On the top of Mount Gordon Lyon, overlooking Anchorage and the Arctic Valley Ski Area, is a set of buildings holding an important piece of Alaska's History. Nike Site Summit is one of three Nike Hercules missile sites in Southcentral Alaska.

Operating from 1959 to 1979, Site Summit's Nike Hercules missiles were designed to intercept Soviet Union bombers with high explosive or even nuclear warheads. It was decommissioned in 1979 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. The development of the site helped access to Chugach State Park and the Arctic Valley Ski Area. In 2009 the U.S. Army agreed to preserve and allow interpretation of the site as a testament to those who served there during the cold war.

Friends of Nike Site Summit have diligently been restoring the site and offering regular tours to the general public. Outdoor Explorer host Paul Twardock went on a tour and interviewed the volunteers and veterans about their experiences, including stories of operating a live nuclear weapons site in the brutally windy and cold environment of the Chugach Mountains.

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUESTS:

Greg Durocher

Jim Renkerht

LINKS:

Friends of Nike Summit

National Park Service: Nike Site Summit

Lisa Roderick spent 22 years managing Denali Basecamp on the Kahiltna Glacier, acting as flight control for glacier pilots, weather reporter, first responder and more. In her time at base camp manager she spent the equivalent of years of her life living on the massive Kahiltna Glacier and the vertical world of the Alaska Range. Her position gave her great insights into mountain aviation and mountaineering.

As base camp manager she saw thousands of climbers including friends and loved ones attempt Denali, Mt. Forecker, Mt. Hunter and many other formidable climbs. While most of those returned to basecamp safely, some did not. Lisa also shepherded thousands of flights in and out of one of the most extreme weather environments on earth.

On this Outdoor Explorer, Lisa talks about her recently published memoir, "A Place Among Giants" with host Paul Twardock. Lisa discusses her upbringing, becoming a climber, her relationship with her climber husband Mark Westman, her brother Paul Roderick, the National Park Service climbing rangers and some of the many characters she met in her job.

This interview deals with the topic of suicide and death. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

LINKS:

A Place Among Giants

Denali Rescue Volunteers

Denali National Park

Denali National Park Mountaineering

Mark Westman Mt Russel Climb

Mark Westman Images

Creativity and the natural world go hand in hand. From the sound of trickling water to the colors of the sunset, nature inspires artists of all kinds and shapes their work in ways both big and small. On this week's Outdoor Explorer we find out why stepping outside might be the best thing you can do for a dose of inspiration for your next creative project.

HOST: Martha Rosenstein

GUESTS:

Nancy Bates, knitter, designer and outdoor enthusiast

Wendy Sailors, Community Engagement Manager for Alaska State Parks

LINKS:

Nancy's website

Nancy's Instagram

Alaska State Parks Artist-in-Residence Program

Families to Parks Day - May 29, 2025

Octopuses capture the public's attention with their intelligence, ability to change color and amazing lives. Ever since Alaska Pacific University Professor Dr. David Scheel arrived in Alaska, he has studied Octopuses. Starting in Cordova, Alaska he learned how to scuba dive with them, overcoming his trepidations stemming from historical accounts of the giant octopus. He went on to learn how to find and study octopuses in Prince William Sound and elsewhere in the world. His book, "Many Things Under a Rock," details his career and what he learned from these remarkable creatures.

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUEST: Dr. David Scheel, author, "Many Things Under a Rock"

LINKS:

"Many Things Under a Rock"

David Scheel

On this episode we hear from Lael Wilcox and Rue Kaladyte. Lael is an ultra-endurance bike rider and racer. Her many accomplishments include fastest known times on routes around the world. She has many first-place woman finishes and also some overall first place finishes in ultra-endurance bike races, including first place overall in the 2016 Trans Am Bike Race. Most recently, she broke the women’s Guinness Around the World bike record. Rue, Lael’s wife, is a professional photographer. She plays a behind the scenes yet vitally important part of the team, supporting Lael’s rides and documenting the journey.

HOST: Lisa Keller

GUESTS:

Lael Wilcox

Rue Kaladyte

Want to access remote and magical outdoor spots during Alaska’s cold and snowy months? Snowmachine lovers know how to get out there. But how do these outdoor enthusiasts stay safe when the conditions are extreme? And what are their best tips and personal tricks for keeping the mixed-use trail networks friendly for all users? Join Outdoor Explorer as we check in with some of Southcentral’s riders and hear what they love about hitting the trails all winter long. And since we’re talking about snowmachining, we’ll also hear from the head of the annual Iron Dog competition, a snowmachine race with a description and distance so extreme that it will leave you in absolute awe of its participants.

HOST: Amy Bushatz

GUESTS:

Lisa Agnew, Anchorage Snowmobile Club

Michele Stephens, Alaska Snowmachine Alliance

Mike Buck, Alaska Safe Riders

Mike Vasser, Iron Dog race

A historic working farm in Palmer is home to a unique outdoor education experience that blends agriculture, a Masters Degree program and a place-based elementary school designed for local homeschoolers. What happens when you mesh the outdoors as education with a degree program and how does it shape your life? Join Outdoor Explorer as we head to Alaska Pacific University’s Kellogg Campus in Palmer and discover what’s happening on the farm, how they’re using the outdoors as education for students young and old, and just what it’s like out at the Field School. We’ll talk on location at the farm to students, instructors and former students who loved it so much they stuck around to teach.

The Eagle River Nature Center opened in 1996 and has served as a gateway to Chugach State Park ever since. Located at the end of Eagle River Road the Center is a log building with a long history including being a bar and a state park visitor center. When the State of Alaska started cutting budgets in the late 80s and early 90s, a dedicated group of volunteers formed a nonprofit to lease the building and turn it into a nature center. The Center offers a warm place to learn about the area and start numerous hikes, including the Crow Pass Trail. They also offer a bevy of natural history and outdoor skill programs for all ages, and have yurts and cabins to rent. On this Outdoor Explorer host Paul Twardock visits the Center and talks to staff and volunteers about the history, facilities, trails and programs.

LINKS:

Eagle River Nature Center

Chugach State Park

What drives someone to attempt a Fastest Known Time? We talk with author and endurance athlete Emily Halnon about her record-breaking run on a section of one of the most iconic trails in the world and the book she wrote about it. Emily shares her journey of running through the grief of losing her mother, finding strength in the wilderness, and the training, planning, and determination it takes to achieve an FKT. Join us as we explore the intersection of running, resilience, and the healing power of nature.

Host: Martha Rosenstein

Guest: Emily Halnon

Links:

https://www.emilyhalnon.com/

https://www.instagram.com/emilysweats

https://emilyhalnon.substack.com/

Max Romey is a watercolor artist and outdoor filmmaker from Anchorage, who is known internationally for his work. He has joined us before to tell us about his creative style of using watercolors in his films focusing on the outdoors. Using pictures instead of words to tell stories was born from his life with dyslexia. Romey's grandmother was a huge influence on him and he is currently visiting locations around the world that she visited and he is recreating the sketches from her prolific collection. Since last visiting us, he has had two films show at the Banff Film Festival, “If you Give a Beach a Bottle,” and most recently, “Footprints on Katmai.” He is also the creator of the new Fish Creek Art Installation at Cuddy Park.

HOST: Lisa Keller

GUEST: Max Romey

LINKS:

Trailbound Sketches

Max Romey’s YouTube Channel