Hatcher Pass is in our backyard, an easy day trip from Anchorage, but it’s also a really special place that attracts visitors from all over the world who come to see that gorgeous alpine country, and the historic Independence Mine. We have several guests to cover the many aspects of Hatcher Pass: outdoor activities, winter and summer, history, and as a place to spend a weekend. KSKA: Thursday, Oct. 15, at 2:00 p.m., and Thursday, Oct. 22, at 8:00 p.m. Listen Now:

Alaskan geologists, biologists, archaeologists and lots of other kinds of -ologists cover the wilderness in their work, in search of knowledge but avoiding something many outdoor folks are looking for: adventure. On this show, we’ll hear from field scientists about their challenges studying Alaska, and how they keep safe and work effectively in places where other people go to test themselves against the elements. KSKA: Thursday, Oct. 8, at 2:00 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 15, at 8:00 p.m. Listen now:

We Alaskans have a unique way to get into the backcountry, on our state-owned railroad or ferry system — two of the most fun forms of transportation around. On the next Outdoor Explorer, we’ll celebrate how the train and ferries can get families out to adventures hiking, skiing, paddling, floating and exploring in some truly exotic places. We’ll learn about the opportunities, and how you can do it with your family. KSKA: Thursday, Oct. 1, at 2:00 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 8, at 8:00 p.m. Download Audio:

We’re talking about bears on Outdoor Explorer. Our region of Alaska happens to be the best place in the world for ordinary people to get out in the woods and see lots of gigantic bears. The coastal brown bear can grow to enormous size, but while they are gorging on the salmon that make them so large, they don’t pay attention to anything else. Visitors to certain key streams can get very, very close. We’ll talk about that experience, and the life of the bears. KSKA: Thursday, Sept. 24, at 2:00 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 1, at 8 :00pm Listen Now:

Alaska’s immense herds of caribou are one of the natural wonders of the world. Imagine seeing and hearing tens of thousands of animals migrating across the tundra. This edition of Outdoor Explorer is about these magnificent animals. We’ll learn about the science and ecology of the herds, viewing them, and hunting. Caribou are a critical part of northern ecosystems, and an important source of meat for rural Alaskans and urban hunters. KSKA: Thursday, Sept 17, at 2 p.m. and Thursday, Sept 24, and 8 p.m. Listen now:

The dream of getting your own piece of Alaska is as old as the North, the idea of staking land, proving up, and ending up with a big homestead that is your own estate. The state of Alaska still has programs for residents to get inexpensive land, including the opportunity to pick your own site and stake the corners. We’ll talk about how you can buy a remote piece of Alaska, too, and hear the story of a real Alaskan pioneer who lived alone in the wilderness years ago. KSKA: Thursday, Sept 10, at 2:00 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 17, at 8:00 p.m. Listen Now:

Rivers are the highways of the North. That’s been true since human beings first arrived in North America, and it is still true across a vast expanse of Alaska and Canada that is practical to cross in the summer by no other means. On the next Outdoor Explorer, we’re talking about floating these long, remote rivers and the journeys you can make into solitude and into your own mind, as the banks slide quietly by. KSKA: Thursday, Sept. 3, at 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Listen Now:

The Resurrection Pass Trail is a gem. Running from Hope to Cooper Landing, this 38 mile route is probably Alaska’s best backpacking trail, but it’s also great for mountain biking, snowmachining, skiing, snowshoeing and running. On our show, we’ll talk about a week-long hike with kids and a running event that does the whole thing in a single day. Along the way, we'll provide the information you need to do the Resurrection yourself. KSKA: Thursday, August 27, at 2 and 8 p.m. Listen Now:

Today's show will inspire you with a sailing adventure, then help you learn about how to become a sailor with your family here in our part of Alaska. We’ll hear about an amazing adventure an Anchorage couple took halfway around the world, sailing from Seward, Alaska to New Zealand and back in two years. Then a sailing instructor here in our region, talking about how to become a sailor and make sailing a part of your life on Alaskan lakes. KSKA: Thursday, August 20, 2:00 and 8:00 p.m. Listen now:

On Outdoor Explorer, we get to interview some of the heartiest and most driven athletes in the world, people who test themselves against Alaska and win. On this week's show, we meet athletes who fit that description, but do it while dealing with a disability. They prove that Alaska's outdoors are accessible for skiing, boating, hunting, hand-cycle racing, and just about anything else you want to try. Download Audio: KSKA: Thursday, August 13, at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.