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A view of Cropley Lake, from one of the streams feeding into it, on Sunday, June 24, 2018. (Gabe Donohoe | For the Juneau Empire)

Neighbors

Photos: Hiking to Cropley Lake

This past weekend, my friend Zach Gianotti was back in town for a summer visit, which means I…

Naval M.D. Mark Lund (the author’s brother) with his first king salmon in almost a decade.

Neighbors

Seasonal overload

I’ve never been in one of those phone booths with the $100 bills flying around, but summer time…

A starfish on a recent low tide. (Kerry Howard | Courtesy Photo)

Neighbors

Low-tide explorations

June brought some good low tides, lower than minus four feet, so out we went to look at…

Frozen ground underlying the North Slope of Alaska is warming; much of it may thaw by the end of the century. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Neighbors

Warming in the north continues as predicted

Just outside my window here at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, workers are drilling into the asphalt of…

Neighbors

The 2018 guide to lesser known tours

Dear Intrepid Visitors and Curious-Minded Locals, After years of researching Southeast Alaska’s tourism industry, it’s my great pleasure…

Frozen ground underlying the North Slope of Alaska is warming; much of it may thaw by the end of the century. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Neighbors

Warming in the north continues as predicted

Just outside my window here at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, workers are drilling into the asphalt of…

Coho salmon and Arctic char aggregate while feeding on sockeye salmon eggs. While coho derive much of their summer growth from invertebrates, char may rely entirely on sockeye salmon eggs, fry and smolt. (Courtesy Photo | Jonny Armstrong)

Neighbors

The impossible journey of the juvenile coho

Turns out finance and salmon survival have something in common: the importance of diversification. As a Ph.D. student…

A char moves into Sam Creek along with hundreds of sockeye salmon. The char is skinny now, but will get fat gorging on salmon eggs. (Courtesy Photo | Jonny Armstrong)

Neighbors

The impossible journey of the juvenile coho

Turns out finance and salmon survival have something in common: the importance of diversification.

Three intrepid adventurers exploring an ice cave on Mendenhall Glacier in 2012.

Neighbors

The 2018 guide to lesser known tours

Dear Intrepid Visitors and Curious-Minded Locals,

A starfish on a recent low tide. (Kerry Howard | Courtesy Photo)

Neighbors

Low-tide explorations

June brought some good low tides, lower than minus four feet.

A bear on Admiralty Island sizes up the author last year. (Photo by Bjorn Dihle)

Neighbors

Reflections of a Predator

The morning before I began a trek across Chichagof Island, I was so nervy I vomited. I came…

Shallow water rushes by as we cross the creek. (Photo by Gabe Donohoe)

Neighbors

Fish Creek wading

Last Monday, my friends Ian and Claire joined me on a mellow meander through the forest, out Fish…

A bear on Admiralty Island sizes up the author last year. (Photo by Bjorn Dihle)

Neighbors

Reflections of a Predator

The bears in my head are much scarier.

Shallow water rushes by as we cross the creek. (Photo by Gabe Donohoe)

Neighbors

Fish Creek wading

I have a memory of shallow water rushing over my feet.

Neighbors

Hiking Sheep Creek Valley

In early June, Parks &Rec hikers went up the Sheep Creek trail on a day of fitful rain…

A female Swainson’s thrush carries nesting material. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

Neighbors

Hiking Sheep Creek Valley

The valley is rich in nesting, singing songbirds.

Photo by Jos Bakker

Neighbors

Are dandelions taking over the country?

Their cheery, bright yellow flower heads adorn the roadsides in late spring, before the compulsive mowing machines decapitate…

Photo by Jos Bakker

Neighbors

Are dandelions taking over the country?

Their cheery, bright yellow flower heads adorn the roadsides in late spring, before the compulsive mowing machines decapitate…

Mark Hieronymus poses with a steelhead caught in 2014 on a Southeast Alaskan river. (Photo by Tyson Fick)

Neighbors

Hunting for fish in Alaska’s steelhead-bearing rivers and streams

For most people, steelhead — sea-run rainbow trout — are “the fish of 10,000 casts.” To catch them,…

All steam ahead with huge packs and sleds. (Gabe Donohoe | For the Juneau Empire)

Neighbors

Traversing the Juneau Icefield

The University of Alaska Southeast Outdoor Studies Program has a yearly leadership capstone trip to compile all of…