It's spring and time to prepare to visit Alaska's lakes, mountains, oceans and rivers to enjoy the outdoors. Many of us head to our state parks and increasing use can lead to impacts on vegetation, water quality and wildlife. However, it doesn't have to. On this episode, we hear about how we can enjoy the parks and take care of them at the same time. Host Paul Twardock interviews Stuart Leidner, Superintendent of the Mat-Su/Copper River Basin Region of Alaska State Parks and Wendy Sailors, Community Engagement Manager for Alaska State Parks, to discuss what challenges come with the increasing use of state parks and what individual users and park management can do to minimize user impacts.

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUESTS:

Stuart Leidner, Superintendent of the Mat-Su/Copper River Basin Region of Alaska State Parks

Wendy Sailors, Community Engagement Manager for Alaska State Parks

LINKS:

Alaska State Parks

Leave No Trace

On this Outdoor Explorer, we hear from Harlow Robinson, the executive director of Healthy Futures and the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. On June 5, the Hall will induct the class of 2025. Harlow tells us about the people and the moments that comprise this year’s class, as well as the annual Director’s Awards and the popular 100 Miles in May.

HOST: Lisa Keller

GUEST: Harlow Robinson

LINKS:

Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

Healthy Futures 100 Miles in May

Public use cabins are very popular in Alaska, with demand exceeding supply. Various organizations are working on new huts and on this Outdoor Explorer we highlight two: Arctic Valley Ski Area and Alaska Huts.

Arctic Valley has two huts available for the general public and is building more. General Manager John Robinson and architect Allana Blough describe the challenges of building cabins in Artic Valley's alpine environment.

On the second half of the show Alaska Huts' Executive Director Philip Swiny updates us on their new hut at the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop.

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUESTS:

John Robinson, General Manager, Arctic Valley

Allana Blough, architect

Philip Swiny, Executive Director, Alaska Huts

LINKS:

Alaska Huts

Arctic Valley Ski Area Public Use Cabins

Chugach National Forest Public Use Cabins

Since 1976, Jeff Lowenfels has been observing the climate and giving gardening and yardening advice in his weekly Anchorage Daily News column, the longest running gardening column in the United States. Hear about the weird winter, the potential Mount Spurr eruption and the effect this strange year will have on your yard and garden.

We also hear about Lowenfels' past as the happy boy on Happy Boy Margarine packages and other great anecdotes from his and Anchorage's history.

HOST: Lisa Keller

GUEST: Jeff Lownfels, Anchorage Daily News gardening columnist

LINKS:

Jeff Lowenfels’ website

"He Wrote a Gardening Column. He Ended Up Documenting Climate Change" - New York Times Magazine

Seward’s hometown Mount Marathon Race holds legendary status among professional and novice runners alike as the world’s toughest 5K. Each year, more than 1,000 runners enter a lottery for a chance to sprint through town and climb more than 3,000 vertical feet before descending the grueling course.

So, what makes this annual Fourth of July event so special? Join co-hosts Amy Bushatz and Adam Verrier as Adam shares what it’s like to be a Mount Marathon Race announcer. They also check in with race official Matias Saari and Mount Marathon enthusiasts Denali Foldager Strabel and Steve Mayer to learn more about this uniquely Alaskan outdoor experience.

Hosts:

Adam Verrier

Amy Bushatz

Guests:

Matias Saari

Steve Mayer

Denali Foldager-Strabel

Every year thousands of hawks and other raptors migrate into Southcentral Alaska by Gunsight Mountain on the Glen Highway. Redtail Hawks, Rough Legged Hawks, Northern Harriers, Golden Eagles, Sharp Shinned Hawks, Merlins and Peregrine Falcons are some of the many species of birds that traverse the zone. Anchorage Audubon and the Mat-Su Birders host the annual Hawk Watch tailgate every mid April with talks about how to identify the birds as they zoom over head.

Bob Dittrick and Ted Swem join host Paul Twardock to share the history of Hawk Watch and why the Gunsight Mountain location is a magnet for hawk migration. On the second half of the show Paul visits with professional birders working for Hawk Watch International to talk about their work counting birds.

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUESTS:

Bob Dittrick and Ted Swem

Sam Darmstadt, Hawk Watch International

LINKS:

Mat-Su Birders

Anchorage Audubon

Hawk Watch International Gunsight Mountain Bird Count

Hawk Watch International

As spring approaches and the snow disappears, summer trails reemerge from their own hibernation. At the same time, trail crews are gearing up for their summer projects. On this Outdoor Explorer Haley Johnson and Mariyam Medovaya with Alaska Trails join host Paul Twardock to discuss various trail projects, including upgrades to the Crow Pass Trail out of Eagle River. In addition, they discuss the Bureau of Land Management's recently released Alaska Long Trail National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study. The study, requested by Congress, looks at the financial and physical feasibility, suitability, and desirability of making the Alaska Long Trail a National Scenic Trail.

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUESTS:

Haley Johnson and Mariyam Medovaya, Alaska Trails

LINKS:

Alaska Long Trail National Scenic Feasibility Study

Alaska State Parks

Alaska Trails

Hitting the trails is a great way to explore Alaska, but it can also be a deeply personal experience about so much more. That’s something Alaska mountain runner Denali Foldager Strabel has experienced firsthand as she’s headed into the mountains to process tragic loss and move through personal challenges. Join us as we share in Denali’s journey of finding comfort and adventure on Alaska’s trails.

HOST: Amy Bushatz

GUEST: Denali Foldager Strabel

Trail builder and Anchorage ski racing pioneer, Jim Mahaffey, visits the studio to discuss his arrival in Alaska in the 1960s, the early years of the Alaska Methodist University Ski Team and the construction of the APU ski trail system in the U-Med district in Anchorage. Jim’s program pioneered the early development of women’s cross-country ski racing and his program supplied many of the members of the first American women's Olympic teams in cross-country skiing. Most of the Anchorage bowl’s trail systems and many of its organized ski programs can trace their lineage back to Mahaffey.

HOST: Adam Verrier

GUEST: Jim Mahaffey