Life

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Tim McCormick, of Soldotna, fishes for sockeye salmon on the Kenai River in a spot off of Keystone Drive on Wednesday June 10, 2015 near Soldotna, Alaska.

Tight Lines: Beating the crowds

At midday on Wednesday, the sockeye salmon were slow to show in a fishing hole on Keystone Drive in Soldotna. But the cool, breezy, weather… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Tim McCormick, of Soldotna, fishes for sockeye salmon on the Kenai River in a spot off of Keystone Drive on Wednesday June 10, 2015 near Soldotna, Alaska.

Fishing report: Ready for the rush to the Russian?

As of Wednesday morning, anxious anglers had already started to converge on the Russian and upper Kenai rivers in anticipation of today’s opening. And early… Continue reading

An Outdoor View: On salmon fishing

You can spend a lot of time, effort and cash in pursuit of the wily salmon, and you can have years of experience, but none… Continue reading

In this picture taken on Friday, May 29, 2015, female Iranian slackliner Samaneh Hasanzadeh balances on a slackline while she is watched by her sister, left, and instructor Hamed Heidari in a sports club in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Extreme sport of slackling gains a foothold in Iran

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Kiavash Sharifi can hardly describe the feeling of tip-toeing across an abyss on a thin ribbon of webbing that bends ever… Continue reading

In this picture taken on Friday, May 29, 2015, female Iranian slackliner Samaneh Hasanzadeh balances on a slackline while she is watched by her sister, left, and instructor Hamed Heidari in a sports club in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

King salmon fishing continues to pleasantly surprise

Anglers on the central Kenai Peninsula have been pleasantly surprised with opportunities to catch a king salmon.“We’re still right at beginning stages on the Kasilof,… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Mike Matheny, of Kasilof, tries to see his fish as Matt Buta, of Soldotna, runs around him to keep a hold of his own as the two fished the Kasilof River on Tuesday June 2, 2015.

Tight Lines: Fish on! on the Kasilof

Just before 11 p.m. Tuesday as the last of the suns rays bounced off of the Kasilof River, an hours-long lull in fishing broke when… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Mike Matheny, of Kasilof, tries to see his fish as Matt Buta, of Soldotna, runs around him to keep a hold of his own as the two fished the Kasilof River on Tuesday June 2, 2015.

Stakeout: Helping plants grow up by staking them properly

“Grow up.” That’s what I tell some of my plants.Upright plants, bathed in air, are less apt to get fungal diseases, and those bearing fruits… Continue reading

ADVANCE FOR USE MONDAY, MAY 25 - In this photo taken May 9, 2015, quinoa-stuffed bell peppers, made by Lauren Frisch and Sam Friedman, is displayed during a campsite cookoff at the Granite Tors campground near Fairbanks, Alaska. Everything tastes better on a camping trip, but that doesn't mean camp food can't be improved on. (Sam Friedman/The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Campsite cookoff: Get inspired with these tasty recipes for a campfire or stove

FAIRBANKS — Everything tastes better on a camping trip, but that doesn’t mean camp food can’t be improved on. After spending last summer in a… Continue reading

ADVANCE FOR USE MONDAY, MAY 25 - In this photo taken May 9, 2015, quinoa-stuffed bell peppers, made by Lauren Frisch and Sam Friedman, is displayed during a campsite cookoff at the Granite Tors campground near Fairbanks, Alaska. Everything tastes better on a camping trip, but that doesn't mean camp food can't be improved on. (Sam Friedman/The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna sits at the top of Ski Hill Road. Access it from the Sterling Highway across from Skyview Middle School or from Funny River Road between the go-cart track and Spenard Builders Supply sign.

Kenai refuge celebrates Grand Opening of your new Visitor Center

Please join the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge staff for a very special occasion — the Grand Opening of your new refuge Visitor Center on Saturday… Continue reading

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna sits at the top of Ski Hill Road. Access it from the Sterling Highway across from Skyview Middle School or from Funny River Road between the go-cart track and Spenard Builders Supply sign.

An Outdoor View: On being skunked

Getting skunked is an all-too-frequent result of having participated in the activity known as “sport fishing.” Yet, being skunked is seldom talked about, and almost… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Aaron Dupuis carries a king salmon caught in Deep Creek on the opening day of king salmon fishing on Memorial Day weekend Saturday May 22, 2015 near Ninilchik, Alaska.

