sections of both the Glacier and Seward ranger districts, in Turnagain Pass, Carter Lake, Resurrection Pass, Lost Lake and the north Johnson Pass trailhead are opened

A snowmachine rider takes advantage of two feet of fresh snow on a field down Murwood Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
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 reopens for winter

It was expected to reopen 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)
Photo courtesy Ben Meyer From left: Buck Kunz, Maura Schumacher and Ben Meyer pose during their pack-rafting trip in the Brooks Range in August 2023.

Seizing the opportunity to explore

Packrafting adventure the topic of next KPC Showcase

Photo courtesy Ben Meyer From left: Buck Kunz, Maura Schumacher and Ben Meyer pose during their pack-rafting trip in the Brooks Range in August 2023.
Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges volunteer Beth Sullivan surveys for the invasive plant elodea at Campfire Lake on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on Aug. 30, 2023. Here she pulled up a rake full of star duckweed (Lemna trisulca). (Photo by Matt Bowser/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Deja vu and something new — Probing Kenai Peninsula lakes for invasive species

We had been here before. Agencies, nongovernment organizations and community members had all taken part in an effort to remove invasive northern pike and elodea… Continue reading

Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges volunteer Beth Sullivan surveys for the invasive plant elodea at Campfire Lake on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on Aug. 30, 2023. Here she pulled up a rake full of star duckweed (Lemna trisulca). (Photo by Matt Bowser/USFWS)
North Yuyanq’ Ch’ex rises through heavy cloud cover over hikers on the Rabbit Lake Trail near Anchorage, Alaska, on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. Jake Dye didn’t realize Rabbit Lake would be his last hike of the season, but in hindsight the hail should have been an indicator. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Looking for snow

For the last few weeks, I’ve poked my head out the window each morning hoping for signs of snow. It’s certainly been cold enough. Eagerly… Continue reading

North Yuyanq’ Ch’ex rises through heavy cloud cover over hikers on the Rabbit Lake Trail near Anchorage, Alaska, on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. Jake Dye didn’t realize Rabbit Lake would be his last hike of the season, but in hindsight the hail should have been an indicator. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna city council members, staff and residents break ground on the Soldotna field house project on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna breaks ground on field house

When completed, the 40,500-square-foot field house will cover roughly an acre of land

Soldotna city council members, staff and residents break ground on the Soldotna field house project on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A female moose sunbathes in October 2023 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Out of the Office: Take a breather

Sometimes I need a reminder to just breathe. It’s easy to get caught up in the day, with my workload or errands or the generally… Continue reading

A female moose sunbathes in October 2023 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
The banded Annaճ hummingbird is being released and flew away seconds after the photo was taken. (Photo by T. Eskelin, USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Tales of the traveling hummingbird

In the book “A Sand County Almanac,” Aldo Leopold wrote, “To band a bird is to hold a ticket in a great lottery. Most of… Continue reading

The banded Annaճ hummingbird is being released and flew away seconds after the photo was taken. (Photo by T. Eskelin, USFWS)
A sign indicates the turn for Jim’s Landing on Skilak Lake Road on Sunday, June 13, 2021, near Skilak Lake on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Refuge opens for firewood collection Friday

Cutting is limited to trees already dead and down within the designated areas

A sign indicates the turn for Jim’s Landing on Skilak Lake Road on Sunday, June 13, 2021, near Skilak Lake on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Me at Rabbit Lake on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 near Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Jake Dye).

Out of the Office: Risk and Reward

I sometimes find my love for being outdoors dampened by feelings of anxiety. I’ve always been what people may call a nervous individual, and that… Continue reading

Me at Rabbit Lake on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 near Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Jake Dye).
A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service volunteer intern collects data in the Alpine. (Photo by Jackie Morton/FWS)

Refuge Notebook: Inspired by the impossible

A few weeks ago, a mentor, Dr. Maurice Hornocker, reminded a roomful of us why we chose to be wildlife biologists. He captured it all… Continue reading

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service volunteer intern collects data in the Alpine. (Photo by Jackie Morton/FWS)
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)