Editor's Note: A version of this story, with some minor updating, was published a year ago in Alaska Dispatch News. We'd love to hear your suggestions, too. Leave them in the reader comments area below or on the Alaska Dispatch News Facebook page.
It's mid-October and before long Alaskans in Southcentral will be basking in fewer than 10 hours of daylight. Nonetheless, there's no snow at sea level nor a hint of ice on the lakes. Even at night, freezing temperatures have seldom been broached.
For residents who enjoy the outdoors, this can be a tough time of year. Going to ski swaps this month can whet the appetite for Alaska's longest season. But what if you need to get outdoors today, not next month? We're here for you with 10 ideas to ensure you get outdoors during the 10th month of the year – some of which carry over into November. Here's what some writers who've contributed to the outdoors section suggest:
Late fall fishing
Sure, the king and red salmon seasons are over. But that's no reason to put your rod in storage. Rainbow trout are still gorging before winter and such Parks Highway streams as Willow Creek, Sheep Creek and Montana Creek may be the ticket. An added bonus: October is the opposite of June's elbow-to-elbow fishing, and you'll have as much space on the bank as you want. Headed south? In addition to fresh water spots like Carter Lake and Hidden Lake, there's still halibut and feeder king fishing in Kachemak Bay. It's no colder on the water in October than March, when the popular Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament takes place. And the fall steelhead season is just ramping up on the Anchor River and other Kenai Peninsula waterways. The Kenai River still attracts anglers in pursuit of rainbow trout, Dolly Varden and silver salmon below Skilak Lake.
— Ken Marsh and Jim Lavrakas
Light up the countryside
The big outdoors problem in Alaska this time of year for hikers and mountain bikers is not the weather but the light. When it isn't gray, it's dark. But technology has changed that. Headlamps that rival the light of car headlights are available. The Fenix HP30 boasts 900 lumens that throws out a beam more than 200 yards, and several others are nearly as bright. Other than being a little wet from time to time, your favorite trails in Kincaid, Bicentennial Park, Hillside, Beach Lake, Crevasse-Moraine are just as good as they were in June. Beware of moose in the middle of the rut, though.
— Craig Medred
Beat snow to alpine trails
Before the snow deepens, it's not difficult to clamor up some of the gradual slopes in the Chugach Mountains, if you can nab a day that isn't too cloudy and offers decent visibility. I recently hiked up one of the ridges overlooking South Fork Eagle River Valley and aside from some snow drifts, it wasn't that hard a climb. This time of the year, I equip my boots with Kahtoola spikes (available for about $60). Avalanche danger is minimal with only a small snow accumulation, but this can change rapidly. A friend and I traversed the 14-mile Lost Lake Trail on the Kenai Peninsula early last October and there were only a few inches of snow at the highest elevation, about 2,000 feet. Over the years, I've found that before the snow gets too deep, it's not difficult to see the outlines of trails – and with some Snow Seal to waterproof boots, gators, layers of clothing, warm hat and a headlamp in case you're running out of daylight, it's not hard to get out and enjoy hiking before skis and snowshoes are the order of the day.
— Frank Baker
Flocking bald eagles
October is the best month of the year for viewing concentrations of bald eagles on the Gulkana River just above Paxson and November brings the 21st annual Alaska Bald Eagle Festival in Haines, one of the biggest bald eagle gatherings in North America. A short section of the Gulkana River that parallels the Richardson Highway between Paxson and Summit Lakes is best up north, where a couple hundred of the big birds feed on red salmon a few feet from the roadside. In Haines, upwards of 3,000 eagles feast on a late chum salmon run.
— John Schandelmeier
Animal tracking
Take advantage of the first sprinklings of snow by doing a little animal tracking. All you need is a light dusting. Pay attention to the unmarked snow beside your favorite trails or, better yet, get used to peeking under trees and between bushes as you see how many sets of tracks you can find and identify. This is a great activity to do with kids, but it's fun for adults too. Sometimes you'll see the most incredible things, like the faint brushing of a raven's wing tips against the snow as it took off. And better yet, this is something you can continue all winter long. Books like "Animal Tracks of Alaska" may help.
— Lisa Maloney
Prepare for the cold season
This in-between season is a great time to take stock of the emergency supplies you carry during your outdoor adventures. Some people are comfortable with nothing but a garbage bag and fire-starting supplies in a zip bag. But most of us want to carry a little more. The important thing is that whatever you pack should be adequate to meet your immediate survival needs (warmth and shelter, water, food) in the conditions you may encounter, and you should know how to use it. If you don't, now is a great time to practice. Start some fires on a river gravel bar where they won't leave lasting marks. Build some shelters. See just how comfortable you can get even when it's chilly. Oh, and remember to carry some way of signaling for help. You can't always count on your cellphone; an emergency whistle or an emergency mirror can really save your bacon.
— Lisa Maloney
Shooting ptarmigan, waterfowl
Some hunters like to get out this time of year and kick up grouse and ptarmigan in the Kenai Mountains and north of Anchorage in the Mat-Su Valley. Ptarmigan can be found above timberline in the high country where early snows reveal fresh tracks, while spruce and ruffed grouse can be found in forested lower elevations pecking gravel in the mornings, feeding on whatever berries and rosehips still cling to shrubs. Waterfowl hunting season is winding down in the Anchorage area, but it opened Oct. 8 (through Jan. 22) on Kodiak.
— Ken Marsh
Visible hares
Snowshoe hare numbers are at a fairly low point locally in their seven-to-10-year cycle, though a few can be found in brushy pockets off the Glenn Highway north of Sutton or even south on the Kenai Peninsula. Best part about hunting them this time of year – if you can find a place where numbers aren't too low – is that the hares have pretty much turned white, making them easy to see as they stand out against the dark ground.
— Ken Marsh
Lake trout lunkers
Lake trout fishing is at its peak in the Copper River Basin this time of year. Fish the windy shorelines of the larger lakes near the points. Trout move into the shallows as the water cools to feed on snails and salmon fry that are roiled by fall winds. Bring good gear. Just a little wind can make it feel much colder this time of year. A bit of discomfort is worth it, though. I have seen 10-pound-plus trout working in water so shallow their backs are out of the water.
— John Schandelmeier
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Empty trails at Kincaid, Hillside
The ski trails at Anchorage's Kincaid or Hillside parks are nearly deserted after 8 p.m. this time of year even though the lights are on. That makes for a weirdly spooky and often fascinating mountain bike ride or trail run.
— David Hulen