Tight Lines: King opener draws mixed success on south peninsula streams

Like so many anglers before them, fishermen braved intermittent rain and chill for the opening weekend of king salmon fishing on three southern peninsula streams.… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Aaron Dupuis carries a king salmon caught in Deep Creek on the opening day of king salmon fishing on Memorial Day weekend Saturday May 22, 2015 near Ninilchik, Alaska.

Tight Lines: Kings make an appearance, lakes heat up

Enough fish were caught during last weekend’s king opener on the southern Kenai Peninsula’s salmon streams to keep things interesting, and other options for catching… Continue reading

Photo courtesy Matt Bowser/USFWS. The remains of a chaga mushroom that was harvested near the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, March 16, 2015.

Refuge Notebook: The chaga warriors

“Seeking the name of person who cuts chaga from private property and trails established by locals. Blatant disregard for posted signs and trail cameras. Seen…mutilating… Continue reading

Photo courtesy Matt Bowser/USFWS. The remains of a chaga mushroom that was harvested near the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, March 16, 2015.

An Outdoor View: Fishing and luck

(Author’s note: Because 2015 marks the 30th year that a Kenai River king salmon has held the IGFA, all-tackle world record, let’s consider what it… Continue reading

Anatomy of the worst fire year

In a gorgeous warm May this year, we have not yet sniffed the bitter scent of flaming spruce. When we do, many of us will… Continue reading

Tight Lines: Anglers gear up for fishing season

Memorial Day weekend marks the traditional start of salmon season on the Kenai Peninsula, and while numerous conservation measures are in place, there have been… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Charlie Smith, of Anchor Point, hauls two buckets of hooligan up the bank on Monday May 18, 2015 near the Warren Ames Bridge in Kenai, Alaska.

Gangs of hooligan invade Cook Inlet

Blink and you’ll miss one, but several thousand clouding the water is hard to miss.The spring run of eulachon, or hooligan, have hit the southcentral… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Charlie Smith, of Anchor Point, hauls two buckets of hooligan up the bank on Monday May 18, 2015 near the Warren Ames Bridge in Kenai, Alaska.
This Eurasian Collared-Dove, the third record of this species on the Kenai Peninsula, was photographed by Mark and Cindy Glassmaker at their house along the Kenai River near Soldotna.

Refuge Notebook: Exotic dove continues a steady march north

Bird watchers come in all flavors from the hardcore lister to the person who casually watches birds at their backyard feeder. One connection that seems… Continue reading

This Eurasian Collared-Dove, the third record of this species on the Kenai Peninsula, was photographed by Mark and Cindy Glassmaker at their house along the Kenai River near Soldotna.
In this October 2012 photo provided by the National Geographic Channels, Dr. Brian Hare kneels with Finley the dog in Durham, N.C. On the weekend of May 15, 2015, Nat Geo Wild will air a three-part series called "Is Your Dog a Genius?" It will be part of the network's inaugural "BarkFest" weekend with one show after another dedicated to dogs. Hare, associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University and a member of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, part of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, will host the show. (Christer Berg/Dognition via AP)

Don’t let the slobber fool you, your dog could be a brainiac

LOS ANGELES — When her muscles locked and left her unable to move or speak, Wallis Brozman was glad she had a genius for a… Continue reading

In this October 2012 photo provided by the National Geographic Channels, Dr. Brian Hare kneels with Finley the dog in Durham, N.C. On the weekend of May 15, 2015, Nat Geo Wild will air a three-part series called "Is Your Dog a Genius?" It will be part of the network's inaugural "BarkFest" weekend with one show after another dedicated to dogs. Hare, associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University and a member of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, part of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, will host the show. (Christer Berg/Dognition via AP)
This Monday, May 4, 2015 photo shows pea plant seedlings on display in New Paltz, N.Y. A lot of "six-packs" of pea transplants would be needed for a row of peas, so just plant seeds instead. (Lee Reich via AP)

Believe in seeds: They’ll expand your gardening horizons

“Plant seeds” may seem like an inane suggestion for a gardening column. But I’m serious. More and more people who garden these days put plants… Continue reading

This Monday, May 4, 2015 photo shows pea plant seedlings on display in New Paltz, N.Y. A lot of "six-packs" of pea transplants would be needed for a row of peas, so just plant seeds instead. (Lee Reich via AP)