Eldorado Peak, with its knife edge summit, is one of the most iconic peaks in the Pacific Northwest. Our very own PMR member, Marc "Milo" Milobinski is joining Amy Graham and Ania Wiktorowicz to talk about his climb of Eldorado Peak, the accident, rescue and emergency signaling. Sometimes accidents happen in the least expected places that are still…

Every year at the end of August in the Black Rock Desert of northwest Nevada, Black Rock City is built, and for about a week it becomes the third largest city in Nevada, with around 60,000 inhabitants. It is the host city for the annual event called Burning Man and it has all the amenities you’d expect to see in any other city of this size. It has …

What makes an outdoor expedition successful? Most trips in the outdoors, whether one day or two weeks, are enjoyable and fun, that's why Alaskans, even on wet summers like this one, flock to the outdoors. But some outings turn into epics and even tragedy. On this Outdoor Explorer host Paul Twardock talks about what makes a good expedition happen wi…

Alaska author Don Rearden grew up in Southwest Alaska living and observing rural life. His books "Raven's Gift," a novel, and "Without A Paddle," a collection of poems, reflect his Alaska experiences and life. Don also co-authored books featuring two of Alaska's professional military rescuers. Don joins host Paul Twardock to discuss Alaska's cultur…

Biking single track trail on mountain bikes has become very popular in Southcentral Alaska. Trails have proliferated and more are planned. Long trails like the Alaska Traverse will help connect communities and increase non-motorized recreational opportunities. In the Matanuska Susitna Valley and Chugiak/Eagle River individuals and groups are busy b…

Joe Kurtak embodies a modern day Alaskan. He was raised at a remote mining camp in eastern California, went to college, then came to Alaska in 1971 for a summer job. He quickly fell for everything the Great Land had to offer, especially its geology. Joe worked for 40 years mapping Alaska's geology while working for both private firms and the federa…

On the next Outdoor Explorer our guest is Nicole Chamberlain and the Meowtaineer, Petra the Adventure Cat. Petra is a Siberian Forest Cat, well-adapted to the cold, and Nicole has taken her on many adventures on the snow and the water. They recently spent time at the Sheldon House in Denali and Petra became the first cat to ski on the Ruth Glacier.…

HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Jessica Cherry, editor of "Wheels on Ice" Andromeda Romano-Lax, author, contributor to "Wheels on Ice" LINKS: "Wheels on Ice" More than a century of tales from the trails in ‘Wheels on Ice: Stories of Cycling in Alaska’ BROADCAST: Thursday, August 3rd, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, August 3r…

On this Outdoor Explorer we're joined by Alison Mariella Dèsir, author of "Running While Black: Finding Freedom in a Sport That Wasn’t Built for Us." Her book unveils the running movement as being centered around and represented by White people, not only ignoring the foundational work and performances of Black distance runners but also not acknowle…

Many Alaskans have helped preserve the open spaces we enjoy. Their hard work, dedication and perseverance gave us our state parks, trails and environmental standards that we enjoy. This Outdoor Explorer features Peg Tileston. Peg has been active in organizations including the Alaska Center for the Environment (now called the Alaska Center), the Ala…

The bike race formerly known as the Fireweed 400 is back. Now simply called “The Fireweed,” this 200-mile race makes its comeback this weekend taking riders from Sheep Mountain Lodge to Valdez! This week on Outdoor Explorer, we talk with president of the board of directors, Sara Wendling about all things race details and catch up with the a few mem…

Chris Erickson was a veteran mountain ranger in Denali when he was faced with a crevasse rescue that was deemed impossible: extricate a fallen climber from a 60 foot depth of a crevasse what was only 12 inches wide on the bottom. His story is a true example or heroism and perseverance that you may only find in rare rescue stories told by seasoned e…

People come to Alaska for a variety of reasons. Award-winning photographer Mark Kelley came with the hopes of meeting a whale, and almost 50 years later, he’s still here. On this episode of Outdoor Explorer host Martha Rosenstein and Kelley talk about the challenges of photographing wildlife in Alaska, turning his passion into a career and what it’…

On the this Outdoor Explorer, host Lisa Keller is joined by Tom Walker, author of the book "The Wanderer." In less than 6 months, Wolf 258 traversed almost 3000 miles in Alaska and Canada. His amazing journey, documented through his GPS tracking collar, is the subject of a story that mixes what we know about his movement with speculation on what he…

In March, Ben Americus accomplished many firsts on the Linkup: the first late winter completion, the first to ski off the peaks and the first to complete the Linkup since Ptarmigan Peak was added as the 13th summit over 5000 feet. This week on Outdoor Explorer Ben joins host Lisa Keller to talk about how he added his name to Chugach Front Linkup hi…

