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

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