Life

Hikers in pursuit of the Alaska Dream looking over Doroshin Bay and the Skilak Glacier outwash plain in Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: Following the Alaska dream

When I was 6 years old, my family traveled the Alcan Highway from California to the Arctic Circle in Alaska. We visited relatives who lived… Continue reading

Hikers in pursuit of the Alaska Dream looking over Doroshin Bay and the Skilak Glacier outwash plain in Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

An Outdoor View: Together again

Author’s note: A loyal reader recently noted that it has been two years since I bamboozled readers into learning about fish by slipping a little… Continue reading

Roger Phillips rides down a snowy trail near Eagle, Idaho, Jan. 2, 2014, in this self portrait. Regular mountain bikes can be ridden on trails with hard-packed snow. Dropping tire pressure by about 5 pounds improves traction. (AP Photo/Idaho Statesman, Roger Phillips)

Don’t let winter keep you off your mountain bike

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — I used to think winter mountain biking was a stunt you did once to say you’ve done it. That was before… Continue reading

Roger Phillips rides down a snowy trail near Eagle, Idaho, Jan. 2, 2014, in this self portrait. Regular mountain bikes can be ridden on trails with hard-packed snow. Dropping tire pressure by about 5 pounds improves traction. (AP Photo/Idaho Statesman, Roger Phillips)
A fourteen-spotted lady beetle from Headquarters Lake, one of the species identified in samples processed by next-generation sequencing methods. (Photo by Matt Bowser/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Futuristic method to identify insects becomes reality

Last week I actually lost sleep in excitement over receipt of our first set of “next-generation sequencing” data, our latest step in a years-long effort… Continue reading

A fourteen-spotted lady beetle from Headquarters Lake, one of the species identified in samples processed by next-generation sequencing methods. (Photo by Matt Bowser/USFWS)

An Outdoor View: Trouble with gill-netters

For years, I railed against subsistence fishing in the Kenai. I dreaded that it would mean gill nets in the river. I feared that it… Continue reading

Robyn McGinnity leads her dog, Millie, and her daughter, Mia, on the family's first try at skijoring during a free clinic at Winterfest held on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Mount Spokane State Park. (AP Photo/The Spokesman-Review, Rich Landers)

Winter enthusiasts with dogs discover joys of skijoring

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Cross-country skiers are harnessing their dogs’ pent-up winter enthusiasm in a fast-growing sport that’s finding a niche in the Inland Northwest.Skijoring… Continue reading

Robyn McGinnity leads her dog, Millie, and her daughter, Mia, on the family's first try at skijoring during a free clinic at Winterfest held on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Mount Spokane State Park. (AP Photo/The Spokesman-Review, Rich Landers)
This image released by Fox Searchlight Pictures shows Reese Witherspoon in a scene from the film, "Wild." A big, bad pair of hiking boots and the bloody hurt they inflicted on Cheryl Strayed's feet were co-stars in her book "Wild," as they were for Reese Witherspoon in the popular movie adaptation that earned the actress an Oscar nomination. A newbie to thru-hiking, Strayed's story of her 1,100-mile trek has not only boosted her profile but reinforced the importance to novices of protecting and supporting their feet. (AP Photo/Fox Searchlight Pictures, Anne Marie Fox)

Going ‘Wild’ on your first long hike? Consider your feet

NEW YORK — A big, bad pair of hiking boots and the bloody hurt they inflicted on Cheryl Strayed’s feet were co-stars in her book… Continue reading

This image released by Fox Searchlight Pictures shows Reese Witherspoon in a scene from the film, "Wild." A big, bad pair of hiking boots and the bloody hurt they inflicted on Cheryl Strayed's feet were co-stars in her book "Wild," as they were for Reese Witherspoon in the popular movie adaptation that earned the actress an Oscar nomination. A newbie to thru-hiking, Strayed's story of her 1,100-mile trek has not only boosted her profile but reinforced the importance to novices of protecting and supporting their feet. (AP Photo/Fox Searchlight Pictures, Anne Marie Fox)
Residents from the village of Shageluk on the Innoko River assist ADFG and USFWS staff in constructing a holding pen as part of the wood bison reintroduction effort. 100 wood bison are scheduled to be released on the lower Innoko River in March 2015. Photo by Tom Seaton, ADFG.

Refuge Notebook: What do caribou and wood bison have in common?

Last weekend on a drive back from Anchorage, whizzing by the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center at 57 miles per hour my daughter pointed out a… Continue reading

Residents from the village of Shageluk on the Innoko River assist ADFG and USFWS staff in constructing a holding pen as part of the wood bison reintroduction effort. 100 wood bison are scheduled to be released on the lower Innoko River in March 2015. Photo by Tom Seaton, ADFG.