Summer in Alaska brings a plethora of outdoor adventure opportunities. Boating, hiking, climbing, fishing, wildlife viewing, fishing, and hunting ramp up and so do the calls for help. Southcentral Alaska is fortunate to have good search and rescue capabilities compared to most of the country. However much of it is provided by volunteer organization…

What was it like to be a field scientist in Alaska during the 1970s and 80's? John Schoen spent 20 years working for Alaska's Department of Fish and Game as a scientist studying Sitka black-tailed deer, mountain goats and brown bears in the Tongass National Forest. John's research influenced the prevailing thoughts on the effects of clearcutting on…

Hosted by Ania Wiktorowicz, Created by Mari Feher Andrew Holman is a Portland, Or transplant living and climbing around Anchorage, Alaska. In the process of climbing all the peaks of the Chugach Mountain range near Anchorage, one night he found himself tumbling 500 ft on the South side of Avalanche Mountain (5,050 feet) . What do you do with one mi…

HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Arlene Blum, mountaineer, scientist Pam Miller, Alaska Community Action on Toxics LINKS: Arlene Blum website Alaska Community Action on Toxics Green Science Policy Institute BROADCAST: Thursday, April 27th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, April 27th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT…

HOST: Lisa Keller GUEST: Harlow Robinson, executive director of Healthy Futures and the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame LINKS: Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Healthy Futures 100 Miles in May

HOST: Lisa Keller GUEST: Holly Brooks, two-time Olympian and licensed professional counselor LINKS: Holly Brooks’ website Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance with link to “Winning at All Costs: Breaking the Silience on Athletes and Eating Disorders” Project Red-S

HOST: Lisa Keller GUESTS: Steve Cleary, Executive Director of Alaska Trails Donnie Hayes, Director of Parks and Recreation for the Fairbanks North Star Borough Mark Kimerer,

Hosted by Ania Wiktorowicz, Created by Mari Feher Eric Gagnon has been in Search and Rescue for 25 years. He has been in helicopter rescues for 10 years with King County Sheriff's office in the state of Washington after a start at the Coast Guard. Not only is he a rescue specialist, a hoist operator but currently he is training incoming new members…

The first migratory birds are showing up and bear tracks have been sighted in the Chugach. That means it's time to dust off the backpacks, boats, and tents and start planning for summer! Join host Paul Twardock and guests on this week's Outdoor Explorer to get a start on summer.

HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Randy Dowd, Executive Director and founder of Onward and Upward Onward and Upward Staff LINKS: Onward and Upward website Facebook Instagram Youtube BROADCAST: Thursday, March 16th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, March 16th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT…

HOST: Lisa Keller GUESTS: Beth Nordlund, executive director Anchorage Park Foundation Joe Connolly, chair of the Glen Alps Road Service Area Board of Supervisors LINKS: Anchorage Park Foundation Glen Alps Board of Supervisors Ballot information

HOST: Paul Twardock GUEST: Steve Mock, Denali Rescue Volunteers, the Alex Lowe Foundation, and the Khumbu Climbing Center LINKS: Denali Rescue Volunteers Khumbu Climbing Center Denali Climbing History Alex Lowe Foundation

HOST: Adam Verrier GUESTS: Sara Studebaker-Hall, Director of Operations at TeamUSA Biathlon Zach Hall, Team Manager and Head Coach at the Soldier Hollow Olympic Legacy Program LINKS: Biathlon Alaska Anchorage Biathlon Club Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage: Biathlon Team USA: Biathlon

HOST: Lisa Keller GUEST: Beth Bragg, former sports editor at the Anchorage Daily News

HOST: Adam Varrier GUEST: Jim Burkholder LINKS: Kincaid Park Web Page Kincaid Park Ski Trail Map BROADCAST: Thursday, February 9th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: February 9th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT

HOST: Lisa Keller GUESTS: Sally Burkholder, the Alaska Ski for Women co-founder Molly Mylius, Alaska Ski for Women race director BROADCAST: Thursday, January 26th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, January 26th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT

HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Dan Osborne, Dick Jabonowski, Ed Minot, Steve O'Brien, Tom Kensler, and Mike Sallee LINKS: Denali Climbing History BROADCAST: Thursday, February 2nd, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, February 2nd, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT

Created by Mari Feher, Hosted by Ania Wiktorovicz In July of 2022 Jaden Stewart of Gallatin County Sheriff SAR in Montana, Karel Kaiser and their partner set out to summit Mt Rainier in the state of Washington via the Ptarmigan Ridge route. As they started out from their high camp in 30+ miles /hour wind, they noticed a lone headlamp from the party…

