Fishing for prehistoric traces of sockeye salmon in Eklutna Lake
Yes, there is an isolated group of salmon living in Eklutna Lake today -- but did ocean-reared salmon ever swim up the river into the lake?
We Alaskans
Yelp review: Mom & Dad’s Great Alaskan Bed & Breakfast
The menu is very limited and you never know what you’re going to get, although it almost always involves salmon.
Mr. Fix It: Korean immigrant builds a life and business in Anchorage
Although he didn't speak English when he arrived in Anchorage in the 1980s, Chun B. Park has built a successful business in Midtown.
Early explorer’s account serves as reminder of Arctic perils
Richard Montgomery's tale comes from a time when surviving in the Arctic required skills gained exploring. Cold, isolation and death were constant companions.
Unnatural changes in nature in Nancy Lord’s new novel
Excerpt from novel "pH": The numbers of birds today were mere fractions of what he’d observed in the 1970s. Especially murres. They used to be as thick as flies.
Soaking in the Kotzebue vibe
For a visitor, the pace of life is entrancing, though the cost of living can be daunting. And the specter of climate change is ever-present.
Meandering the mudflats: 800 miles around Cook Inlet
With the second-largest tides in North America, traveling Cook Inlet isn't easy. Capt. James Cook discovered that more than 200 years ago. We did much more recently.
Reading the North: Poetry and razor clams
Poems by Kate Partridge as well David Berger's deep dive into the history and science surrounding razor clams.
Alaska by the numbers: U.S. Coast Guard’s 150 years here
Since well before statehood, the Coast Guard has had a significant presence in Alaska.
Bill Fulton’s account of how he took down Schaeffer Cox
An interesting and highly readable account -- though an extremely profane one -- by one of the key figures in the apprehension of Alaska militia leader Schaeffer Cox.
Can you please not talk to me like I’m an idiot?
Yet again, I was on the phone with a man in a hardware store who felt he could talk down to me simply because I was a woman with a question.
At Larsen Bay, a cannery where the tenacious rhythm of salmon season holds sway
Larsen Bay salmon cannery on Kodiak Island has a long history shaped by the ups and downs of commercial fishing.
Detesting yet loving Skagway
Sure, the Alaska Panhandle town that's a gateway to the Yukon is overrun by tourists. More than a million all summer. But visitors are Skagway’s history, its “authentic” Alaska identity.
Remembering a Garfield classic, ‘Thousand-Mile War’
This year marks the 75th anniversary of World War II's Aleutian campaign, a good time for a fresh look at the classic book that was a Pulitzer Prize finalist.
Traversing the Brooks Range, step by revealing step
A 60-day trek across the 1,000 miles that serve as Alaska's spine is recorded in marginalia on map sheets taped together as I wormed my way into the wilderness.
Close encounters of the ursine kind near Wrangell
At the Anan Creek Wildlife Observatory near Wrangell, black bears are the most numerous, and the setup allows a certain amount of intimacy.
Arctic Council pilloried in brutal satire
British playwright Kieran Lynn delivers work that is as mature and serious as it is satirical. Best of all, it’s damned funny.
A first visit touches on the soul of Unalaska
Some 1,200 miles from Juneau, Unalaska is a marvelous destination, full of interesting people, places and a tragic World War II history.
My 50-year ride in the 49th state
Recounting a few memories and quips to celebrate the fact that fellow Alaskans never quite got around to throwing me out of the state.
Anchorage’s own Noah: A boat builder’s 30-year obsession comes together at last
For Steve Thon, building a 21-ton boat high in Eklutna Valley took the bulk of his time, energy and money for three decades.