An Outdoor View: Fishing for halibut

Author’s note: This column first appeared in the Clarion on May 23, 2003.For years, most anglers fished for halibut in Southcentral waters with the same… Continue reading

In this photo, Beth Ipsen takes a selfie showing her clothing and snowmobiles before heading out in the wilderness near Cantwell, Alaska. Alaska State Troopers are suggesting outdoor trekkers take a "selfie" right before heading out into the backcountry as a way to account for their whereabouts. (AP Photo/Alaska Dispatch News, Beth Ipsen)

Alaska troopers encourage selfies for backcountry travelers

ANCHORAGE (AP) — Alaska State Troopers are looking for your selfies — those ubiquitous self-portraits, usually snapped with smartphone cameras, that make up countless Facebook… Continue reading

In this photo, Beth Ipsen takes a selfie showing her clothing and snowmobiles before heading out in the wilderness near Cantwell, Alaska. Alaska State Troopers are suggesting outdoor trekkers take a "selfie" right before heading out into the backcountry as a way to account for their whereabouts. (AP Photo/Alaska Dispatch News, Beth Ipsen)
Ice blocks are lined out for the Kids Park Maze as work begins on this year's Ice Alaska Ice Park in Fairbanks, Alaska Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 in preparation for the 2015 BP World Ice Art Championships. The park opens Feb. 23. (AP Photo/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Eric Engman)

Ice playground construction underway in Fairbanks

FAIRBANKS (AP) — Workers are building an ice playground in a city in Alaska’s interior, including a pirate ship slide made from 65 refrigerator-sized blocks… Continue reading

Ice blocks are lined out for the Kids Park Maze as work begins on this year's Ice Alaska Ice Park in Fairbanks, Alaska Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 in preparation for the 2015 BP World Ice Art Championships. The park opens Feb. 23. (AP Photo/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Eric Engman)

An Outdoor View: Avoiding cabin fever

If you’re staying indoors a lot this winter, here are some ideas for staving off cabin fever. Plan and book fishing and hunting trips The… Continue reading

Now-retired Doug Newbould stands next to his Fire Management Vehicle. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: Fire Management Officer heads off to new adventures

After 17 years of service, Doug Newbould retired from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge will feel this loss as Doug has contributed substantially… Continue reading

Now-retired Doug Newbould stands next to his Fire Management Vehicle. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, JAN. 10-11 - In this photo taken on Dec. 20, 2014, Oregon State student Ty Atwater, right, puts makeup on Molly Steiber's leg to simulate a bruise from a broken leg for the final exam in the wilderness first responders class at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore. The students took turns role-playing as a hiker with an injury while the other student examines them and treats their injury. (AP Photo/The Corvallis Gazette-Times, Andy Cripe)

Students learn wilderness first response skills

CORVALLIS, Ore. — It’s a cold and wet morning and Oregon State University student Alex Funk is hiking through the woods when he comes upon… Continue reading

ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, JAN. 10-11 - In this photo taken on Dec. 20, 2014, Oregon State student Ty Atwater, right, puts makeup on Molly Steiber's leg to simulate a bruise from a broken leg for the final exam in the wilderness first responders class at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore. The students took turns role-playing as a hiker with an injury while the other student examines them and treats their injury. (AP Photo/The Corvallis Gazette-Times, Andy Cripe)
ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, JAN. 11 - In this photo taken on Dec. 28, 2014, Cassidy Saunders, front, and Corey DiRutigliano get to the bottom of the hill covered in snow during a sledding trip to Ester Hill in Fairbanks, Alaska. Picking the right hill and to a lesser extent the right sled, makes the difference in sledding. (AP Photo/ Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Sam Friedman)

Cheap thrills: backwoods sledding

FAIRBANKS — A cheap plastic sled, some fresh snow and gravity make for refreshingly simple fun.Sledding is a classic family-friendly activity, but it was fun… Continue reading

ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, JAN. 11 - In this photo taken on Dec. 28, 2014, Cassidy Saunders, front, and Corey DiRutigliano get to the bottom of the hill covered in snow during a sledding trip to Ester Hill in Fairbanks, Alaska. Picking the right hill and to a lesser extent the right sled, makes the difference in sledding. (AP Photo/ Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Sam Friedman)
A hand-painted plug.

Tight Lines: Looking for a new way to fool fish

Each year, as Kenai River guides Bo Ansel and Monte Roberts conducted a class at Kenai Peninsula College’s Kenai Fishing Academy, I would scramble for… Continue reading

A hand-painted plug.

Refuge Notebook: Celebrating marmots

For those of you who don’t know it, Marmot Day is on February 2. Celebrated in many lower 48 states as Groundhog Day, the name… Continue reading

An Outdoor View: Hope for the future

Earlier this week, billionaire Bill Gates announced on his Internet blog that a new kind of sewage-treatment plant, an “Omniprocessor,” had been built that can… Continue reading

In this undated photo, a green-tinted gazing globe visually takes in all of last summer's garden in New Paltz, New York. These mirrored glass ornaments fell out of favor about 50 years ago, but are making a comeback, seen by some as attractive ornaments and by others as kitsch. (AP Photo/Lee Reich)

Is there a gazing globe in your garden’s future?

Did I see a glint of mocking laughter in a friend’s eyes when I mentioned the new addition to my garden, a gazing globe?These mirrored… Continue reading

In this undated photo, a green-tinted gazing globe visually takes in all of last summer's garden in New Paltz, New York. These mirrored glass ornaments fell out of favor about 50 years ago, but are making a comeback, seen by some as attractive ornaments and by others as kitsch. (AP Photo/Lee Reich)
The morning sun on the last day of 2014 shows the sheen of water and ice on Headquarters Lake, a time of year in which the Kenai Peninsula would normally be blanketed in snow. (Kenai National Wildlife Refuge photo)

Refuge Notebook: Missing the missing snow

Editor’s note: Due to a technical issue, the Refuge Notebook was not published in Friday’s Clarion.Short days and little to no snow — not a… Continue reading

The morning sun on the last day of 2014 shows the sheen of water and ice on Headquarters Lake, a time of year in which the Kenai Peninsula would normally be blanketed in snow. (Kenai National Wildlife Refuge photo)