Outdoor Explorer

Lee Bolling’s book “Welcome to Earth Fellow Human”.Lee Bolling.Lee Bolling riding in Anchorage.The Anchorage Bowl is known for its trail networks, and many residents and visitors think our various trail systems are one of the city’s best features. During this Outdoor Explorer, we’ll be talking about one element of the city’s trail system: The soft surface trails built over the past fifteen years by Singletrack Advocates – a group committed to the construction and maintenance of mountain biking trails in several locations around the Anchorage Bowl. Our guest will be Lee Bolling, the President of Singletrack Advocates, and we’ll discuss the existing system of mountain bike trails, current projects in the works, and Lee’s vision for the future of Anchorage’s soft-surface mountain bike trail networks. We’ll also talk about the book that Lee recently wrote and released, titled “Welcome to Earth Fellow Human”, which explores the question, “Where did we come from, and what should we do now that we’re here?”HOST: Ada

St Elias the trench, photoby John Bauman.Russell base camp, photo by John Bauman.Mt Deborah basecamp igloo, photo by John Bauman.Bauman Kayaking 1Paddlng the Katmai Coast 1992, photo by Paul Twardock.Bauman KayakingBaumanKayaking2Alaska has thousands of world-class outdoor men and women. Most have gone about their business without fanfare or notice, sharing their adventures with a few friends before heading off on their next trip. John Bauman lived in Alaska making a living as a carpenter while pursuing winter first ascents and sea kayaking throughout the world. John’s climbs (primarily in the winter) include St Elias, Mt Logan, and Mt Russell. He kayaked around Kodiak, the Aleutians, Iceland, the Falkland Islands, and the length of the Alaska Peninsula. And those are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. John talks about some of these trips and what it took to live to become as they say, ‘An old mountaineer.’HOST: Paul TwardockGUESTS:John Bauman, kayaker and mountaineerLINKS:Seekers of the Horizon reviewMo

This episode of Outdoor Explorer first aired on May 14, 2020. In the fall of 2020, it was submitted to the Alaska Professional Communicators 2020 – 2021 Communications Contest where it won first place in the category of “Special Programming – Radio.” First-place state winners are automatically submitted to the National Federation of Press Women’s Communications Contest. The awards ceremony for the national contest is June 11th and although we know we have won an award for the show we do not know how it placed. This was a complicated and time-consuming episode to host and produce. Lisa recorded the entire episode on her smartphone and then edited hours of conversation on the phone, submitting many segments to the producer, Eric Bork, to work his magic and put it together into the finished show. We thank the women pilots who were part of the show who not only spoke honestly about discrimination but also shared concerns common to all pilots, and as the contest judge remarked, provided “anentertaining and often f

A paddle boarder on Goose Lake, wearing a life vest.Children in a kayak on Goose Lake, wearing life vestsA fishing boat on the ocean.Paddle boarders all wearing life vests and protective clothing.Summer has arrived and that means it is time to go boating.Alaska has around 34,000 miles of coast line and 365,000 miles of rivers with people living, working, exploring and enjoying them. But, some also get in boating accidents of all sorts. As we prepare for the boating season it is worthwhile to review the equipment and safety precautions needed. On this week’s episode of Outdoor Explorer, we discuss boating safety with staff from the Alaska Office of Boating Safety, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium’s Injury Prevention program, the Kingikmiut Singers and Dancers of Anchorage and the Maniilaq Association of Kotzebue.HOST: Paul TwardockGUESTS:Joe McCullough: Alaska Office of Boating SafetyAnnie Greneir: Alaska Office of Boating SafetyIngrid Stevens: Alaska Native Tribal Health ConsortiumArlo Norrik Davis: Man

The Stan-Kamps on the last leg of their journey in Utah, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp.Leif and Tui Stanbury with Nukka at Capitol Reef National Park, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp.Tui and Leif Stanbury at Landscape Arch in Arches National Park, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp.Leif and Neal Stanbury at Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp.Tui and the snow Buddha, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp.When Alaska Airlines Captain Jodi Harskamp took leave due to the pandemic and her children’s school shifted to on-line learning, she and her husband Neal Stanbury decided to take school on the road. Over the past three episodes we have heard about their trips to the parks of Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Florida. In this episode, the last of our episodes, the Stan-Kamps are in Florida when Jodi gets called back to work. The homeward bound journey begins with some stops in the Southwest before heading back to Alaska.HOST: Lisa KellerGUESTS:Segment 1: Jodi Harskamp and Nea

Most accidents occur for similar reasons: not being prepared, poor equipment, being in a rush, and lack of skill. Some accidents, however, are unpredictable. Learning from others is a great way to avoid the perils of being outdoors. Whether it is talking to friends, watching documentaries, or reading one can learn how to be ready for a particular activity or outing. Emma Walker, author of Dead Reckoning, is on this week’s Outdoor Explorer discussing her new book Dead Reckoning and the lessons she and others have learned from their near misses and accidents in the outdoors.HOST: Paul TwardockGUESTS:Emma Walker, the author of Dead ReckoningLINKS:Dead Reckoning websitePre-order Dead Reckoning on AmazonEmma Walker’s siteAccidents in North American MountaineeringBROADCAST: Thursday, May 20th, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, May 20th, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKTSUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via:iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast]]>

