Alaska Outdoors

Leggy oak leaf lettuce.

Dirt Girl: Starting starts

My neighbor greeted me the other day with a question: “Do you have any plants started?” I shrugged my shoulders to answer her obvious question.… Continue reading

Leggy oak leaf lettuce.

Sex and the sea

Marine invertebrates exhibit a dazzling array of interesting ways of sexual reproduction, some of which is shown here.Thanks to Aaron Baldwin (Alaska Department of Fish… Continue reading

The early robin gets the worm in Evergreen Cemetery.

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

The early robin gets the worm in Evergreen Cemetery.
Pictured is an intertidal margerite snail with its eggs, all encased in a jelly-like coat.

On the Trails: Odds and ends

Here are a few recent observations from late February and early March, plus a very cool thing I’ve only read about. So here goes ...As… Continue reading

Pictured is an intertidal margerite snail with its eggs, all encased in a jelly-like coat.

In Sitka, predators arrive but herring don’t

SITKA — State Fish and Game biologists saw plenty of predators but no herring Friday in an aerial survey of Sitka Sound.“No herring or herring… Continue reading

A mountain stream both Nick Rutecki and Logan Miller swam in while hiking the Appalachian Trail. (Photo by Logan Miller)

Walkers in the woods

Editor’s note: This is part one of a continuing series about Logan Miller and Nick Rutecki, both of Juneau, as they hike the United States.… Continue reading

A mountain stream both Nick Rutecki and Logan Miller swam in while hiking the Appalachian Trail. (Photo by Logan Miller)
NASA's Terra satellite captured this image of the Yukon River flood from 443 miles overhead on May 28, 2013. Image courtesy of NASA.

Alaska Science Forum: Broken ice causes the worst spring breakup floods

For half the year, Alaska’s big rivers provide a somewhat flat surface, allowing travel by snowmachine, dog team, ski, bike, snowshoe and foot. For a… Continue reading

NASA's Terra satellite captured this image of the Yukon River flood from 443 miles overhead on May 28, 2013. Image courtesy of NASA.

Saddle Lakes Project record of decision signed

The record of cecision for the Saddle Lakes Project on the Ketchikan-Misty Fiords Ranger District was signed March 14. This decision authorizes a right-of-way, about… Continue reading

Juneau Public Libraries and Goldtown Theater participate in Science on Screen

The Juneau Public Libraries and the Goldtown Nickelodeon Theater will take part in the second annual National Evening of Science on Screen on Tuesday, March… Continue reading

Raincountry Flyfishers meeting

Raincountry Flyfishers will hold a “Tie & Lie” get together in the Thunder Mountain High School library at 7p.m. March 23. Those in attendance will… Continue reading

The difference between state and federal waterfowl stamps

The Division of Wildlife Conservation in a news release reminded Alaskans that the federal amendments made last year to the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation… Continue reading

Forest Service extends comment period for project plan

The Tongass National Forest is extending the comment period to give the public additional time to comment on new outfitter and guide allocations. The Tongass… Continue reading

Fish Factor: Permits plummet, halibut prices soar

Fire sale salmon prices last year and a dim outlook for the upcoming season have caused the value of Alaska fishing permits to plummet.To another… Continue reading

A grizzly eyes the author from the banks of a river. Photo by Bjorn Dihle

Off the Beaten Path: The Grizzly and the Summit

I used to want to be a bonafide mountain climber—you know, the type that hangs off cliffs, smokes hand-rolled cigarettes and utters cryptic wisdom so… Continue reading

A grizzly eyes the author from the banks of a river. Photo by Bjorn Dihle

Alaska Science Forum: Coyotes are everywhere, even in Alaska

Last Friday, an email popped up in all the mailboxes of people with the Geophysical Institute: Someone saw what might have been a wolf on… Continue reading

On the Trails: Light from life

Bioluminescence is the production of light by living organisms. This light is the result of a chemical interaction between certain kinds of molecules (called luciferins… Continue reading

You can always find somewhere to garden - even when you don't live on land. (Photo by Corinne Conlon)

Dirt Girl: Finding land – even when you don’t live there

Recently, I ran into someone who told me she’d read one of my articles on gardening — but she was confused. Her husband had told… Continue reading

You can always find somewhere to garden - even when you don't live on land. (Photo by Corinne Conlon)

New Shooter Orientation

The Juneau Gun Club has started a monthly orientation for new shooters. Attendees will learn how to shoot a shotgun, trap shooting and rules, and… Continue reading

Planetarium to present ‘The night sky’

The Marie Drake Planetarium will on Monday, March 14 present “The Night Sky Tonight,” covering current astronomical events including the recent detection of gravitational waves.… Continue reading

UA Foundation awards migratory bird research grant

The University of Alaska Foundation announced March 4 that Danielle Gerik, a graduate student in fisheries and ocean sciences at the University of Alaska Fairbanks,… Continue reading