Advertise on podcast: Outdoor Explorer - Alaska Public Media

Hatcher Pass is a favorite area for many—from skiing and hiking to berry-picking and snowmachining—it’s a gem that is nestled in the center of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. The Bomber Traverse is a hut to hut adventure that connect passes, glacier and mountain valleys to wind its way through this incredible backcountry area—even passing by the wreckage of a World War II bomber. Today I will speak with the Huts Manager of the Mountaineering Club of Alaska about their work to maintain this route—and two hikers about their experiences. This episode of Outdoor Explorer is supported by a grant from Mat-Su Health Foundation.

Alaskans love to take their dogs outdoors. Whether it's a walk in the local park, a run in the mountains, a ski or an outing on the water, dogs seem to be everywhere. Dogs provide companionship and a different set of eyes, ears and noses to their owner's outdoor experience. Most of the time the outings go well and everyone comes back happy, especially when the owners take care of their pets. However, sometimes dogs, and their owners, get into trouble. They get lost, encounter a porcupine, chase animals or get injured. Other times dogs help their owners out by finding a trail back to the parking lot in a whiteout or provide a morale boost when the weather is bad. On this Outdoor Explorer we hear from a veterinarian on how to take care of your dog and some hints on dog first aid, a story on how listening to your dog sometimes is a good idea, helpful hints for biking and hiking with your dog, and a story of finding a lost dog.

Alaska has a long history of producing competitive cross-country skiers. While the spotlight of the Olympics and the medals won there take the spotlight every four years, Nordic skiers compete in the World Cup each year in Europe – a grueling months-long competition that spans many countries and requires a steadfast dedication to the sport and the training requires. Today I will speak to two athletes, Rosie Brennan and Gus Schumacher, to hear about their experiences, their careers and what they have planned next for their skiing journeys.

Early fall is whale-watching season for Cook Inlet beluga enthusiasts, and a perfect time for the whale-curious to catch a peek at these giant white mammals as they hunt and eat in the waters just outside Anchorage. With only about 300 of this endangered species out there right now, a group of scientists and their citizen volunteers keep tabs on their health and movements. So what do you need to know about the Cook Inlet beluga, and how can you help keep watch, too? Join Outdoor Explorer host Amy Bushatz for a conversation with beluga monitor and environmental chemist Regan Davey as we talk all things beluga, then head out on a whale-watching excursion in Anchorage to experience a day in the field.

In early August, hiker Brad Bartels set down his pack, propped up his camera for a selfie, took a picture in front of a monument in Pioneer Park in Fairbanks, and became the first known person to ever complete the Alaska Long Trail thru-hike. Brad started his hike in Seward in late June and pieced together a route for the Long Trail, envisioned as a nearly 500-mile-long network of trails that is still very much under development. So how did he make his way from Seward to Fairbanks? And what did he see and learn along the way? In this episode of Outdoor Explorer, Brad joins host Amy Bushatz on her back porch in Palmer for a conversation about the trail, his route, and what he experienced.

Meg Inokuma is a quiet and determined woman who has set course records in ultra-distance events such as the Susitna 100 winter running race, the Resurrection Pass 100 and the White Mountain 100. She also won the Equinox Marathon in 2022 at the age of 42. Her story is one of a late bloomer becoming one of Alaska's best endurance athletes. She joins host Paul Twardock to discuss her path to Alaska, fighting and overcoming health issues and running some of the hardest, coldest races anywhere. They talk about her training, nutrition, balancing work and her running passion, her love of Alaska's mountains and what inspires her.

While mountain biking has been around for decades, its popularity in Alaska has taken off in recent years as more riders join the sport and more trails are added to the growing list of singletrack trails in the state. Host Steve Cleary speaks with trail advocates and cyclists from Alaska's three largest cities to find out about the growth and changes of mountain biking in Alaska.

