In 2012 Michael Engelhard, an outdoor guide, writer, and anthropologist decided to hike and paddle from Canada to Kotzebue, acting on a lifelong goal. Though not the first to make the trip, and just the start of the "through hike" trend occurring in the far north, Engelhard brought his unique Alaskan background to the trip. This spring The Mountaineers published his memoir of the trip "Arctic Traverse." The book is a mix of travelogue, natural and cultural history and philosophy. Michael...

On the this Outdoor Explorer, we hear from MaryBeth Goodman, director of the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Alaska Behavioral Health. The Cohen Clinic is on the leading edge of recognizing that the outdoors is a critical piece of mental health. Along with their partners, the clinic offers programs that address the wholistic needs of veterans, using the outdoors as a path to healing from trauma. HOST: Lisa Keller GUEST: MaryBeth Goodman, Director of the Steven A. Cohen Military...

The Arctic Winter Games is a biennial event celebrating the sports and culture of the people who live in the circumpolar north. Delegations from Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland and northern Scandinavia gather to compete in 21 different sports and share their cultures with one another. This year it’s Alaska’s turn to host the Arctic Winter Games, which will take place during the school spring break, March 10-16, in the Mat-Su Valley. HOST: Adam Verrier GUESTS: Amy Spargo, Chair of the...

People with disabilities live and thrive in Alaska and Anchorage. Challenge Alaska is a nonprofit that is a key organization making that happen. Challenge works with Alaskans with disabilities, giving them access to adaptive sports, education and a supportive community. Known for its adaptive ski and snowboard program in Girdwood Challenge also offers a variety of programs in Anchorage for a wide range of people, including veterans. Challenge was established in 1980 by Doug Keil, a...

Alaska is home to some amazing trails, but one thing it doesn’t have is a long trail of its own. This week on Outdoor Explorer we dive into the Alaska Long Trail, a trail that would connect Seward and Fairbanks via a multi user trail system. We also talk about the potential for this trail to be designated as a National Scenic Trail as well as get some trail updates about the Iditarod Historic National Trail Southern Trek, which is currently the most complete section of the Alaska Long...

Hatcher Pass outside Palmer in the Talkeetna Mountains has recently become a destination for groomed downhill skiing and riding thanks to the development of the area known as Skeetawk. Running the show is Megan Justus, who came to the job after managing a Syrian refugee camp. Join guest host Amy Bushatz on this episode of Outdoor Explorer as we head into Hatcher Pass to chat with Megan about managing a ski operation, plus what's coming for the ever growing Skeetawk. GUEST HOST: Amy...

Volunteer ski patrols have assisted Alaska's ski areas since the 1950's. The Alyeska Ski patrol was founded in 1953 working at Alyeska and Arctic Valley. Through various iterations, the latest being the Alyeska Volunteer Ski Patrol, volunteers have provided aid and assistance to skiers while supporting the professional Alyeska patrol. From the mundane like helping set boundary lines to dramatic like assisting with tram evacuations volunteers have a long history of stories and experience to...

What's the history of outdoor ice skating in Anchorage? How did the midtown Cuddy Park Ice Oval come to exist? What is Anchorage's Winter Solstice Festival and how is it linked to Anchorage ice skating and the Park? This Outdoor Explorer answers these questions and more. Every year the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Department and their partners host a Winter Solstice Festival at the Cuddy Family Midtown Park. The event features ice skating on the park's ice oval, horse drawn sled rides, food...

This week on Outdoor Explorer, we visit our neighbors to the east in Whitehorse, Canada, to speak to Meghan and Marko Marjanovic about hiking in the Yukon Territory. The Yukon is a land of long rivers, big mountains and vast wilderness, but there aren’t a lot of marked hiking trails. Sometimes you need a little guidance in a wild landscape, and we’ll discuss Marko and Meghan’s book and their website that describes many of their favorite hikes in the Yukon Territory. HOST: Adam...

HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: 1st segment: Wendy Wagner, Director, Chugach Avalanche Center Mary Gianotti, Chugach front range forecaster Mik Dalpes, Seward area forecaster Daniel Krueger, Seward area forecaster 2nd segment: Anne St Claire, APU faculty, avalanche researcher LINKS: Chugach Avalanche Center Staff Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center Simon Fraser University Avalanche Research Alaska Avalanche Information Center Alaska Avalanche School Avalanche.org American Avalanche Association The...

On today’s show we are talking with elite ultra runner and author Zoë Rom about her book "Becoming a Sustainable Runner." We talk about the importance of emphasizing long-term goals over immediate outcomes and how not to let your ego get in the way of your training. We dive into how climate activism and running are related and how having a running community is important for sustainability. We also touch on one of everyone’s favorite topics, gear, and how you can make your gear acquisitions...

On this Outdoor Explorer we hear from Graham Zimmerman, a professional climber who is the author of the recently released book "A Fine Line: Searching for Balance Among Mountains." Graham tells the stories of his many epic climbs, how he confronts the dangerous consequences the sport bears on climbers’ friendships and loved ones and how he is a witness to the rapidly changing climate that impacts the mountains he loves. HOST: Lisa Keller GUEST: Graham Zimmerman, professional climber, author...

