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Sustainable Alaska: Cosmic consciousness, Earth Day, and the magic of time and space

Earlier this spring I had the great privilege of skiing from Knik Lake to McGrath…

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Keishísh enjoys the beach in Juneau (Yeilk’ Vivian Mork / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: This old dog

This old dog is a good dog.

Keishísh enjoys the beach in Juneau (Yeilk’ Vivian Mork / For the Capital City Weekly)
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On the Trails: Whelks learning and hemlocks fluting

Whelk-learned individuals.

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The author thought this reel was about five years old, but this photo from a trip to the Truckee River in California seven years ago made him realize just how long his favorite reel has been around. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: What makes a favorite

By Jeff Lund I was doing some math, which can be difficult. Not just because I’m an English teacher, but because it can be hard… Continue reading

The author thought this reel was about five years old, but this photo from a trip to the Truckee River in California seven years ago made him realize just how long his favorite reel has been around. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
An injured coyote with only three usable legs has survived over a year, hunting small mammals. (Courtesy Photo / Cheryl Cook)

On the Trails: Wild animals surviving serious injuries

To be adaptive, the benefits have to outweigh such costs.

An injured coyote with only three usable legs has survived over a year, hunting small mammals. (Courtesy Photo / Cheryl Cook)
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Gimme a Smile: Enjoy the charm of Wordle

I’ve jumped onto the Wordle bandwagon.

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Henry Allen a few decades after he — as a 26-year-old — crossed Alaska on foot and by boats in a U.S. government-sponsored expedition. (Public domain photo)

Alaska Science Forum: Across Alaska in one summer

Rotten moose meat unlikely to supplant birthday cake.

Henry Allen a few decades after he — as a 26-year-old — crossed Alaska on foot and by boats in a U.S. government-sponsored expedition. (Public domain photo)
A brown bear sleeps after taking a break from grazing on spring vegetation. (Courtesy Photo / Bjorn Dihle)

Pride of Bristol Bay: The brown bears of Bristol Bay and Alaska Peninsula

Bristol Bay and Alaska Peninsula makes up about one third of Alaska’s entire brown bear population.

A brown bear sleeps after taking a break from grazing on spring vegetation. (Courtesy Photo / Bjorn Dihle)
Southeast Alaska experiences heavy rainfall and  95% of our electricity is generated by clean hydropower. (Courtesy Photo / Bethany S Goodrich)
Southeast Alaska experiences heavy rainfall and  95% of our electricity is generated by clean hydropower. (Courtesy Photo / Bethany S Goodrich)
Left of knife: removing and chopping only needles, leaving the center stem. Right of knife: chopping the whole spruce tip including the stem. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: Spruce tips for all seasons

If you have a few bags of spruce tips in the freezer, now is the time to use them.

Left of knife: removing and chopping only needles, leaving the center stem. Right of knife: chopping the whole spruce tip including the stem. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Blueberry flowers bloom in some sites in early March (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Waiting for spring

Critters and plants are getting ready for spring

Blueberry flowers bloom in some sites in early March (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
Chignik Lake is the first of two lakes in the Chignik River system; it is longer and deeper than the second lake, Black Lake, which is wide and shallow. (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

The Salmon State: A tale of two salmon

Chignik has two genetically distinct runs of sockey

Chignik Lake is the first of two lakes in the Chignik River system; it is longer and deeper than the second lake, Black Lake, which is wide and shallow. (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
JDHS’ Trinity Jackson (12), a senior, dribbles while defended by KHS’ Paige Boehlert (3), a senior, during the Region V 4A championship game. Ketchikan High School won the tournament, securing an automatic berth in the state tournament. Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé will find out Sunday if they will be heading to state, too. (Courtesy Photo / Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Reflections of a former coach

Basketball can teach you a lot about life. But the key word is can.

JDHS’ Trinity Jackson (12), a senior, dribbles while defended by KHS’ Paige Boehlert (3), a senior, during the Region V 4A championship game. Ketchikan High School won the tournament, securing an automatic berth in the state tournament. Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé will find out Sunday if they will be heading to state, too. (Courtesy Photo / Jeff Lund)
A hawk owl surveys the ground around its perch; note the white patches on the side of the head and the facial disc. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Eagle-eyed birders spot a hawk owl

Owl’s well on the trails.

A hawk owl surveys the ground around its perch; note the white patches on the side of the head and the facial disc. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
This photo shows a least and crested auklet on Kasatochi Volcano in 2012 (Gary S Drew / United States Geological Survey)

On the Trails: Birds’ sense of smell

Old myth doesn’t pass the sniff test.

This photo shows a least and crested auklet on Kasatochi Volcano in 2012 (Gary S Drew / United States Geological Survey)
"My most beloved childhood memories are of my grandmother—the taste of her cooking; the sight of her coming home from her job at the bakery down the street; the songs she loved—Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “Old Rugged Cross” was one of her favorites and is still one of mine," writes Jane Hale. (Courtesy Photo)

Coming Out: My grandmother Agnes

It pleases me to think that maybe I’m growing into her loveliness.

"My most beloved childhood memories are of my grandmother—the taste of her cooking; the sight of her coming home from her job at the bakery down the street; the songs she loved—Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “Old Rugged Cross” was one of her favorites and is still one of mine," writes Jane Hale. (Courtesy Photo)
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Alaska Science Forum: Dave Covey made the world a calmer place

He left us last week — a quiet exit that was totally Dave.

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Lora Vess is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Department Chair of Social Sciences at the University of Alaska Southeast. (Courtesy Photo)

Sustainable Alaska: Recent events serve as reminders of nuclear energy risks

Nuclear power is not the panacea for climate change.

Lora Vess is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Department Chair of Social Sciences at the University of Alaska Southeast. (Courtesy Photo)
I really want a tent with a stove. But by not buying one, I can afford a caribou hunt in the Brooks Range. Luckily, my buddy who owns a tent with a stove is bringing his. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Wants vs. needs

I started to see the value of the middle ground.

I really want a tent with a stove. But by not buying one, I can afford a caribou hunt in the Brooks Range. Luckily, my buddy who owns a tent with a stove is bringing his. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
An olive-sided flycatcher perches atop a tree in Alaska. (Courtesy Photo / Sara Germain, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Alaska Science Forum: Bird havens on a trans-continental journey

Right about now, songbirds in Brazil are shifting on their perches…

An olive-sided flycatcher perches atop a tree in Alaska. (Courtesy Photo / Sara Germain, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)