An Outdoor View: McPhee on catch-and-release

Author’s note: This column first appeared in the Clarion on Nov. 29, 2002. I’ve edited it slightly for brevity. “The Founding Fish” is fascinating book… Continue reading

Dom Watts fits a cow moose with a GPS radio-collar for a study of moose reproduction and calf survival on the Alaska Peninsula. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: New wildlife biologist lands in Kenai Refuge

As I navigated the icy roads through Turnagain Pass a couple weeks ago in a borrowed car filled with totes and duffle bags, I couldn’t… Continue reading

Dom Watts fits a cow moose with a GPS radio-collar for a study of moose reproduction and calf survival on the Alaska Peninsula. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
The Beginning Fly Fishing Class at Kenai Peninsula College, tying some flies in preparation for their field trip. (Photo courtesy Dave Atcheson)

Tight Lines: A variety of fish-related activities to carry us through the winter

Ice fishing may be at its peak right now, and there are always a handful of hardy fly fishers hitting the unfrozen sections of Kenai… Continue reading

The Beginning Fly Fishing Class at Kenai Peninsula College, tying some flies in preparation for their field trip. (Photo courtesy Dave Atcheson)
In this July 2016 photo, a kayak floats on the surface of Kenai Lake in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Prepare for safety before heading out on small boats

  Not everyone on the Kenai Peninsula’s rivers and lakes is out with a big boat. In recent years, more people have been heading onto… Continue reading

In this July 2016 photo, a kayak floats on the surface of Kenai Lake in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Why biodiversity matters: A food web showing 110 relationships among 98 species found on the Kenai Peninsula. Browns are fungi, reds are animals, and greens are plants. Note how humans (Homo sapiens) are part of our web.

Refuge Notebook: 2,000 species on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

In 2016, the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge passed a milestone of sorts. Over 2,000 species are now documented on the 2 million-acre refuge including 207… Continue reading

Why biodiversity matters: A food web showing 110 relationships among 98 species found on the Kenai Peninsula. Browns are fungi, reds are animals, and greens are plants. Note how humans (Homo sapiens) are part of our web.
FILE - In this Feb. 6, 2014, file photo, Mark Morical carves through the heavy powder snow at the top of Vista Butte west of Bend, Ore. Some backcountry areas in Central Oregon are so accessible that it is hard to even consider them backcountry and Vista Butte is certainly one of those places. (Joe Kline/The Bulletin via AP, File)

Backcountry enthusiasts must be prepared for danger

By MARK MORICAL The (Bend) Bulletin VISTA BUTTE SNO-PARK, Ore. — Some backcountry areas in Central Oregon are so accessible that it is hard to… Continue reading

FILE - In this Feb. 6, 2014, file photo, Mark Morical carves through the heavy powder snow at the top of Vista Butte west of Bend, Ore. Some backcountry areas in Central Oregon are so accessible that it is hard to even consider them backcountry and Vista Butte is certainly one of those places. (Joe Kline/The Bulletin via AP, File)

An Outdoor View: The Ultimate Fish Taco

Fish tacos are one of the finest systems ever thunk up for the delivery of fish to mouth. You can make ‘em either plain or… Continue reading

Ski coach Darin Markwart (far right) leads a group of Tsalteshi Youth skiers, Jan. 28 at the Kenai Golf Course. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Youth skiing returns to local trails en masse

  As an outlet for spending energy and learning a great sport, the Tsalteshi Trails Youth Ski Program has served the local ski community well… Continue reading

Ski coach Darin Markwart (far right) leads a group of Tsalteshi Youth skiers, Jan. 28 at the Kenai Golf Course. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

An Outdoor View: The little red boat

Like the Kenai Peninsula, the place where I was born and raised in Western Washington is a place where people either own a boat or… Continue reading

Despite two feet of ice, a big spider hole formed on Headquarters Lake from the weight of recent snow. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: Oh no, overflow!

