Alaska Outdoors

A crab spider has captured a bumble bee on a dandelion flower. (Kerry Howard | For the Juneau Empire)

Good finds in Gustavus

A summertime walk through woods and meadows is almost always good — birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and there’s always nice fresh air. But… Continue reading

A crab spider has captured a bumble bee on a dandelion flower. (Kerry Howard | For the Juneau Empire)

Possible new invasive species discovered in Juneau

There’s a new, probably non-native, invasive species in town, just discovered in late June. It’s a disease-causing fungus (Gemmamyces piceae) that afflicts spruce buds, often… Continue reading

Tara’s nephew Erik playing in front of the wreck of the Daybreak. Photo by Tara Neilson.

Making do in the wilderness — refrigeration

When I told my friend Jo (who blogs at www.alaskafloatsmyboat.com) that I was building an outdoor cooler to refrigerate my perishables she said: “When I… Continue reading

Tara’s nephew Erik playing in front of the wreck of the Daybreak. Photo by Tara Neilson.
Plantago L major. Photo by Corinne Conlon.

Plantains are everywhere, and offer many uses

Some plants are so commonplace that we fail to see them, even when we are paying attention. I kept hearing about plantains, but I just… Continue reading

Plantago L major. Photo by Corinne Conlon.
Biologists make room for the loons

Biologists make room for the loons

Loons are a boon for bioresearch. Much like the canary in the coalmine, the health of these top aquatic predators can translate to an entire… Continue reading

Biologists make room for the loons
A slab of sandstone with 10-million-year-old shells; tired at the end of a long day at Cape Tachilni, by Cold Bay, Alaska, 1977. Photo courtesy of Lou Marincovich.

Hunting fossils under the midnight sun

Lou Marincovich’s book “True North: Hunting Fossils Under the Midnight Sun,” published May 15, sheds light on the life of an adventure-seeking paleontologist who, as… Continue reading

A slab of sandstone with 10-million-year-old shells; tired at the end of a long day at Cape Tachilni, by Cold Bay, Alaska, 1977. Photo courtesy of Lou Marincovich.

Interdependence Day 2017

This season has been filled with what the Irish call “fine soft days”, and a better climate for transplanting there has never been. This calm… Continue reading

A spruce grouse chick in an alder bush along the path of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. (Ned Rozell | For the Juneau Empire)

High summer along the pipeline’s path

YUKON RIVER — It’s high summer, past the solstice. Everything is alive here on the path of the Trans-Alaska pipeline. Since I started this hike… Continue reading

A spruce grouse chick in an alder bush along the path of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. (Ned Rozell | For the Juneau Empire)
A brown bear poses before disappearing into the brush near Glacier Bay. (Photo by Kerry Howard)

Wild Shots

Reader-submitted images of Mother Nature in Southeast Submit your wild shots: The Empire Outdoors page is looking for superb images of Alaska’s wildlife, scenery or… Continue reading

A brown bear poses before disappearing into the brush near Glacier Bay. (Photo by Kerry Howard)

STEM in the summer: Cool activities for our hottest months

This is a reoccuring monthly columns about Science Technology Engineering and Math in Juneau: what it is and why it’s important to all of us.… Continue reading

Lisa stands near the bins to show the clear plastic that covers the compost. (Corinne Conlon | For the Juneau Empire)

Relearning composting

Almost everything that I had learned about composting in Southeast Alaska was debunked by Lisa Daugherty. I was confident in my understanding that you couldn’t… Continue reading

Lisa stands near the bins to show the clear plastic that covers the compost. (Corinne Conlon | For the Juneau Empire)
A sea lion barks orders to the rest of the pod on a haul-out in Stephens Passage on June 8. (Photo by Denise Carroll)

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Southeast Alaska

Reader-submitted images of Mother Nature in Southeast Submit your wild shots: The Empire Outdoors page is looking for superb images of Alaska’s wildlife, scenery or… Continue reading

A sea lion barks orders to the rest of the pod on a haul-out in Stephens Passage on June 8. (Photo by Denise Carroll)
Liftoff! (Photo courtesy of the Juneau Raptor Center)

Unconscious adult bald eagle recovers

On May 2, Juneau Raptor Center volunteers responded to a page about an unconscious adult bald eagle on Juneau’s North Douglas Rainforest Trail. The bird… Continue reading

Liftoff! (Photo courtesy of the Juneau Raptor Center)
Tamaracks have recovered from a larch sawfly invasion of the 1990s. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

A restock and recharge along the pipeline’s path

FAIRBANKS — I left my home here to begin a hike along the Trans-Alaska pipeline in late April. Returning in June, I am stunned by… Continue reading

Tamaracks have recovered from a larch sawfly invasion of the 1990s. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
A white charcoal sketch by Tara given to Dan and Kerri when they closed their kayak lodge. Photo by Tara Neilson.

Kayaker encounters

It goes without saying that I’m accustomed to having the wilderness entirely to myself. Which was why I was surprised one summer morning when I… Continue reading

A white charcoal sketch by Tara given to Dan and Kerri when they closed their kayak lodge. Photo by Tara Neilson.
Beach greens. (Photo by Corinne Conlon)

Beach greens make a wonderful edible

Some wild foods are easy to nibble as you walk trails or meander the tide line. Snacks that you can grab by the handful as… Continue reading

Beach greens. (Photo by Corinne Conlon)
A reticulate taildropper feeds on ergot, a fungus that grows on the seed heads of beach rye. (Photo courtesy Mary Willson)

Slugs (the mollusc kind)

The slug season is upon us, it seems. I recently pulled the first little brown slug off one of my garden plants. There will be… Continue reading

A reticulate taildropper feeds on ergot, a fungus that grows on the seed heads of beach rye. (Photo courtesy Mary Willson)
A female mallard escorts her ten ducklings across the pond. (David Bergeson | For the Juneau Empire)

Drama on the home pond

A great ruckus arose on my pond, one afternoon in early June, while I was leisurely scribbling, comfortable in my big easy chair: agitated high-decibel… Continue reading

A female mallard escorts her ten ducklings across the pond. (David Bergeson | For the Juneau Empire)
Chocolate lilies abound in Cowee Creek meadow on June 7. (Photo by Denise Carroll)

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Southeast Alaska

Reader-submitted images of Mother Nature in Southeast Submit your wild shots: The Empire Outdoors page is looking for superb images of Alaska’s wildlife, scenery or… Continue reading

Chocolate lilies abound in Cowee Creek meadow on June 7. (Photo by Denise Carroll)
Cora the dog enjoys the coolness of aufeis that endured into June along the section of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline farthest from an Alaska Highway.( Ned Rozell | For the Juneau Empire)

A wilderness feel along an industrial path

GOLD RUN CREEK — This clear waterway running through boreal swampland marks the farthest Cora and I will be from a highway during our summer… Continue reading

Cora the dog enjoys the coolness of aufeis that endured into June along the section of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline farthest from an Alaska Highway.( Ned Rozell | For the Juneau Empire)