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

Sarah Poynter competed on the most recent season of the History Channel’s show, "Alone." The competitors on the show are truly alone. They rely on their knowledge and skills, building their own shelter, hunting and fishing and gathering plants and berries. While they eke out living off the land, they are also carting around camera gear and setting up their own shots, narrating the journey to survive. It is often a starvation game of body and soul as food is difficult to procure and there is no human contact. Sarah lives in Skwentna, and along with her husband Chris, owns the Talvista Lodge, a popular destination for locals and out-of-state adventurers alike.

HOST: Lisa Keller

GUEST: Sarah Poynter, recently competed on History Channel's "Alone"

LINKS:

History Channel Sarah Poynter videos

Sarah Poynter Instagram

This week on Outdoor Explorer, we dive into the science and magic of the aurora borealis with Vince Ledvina, aka "The Aurora Guy." Vince, an aurora chaser and Space Physics PhD student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, shares his passion for the northern lights and offers insights into what creates this stunning phenomenon, why it’s so tricky to predict and how to increase your chances of seeing it. Whether you're an aurora veteran or dreaming of your first sighting, you'll have an illuminating journey into the night skies!

HOST: Martha Rosenstein

GUEST: Vince Ledvina, "The Aurora Guy," Space Physics PhD student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks

LINKS:

Vince's website

Aurora webcams

Space Weather Live

In 1964 President Lyndon Johnson signed the federal Wilderness Act into law, culminating decades of effort and compromise. Over the past 60 years, Congress has designated millions of acres as Wilderness, including over 57 million acres in Alaska. During that time the concept of Wilderness and how it is managed has changed. For instance, the original definition of Wilderness as being 'untrammeled by man' is challenged by the fact of thousands of years of Indigenous use. On this Outdoor Explorer host Paul Twardock discusses the past, present and future of the Wilderness Act with James Edward Mills, an African American filmmaker, and Karlin Itchoak, United States Fish and Wildlife Service Assistant Regional Director of Refugees in Alaska and an Alaskan Native. Alaska Wilderness Film Week is 11/12 to 11/15 and will feature "American Ascent," James Mills film about the first all African American ascent of Denali.

When was the last time you took on a completely new outdoor skill? Outdoor skills like hunting and fishing are part of Alaska’s rich cultural history, But they can also be intimidating to learn or prohibitively expensive to dive into, especially if you don’t know someone who can show you the ropes.

Fortunately, people in Alaska have access to an affordable program that can help. Offered by the state’s Department of Fish and Game, classes under the Becoming an Outdoors Woman program provide a fun, friendly environment where students can learn new skills. In this episode of Outdoor Explorer on Alaska Public Media, we’ll talk to some folks who run it about what makes this program special and how Alaskans can participate.

HOST: Amy Bushatz

GUESTS:

Maria Bakic, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Outreach & Education Coordinator

Katelyn Zonneville, Information Officer and instuctor, Alaska Department of Fish and Game sport fish division

Abby McAlister, Becoming an Outdoors Woman Alaska Southeast coordinator

LINKS:

Sign-up for classes with BOW Alaska HERE

BOW on Facebook

Is the outdoors any riskier than our day to day lives? How does our risk tolerance affect our decision making? What variables influence our level of risk tolerance? On this Outdoor Explorer host Paul Twardock discusses these questions and more with Deb Ajango and Luc Mehl. Deb teaches risk management and wilderness first aid and Luc is an Alaska-born adventurer who teaches water safety and avalanche classes. The concept of risk is as old as humanity, influencing us consciously and unconsciously. As we plan and undertake trips with friends and family, or go on a class or guided outing, understanding the risks and how we react to them can lead to successful and enjoyable outings. Deb, Luc and Paul will talk about the history and definitions of risk, how our risk tolerance evolves with age and experience, and how group dynamics are affected by risk.

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUESTS:

Deb Ajango, risk management and wilderness first aid educator

Luc Mehl, adventurer, water safety and avalanche educator

LINKS:

"Keeping safe during Summer adventures | Talk of Alaska"

Things To Luc At: Luc Mehl's website

Safety Ed

Triple Point Safety

Alaska Avalanche School