Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Alaska's state flower, the bright blue alpine forget-me-not.

Refuge Notebook: Nature shows off its red, white and blue for the Fourth

In an effort to commemorate and celebrate our nation’s birthday, it is with deep honor that I may present an Alaskan patriotic take on ‘Ole… Continue reading

Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Alaska's state flower, the bright blue alpine forget-me-not.

An Outdoor View: Remembering Bigg Eddy

On Tuesday, July 1, I fished for Kenai River king salmon for the first time in three years. My expectations were low, and they were… Continue reading

Fish tacos

I was in the Air Force, stationed near Oxnard, California in the late 1950s, when I discovered the joy of tacos. That first taco wasn’t… Continue reading

Refuge Notebook: Breeding Bird Surveys - Quick! Three Beers!

Refuge Notebook: Breeding Bird Surveys – Quick! Three Beers!

I saw the moon for the first time this summer. Waking up at 2AM brings a new perspective to the seemingly perpetual daylight of Alaskan… Continue reading

Refuge Notebook: Breeding Bird Surveys - Quick! Three Beers!

Going with the wind

The recent Kenai Peninsula wildfire gave me a better understanding of wind. I’ve known since my years in Kid World that fires like wind. The… Continue reading

Aquatic habitat mapping "Off-the-Shelf"

Aquatic habitat mapping “Off-the-Shelf”

Since I was a little boy, I’ve been interested in exploring the underwater world. My favorite TV show was the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.… Continue reading

Aquatic habitat mapping "Off-the-Shelf"

Standup paddleboarding picks up steam

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. — Merrill Mann had always been intrigued when she saw people on standup paddleboards tooling around on area lakes, so when she found… Continue reading

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Fire footprint – ghosts of fires past

I flew over much of the Funny River Horse Trail Fire this past Monday. Almost three weeks after the fire was first detected on May… Continue reading

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After the burn

Some good will come from the recent wildfire on the Kenai Peninsula. You might not see it right now, looking at 200,000 acres of dead,… Continue reading

Summer in Alaska all about multi-tasking

FAIRBANKS — This year, it’s going to be all about multi-tasking.In compiling my annual summer list of 20 outdoor things to do in Alaska, I… Continue reading

Strong showing of Russian River sockeye salmon

For almost two weeks a steady stream of sockeye have been visible in the clear, low water of the Russian River — the dark grey… Continue reading

Fire-adapted plants thrive after wildfire

Fire-adapted plants thrive after wildfire

The massive wildfire that recently engulfed a good chunk of the local landscape may look like a bleak, uninviting place for some time, but regenerative… Continue reading

Fire-adapted plants thrive after wildfire

The crick

One of the nice features of my neighborhood in Sterling is an unnamed crick. In case you’re wondering, I call any running water that you… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  In this July 2, 2013 file photo - halibut of all sizes are lined up after a trip with Alaska Gulf Coast Expeditions in the Cook Inlet.

Hunting for halibut a good option for early season anglers

As the calm and unseasonably warm weather continues in the Cook Inlet, many anglers are looking to the sea to start their fishing seasons. Charter… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  In this July 2, 2013 file photo - halibut of all sizes are lined up after a trip with Alaska Gulf Coast Expeditions in the Cook Inlet.

Les Palmer: The state of the Kenai, Part 2

Author’s note: Part 2 in a series of two columns.Over the years, fish habitat and the quality of the fishing experience have deteriorated on the… Continue reading

The Hokulea sailing canoe is seen off Honolulu on Tuesday, April 29, 2014. The Polynesian voyaging canoe is setting off on a 3-year voyage around the world, navigating using no modern instrumentation. (AP Photo/Sam Eifling)

Legendary Hawaii canoe embarks on global odyssey

HONOLULU — To take the Hokulea for a spin off the coast of Oahu is to see the Hawaiian islands in perhaps the same way… Continue reading

The Hokulea sailing canoe is seen off Honolulu on Tuesday, April 29, 2014. The Polynesian voyaging canoe is setting off on a 3-year voyage around the world, navigating using no modern instrumentation. (AP Photo/Sam Eifling)
Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Trainers and course participants help simulate the disorienting nature of being turned upside down while underwater in a shaking aircraft.

Refuge Notebook: Surviving an aircraft crash in the water

“Mayday! The engine has failed! This is an emergency! Prepare for ditching!” These dreaded words hopefully no one hears. However, in the event of an… Continue reading

Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Trainers and course participants help simulate the disorienting nature of being turned upside down while underwater in a shaking aircraft.

Les Palmer: The state of the Kenai part 1

Author’s note: Part one of a series of two.The vitality of the Kenai River is threatened. Power boat wakes and stream bank development have contributed… Continue reading

Before you ride, get your bike in tune

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Once upon a time, bikes were pretty simple and durable machines, but as they’ve improved mechanically, they’ve also become more complex.If… Continue reading

Maximum extent of the last major (Naptowne) glaciation compared to localities where fossils have been found.

Refuge Notebook: Ice-age mammals on the Kenai Peninsula – an update

In her 2008 book, “Kachemak Bay communities, their histories, their mysteries,” Janet Klein first published information about the fossils of extinct woolly mammoths found along… Continue reading

Maximum extent of the last major (Naptowne) glaciation compared to localities where fossils have been found.