What draws us to the outdoors? Marybeth Holleman is an Alaskan writer who's new book of poetry, titled tender gravity, expresses many reasons. Marybeth is a long time Alaskan whose works include The Heart of the Sound and Among Wolves. Her collection of poems are accessible and cover everything from moss to comets and from her garden to the Brooks …

On the next Outdoor Explorer, the first part of a continuing series of stories about Title IX, the historic legislation passed 50 years ago that changed the landscape of women’s sports. We'll learn about the start and evolution of Title IX and you’ll hear from Chloe Ivanoff, who is bringing her love of wrestling to the girls of Alaska.…

HOST: Lisa Keller GUESTS: Chris Reynolds, treasurer of Friends of the Stewart Public Trail Kelly Becker, a long-time trail adjacent homeowner LINKS: Recreation Access in Anchorage Vol 1 “Judge rules that Anchorage’s historic Stewart Trail is open to the public” - The Alaska Landmine Friends of Stewart Public Trail Facebook page “Road rage AK” - Cra…

HOST: Paul Twardock GUEST: Tom Choate LINKS: Tom Choate Biography BROADCAST: Thursday, December 1st, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, December 1st, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT

HOST: Paul Twardock GUESTS: Ricky Geese: Director, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Zachary Babb: Program Manager, Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Alaska; NPS LINKS: Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Barneys Sports Chalet Hoarding Marmot Play It Again Sports REI Anchorage BROADCAST…

On this next Outdoor Explorer, our guests are Jeff Landfield and Paxson Woelber from The Alaska Landmine. The two journalists have reported extensively on disputed access to public lands in Anchorage. Our conversation focused on the history and battle for access to Chugach State Park from the Stewart Trail.…

Hosted by Ania Wiktorowitz, Created by Mari Feher We all have a connection to nature and the mountains. It is unavoidable to experience some stress, trauma or even loss and grief while you are on your favourite pitch or route. How do you cope when you are under stressors? Do you have the necessary tools to overcome this experience or the need to re…

On this Outdoor Explorer, we’ll go for a walk with a man known as The Walking Monk, because he’s walked across North America five separate times and he recently published a book about the people he’s met along the way. Join host Adam Verrier on Outdoor Explorer to hear our discussion about the joys and pleasures of taking a good long walk.…

Anchorage's Off the Chain Bicycle Collective is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization aiming to increase bicycle ridership, awareness, and safety. Started as a UAA bike club Off the Chain is housed in a full, but well organized, workspace in Spenard. Open a few evenings a week the shop has all the tools and most parts to fix a bike and volunteer…

ur guests for this show are Laura Marcus and Zach Brown, the founders and co-executive directors of the Tidelines Institute. On two campuses along Icy Strait in Southeast Alaska, Tidelines Institute offers a variety of programs from a six-month immersive gap year experience to short courses lasting one to three weeks to community workshops. They al…

On this Outdoor Explorer, we’ll talk to Alice Tower Knapp, who grew up in Anchorage, skiing on the local ski trails and participating in events organized by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage (NSAA). She eventually ended up in the Middlebury College Athletics Hall of Fame, and was named to the US Ski Team. She recently published a book abou…

On this show, our guest is Rick Steves. If you’ve watched public television in the last 20 years, you likely know him from his travel shows Rick Steves Europe and Travel with Rick Steves. Our discussion covers how he turned his passion for travel into a business as well as climate change and travel, why it’s important to say yes to travel opportuni…

K9 Rook is a human remains detection K9, a Belgian Malinois that works for the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office along with his handler, Terri Hines. What does Rook do exactly? What is the certification process for your dog to become a SAR dog? How many different kinds of search dogs are out there and how are they trained? If you ever pondered any …

HOST: Lisa Keller GUEST: Beth Nordlund, executive director of Anchorage Park Foundation LINKS: Anchorage Park Foundation Register for the Moose Loop Virtual Race BROADCAST: Thursday, September 15th, 2022. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, September 15th, 2022. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automaticall…

Orienteering is the sport of using a map and compass to navigate the outdoors. The Arctic Orienteering Club in Anchorage organizes orienteering races and events during the summer months that are open to everyone, competitors, or those just out to learn new trails and open spaces. This Outdoor Explorer introduces the sport, discusses how new technol…

Our guest for this show is Jen Aschoff, a geology professor at UAA who recently became the tenth person and the second woman to complete the Chugach 120. The Chugach 120 is the 120 peaks in the Chugach State Park with a prominence of 500 feet or more. Unlike the Chugach Linkup, which links all front range 12 peaks over 5000 feet in one go, the Chug…