The Last Frontier Podcast

You've heard of Bigfoot, but what about Urayuli? The tales of the Loch Ness Monster run deep, but have you heard what lies beneath Lake Iliamna? Alaska is no stranger to cryptozoology and ghost stories. On this special Halloween episode, we take you on a haunted road trip through Alaska and examine the authenticity of a few of the mythical creatures of Alaskan lore. Would you go to prom with a ghost? Why does beer explode in the summer? And is The Nightmare Before Christmas the best Halloween and Christmas movie? It's the episode that will have you wanting to believe!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Marzen by Turnagain Brewing [https://www.turnagainbrewing.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

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In a continuation of our outdoor education spotlight, if you thought a month long course in the wilderness was "in tents" from last week's episode, hold on to your butts! We invite Durango on the program today to discuss his semester long course through NOLS covering a wide array of skills including wilderness medicine, backcountry skiing, white water canoeing, backpacking and rock climbing. What happens when you capsize a canoe in white water? Why should you never rock climb with muddy shoes? And how many golden carrots do you need when you pop the question? It's the episode so great you won't need a second opinion on!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: 24 Karat Lager by The Last Frontier Brewing Company [https://lastfrontierbrew.com] 

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

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Outdoor education is a unique approach to teaching with a setting unrivaled. With Alaska's vast wilderness, both aquatic and terrestrial, there is no shortage of classroom space in which to engage students. On today's episode, we invite Alex Bell-Johnson who first came to Alaska as a student with NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) to discuss his experience engaging in scholarship in the epic surroundings of the last frontier. What are the benefits of taking an outdoor education course? How long does it take to go to the bathroom while backpacking? And is it pretentious to say autumn instead of fall? It's the episode you'll need to erect a shale thrown for.

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Valdez Krude by Valdez Brewing [http://valdezbrewing.com] 

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier] 

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Hard to get to, but worth the effort, today's episodes delves into the wonders and beauties of Southeast Alaska. With most areas not accessible by road, air and sea are the two main ways to access this remote part of Alaska. We invite Erin Kennedy on the podcast today to talk about her six years working as a cycle and glacier guide in SE Alaska and why you should add it to your list of places to visit on next your Alaskan adventure. What is the one issue both sides of the political spectrum agree on regarding SE Alaska? Do they have bears and moose down there? And what is the truth to why glacial ice looks blue? It's the episode that will have you digging up smurf fossils!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Stop, Collaborate & Distance Dry Hopped Saison collaboration beer by: Black Spruce Brewing Company [https://www.blacksprucebeer.com] and Devil's Club Brewing Company [https://www.devilsclubbrewing.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

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Football season is upon us and while most people are busy drafting their fantasy football teams, we invite friend of the pod Jared Fink on the program today for our first annual fantasy Alaskan wildlife draft. Learn about the incredible species that grace our airways, terrestrial lands and ocean depths as we debate what animals you the listener would be most interested in seeing during your future Alaskan adventure. What animal has the pressure of being the first pick in the draft? Which team would you want to see in the wild? And does the sleeper shark qualify as a sleeper pick in this year's draft? It's the episode you need to set your lineup for! 

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Oat-Iss by: Resolution Brewing Company [https://www.facebook.com/ResolutionBrewingCo]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

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Sengen Meyer is a student at Cornell University up in Alaska on an internship. With a degree focus and personal interest on the topic of sustainability, she joins us to discuss a difficult topic to navigate as we delve into the world of climate change and environmentalism. What does sustainability actually mean? How is Alaska being affected by the ever changing world? And what should be the mascot of our podcast? It's the episode we hope you have some empathy for!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Puddle Jumper Pale Ale by: St. Elias Brewing Company [https://www.steliasbrewingco.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

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Salmon are one of the more iconic species that pop up when thinking about Alaska and so for today's episode, we invited on marine biologist David Meuninck, who has spent four decades working with salmon hatcheries, to talk all things salmon. A member of the michiana Beer Reviewers who sponsor our beer review of the episode, he is affectionately known as Uncle Dave and he brought lots of great information, history and even more beer to this episode. What would it take for Andrew to wear a leotard? Do Hawaiian style and Christmas beers mesh well together? And what happens when you squeeze a spawning salmon? It's the episode you'll be giving a gold medal to after listening!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: 2019 Noë by: Cynosure Brewing [https://www.cynosure.beer]

Guest Beer of the Week: POG Tropical Sour Ale by: 2Toms Brewing Company [https://2tomsbrewing.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

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Hillary and Norgay the first to summit Everest, Lewis and Clark venturing out into the wild, wild west, Armstrong and Aldrin taking that giant leap on the moon...there's something inspirational about imagining yourself in the shoes of the great adventurers of a past time. As the world gets smaller, large scale expeditions are harder to find, but Alaska is still ripe for them. On today's episode, friends of the pod Russ and Sid discuss their recent expedition paddling around the Kenai Peninsula from Homer to Seward exposing themselves to the open Gulf of Alaska, heavy winds and large seas and a vast stretch of this world still untouched by civilization. 

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Berserker South of the Border by: Midnight Sun Brewing Company [https://midnightsunbrewing.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

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One of Alaska's biggest traditions is the running of the annual Mount Marathon race every July 4th and today's episode discusses the history, description and overall brutality of the 2nd longest annual mountain race in the world dubbed the world's toughest 5k. We invite Denali mountaineering guide Jack Delaney on the episode to discuss his personal experience guiding the tallest mountain in North America and how it compares to his trek up Marathon as one of the racers. What are the onion shaped buildings in Russia called? Why do mountaineers like to take their clothes off? And what would it take for you to intentionally shred your muscles? It's the episode that will have you craving onion rings!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Smoked Russian Imperial Stout by: Kassik's Brewery [https://kassiksbrewery.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

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The Sikuliaq is one of the most advanced research ice breaker vessels in the world and Mike Stewart is one of the most advanced humans we have in Alaska. Put the two together and you get advanced pod. Take a journey with us as we explore the life of Mike including his time working on the Sikuliaq. What type of research does a vessel like that do? Is it easier to break the ice with someone who has worked on an ice breaker? And does a Mexican style lager hold up in an Alaskan climate. It's the episode where we dream about breaking the ice to drop into our tropical drinks while sitting on the beach. Enjoy!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Mexi-Lager by: Turnagain Brewing [https://www.turnagainbrewing.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

Support the show