Alaska Outdoors

Water droplets sit on a blade of grass following a rainy period in Interior Alaska. (Courtesy Photo | Ned Rozell)

Rain falls, as it always has

Rain is, after all, the free distribution of a substance more valuable than gold.

Water droplets sit on a blade of grass following a rainy period in Interior Alaska. (Courtesy Photo | Ned Rozell)
Triston Chaney and his brother sit aboard their grandpa’s gill-netter in Bristol Bay. (Courtesy Photo | Triston Chaney)

An interview with a lifelong fisherman

“When the salmon are running, we can catch all we want pretty quickly.”

Triston Chaney and his brother sit aboard their grandpa’s gill-netter in Bristol Bay. (Courtesy Photo | Triston Chaney)
A moose with no name: Contest to be held for new fire-prevention mascot

A moose with no name: Contest to be held for new fire-prevention mascot

Move over, Smokey. Division of Forestry seeks name for mascot.

A moose with no name: Contest to be held for new fire-prevention mascot
Mallards stand near the pond at Rotary Park, June 21, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)

Fun at home — Looking out the windows

Busy birds and bears.

Mallards stand near the pond at Rotary Park, June 21, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)
Sunrise over South Fairbanks came at 3:10 a.m. on a recent June morning. (Courtesy Photo | Ned Rozell)

Here’s what happens when a world traveler visits South Fairbanks

The sun rose with the color of an orange Creamsicle.

Sunrise over South Fairbanks came at 3:10 a.m. on a recent June morning. (Courtesy Photo | Ned Rozell)
Long-distance, seasonal migrations are part of the animal world

Long-distance, seasonal migrations are part of the animal world

Oh, the places they go.

Long-distance, seasonal migrations are part of the animal world
Permafrost specialist Tom Douglas pauses on the ice of a Fairbanks creek that shows recent bank erosion, probably due to the thawing of soil that had been frozen for many years. (Courtesy Photo | Ned Rozell)
Permafrost specialist Tom Douglas pauses on the ice of a Fairbanks creek that shows recent bank erosion, probably due to the thawing of soil that had been frozen for many years. (Courtesy Photo | Ned Rozell)
With age comes an appreciation for brakes

With age comes an appreciation for brakes

While I agree with the “send it” ethos, I don’t want to send myself into unconsciousness.

With age comes an appreciation for brakes
More than meets the (human) eye

More than meets the (human) eye

We can’t see all the ways flowers communicate with pollinators.

More than meets the (human) eye
Biologist Sophie Gilbert and glaciologist Tim Bartholomaus smile together in 2018. (Courtesy Photo | Tim Bartholomaus and Sophie Gilbert)

A tale of glacier mice and young love

The mice aren’t real, the relationship is.

Biologist Sophie Gilbert and glaciologist Tim Bartholomaus smile together in 2018. (Courtesy Photo | Tim Bartholomaus and Sophie Gilbert)
Wild flowers with Echo Ranch horses on the edge of Berners Bay. (Courtesy Photo | Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska

Reader-submitted photos.

Wild flowers with Echo Ranch horses on the edge of Berners Bay. (Courtesy Photo | Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)
Planet walk puts things in perspective

Planet walk puts things in perspective

The greenhouse effect is crucial for life, but it’s possible to have too much of a good thing.

Planet walk puts things in perspective
Building an immune system capable of fighting disease is probably more important than being mentally, or physically capable of a mountain hunt in a few months. Ryan John scours the mountains near Ketchikan on an afternoon in September. (Courtesy Photo | Jeff Lund)

Thinking inside the box

Staying fit and not just for hiking in August.

Building an immune system capable of fighting disease is probably more important than being mentally, or physically capable of a mountain hunt in a few months. Ryan John scours the mountains near Ketchikan on an afternoon in September. (Courtesy Photo | Jeff Lund)
Bog plants and bird feeder begin to bustle

Bog plants and bird feeder begin to bustle

Right now, it’s busy outside.

Bog plants and bird feeder begin to bustle
A brown bear chomps on a sockeye salmon on the Alaska Peninsula. (Courtesy Photo | Drew Hamilton)

Pride of Bristol Bay: The bears of McNeil and the Pebble Mine project

They’re on a collision course.

A brown bear chomps on a sockeye salmon on the Alaska Peninsula. (Courtesy Photo | Drew Hamilton)
A rugged Alaskan’s COVID-19 story

A rugged Alaskan’s COVID-19 story

A marathon plan went very off course.

A rugged Alaskan’s COVID-19 story
A spotted frog readies to go a courting after emerging for the season. Columbia spotted frogs hibernate in ponds, springs, beaver dams and under stream cut-banks where it doesn’t freeze and moisture has adequate dissolved oxygen for them to breathe (through the skin). (Courtesy Photo | Kerry Howard)

Spotting spotted frogs in the wild

They’re “singing” and ready to mingle.

A spotted frog readies to go a courting after emerging for the season. Columbia spotted frogs hibernate in ponds, springs, beaver dams and under stream cut-banks where it doesn’t freeze and moisture has adequate dissolved oxygen for them to breathe (through the skin). (Courtesy Photo | Kerry Howard)
Duck-billed dinos stomped across the land bridge

Duck-billed dinos stomped across the land bridge

A dinosaur found in Japan is very similar to one that has been found throughout Alaska.

Duck-billed dinos stomped across the land bridge
Connecting people to salmon in Alaska, the East Coast and the Midwest during COVID-19

Connecting people to salmon in Alaska, the East Coast and the Midwest during COVID-19

A lot has changed almost overnight.

Connecting people to salmon in Alaska, the East Coast and the Midwest during COVID-19
A new month brings vibrant colors to the outdoors

A new month brings vibrant colors to the outdoors

Butterflies, birds and sea stars were seen in early May.

A new month brings vibrant colors to the outdoors