Outdoor Explorer - Alaska Public Media

Outdoor Explorer - Alaska Public Media

You're invited to step outside into Alaska. Follow us to a new trail or fishing hole, learn what to pack, when to go, and most importantly, how to stay safe. Learn about life-long fitness and get inspired to go outside in the backcountry or on the bike trails.

Episodes

Outdoor Explorer: Burning Man 2023

September 28, 2023 • 58 mins
Every year at the end of August in the Black Rock Desert of northwest Nevada, Black Rock City is built, and for about a week it becomes the third largest city in Nevada, with around 60,000 inhabitants. It is the host city for the annual event called Burning Man and it has all the amenities you’d expect to see in any other city of this size. It has with bars, restaurants, bike shops, clothing boutiques, auto mechanics and r...

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Outdoor Explorer: What makes an outdoor trip successful?

September 22, 2023 • 59 mins
What makes an outdoor expedition successful? Most trips in the outdoors, whether one day or two weeks, are enjoyable and fun, that's why Alaskans, even on wet summers like this one, flock to the outdoors. But some outings turn into epics and even tragedy. On this Outdoor Explorer host Paul Twardock talks about what makes a good expedition happen with retired Denali Mountaineering ranger Daryl Miller and current South Distr...

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Outdoor Explorer: Author Don Rearden on writing about Alaska

September 7, 2023 • 58 mins
Alaska author Don Rearden grew up in Southwest Alaska living and observing rural life. His books "Raven's Gift," a novel, and "Without A Paddle," a collection of poems, reflect his Alaska experiences and life. Don also co-authored books featuring two of Alaska's professional military rescuers. Don joins host Paul Twardock to discuss Alaska's culture, history and environment and how they influenced his writing.


HOST: Pau...

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Outdoor Explorer: Mountain biking Eagle River and the Mat-Su, the Alaska Mountain Bike Summit

August 25, 2023 • 58 mins
Biking single track trail on mountain bikes has become very popular in Southcentral Alaska. Trails have proliferated and more are planned. Long trails like the Alaska Traverse will help connect communities and increase non-motorized recreational opportunities. In the Matanuska Susitna Valley and Chugiak/Eagle River individuals and groups are busy building and maintaining trails. On this Outdoor Explorer host Paul

Twardock w...

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Outdoor Explorer: A field geologist's life with Joe Kurtak

August 17, 2023 • 58 mins
Joe Kurtak embodies a modern day Alaskan. He was raised at a remote mining camp in eastern California, went to college, then came to Alaska in 1971 for a summer job. He quickly fell for everything the Great Land had to offer, especially its geology. Joe worked for 40 years mapping Alaska's geology while working for both private firms and the federal government. Along the way he also pursued his love of skiing and sea kayak...

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Outdoor Explorer: Petra the Adventure Cat

August 10, 2023 • 58 mins
On the next Outdoor Explorer our guest is Nicole Chamberlain and the Meowtaineer, Petra the Adventure Cat. Petra is a Siberian Forest Cat, well-adapted to the cold, and Nicole has taken her on many adventures on the snow and the water. They recently spent time at the Sheldon House in Denali and Petra became the first cat to ski on the Ruth Glacier.


HOST: Lisa Keller


GUESTS:

Petra the Adventure Cat, meowtaineer

Nicole C...

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Wheels on Ice: Cycling in Alaska 1898-2021

August 7, 2023 • 58 mins
HOST: Paul Twardock


GUESTS:

Jessica Cherry, editor of "Wheels on Ice"

Andromeda Romano-Lax, author, contributor to "Wheels on Ice"


LINKS:

"Wheels on Ice"

More than a century of tales from the trails in ‘Wheels on Ice: Stories of Cycling in Alaska’


BROADCAST: Thursday, August 3rd, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT

REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, August 3rd, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT

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Outdoor Explorer: "Running While Black: Finding Freedom in a Sport That Wasn't Built for Us"

July 27, 2023 • 58 mins
On this Outdoor Explorer we're joined by Alison Mariella Dèsir, author of "Running While Black: Finding Freedom in a Sport That Wasn’t Built for Us." Her book unveils the running movement as being centered around and represented by White people, not only ignoring the foundational work and performances of Black distance runners but also not acknowledging that running while Black can be dangerous.


HOST: Lisa Keller


GUE...

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Movers and Shakers: Peg Tileston

July 20, 2023 • 58 mins
Many Alaskans have helped preserve the open spaces we enjoy. Their hard work, dedication and perseverance gave us our state parks, trails and environmental standards that we enjoy. This Outdoor Explorer features Peg Tileston. Peg has been active in organizations including the Alaska Center for the Environment (now called the Alaska Center), the Alaska Women’s Environmental Network, the Alaska Conservation Foundation, the A...

