Alaska Outdoors

A pair of Long-tailed Ducks, Statter Harbor, Auke Bay, Southeast Alaska. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska

Reader-submitted photos of Southeast Alaska.

A pair of Long-tailed Ducks, Statter Harbor, Auke Bay, Southeast Alaska. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)
Todd Sformo looks for overwintering insects in the forest near Chena Hot Springs. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Hardy gnats survive winter half frozen

As sometimes happens in science, a chance decision led to a discovery.

Todd Sformo looks for overwintering insects in the forest near Chena Hot Springs. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Glacial retreat will create thousands of miles of new salmon habitat by 2100 — which means, scientists say, that managers need to be thinking proactively about how to manage that land. Pictured is a king salmon on a Southeast Alaska shore. (Mary Catharine Martin / SalmonState)

The Salmon State: Glacier retreat means new habitat — and challenges — for wild salmon

Alaska is about to get thousands of miles of new salmon habitat….

Glacial retreat will create thousands of miles of new salmon habitat by 2100 — which means, scientists say, that managers need to be thinking proactively about how to manage that land. Pictured is a king salmon on a Southeast Alaska shore. (Mary Catharine Martin / SalmonState)
Moving to the other side of town has provided new views for the author on morning walks. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Home is where the baleen is

It seems like a real, authentic Southeast home needs to be centered around a good piece of baleen.

Moving to the other side of town has provided new views for the author on morning walks. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Eaglecrest Ski Area is seeking to purchase a gondola system from an Austrian ski area to expand their summer operations. (Screenshot)

Eaglecrest seeks $2M to acquire new gondola for ski area

It would allow Eaglecrest to drastically expand summer operations and tourism opportunities, the GM said.

Eaglecrest Ski Area is seeking to purchase a gondola system from an Austrian ski area to expand their summer operations. (Screenshot)
(Courtesy Photo / K.M.Hocker)

On the Trails: Twisted pines and many questions

The twists and turns of a curious mind.

(Courtesy Photo / K.M.Hocker)
This photo shows a long-tailed duck. Lucky birders around Auke Bay might spot these birds during the upcoming Great Backyard Bird Count. Nine were counted on Juneau’s Christmas Bird Count. (Courtesy Photo / Gwen Baluss)

Audubon Society invites you to participate in Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count is fast approaching, Juneau Audubon Society announced.

This photo shows a long-tailed duck. Lucky birders around Auke Bay might spot these birds during the upcoming Great Backyard Bird Count. Nine were counted on Juneau’s Christmas Bird Count. (Courtesy Photo / Gwen Baluss)
John Gaedeke’s lodge overlooks Iniakuk Lake in the Brooks Range, where his permafrost-stabilized beers and sodas do not freeze. (Courtesy Photo / John Gaedeke)

Alaska Science Forum: Ninety below zero and the unfrozen beer

“How the heck is that possible?”

John Gaedeke’s lodge overlooks Iniakuk Lake in the Brooks Range, where his permafrost-stabilized beers and sodas do not freeze. (Courtesy Photo / John Gaedeke)
Charmaine Robinson is an assistant professor of science at the University of Alaska Southeast and lives in Ketchikan. (Courtesy Photo)

Sustainable Alaska: Cultivating a sustainable mind

We need to cultivate a sense of calm by reducing stress and fear in our lives.

Charmaine Robinson is an assistant professor of science at the University of Alaska Southeast and lives in Ketchikan. (Courtesy Photo)
An American coot spent time in Auke Bay this winter, farther north than usual. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On the Trails: Three winter surprises

Regular bird-watchers spotted an unusual bird in Auke Bay this winter…

An American coot spent time in Auke Bay this winter, farther north than usual. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)
Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire Ketchikan resident Larry Jackson trolls near town in his charter boat Alaskan.

I Went to the Woods: Why teachers should read more books about entrepreneurship

It’s no surprise that I have students who want a career outside.

Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire Ketchikan resident Larry Jackson trolls near town in his charter boat Alaskan.
A bull caribou from the Fortymile herd as seen from a camera around the neck of a female caribou. Still image from a nine-second video the collar captured during a study of the herd using cameras that dropped to the ground in autumn. I(Courtesy Image /Libby Ehlers)
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Alaska Science Forum: Secret lives of caribou caught on camera

Cams gave biologists who teamed up from several agencies a new look at the Fortymile herd.

A bull caribou from the Fortymile herd as seen from a camera around the neck of a female caribou. Still image from a nine-second video the collar captured during a study of the herd using cameras that dropped to the ground in autumn. I(Courtesy Image /Libby Ehlers)
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This photo available under a Creative Commons license shows a hooded pitohui (Pitohui dichrous) YUS Conservation area on the Huon Peninsula, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. (Courtesy Photo / Wikimedia)

On the Trails: Toxic birds and bugs

These chemical compounds are often derived from plants

This photo available under a Creative Commons license shows a hooded pitohui (Pitohui dichrous) YUS Conservation area on the Huon Peninsula, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. (Courtesy Photo / Wikimedia)
At a permafrost monitoring site northwest of Barrow years ago were researchers Max Brewer, Jerry Brown and Vladimir Romanovsky. (Courtesy Photo / Kenji Yoshikawa)

Alaska Science Forum: 30 years on semi-solid ground

People no longer squint at him with a puzzled look when he mentions what he studies.

At a permafrost monitoring site northwest of Barrow years ago were researchers Max Brewer, Jerry Brown and Vladimir Romanovsky. (Courtesy Photo / Kenji Yoshikawa)
Killdeer chicks have just one black breast band at first, but soon get the characteristic two bands.(Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
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On the Tails: Shorebirds in winter

Sightings are no “shore” thing.

Killdeer chicks have just one black breast band at first, but soon get the characteristic two bands.(Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
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Alaska Science Forum: Fun with ice physics in the cryosphere

Here’s why some found recent winter weather fascinating.

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Wayne Carnes prepares to begin his volunteer grooming run at Pioneer Road on Jan. 18. Carnes is a volunteer with the Juneau Nordic Ski Club. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Volunteers make winter cool for local skiers

Juneau Nordic Ski Club offers fun and learning

Wayne Carnes prepares to begin his volunteer grooming run at Pioneer Road on Jan. 18. Carnes is a volunteer with the Juneau Nordic Ski Club. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
The author bought his bike in Wyoming this summer. It didn't come with fenders because Wyoming doesn't have water. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Fending off the cold

While biking, cool air turns cold, and cold air turns bitter.

The author bought his bike in Wyoming this summer. It didn't come with fenders because Wyoming doesn't have water. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
A gull looks for dislodged food in the surf. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Surf, bird food and paralytic shellfish poisoning

Surf’s up!

A gull looks for dislodged food in the surf. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
This photo shows a glacier bear walking along rocky terrain. There are four known populations of black bears in Southeast Alaska that include the lighter-colored bears, said Tania Lewis, a wildlife biologist for the National Park Service at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. (Courtesy Photo / Tom Hausler)

Recessive genes and receding glaciers: Lecture focuses on Southeast’s blue bears

Biologist shares insights about glacier bears.

This photo shows a glacier bear walking along rocky terrain. There are four known populations of black bears in Southeast Alaska that include the lighter-colored bears, said Tania Lewis, a wildlife biologist for the National Park Service at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. (Courtesy Photo / Tom Hausler)