Tim GravelGina ShivelyOn this show, we are talking about enjoying coffee in the outdoors. First, you’ll hear from Tim Gravel who is the co-owner of Kaladi Brothers Coffee about his favorite backcountry coffee brewing method as well as some other ideas for making coffee on your next camping trip. Then you’ll hear from Gina Shively who is a pilot and an avid outdoorswoman about her attempts to find a good backcountry coffee option and what she is currently using that keeps her caffeinated while she’s out hunting.HOST: Martha RosensteinGUESTS:Tim Gravel, co-owner of Kaladi Brothers CoffeeGina Shively, pilot and avid outdoorswomanLINKS:Kaladi Community PageAeropress, also available locally at Kaladi and REIGina’s websiteGina’s InstagramGenesis Coffee LabBROADCAST: Thursday, May 13th, 2021. 2:00 pm – 3:00 p.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, May 13th, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKTSUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via:iTunes EmailRSS FeedPodcast]]>

A tool at work. Photo from MatSu Trail Parks Foundation.A trail near Kachemak BayAlaska Trails VolunteersTrails at Kincaid Park, photo by Paul Twardock.A trail crew near Kachemak Bay.A trail crew near Kachemak BayTrails are one of the primary infrastructures in the outdoors. They lead us to destinations or are and end unto themselves. Trails get us through the bushes and into the high country. They provide opportunities for observing nature, exercise, and relaxation. A good trail is well designed and built to avoid erosion and lasts a long time. Trail building in Alaska has come a long way since people went straight up the fall line. Alaska Trails and other organizations and trail building businesses spend the winter months funding and planning for the summer trail building season. This show talks with the people who will be working on trails around the state, discussing what trail-building projects are happening this summer.HOST: Paul TwardockGUESTS:Steve Cleary: Alaska TrailsKathy Sarns-Irwin: Friends of Ka

The Stan-Kamps at Horseshoe Bend in the Grand Canyon, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp.The Stan-Kamps at the Nevada-Arizona State Border, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp.The Stan-Kamps at the Southernmost Point on the Continental USA, photo courtesy Jodi HarskampTui, Leif and Neal Stanbury sledding at White Sands National Monument, photo courtesy Jodi HarskampCamping platform in the Flamingo Park Everglades National Park, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp.When Alaska Airlines Captain Jodi Harskamp took leave due to the pandemic and her children’s school shifted to online learning, she and her husband Neal Stanbury decided to take school on the road. In the first episode of this series, Lisa spoke with the Stan-Kamp family after they had toured the parks of the Pacific Northwest. In the second episode of the series, it was the parks of California, the state with the most parks in the nation. At the end of their stay in California, they were planning a 5-day backpacking trip into Death Valley National Park. They arrived at

Drones, or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), are becoming more common in Alaska andelsewhere every month. This past year they were one of the hottest selling outdoor retail items with sales growing around 12% annually according to thebusinessresearchcompany.com. In Alaska, drones are quickly becoming a part of the outdoor experience. The research, photos, and videos they enable help scientists, land managers, trail builders, artists, and others with their work. On the other hand, they have the potential to disrupt wildlife and other people’s outdoor experience. We will be discussing drone capabilities, regulations, benefits, and challenges with Bill Billmeier of Corax, Dan Beutel with the State of Alaska’s Division of Parks and Recreation, and Heath Schaaf with the U.S. Forest Service.HOST: Paul TwardockGUESTS:Bill Billmeier: CoraxDan Beutel: State of Alaska DNR Division of Parks and RecreationHeath Schaaf: U.S. Forest ServiceLINKS:State of Alaska UAS (Drone) web siteState of Alaska Best Practices downloadable

The Stan-Kamps at Half Dome in Yosemite, photo courtesy of Jodi Harskamp.Tui and Leif Stanbury looking out over Yosemite, photo courtesy of Jodi Harskamp.The retrofitted truck before the accident, photo courtesy of Jodi Harskamp.The truck after the accident, photo courtesy of Jodi Harskamp.Tui Stanbury with a giant pinecone, photo courtesy of Jodi Harskamp.Leif and Tui Stanbury on a giant redwood, photo courtesy of Jodi Harskamp.When Alaska Airlines Captain Jodi Harskamp took leave due to the pandemic and her children’s school shifted to on-line learning, she and her husband Neal Stanbury decided to take school on the road. In the first episode of this series, I spoke with the Stan-Kamp family after they had toured the parks of the Pacific Northwest and were taking a breather at Jodi’s aunt’s house in Grants Pass, Oregon. In this episode, the Stan-Kamps are leaving Oregon and beginning their journey through California. California has the most state parks and national parks in the United States. However, befor

