Alaska Outdoors

Shari Paul and others at the shooting range. Photo by Linda Newman

Wild edibles and Becoming an Outdoors Woman

Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) celebrated 10 years in Southeast this year. The first event was up in Haines, followed by nine years at Echo… Continue reading

Shari Paul and others at the shooting range. Photo by Linda Newman
The old Meyers Chuck Post Office in its new location. Photo by Tara Neilson.

Archimedes in the Wilderness

The question was: how to move a building from point A to point B in the bush with only one or two men? In 2006… Continue reading

The old Meyers Chuck Post Office in its new location. Photo by Tara Neilson.
Sitka longliner and troller Jeff Farvour pulls a halibut aboard. Farvour supplies Alaskan’s Own with sustainably-caught seafood each summer. Photo by Jeff Farvour.

Sustainable, high-quality seafood delivered to Southeast Alaska

The 2017 summer season marks the seventh anniversary of Sitka-based Alaskans Own (AO), a Community Supported Fishery (CSF) that delivers sustainably-harvested fish to seafood lovers… Continue reading

Sitka longliner and troller Jeff Farvour pulls a halibut aboard. Farvour supplies Alaskan’s Own with sustainably-caught seafood each summer. Photo by Jeff Farvour.
One of a pod of orcas hunting porpoise near Bear Creek. (Photo by Scott Spickler)

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Southeast Alaska

Submit your wild shots: The Empire Outdoors page is looking for superb images of Alaska’s wildlife, scenery or plant life. Send your photos to: Outdoors… Continue reading

One of a pod of orcas hunting porpoise near Bear Creek. (Photo by Scott Spickler)
Cora the dog descends into Haggard Creek on the path of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.(Ned Rozell | For the Juneau Empire)

Gear has come a long way in 20 years

When I walked this same path 20 years ago, I averaged six miles each day. After a few weeks in 2017 of hiking the path… Continue reading

Cora the dog descends into Haggard Creek on the path of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.(Ned Rozell | For the Juneau Empire)
Signs of spring: asparagus and rhubarb. (Corinne Conlon | For the Juneau Empire)

It’s been a tough spring for gardening

I hope this isn’t your first gardening season here in Southeast. Our typical cold, wet season has gotten even shorter with an unusual string of… Continue reading

Signs of spring: asparagus and rhubarb. (Corinne Conlon | For the Juneau Empire)
Three eager chicks of the American dipper, in their covered nest, let their parent know that they are very hungry. (Courtesy Photo | Mary Willson)

How do loud baby animals not get eaten by predators?

Four baby juncos, in a nest tucked under a drooping clump of grass, lie low and are very quiet. Only when their parents come with… Continue reading

Three eager chicks of the American dipper, in their covered nest, let their parent know that they are very hungry. (Courtesy Photo | Mary Willson)

Bird stories

One day in late April, two friends and I scrambled up a steep stream-side slope to a perch on a cliff below a waterfall. We… Continue reading

Black bear: “I don’t think they can see me.” Spotted on May 17 at Pt. Bridget State Park. (Photo by Denise Carroll)

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Southeast Alaska

Reader-submitted images of Mother Nature in Southeast Submit your wild shots: The Empire Outdoors page is looking for superb images of Alaska’s wildlife, scenery or… Continue reading

Black bear: “I don’t think they can see me.” Spotted on May 17 at Pt. Bridget State Park. (Photo by Denise Carroll)

A window into the lives of brown bears

I first visited the Pack Creek Brown Bear Sanctuary on Admiralty Island seven years ago during a kayak trip. It was the third week of… Continue reading

The Moonrise Maple was chosen as the Maple of the Year by the International Maple Society. (Courtesy photo)

The Ancient Tradition of Planting Trees for Remembrance

Since the Civil War, Americans have shown our respect for fallen military by visiting cemeteries, caring for graves, and caring for trees growing in the… Continue reading

The Moonrise Maple was chosen as the Maple of the Year by the International Maple Society. (Courtesy photo)
A tree swallow at the Mendenhall Wetlands. (Photo by Kerry Howard)

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Southeast Alaska

Submit your wild shots: The Empire Outdoors page is looking for superb images of Alaska’s wildlife, scenery or plant life. Send your photos to: Outdoors… Continue reading

A tree swallow at the Mendenhall Wetlands. (Photo by Kerry Howard)
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Creating a self-sustaining food culture

Unlike most people who attended the Alaska Design Forum’s workshop, I hadn’t read any of Joel Salatin’s books. I barely knew his name. I was… Continue reading

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Roseroot clings to a rocky cliff near Bridget Point on May 13. (Courtesy Photo | John Hudson)

Talk among plants

As a young professional, I was interested in animals — how they make a living, how they raise offspring, how they behave. Plants were just… Continue reading

Roseroot clings to a rocky cliff near Bridget Point on May 13. (Courtesy Photo | John Hudson)

Alaska Forest Fund celebrates first year

With one year in the books, the Alaska Forest Fund (AFF) is throwing a party. The celebration will take place from 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, May… Continue reading

Twisted stalk, wild cucumber, or watermelon berry?

Twisted stalk, wild cucumber, or watermelon berry?

Streptopus amplexifolius has long been one of my favorite plants to munch. In the spring, I like to pick the curled leaves with their strong… Continue reading

Twisted stalk, wild cucumber, or watermelon berry?
A male sooty grouse hooting its courtship call. (Bjorn Dihle | For the Juneau Empire)

Spring’s Promise

Note to reader: A lot of hard work has gone into restoring and enhancing the Treadwell Ditch Trail. It's well kept for around 10 miles… Continue reading

A male sooty grouse hooting its courtship call. (Bjorn Dihle | For the Juneau Empire)
Dwarf Patio Peonies are bred for life in containers. (David Lendrum | For the Juneau Empire)

The big sale, a great day

Saturday morning, the day before Mothers Day, at Safeway’s parking lot on the day of the big plant sale, the excitement is palpable as volunteers… Continue reading

Dwarf Patio Peonies are bred for life in containers. (David Lendrum | For the Juneau Empire)
One of the trio of tiny bear cubs at the glacier, watching the world go by from the top of a cottonwood tree. (Photo by Kerry Howard)

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Southeast Alaska

Reader-submitted images of Mother Nature in Southeast Submit your wild shots: The Empire Outdoors page is looking for superb images of Alaska’s wildlife, scenery or… Continue reading

One of the trio of tiny bear cubs at the glacier, watching the world go by from the top of a cottonwood tree. (Photo by Kerry Howard)
Hairysnails are attached to tubeworms, which will start feeding when the tide covers them, and the snails can then steal prey from the worms. (Kerry Howard | For the Juneau Empire)

Intertidal discoveries include kleptoparasitism

On the next-to-the-lowest tide in late April, some friends and I explored the intertidal zone not far from town. We soon catalogued all the usual… Continue reading

Hairysnails are attached to tubeworms, which will start feeding when the tide covers them, and the snails can then steal prey from the worms. (Kerry Howard | For the Juneau Empire)