What’s it like to ditch work for a year and bike pack more than 16,000 miles across two continents? And what challenges—physical, mental and animal—do you encounter along the way? On this episode of Outdoor Explorer we hear from Anchorage residents and endurance athletes Ryan Fox and Katie Seybert about their year off of work cycling from Edmonton, Canada to the southern tip of Argentina with a side quest down the East Coast of the Lower 48. Katie and Ryan share what it’s like to take on a big adventure, how to afford it, and the challenges of coming home.

The Alaska Fellows Program matches young people with professional positions in Alaska, helping attract and keep their energy and expertise in Alaska. Many of the fellows focus on outdoor related fields such as tourism, outdoor education, and conservation. On this Outdoor Explorer host Paul Twardock is joined by Alaska Fellows Executive Director Tina Buxbaum, fellow Amelia Lamotte and fellow Kamryn You Mak. Join us as we learn about the program and the adventures they experienced this past year.

Peter Christian and Bradley Bethel met in an online J.R.R. Tolkien class which led to them making a documentary film titled Ranger of the North about Peter's time as a National Park Service ranger in Alaska's arctic. The film features Pete as he and the film crew travel north to the Arctic Ocean. Along the way, Peter hikes and muses on his time as a ranger, what he learned, and how lessons from Tolkien's Lord of Rings apply to the many environmental challenges society faces today. Peter and Bradley, along with producer Stuart Muller, join host Paul Twardock to discuss the film, including its genesis, locations and challenges, their philosophies that guided the film, and more.

The Toolik Field Station is an Arctic research facility located 370 miles north of Fairbanks. In 2025, Toolik celebrated 50 years of inquiry to help better understand the Arctic and the role it plays in our society. What does it take to operate such a vast undertaking in the far north?

What's it like to commercial fish in Alaska? How does one get started in commercial fishing? What are the risks and rewards? Robert Atkinson commercial fished Cook Inlet and Bristol Bay for over 30 years starting with set netting and then working the hectic Bristol Bay Sockeye fishery. He and his crew, including his son, experienced seasons of abundance and summers where nothing went right. He started off pushing the limits of what his boat, the ocean, and the law allowed, then became more conservative with his operation as time went by. On this episode of Outdoor Explorer Robert joins host Paul Twardock to share his stories of 30 years of fishing in Alaska.

Alaska has a lot of trails and backcountry areas with many users utilizing them in different ways. How do horses fit into that picture? How do you take care of horses during the cold winter months? Where can you ride a horse in Alaska? On this episode of Outdoor Explorer, host Steve Cleary talks with with several riders about their experiences in Alaska and their work to help maintain trails and share them with other trail users.

The summer fun is heating up in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, where parks and trails spread across an area the size of West Virginia offer plenty of space for recreation.   So what’s exciting in Mat-Su for 2026, what should you know before you head out, and what new trails and recreation spots should you try? On this episode of Outdoor Explorer, we’ll dive into the summer ahead on parks and trails in Mat-Su as we catch up with leaders at the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation,, recreation officials with the Matanuska Susitna Borough and officials up at Skeetawk, an area usually known for its winter skiing but also home to some fun and growing summer options Host: Amy Bushatz Guests: Taylor Rafftery, Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation Allan McClain, Matanuska-Susitna Borough trails specialist Hugh Leslie, Matanuska-Susitna Borough outdoor recreation manager Menga Justus, Skeetawk General Manager

Mike and Kelly Bender operated Lazy Otter Charters in Whittier, Alaska, for over 30 years. Decades ago, a random trip Mike took to Whittier on the Alaska Railroad led to him buying a boat and getting into the water taxi business. He then met Kelly and they slowly grew the business as Whittier became more accessible after a road was added to the Whittier tunnel in 2000. They added boats, a coffee shop, and a fudge store in Whittier all while raising their family. Recently they sold the business to sisters Michelle, Jen, and Tammy Lang, passing their legacy to a younger generation. On this Outdoor Explorer Mike and Kelly share their stories of starting and running a family owned business in a small town, including the rewards and challenges they experienced and the changes they have seen in the sound. Jen and Michelle also talk about how they fell in love with Prince William Sound, started working for Mike and Kelly, came to purchase the business, and their vision for the future of Lazy Otter Charters.