Alaska Outdoors

Traveling Outside

We Southeast Alaskans love Southeast Alaska, but we also love traveling to other (usually less rainy) parts of the world and hiking, biking, birding, scuba… Continue reading

A short-tailed weasel in mid-winter.

On the Trails: January ice and snow

A bright, cold day—just right for a little exploration. A friend and I headed for Hilda meadows: up Trickster (not groomed), onto the groomed upper… Continue reading

A short-tailed weasel in mid-winter.

A day of adaptive skiing

Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL)/Outdoor Recreation and Community Access (ORCA) have teamed up with Eaglecrest Ski Area for their annual “Learn to Adapt” Day (Adaptive… Continue reading

New report provides conservation and management strategies for climate-sensitive yellow-cedar in Alaska

The U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station Wednesday released a new report that outlines a climate adaptation strategy for yellow-cedar in Alaska. The report,… Continue reading

Learn to ski and snowboard

January is Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, which includes the 34th annual Learn to Ski Weekend on January 16 and 17 at Eaglecrest Ski… Continue reading

JGC’s most recent shoot results

On yet another, wet, overcast, beautiful dark day in Alaska’s capital city, the Juneau Gun Club held a PITA Registered Shoot. Only four members showed.… Continue reading

Fireside lecture: Kittlitz’s Murrelets

The second Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center Fireside Lecture of the season features U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biologist Michelle Kissling discussing Kittlitz’s Murrelets. The birds… Continue reading

Treadwell comment period ending

The comment period for improvements the US Forest Service plans on Treadwell Ditch Trail between the Blueberry Hill and Bonnie Brae access trails ends Tuesday,… Continue reading

New Ranger takes reins of Petersburg District

KETCHIKAN - A new ranger has been selected to guide the Tongass National Forest’s Petersburg Ranger District. Dave Zimmerman, Timber and Special Forest Products program… Continue reading

Nordic Ski Team Race

Keep an eye out for the Juneau Nordic Ski Team, which is conducting two days of “Peaceful Pursuits” races this Saturday and Sunday. Saturday, they’ll… Continue reading

Healy Rep. proposes ‘lite’ fish hatcheries

Fairbanks’ Ruth Burnett Sport Fish Hatchery is a towering complex of tanks, tubes and growing fish.It also carried a towering price tag. When it opened… Continue reading

Mountain conditions

New snow (24 hours):• Base: 0 inches• Top: 0 inchesNew Snow (48 hours):• Base: 0 inches• Top: 0 inchesTotal snow:• Base: 18 inches• Top: 86… Continue reading

Flying squirrels start off lecture season

The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center’s Friday night lecture series has returned for 2016, with 12 lectures scheduled between today and March 25.The first lecture features… Continue reading

Common murres swim in Auke Bay in December. Juneau birders found 159 common murres on their annual count day. The birds have recently been showing up in interior Alaska, some underweight.

On land: Juneau’s 43rd annual Christmas bird counters listen, look, count

One year, while on vacation, my partner Bjorn and I went snorkeling and marveled at the life in the world beneath us – there’s a… Continue reading

Common murres swim in Auke Bay in December. Juneau birders found 159 common murres on their annual count day. The birds have recently been showing up in interior Alaska, some underweight.

A snowy day at Eagle Beach

A lovely day in late December found friends and I at Eagle Beach State Park with lots of options for exploration. The main trail was… Continue reading

Birds and beasts of Belize

Ann and Alan Doty will present their photos of “The Birds and Beasts of Belize” at the Juneau Audubon Society’s meeting Jan. 14, 7 p.m.… Continue reading

U.S. Forest Service warns Mendenhall Lake is never safe

Here are some reminders and tips on ice safety from the U.S. Forest Service:Mendenhall Lake ice is never safe. The thickness is not measured or… Continue reading

CCFR to host ice safety workshop Saturday

Capital City Fire and Rescue will host an ice safety workshop Saturday, Jan. 9 at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, from 1:30 - 3 p.m.… Continue reading

Fishery spending analyzed

KENAI - Most of the benefit from the commercial fishing industry goes to local government, while the state overspends itself, according to a new analysis.A… Continue reading

In this undated photo, an Alexander Archipelago wolf is shown on Prince of Wales Island. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that while the number of Alexander Archipelago wolves is dropping on Prince of Wales Island, wolf populations are stable elsewhere in Southeast Alaska and rising in British Columbia.

FWS: Alexander Archipelago wolf not endangered

The Alexander Archipelago wolf is not endangered, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday.In a 94-page analysis, staff of the Anchorage office of U.S.… Continue reading

In this undated photo, an Alexander Archipelago wolf is shown on Prince of Wales Island. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that while the number of Alexander Archipelago wolves is dropping on Prince of Wales Island, wolf populations are stable elsewhere in Southeast Alaska and rising in British Columbia.