Sepp Weber, photo by Paul Twardock.Sepp Weber has climbed, kayaked, and skied for at least 80 years, and is still at it! Sepp’s first experience in the American Arctic was kayaking across Canada and down the Yukon. Shortly afterward he took a job coaching skiing at Arctic Valley. In his long and active life, he did the first ski ascent of Denali and Mount Logan. His trips involved paddling and skiing to the start of climbs, then returning the same way. Sepp also owned and ran a ski lodge near Denali which he built himself. In the summers he was a river guide and he wrote a book titled “Wild Rivers of Alaska.” He has a full life of adventure and experience to share on this episode of Outdoor Explorer.HOST: Paul TwardockGUESTS:Sepp Weber, first to ascend Denali by skiLINKS:Denali View ChaletSepp’s book Wild Rivers of AlaskaBROADCAST: Thursday, April 1st, 2021. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, April 1st, 2021. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKTSUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week v

Neal Stanbury, Tui Stanbury, Leif Stanbury and Jodi Harskamp at Crater Lake, photo courtesy Jodi Harskamp.The retrofitted truck, photo courtesy of Jodi HarskampThe truck’s pantry, photo courtesy of Jodi HarskampSticker designed by Tui Stanbury to commemorate the family’s travels, photo courtesy Jodi HarskampWhen Alaska Airlines Captain Jodi Harskamp took leave due to the pandemic and her children’s school shifted to on-line learning, she and her husband Neal Stanbury decided to take school on the road. Starting in the Pacific Northwest with their truck retrofitted to accommodate their outdoor gear, they began to tour national and state parks, with a vow to only camp and cook along the way with occasional breaks at family and friends’ homes. Their five-month journey is the subject of a series of episodes in the parks of the Northwest.HOST: Lisa KellerGUESTS:Segment 1: Jodi Harskamp and Neal, Tui and Leif StanburyBROADCAST: Thursday, March 25th, 2021. 10-11 a.m. AKTREPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, March 25th, 2021.

For the past year, the Coronavirus Pandemic has been canceling sporting events all around the world. But the organizers of North America’s biggest ski marathon, the American Birkebeiner, were determined to find a way to hold the race anyway, and they were resolved to do it safely. The American Birkebeiner Ski Race takes place every February in northern Wisconsin, and it usually attracts over 10,000 skiers. But this year’s participation numbers were down to less than half of the usual number, and the organizers incorporated a variety of changes intended to mitigate the potential spread of Coronavirus among participants. On this week’s Outdoor Explorer, we’ll speak with the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation’s executive director, Ben Popp, about the changes and mitigations that were put in place for this winter’s event, and about how they made their decision to go forward with the race, even during the pandemic.HOST: Adam VerrierGUESTS:Ben Popp, Executive Director, American Birkebeiner Ski FoundationLINKS:List

Hank Lentfer, Griselda Landa-Posas, and Richard Nelson at Lake Minichumina, photo by Davyd Betchkal.Richard K. Nelson and the cover of Raven’s Witness The Alaska Life of Richard K. Nelson, courtesy of Hank Lentfer.On the next Outdoor Explorer, our guest is Hank Lentfer. His book “Raven’s Witness: The Alaska Life of Richard K. Nelson,” won the 2020 Banff Mountain Book Grand Prize after winning best in Mountain Literature. The distinctive opening to Richard Nelson’s public radio show “Encounters” was an easily recognizable signal that you were about to take a journey into the sound of Alaska. Richard’s Alaska life spanned across the state from the North Slope to the Interior to Southeast. He immersed himself in village life and Native culture and spent his life studying the relationships between people and nature. Richard died in 2019 but he lives on through his influential radio and written work.HOST: Lisa KellerGUESTS:Segment 1: Hank Lentfer, author of “Raven’s Witness: The Alaska Life of Richard K. Nelson.”L

Emotional intelligence contributes to healthy relationships and successful adventures. Personal traits such as knowing your strengths and weaknesses, self-control, empathy, and social skills help individuals and groups make better decisions and work well together. Outdoor literature and lore are full of epic stories and tragedies caused by poor decision-making, many times due to lack of the traits associated with emotional intelligence. This Outdoor Explorer focuses on the topic with guests David McGivern, Betsy Young, and Bill Billmeier. The three of them have decades of experience teaching, guiding, and leading in Alaska and have much to contribute to the topic of emotional intelligence and its relevance to outdoor activities.HOST: Paul TwardockGUESTS:David McGivern, Betsy Young, and Bill BillmeierLINKS:Daniel Goleman’s Five Principles of Emotional IntelligenceClimbing through the lens of Emotion Intelligence with David McGivernCorax: Betsy Young and Bill BillmeierBROADCAST: Thursday, March 4th, 2020. 10:00