Alaska Outdoors

Forest Service contracting workshops

The U.S. Forest service is offering free government contracting workshops in Juneau and Ketchikan for tribal governments and small businesses interested in contract work with… Continue reading

Bristol Bay sockeye output blows last season out of water

For the third season in a row, the world’s largest sockeye salmon run featured above-average numbers, a late run, and sub-average prices for the fishermen.… Continue reading

Sam Herreid bikes his way from the Richardson Highway to Canwell Glacier in the eastern Alaska Range.

Alaska Science Forum: Living on a glacier, thinking about rocks

This summer, Sam Herreid has slept for 12 nights on these rocks that ride slowly downhill on a mass of ice. For a few days… Continue reading

Sam Herreid bikes his way from the Richardson Highway to Canwell Glacier in the eastern Alaska Range.
A water strider has pierced this damselfly behind the head in order to suck out the body fluids of the prey.

Off the Trails: Muskeg ponds

Many of our muskegs are dotted with small ponds that are wonderful microcosms; I like to prowl around them, just to see what is going… Continue reading

A water strider has pierced this damselfly behind the head in order to suck out the body fluids of the prey.
Not what you want to see in your garden, slugs and slug eggs.

Dirt Girl: Drawing up defenses against next year’s slugs

When my daughter was little, I created the question game. Basically, it’s an either or game. Would you rather eat ice cream or cake? Go… Continue reading

Not what you want to see in your garden, slugs and slug eggs.
Off the Beaten Path: A bear's last feast

Off the Beaten Path: A bear’s last feast

A very large Admiralty Island brown bear, its bloated belly hanging low, waded down Pack Creek pouncing on the last of the year’s salmon. It… Continue reading

Off the Beaten Path: A bear's last feast
Auke Rec on a moody day.

Wild Shots

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

Auke Rec on a moody day.
A female darner dragonfly lays her eggs at the edge of a pond.

Off the Trails: Hither and yon

One sunny day in late August, a friend and I headed up to the meadows at the base of Mount Jumbo, just above the Treadwell… Continue reading

A female darner dragonfly lays her eggs at the edge of a pond.
A woolly bear caterpillar with dark spots on the back, a color form not common in Juneau.

Off the Trails: Getting to know woolly bears

In late August and early September, Juneau folks frequently remarked on the numbers of fuzzy, orange and black caterpillars in their gardens or crawling over… Continue reading

A woolly bear caterpillar with dark spots on the back, a color form not common in Juneau.

Alaska Science Forum: Rabies endures with help of the arctic fox

Rabies is a death sentence for any animal. Experts have wondered how a virus survives when it kills all the creatures it infects.“We don’t have… Continue reading

Gustavus moose hunt meeting is Sept. 14

Alaska Department of Fish and Game will hold an informational meeting for the upcoming Gustavus moose hunt (RM049) at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14 at… Continue reading

Parsnips are shown growing in the author's garden.

Dirt Girl: Know when to harvest root vegetables

Back when I had a small garden, I didn’t need to worry too much about the end of the season. By the time the temperatures… Continue reading

Parsnips are shown growing in the author's garden.
Bore tide heading up Gastineau Channel.

Wild Shots

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

Bore tide heading up Gastineau Channel.
Chris Mertl, a landscape architect for Corvus Design, fields questions at a planning meeting for the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area on Wednesday.

Community takes lead in glacier area upgrades

In retooling 6,000 acres of prized recreation area surrounding the Mendenhall Glacier, the U.S. Forest Service is taking a fresh approach: letting the community lead… Continue reading

Chris Mertl, a landscape architect for Corvus Design, fields questions at a planning meeting for the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area on Wednesday.
A slime mold aggregation has climbed up the seed stalk of a plantain.

Off the Trails: Curious naturalists

Some friends and I find it endlessly entertaining to take a walk and just see what we can see. Sometimes our curiosity raises more questions… Continue reading

A slime mold aggregation has climbed up the seed stalk of a plantain.
A tick on an Alaskan who traveled to upstate New York.

Alaska Science Forum: Exotic ticks found on Alaska dogs, Alaskans

While Alaskans have long endured dense mosquitoes and frigid air, we’ve always had the absence of venomous snakes and dog ticks.But the latter may be… Continue reading

A tick on an Alaskan who traveled to upstate New York.

Obama visits far-flung Midway Atoll

HONOLULU — Halfway between East and West, President Barack Obama traveled Thursday to one of the most remote corners of the ocean — Midway Atoll… Continue reading

FILE--In this Aug. 21, 2016 file photo, dead whitefish float in the Yellowstone River near Emigrant, Mont. Montana re-opened portions of the Yellowstone River Thursday, Sept. 1, but is keeping a popular stretch closed due to a fish-killing parasite. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, file)

Portions of Yellowstone River, some tributaries open following parasite infection

BILLINGS, Mont. — Montana re-opened portions of the Yellowstone River and some tributaries Thursday but is keeping a popular stretch closed to all recreational activity… Continue reading

FILE--In this Aug. 21, 2016 file photo, dead whitefish float in the Yellowstone River near Emigrant, Mont. Montana re-opened portions of the Yellowstone River Thursday, Sept. 1, but is keeping a popular stretch closed due to a fish-killing parasite. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, file)

Hawaii dodges Madeline, prepares for second storm

HILO, Hawaii — A tropical storm left parts of Hawaii’s Big Island soggy but intact Thursday as residents of the island state prepare for a… Continue reading

Jessa Solis, a crew member for the non-profit organization Rocky Mountain Conservancy, and others strip bark from a naturally-downed tree while working to repair a trail destroyed in a major flood a few years earlier, inside Rocky Mountain National Park, near Estes Park, Colo., on Aug. 4, 2016. Rocky Mountain Conservancy works for the U.S. Park Service, running crews who do whatever work is needed. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

National Park Service celebrates 100 years, seeks minorities’ support

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. — When Asha Jones and other Grand Canyon interns arrived for their summer at the national park, they were struck… Continue reading

Jessa Solis, a crew member for the non-profit organization Rocky Mountain Conservancy, and others strip bark from a naturally-downed tree while working to repair a trail destroyed in a major flood a few years earlier, inside Rocky Mountain National Park, near Estes Park, Colo., on Aug. 4, 2016. Rocky Mountain Conservancy works for the U.S. Park Service, running crews who do whatever work is needed. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)