Right next to the headquarters of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is a lake, cleverly named Headquarters Lake. With excellent views of the Kenai Mountains,… Continue reading

Despite two feet of ice, a big spider hole formed on Headquarters Lake from the weight of recent snow. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
The northern line of the Sterling fuel break before (left) and after (right) treatment. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: Sterling gets a break with wildfire risk

Trivia question: What does the 2014 Funny River fire and 2015 Card Street fire have in common? If you guessed both were human-caused and spotted… Continue reading

The northern line of the Sterling fuel break before (left) and after (right) treatment. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

An Outdoor View: On cutting regulations

At a Monday meeting with the heads of some of the nation’s largest corporations, President Trump said, “We think we can try to cut regulations… Continue reading

ADVANCE FOR USE SATURDAY, JAN. 21 - In this Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, Marisa Paine skis with her daughter Carys Paine, 5, near the base of Sunshine Accelerator ski lift at Mount Bachelor in Bend, Ore. (Ryan Brennecke/The Bulletin via AP)

Teaching kids snow sports can take patience, persistence

MOUNT BACHELOR, Ore. (AP) — Mason needed a nudge, so I did what parents often do and resorted to bribery. “Mason, if you come ski… Continue reading

ADVANCE FOR USE SATURDAY, JAN. 21 - In this Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, Marisa Paine skis with her daughter Carys Paine, 5, near the base of Sunshine Accelerator ski lift at Mount Bachelor in Bend, Ore. (Ryan Brennecke/The Bulletin via AP)
The sun rises over Engineer Lake on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Reserving one of the refuge’s public use cabins can be a fun, Alaskan way to celebrate the holidays. (Photos courtesy Rebecca Uta)

Refuge Notebook: A Christmas Adventure

Every person has a bucket list to be marked off when they come to this beautiful land. Our list has always been simple: something Alaskan.… Continue reading

The sun rises over Engineer Lake on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Reserving one of the refuge’s public use cabins can be a fun, Alaskan way to celebrate the holidays. (Photos courtesy Rebecca Uta)

An Outdoor View: On being a puker

Hi. My name is Les, and I’m a puker. Being predisposed to seasickness, I have on many occasions observed while in an under-the-weather, over-the-railing position… Continue reading

Angie Brennan picks up speed on a downhill section on trail in the Caribou Hills near Ninilchik on Jan. 8, 2017. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)

Head for the hills: Fat-tire bikers discover Caribou Hills

By Will Morrow Peninsula Clarion It started with a text message from a friend — “Want to go up to the Caribou Hills Sunday morning?”… Continue reading

Angie Brennan picks up speed on a downhill section on trail in the Caribou Hills near Ninilchik on Jan. 8, 2017. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)

An Outdoor View: Future fishing

With the rapid advances in technology we’re seeing now, I’m wondering what fishing on the Kenai River will be like a few years from now.… Continue reading

Photo by Matt Bowser/USFWS Big-eared Radix at Stormy Lake, July 12, 2016.

Refuge Notebook: The Kenai Peninsula’s first exotic freshwater snail

Sometimes one thing leads to another. It was in fall 2012 as the Alaska Department of Fish & Game and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service… Continue reading

Photo by Matt Bowser/USFWS Big-eared Radix at Stormy Lake, July 12, 2016.
AP Photo/By Dean Fosdick  This Dec. 3, 2016 photo taken at a Langley, Wash., grocery store, shows poinsettias. Poinsettias aren’t annuals if grown indoors. You can restore them to provide good cheer for yet another holiday season. The main attraction of poinsettias, like these pictured here, is not their flowers, but their leaves. The actual flowers are the small buds buried deep within the leaf cluster that bloom yellowish green.

Wait, don’t toss those poinsettias to the curb!

Poinsettias have become the best-selling potted plants in the United States, and are second in popularity only to Christmas trees during the holiday season. Unfortunately,… Continue reading

AP Photo/By Dean Fosdick  This Dec. 3, 2016 photo taken at a Langley, Wash., grocery store, shows poinsettias. Poinsettias aren’t annuals if grown indoors. You can restore them to provide good cheer for yet another holiday season. The main attraction of poinsettias, like these pictured here, is not their flowers, but their leaves. The actual flowers are the small buds buried deep within the leaf cluster that bloom yellowish green.
In this March 2, 2014, file photo, Julie Rau cross-country skis with her daughter, Kaylee, in tow at the Gold Fork Park N’ Ski Area near Idaho City, Idaho. Cross-country skiing includes two distinct styles—classic and skate skiing. (Pete Zimowsky/Idaho Statesman via AP, file)

A newcomer to cross-country skiing gets hooked by the sport

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The first time I tried cross-country skiing, I was in junior high in southern Minnesota wondering why anyone would want to… Continue reading

In this March 2, 2014, file photo, Julie Rau cross-country skis with her daughter, Kaylee, in tow at the Gold Fork Park N’ Ski Area near Idaho City, Idaho. Cross-country skiing includes two distinct styles—classic and skate skiing. (Pete Zimowsky/Idaho Statesman via AP, file)

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