It's that time of year when lovers of winter are headed to the trails and mountains to slide and glide on white crystals of snow. To help prepare them organizations such as Friends of the Chugach Avalanche Center host events like "Snow Stories" that aim to increase safety awareness and get people excited about the upcoming winter season. This year's Snow Stories was at the Beartooth Theater in late October. Outdoor Explorer was there to record the event with the assistance of the Beartooth...

Oil Spill of 1989, and long term issues like climate change and invasive species. Even it's popularity contributes to increased human impacts. Despite the challenges the Prince William Sound Stewardship Foundation and Silvia Earl's organization Mission Blue have teamed up to designate PWS an Ocean Blue "Hope Spot." On this edition of the show host Paul Twardock discusses what this means for Prince William Sound with the Foundation's Executive Director Charla Hughes, Georgia Aquarium's Dr....

When freelance graphic designer Aurora Hablett was invited on the show, the goal was interview her about winter single track. Aurora is a big part of placing winter single track trails in Far North Bicentennial Park. However, as the interview progressed her role in mapping trails became a focus. Hablett has created maps and trail panels for Singletrack Advocates, integrated legacy maps of the Alaska Pacific University trail system into one cohesive map and designed a ride in the shape of a...

Mountain biking started in the 1980's and since then people have biked the world from Alaska to Chile to the Himalayas. More recently, Alaskans created and developed fat bikes for Alaska's winter. As bikers discovered what they could do with improved bike technology they came up with ways to carry all their gear. Bike trailers and paniers worked on pavement, but once on trails and snow new systems were needed. Eric Parsons with Revelate Designs started fiddling with bags that fit on bike...

HOST: Lisa Keller GUESTS: Kenzie Barnwell, Chugach Stewardship Coordinator for the National Forest Foundation Philip Swiny, Executive Director of the Alaska Huts Association LINKS: Alaska Huts Association National Forest Foundation BROADCAST: Thursday, November 2nd, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, November 2nd, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT ]]>

Fall in Alaska is hunting season. Throughout the state Alaskans pursue moose, caribou and waterfowl, stocking up their freezers while enjoying the outdoors. That relationship to the natural world is the focus of Steve Meyer and Christine Cunningham's new book "The Land We Share." Steve and Christine are avid hunters, primarily of game birds working with their retrievers and Labrador working dogs. On this Outdoor Explorer Steve and Christine talk with host Paul Twardock about their holistic...

What does it take to create and run an outdoor gear company? Alaska is an ideal testing ground for outdoor gear and apparel. A surprising number of small outdoor apparel businesses have started and thrive in Alaska, testing their clothing in Alaska's wind, rain, cold and snow. Jen Loofbourrow started Alpine Fit with a vision of manufacturing base layers for Alaskans. The business survived the pandemic, supply chain bottlenecks, and Alaska's logistical challenges to become a thriving business....

On this episode of Outdoor Explorer we're joined by Haley Johnston, the co-chair of the Chugach Park Fund’s Citizens Advisory Board. The Chugach Park Fund was established in 2016 under the umbrella of The Alaska Community Foundation and since that time has been a critical part of improving trails, signs and facilities in Chugach State Park. Haley fills us in on past, present and future projects. HOST: Lisa Keller GUEST: Haley Johnston LINKS: Chugach State Park - Citizens Advisory Board...

Our guest on this episode of Outdoor Explorer is Kikkan Randall, executive director of the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage. She last spoke with host Lisa Keller two years ago when Randall had first taken the helm of NSAA. Randall had recently returned from living in British Columbia and she was active on Olympic committees, the non-profit Fast and Female, and ACTIV Against Cancer, a Norwegian organization dedicated to ensuring that physical activity becomes part of standard cancer...

Every year at the end of August in the Black Rock Desert of northwest Nevada, Black Rock City is built, and for about a week it becomes the third largest city in Nevada, with around 60,000 inhabitants. It is the host city for the annual event called Burning Man and it has all the amenities you’d expect to see in any other city of this size. It has with bars, restaurants, bike shops, clothing boutiques, auto mechanics and recreation centers. But the thing that differentiates this city from...

What makes an outdoor expedition successful? Most trips in the outdoors, whether one day or two weeks, are enjoyable and fun, that's why Alaskans, even on wet summers like this one, flock to the outdoors. But some outings turn into epics and even tragedy. On this Outdoor Explorer host Paul Twardock talks about what makes a good expedition happen with retired Denali Mountaineering ranger Daryl Miller and current South District Ranger for Denali National Park Tucker Chenoweth. They discuss what...

Alaska author Don Rearden grew up in Southwest Alaska living and observing rural life. His books "Raven's Gift," a novel, and "Without A Paddle," a collection of poems, reflect his Alaska experiences and life. Don also co-authored books featuring two of Alaska's professional military rescuers. Don joins host Paul Twardock to discuss Alaska's culture, history and environment and how they influenced his writing. HOST: Paul Twardock GUEST: Don Rearden, author LINK: Don Rearden's website ]]>