Alaska Outdoors

Nolin Ainsworth sights down an Ishapore 2A1 rifle at the Hank Harmon Rifle Range, Dec. 1, 2019. The range will be closed Monday and Tuesday as the brush around the perimeter is cleared by the COVID-19 Conservation Corps. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire)

Rifle range closing Monday and Tuesday for maintenance

It’s been some time since the hedges were trimmed.

Nolin Ainsworth sights down an Ishapore 2A1 rifle at the Hank Harmon Rifle Range, Dec. 1, 2019. The range will be closed Monday and Tuesday as the brush around the perimeter is cleared by the COVID-19 Conservation Corps. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire)
Proof of the past: These rock formations offer evidence of an ice-free Alaska

Proof of the past: These rock formations offer evidence of an ice-free Alaska

It’s hard to believe Alaska’s cold heart was grassland when Manhattan and Chicago were under blue ice.

Proof of the past: These rock formations offer evidence of an ice-free Alaska
Twice-told tales — Juneau style

Twice-told tales — Juneau style

This essay brings together a few of the special stories from our little expeditions over the years.

Twice-told tales — Juneau style
Bald eagle rescued on Fourth of July

Bald eagle rescued on Fourth of July

Injured but conscious, the raptor will get treatment in Sitka.

Bald eagle rescued on Fourth of July
Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska

Reader-submitted photos.

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska
Courtesy Photo | Kerry Howard Chocolate lilies smells fetid (unlike most flowers) and is pollinated by flies.
Video

Solstice and more

Sights are worth braving some broken or missing boards

Courtesy Photo | Kerry Howard Chocolate lilies smells fetid (unlike most flowers) and is pollinated by flies.
Video
Courtesy Photo | Kyle Joly Caribou cross the Kobuk River in northwestern Alaska.

Meet Alaska’s long-distance champions

They log thousands of miles each year.

Courtesy Photo | Kyle Joly Caribou cross the Kobuk River in northwestern Alaska.
This July 2019 photo provided by Peter Westley shows the carcass of a chum salmon along the shore of the Koyukuk River near Huslia, Alaska, July 2019 was the hottest month ever recorded in the state. Global warming looks like it will be a far bigger problem for the world’s fish species than scientists first thought, since a study led by Dr. Flemming Dahlke released on Thursday, July 2, 2020 shows that when fish are spawning or are embryos they are far more vulnerable to hotter water. (Peter Westley | University of Alaska Fairbanks)

Fish more vulnerable to warming water than first thought

Study shows that when fish are spawning or are embryos they are more vulnerable to hotter water.

This July 2019 photo provided by Peter Westley shows the carcass of a chum salmon along the shore of the Koyukuk River near Huslia, Alaska, July 2019 was the hottest month ever recorded in the state. Global warming looks like it will be a far bigger problem for the world’s fish species than scientists first thought, since a study led by Dr. Flemming Dahlke released on Thursday, July 2, 2020 shows that when fish are spawning or are embryos they are far more vulnerable to hotter water. (Peter Westley | University of Alaska Fairbanks)
Rare documentation of when Jeff Lund remembered his headlamp. (Jeff Lund | For the Juneau Empire)

10,000 hours doesn’t always make for an expert

Malcolm Gladwell must’ve been talking about someone else.

Rare documentation of when Jeff Lund remembered his headlamp. (Jeff Lund | For the Juneau Empire)
This March 25, 2020, file photo shows a small load of pollack being sorted as it comes off a boat at the Portland Fish Exchange in Portland, Maine. The amount of commercial fishing taking place worldwide has dipped since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, but scientists and conservation experts say it’s unclear if the slowdown will help jeopardized species of sea life to recover. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Worldwide slowdown in fishing unlikely to save rare species

Commercial fishing taking place worldwide has dipped since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

This March 25, 2020, file photo shows a small load of pollack being sorted as it comes off a boat at the Portland Fish Exchange in Portland, Maine. The amount of commercial fishing taking place worldwide has dipped since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, but scientists and conservation experts say it’s unclear if the slowdown will help jeopardized species of sea life to recover. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
This harbor seal pup from Juneau is one of six to be admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. (Courtesy Photo | SeaLife Center)

Juneau pup 1 of 6 admitted to SeaLife Center

Seal team six.

This harbor seal pup from Juneau is one of six to be admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. (Courtesy Photo | SeaLife Center)
Water droplets sit on a blade of grass following a rainy period in Interior Alaska. (Courtesy Photo | Ned Rozell)

Rain falls, as it always has

Rain is, after all, the free distribution of a substance more valuable than gold.

Water droplets sit on a blade of grass following a rainy period in Interior Alaska. (Courtesy Photo | Ned Rozell)
Triston Chaney and his brother sit aboard their grandpa’s gill-netter in Bristol Bay. (Courtesy Photo | Triston Chaney)

An interview with a lifelong fisherman

“When the salmon are running, we can catch all we want pretty quickly.”

Triston Chaney and his brother sit aboard their grandpa’s gill-netter in Bristol Bay. (Courtesy Photo | Triston Chaney)
A moose with no name: Contest to be held for new fire-prevention mascot

A moose with no name: Contest to be held for new fire-prevention mascot

Move over, Smokey. Division of Forestry seeks name for mascot.

A moose with no name: Contest to be held for new fire-prevention mascot
Mallards stand near the pond at Rotary Park, June 21, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)

Fun at home — Looking out the windows

Busy birds and bears.

Mallards stand near the pond at Rotary Park, June 21, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)
Sunrise over South Fairbanks came at 3:10 a.m. on a recent June morning. (Courtesy Photo | Ned Rozell)

Here’s what happens when a world traveler visits South Fairbanks

The sun rose with the color of an orange Creamsicle.

Sunrise over South Fairbanks came at 3:10 a.m. on a recent June morning. (Courtesy Photo | Ned Rozell)
Long-distance, seasonal migrations are part of the animal world

Long-distance, seasonal migrations are part of the animal world

Oh, the places they go.

Long-distance, seasonal migrations are part of the animal world
Permafrost specialist Tom Douglas pauses on the ice of a Fairbanks creek that shows recent bank erosion, probably due to the thawing of soil that had been frozen for many years. (Courtesy Photo | Ned Rozell)

Of moose and men: How did a moose get into permafrost?

A moose story.

Permafrost specialist Tom Douglas pauses on the ice of a Fairbanks creek that shows recent bank erosion, probably due to the thawing of soil that had been frozen for many years. (Courtesy Photo | Ned Rozell)
With age comes an appreciation for brakes

With age comes an appreciation for brakes

While I agree with the “send it” ethos, I don’t want to send myself into unconsciousness.

With age comes an appreciation for brakes
More than meets the (human) eye

More than meets the (human) eye

We can’t see all the ways flowers communicate with pollinators.

More than meets the (human) eye