Site Logo
Phillip Wilson (blue jacket) and Dan Mann stand on a rock outcrop that was scoured by floodwaters a few centuries ago when Black Rapids Glacier — far in the distance — advanced to dam the Delta River. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Sports

Alaska Science Forum: The galloping glacier’s recent dramas

LACK RAPIDS OF THE DELTA RIVER — If we climb high enough above this tumble of gray water,…

Juneau Huskies players face off against each other during practice Tuesday in preparation for Saturday’s game against Service High School at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Juneau Huskies enter first home game of season with key players who are stronger, faster and more confident

After opening loss against East Anchorage, football team sets sights on beating Service High School.

Red elderberry is toxic to humans, but birds consume the fruits readily. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

Sports

On the Trails: Late summer fruits — lots of questions

Mid-August and the berry crops of wild currants are ripe. The stink currant (reportedly so-called for the smell…

Juneau high school students and alumni take off from the starting line in the women’s 5K race of the Sayéik Invitational at Savikko Park on Saturday morning. The unofficial meet was the first event of the season for the cross-country team newly consolidated Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Alumni go back to school to take on JDHS cross-country team in season-opening 5K

More than 60 students from consolidated high school team run against adults at Sayéik Invitational.

Ashley Murphy and Arianna Workman run toward the Kax̱dig̱oowu Héen Dei Trail in Cancer Connection’s 33rd annual Beat the Odds: A Race Against Cancer on Saturday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Sports

More than 300 people take on the course against cancer in 33rd annual Beat the Odds race

Participants in 5K run and two-mile walk raise funds for Juneau’s Cancer Connection.

The Juneau High School Huskies try to convert a 4th-and-long situation on the road against Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School on Saturday. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football livestream)

Sports

Juneau Huskies lose season opener on road to East Anchorage 22-6

Thunderbirds score TDs on opening two drives before back-and-forth battle the rest of the game.

A piece of obsidian rock sits on display in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. William Healey Dall collected the rock in 1868 near the Nowitna River in Interior Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Rasic)

Sports

Alaska Science Forum: The recent history of a black rock

In June of 1867 — a few months before Alaska would become part of the United States with…

For the author the suspense of checking shrimp pots begins with finding the buoy, not pulling the pot. (Screenshot from video by Jeff Lund)

Sports

I Went to the Woods: Moment of truth

“Is that our buoy?”

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cross-country team runs toward the Under Thunder Trail from Floyd Dryden Middle School on Monday evening for a team practice. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Juneau cross-country team runs into the new school year

Season takes off with alumni race against team from consolidated high school.

Recently emerged toadlets still have their tadpole tails. (Photo by Bob Armstrong).

Sports

On the Trails: Visiting Gustavus and Glacier Bay

I hadn’t been over there for several years, and it was time to refresh some old memories of…

A runner nears the end of the Mount Roberts Trail during the Nifty Fifty Race on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Running 50K up and down Juneau’s mountains as a warmup? Yes, for some Nifty Fifty racers

Some of this year’s 14 participants in race with 5,000 ft. of elevation gain have even loftier goals.

A creek runs beside the Mesa Site in northern Alaska. (Photo by Dan Gullickson)

Sports

Alaska Science Forum: Pondering the mystery of the Mesa people

Now as quiet as wind whispering through grass, a plateau rising from the flats of northern Alaska was…

Western rust fungus can leave a big gnarly lump on pine branches. (Photo by Mary F. Willson)

Sports

On the Trails: Flowers, caterpillars and tree foam

Light rain fell as I left the Valley but, as usual, it fell more heavily as I neared…

Isabella Lang gets an enthusiastic greeting as she finishes first overall in the Olympic distance in Aukeman Triathlon on Sunday. (Photo by Bob Eastaugh)

Sports

Record number of racers feel heat of new challenges, including first-ever long course, at Aukeman Triathlon

Isabella Lang, in a “for-fun” effort, gets dominant overall win in Olympic-length course.

The author (back) and his brother (front) at a Forest Service cabin on Prince of Wales island many years ago. (Photo provided by Jeff Lund)

Sports

I Went to the Woods: Learning to appreciate the journey to the destination

My wife and I had just moved into the Forest Service cabin and perpetual motion sent me to…

A red ant stimulates aphid to produce honeydew. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

Sports

On the Trails: Ants are busy critters

There are more than 20,000 species of ants, including such noticables as picnic ants, sidewalk ants, carpenter ants,…

Runners begin the 26.2-mile Juneau Marathon at Savikko Park on Saturday morning. More than 85 people registered for the full-length race, a record for the annual event that originated in 1992, but about 20 of them failed to show up for what turned out to be a rainy run. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Participants go to great lengths to run in the rain at the Juneau Marathon and Half Marathon

Dashing over from cruise ship, long trip around road-blocking landslide among paths to starting line.

A male sockeye salmon makes its way upstream. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

Sports

On the Trails: Life history patterns

Most organisms have one of two basic, genetically programmed life histories. Some can (potentially) reproduce several times during…

The Nogahabara Dunes spill into a lake 35 miles west of the village of Huslia as seen from the back seat of a Super Cub piloted by Brad Scotton of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service based in Galena. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Sports

Alaska Science Forum: Sand dunes a unique Alaska landscape

NOGAHABARA DUNES — From a molded seat of sand dug into the western rim of a 5-mile oval…

Fly fishing for salmon in the saltwater might reduce the opportunity to get quick limits, but there’s nothing like it. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

Sports

I Went to the Woods: Silvers on the fly

A school of a few dozen fish moved slowly through the teal water in front of the skiff.…