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Sunset at Beaver Lake. (Courtesy Photo / Michael Humling)

The Salmon State: Bear man of Admiralty Island Allen Hasselborg — and climate change

By Mary Catharine Martin The Salmon State Every day for decades, bear hunter, guide, and early 20th century Southeast Alaska homesteader Allen Hasselborg logged the… Continue reading

 

The author photographs one of the numerous bull moose he and his wife saw on an elk hunt in Wyoming. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Desired vs. realized success

No elk taken, but it’s nothing to grouse about.

 

This photo shows gray currents, also called stink currants, Vivian Mork photographer. (Vivian Mork Yeilk’ / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: Picking currants and riding currents

We give respect and thanks to the berries and the birds as we harvest the last of the berries.

 

Salmonberry leaves of unusual color on one cane; nearby canes bore green leaves.(Courtesy Photo / Mary F. Willson)

On the Trails: Fall colors in our rainforest

Here are a few examples of enjoyable displays of fall colors…

Salmonberry leaves of unusual color on one cane; nearby canes bore green leaves.(Courtesy Photo / Mary F. Willson)
A male sockeye salmon spawns in Bristol Bay. (Courtesy Photo / Jonny Armstrong)

Pride of Bristol Bay: Life of a sockeye

It only took one sockeye to remind of how lucky I am to live in a world with wild salmon

A male sockeye salmon spawns in Bristol Bay. (Courtesy Photo / Jonny Armstrong)
Veterans march in Hoonah for the raising of a totem pole honoring Southeast Akaska's Indigenous veterans. The region, and Hoonah in particular, have a high number of veterans per capita. (Courtesy Photo / Elle Weberling)

Resilient Peoples & Place: Healing in Hoonah by honoring Southeast’s Indigenous veterans

A previous version of this article incorrectly identified Louise Kane as Stanley “Steamie” Thompson’s mother. Kane was Thompson’s grandmother. The article has been updated to… Continue reading

Veterans march in Hoonah for the raising of a totem pole honoring Southeast Akaska's Indigenous veterans. The region, and Hoonah in particular, have a high number of veterans per capita. (Courtesy Photo / Elle Weberling)
I have flies with barbell eyes, jig heads, cone heads, bead heads and no heads. I have flies with stinger hooks that trail and long-shanked salmon hooks that don’t. I have red, pink, salmon, fuchsia, cerise, purple, orange, flesh, green, olive, chartreuse, white and black flies made of feathers, chenille, hackle, marabou, flashabou and silicone. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: One good fish

Three is the magic number.

I have flies with barbell eyes, jig heads, cone heads, bead heads and no heads. I have flies with stinger hooks that trail and long-shanked salmon hooks that don’t. I have red, pink, salmon, fuchsia, cerise, purple, orange, flesh, green, olive, chartreuse, white and black flies made of feathers, chenille, hackle, marabou, flashabou and silicone. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
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Planet Alaska: Spruce tip bathing

The perfect spruce tip is tightly bound needles without the brown papery casing.

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Planet Alaska: Drawing an ovoid a day

Planet Alaska: Drawing an ovoid a day

The ovoid is the heart of it all.

Planet Alaska: Drawing an ovoid a day
Planet Alaska: What I learned from island living last year

Planet Alaska: What I learned from island living last year

Learn to balance an island world.

Planet Alaska: What I learned from island living last year
Planet Alaska: A lesson from haa shagóon in 2020

Planet Alaska: A lesson from haa shagóon in 2020

The phrase means so much more than just “our ancestors.”

Planet Alaska: A lesson from haa shagóon in 2020
Backyard glaciers: They’re still here, but they’re retreating

Backyard glaciers: They’re still here, but they’re retreating

“I was born of ice.”

Backyard glaciers: They’re still here, but they’re retreating
Sea lettuce: The treat beneath your feet

Sea lettuce: The treat beneath your feet

You can eat it raw or chop it up for soups, salads, spring rolls or ramen.

Sea lettuce: The treat beneath your feet
For Alaskan college students at Dartmouth, Aurora Club dinners provide taste of home

For Alaskan college students at Dartmouth, Aurora Club dinners provide taste of home

Comfort food.

For Alaskan college students at Dartmouth, Aurora Club dinners provide taste of home
Summer’s Bounty: 8 jam, jelly and syrup recipes featuring Alaska’s berries

Summer’s Bounty: 8 jam, jelly and syrup recipes featuring Alaska’s berries

Berry heaven.

Summer’s Bounty: 8 jam, jelly and syrup recipes featuring Alaska’s berries
Get out there and forage. Here’s what to look for, and a few recipes.

Get out there and forage. Here’s what to look for, and a few recipes.

Don’t be shy.

Get out there and forage. Here’s what to look for, and a few recipes.
Planet Alaska: Woven with herring

Planet Alaska: Woven with herring

Sharing herring is caring.

Planet Alaska: Woven with herring
Planet Alaska: Turn Back the Tide on Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse in Alaska

Planet Alaska: Turn Back the Tide on Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse in Alaska

It’s time to turn back the tide.

Planet Alaska: Turn Back the Tide on Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse in Alaska