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Fireweed bike race returns this weekend

July 13, 2023 • 58 mins
The bike race formerly known as the Fireweed 400 is back. Now simply called “The Fireweed,” this 200-mile race makes its comeback this weekend taking riders from Sheep Mountain Lodge to Valdez! This week on Outdoor Explorer, we talk with president of the board of directors, Sara Wendling about all things race details and catch up with the a few members of the 1wheel1ders, a unicycle team that will be participating in this ...

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50 Years of Photography with Mark Kelley

June 1, 2023 • 58 mins
People come to Alaska for a variety of reasons. Award-winning photographer Mark Kelley came with the hopes of meeting a whale, and almost 50 years later, he’s still here. On this episode of Outdoor Explorer host Martha Rosenstein and Kelley talk about the challenges of photographing wildlife in Alaska, turning his passion into a career and what it’s like to return to a special spot year after year to observe and photograph...

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The Wanderer: An Alaska Wolf’s Final Journey

May 25, 2023 • 58 mins
On the this Outdoor Explorer, host Lisa Keller is joined by Tom Walker, author of the book "The Wanderer." In less than 6 months, Wolf 258 traversed almost 3000 miles in Alaska and Canada. His amazing journey, documented through his GPS tracking collar, is the subject of a story that mixes what we know about his movement with speculation on what he was doing during his travels.


HOST: Lisa Keller


GUEST: Tom Walker, au...

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Chugach Front Linkup 2023: New Peak, New Record

May 18, 2023 • 58 mins
In March, Ben Americus accomplished many firsts on the Linkup: the first late winter completion, the first to ski off the peaks and the first to complete the Linkup since Ptarmigan Peak was added as the 13th summit over 5000 feet. This week on Outdoor Explorer Ben joins host Lisa Keller to talk about how he added his name to Chugach Front Linkup history.


HOST: Lisa Keller


GUEST: Ben Americus


LINKS:

Chugach Front Li...

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Search and Rescue in Southcentral Alaska

May 11, 2023 • 58 mins
Summer in Alaska brings a plethora of outdoor adventure opportunities. Boating, hiking, climbing, fishing, wildlife viewing, fishing, and hunting ramp up and so do the calls for help. Southcentral Alaska is fortunate to have good search and rescue capabilities compared to most of the country. However much of it is provided by volunteer organizations. This Outdoor Explorer has representatives from the Alaska Mountain Rescue...

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A Tongass Odyssey: John Schoen

May 4, 2023 • 58 mins
What was it like to be a field scientist in Alaska during the 1970s and 80's? John Schoen spent 20 years working for Alaska's Department of Fish and Game as a scientist studying Sitka black-tailed deer, mountain goats and brown bears in the Tongass National Forest. John's research influenced the prevailing thoughts on the effects of clearcutting on deer habitat, and added to our understanding of Brown Bears importance to t...

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Breaking Trail: Arlene Blum

April 27, 2023 • 58 mins
HOST: Paul Twardock


GUESTS:

Arlene Blum, mountaineer, scientist

Pam Miller, Alaska Community Action on Toxics

LINKS:

Arlene Blum website

Alaska Community Action on Toxics

Green Science Policy Institute

BROADCAST: Thursday, April 27th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT

REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, April 27th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT

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Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

April 20, 2023 • 58 mins
HOST: Lisa Keller


GUEST: Harlow Robinson, executive director of Healthy Futures and the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

LINKS:

Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

Healthy Futures 100 Miles in May

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Eating Disorders and Exercise Addiction

April 13, 2023 • 58 mins
HOST: Lisa Keller


GUEST: Holly Brooks, two-time Olympian and licensed professional counselor


LINKS:

Holly Brooks’ website

Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance with link to “Winning at All Costs: Breaking the Silience on Athletes and Eating

Disorders”

Project Red-S

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Building Trails and Parks: The Importance of Landscape Architecture

April 13, 2023 • 58 mins
HOST: Lisa Keller

GUESTS:

Steve Cleary, Executive Director of Alaska Trails

Donnie Hayes, Director of Parks and Recreation for the Fairbanks North Star Borough

Mark Kimerer,

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Gearing up for Summer

March 31, 2023 • 58 mins
The first migratory birds are showing up and bear tracks have been sighted in the Chugach. That means it's time to dust off the backpacks, boats, and tents and start planning for summer! Join host Paul Twardock and guests on this week's Outdoor Explorer to get a start on summer.

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