115 episodes

On “Outdoor Explorer” you're invited to step outside into Alaska. Follow us to a new trail or fishing hole, learn what to pack, when to go, and most importantly, how to stay safe. Learn about life-long fitness and get inspired to go outside in the backcountry or on the bike trails.

Outdoor Explorer - Alaska Public Media Alaska Public Media

    • Sports
    • 4.6 • 46 Ratings

On “Outdoor Explorer” you're invited to step outside into Alaska. Follow us to a new trail or fishing hole, learn what to pack, when to go, and most importantly, how to stay safe. Learn about life-long fitness and get inspired to go outside in the backcountry or on the bike trails.

    Arctic Winter Games | Outdoor Explorer BONUS EPISODE

    Arctic Winter Games | Outdoor Explorer BONUS EPISODE

    The Arctic Winter Games is a biennial event celebrating the sports and culture of the people who live in the circumpolar north. Delegations from Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland and northern Scandinavia gather to compete in 21 different sports and share their cultures with one another. This year it’s Alaska’s turn to host the Arctic Winter Games, which will take place during the school spring break, March 10-16, in the Mat-Su Valley.

    HOST: Adam Verrier

    GUESTS:
    Amy Spargo, Chair of the Arctic Winter Games Board
    Telsche Overby, Arts and Culture Program Coordinator

    LINKS:
    Arctic Winter Games Website
    Arctic Winter Games Livestream

    NOTE: This episode was recorded prior to the start of the Arctic Winter Games.
    ]]>

    • 58 min
    Challenge Alaska | Outdoor Explorer

    Challenge Alaska | Outdoor Explorer

    People with disabilities live and thrive in Alaska and Anchorage. Challenge Alaska is a nonprofit that is a key organization making that happen. Challenge works with Alaskans with disabilities, giving them access to adaptive sports, education and a supportive community. Known for its adaptive ski and snowboard program in Girdwood Challenge also offers a variety of programs in Anchorage for a wide range of people, including veterans. Challenge was established in 1980 by Doug Keil, a Para-Olympic medalist in para-alpine skiing. The organization has grown to include the Raven Program for people with intellectual disabilities, the Warrior Program for Veterans with disabilities, the Para-Sport program for people with physical and visual disabilities and the Adaptive Ski and Ride School in Girdwood.

    HOST: Paul Twardock

    GUESTS:
    Jeff Dick, recreation therapist
    Quinzee Elsberg, volunteer
    JP Wood, board member

    LINKS:
    Challenge Alaska website
    Facebook
    Instagram

    BROADCAST: Thursday, March 14th, 2024. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
    REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, March 14th, 2024. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
    ]]>

    • 58 min
    The Alaska Long Trail | Outdoor Explorer

    The Alaska Long Trail | Outdoor Explorer

    Alaska is home to some amazing trails, but one thing it doesn’t have is a long trail of its own. This week on Outdoor Explorer we dive into the Alaska Long Trail, a trail that would connect Seward and Fairbanks via a multi user trail system. We also talk about the potential for this trail to be designated as a National Scenic Trail as well as get some trail updates about the Iditarod Historic National Trail Southern Trek, which is currently the most complete section of the Alaska Long Trail.

    HOST: Martha Rosenstein

    GUEST: Mariyam Medovaya, Alaska Long Trail Project Coordinator

    LINKS:
    Alaska Trails: Alaska Long Trail
    Bureau of Land Management: Alaska Long Trail
    ]]>

    • 58 min
    Skiing Skeetawk in Hatcher Pass | Outdoor Explorer

    Skiing Skeetawk in Hatcher Pass | Outdoor Explorer

    Hatcher Pass outside Palmer in the Talkeetna Mountains has recently become a destination for groomed downhill skiing and riding thanks to the development of the area known as Skeetawk. Running the show is Megan Justus, who came to the job after managing a Syrian refugee camp. Join guest host Amy Bushatz on this episode of Outdoor Explorer as we head into Hatcher Pass to chat with Megan about managing a ski operation, plus what's coming for the ever growing Skeetawk.

    GUEST HOST: Amy Bushatz

    GUEST: Megan Justus, Manager, Skeetawk

    LINKS:
    Learn more about Skeetawk
    Find information about the Arctic Winter Games

    BROADCAST: Thursday, February 29th, 2024. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
    REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, February 29th, 2024. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
    ]]>

    • 58 min
    Alyeska Volunteer Ski Patrol stories | Outdoor Explorer

    Alyeska Volunteer Ski Patrol stories | Outdoor Explorer

    Volunteer ski patrols have assisted Alaska's ski areas since the 1950's. The Alyeska Ski patrol was founded in 1953 working at Alyeska and Arctic Valley. Through various iterations, the latest being the Alyeska Volunteer Ski Patrol, volunteers have provided aid and assistance to skiers while supporting the professional Alyeska patrol. From the mundane like helping set boundary lines to dramatic like assisting with tram evacuations volunteers have a long history of stories and experience to share. This past fall the resort decided to not use volunteers, thus ending, at least for now, the tradition of the volunteer ski patrol at Alyeska. To commemorate the patrol's history they gathered in December of 2023 to tell stories and reminisce. With the assistance of William Melton Media Outdoor Explorer was able to record some of the stories and present them to you on this episode. Matt Martyn, Patrol Director, MC'ed the event.

    HOST: Paul Twardock

    LINKS:
    National Ski Patrol
    Arctic Valley Ski Patrol
    Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol
    Skeetawk Ski Patrol
    Pioneer Ski Patrol
    Alyeska Ski Patrol
    "Women Ski Patroller of Alyeska" (Outdoor Explorer 3/13/2020 show)

    BROADCAST: Thursday, February 22nd, 2024. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
    REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, February 22nd, 2024. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
    ]]>

    • 58 min
    Ice skating on Solstice in Southcentral Alaska | Outdoor Explorer

    Ice skating on Solstice in Southcentral Alaska | Outdoor Explorer

    What's the history of outdoor ice skating in Anchorage? How did the midtown Cuddy Park Ice Oval come to exist? What is Anchorage's Winter Solstice Festival and how is it linked to Anchorage ice skating and the Park? This Outdoor Explorer answers these questions and more. Every year the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Department and their partners host a Winter Solstice Festival at the Cuddy Family Midtown Park. The event features ice skating on the park's ice oval, horse drawn sled rides, food trucks and dog sled rides. On this Outdoor Explorer host Paul Twardock roamed the event interviewing participants, organizers, volunteers, politicians and the events and ice ovals founders. In the second half of the show Jim Renkert talks about growing up in Anchorage ice skating and skiing, how the sports have become the core of Anchorage's winter city ethos and his vision of bringing winter sports to all Alaskan youth.

    HOST: Paul Twardock

    Interviewees:
    Ellen Devine, Anchorage Parks and Recreation
    Dave Bronson, Anchorage Mayor
    Anna Brawley, Anchorage Assembly
    Petra, volunteer/tourist from California
    Jim Renkart and Art Geiss, founders and organizers of the Oval and event

    LINK:
    Anchorage's Winter Solstice Festival
    Anchorage Skate Club
    Anchorage Speed Skating Club
    Nordic Skating: Luc Mehl
    ]]>

    • 58 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
46 Ratings

46 Ratings

V.L.Kern ,

My favorite adventure podcast locally made in AK

Outdoor Explorer is My favorite adventure podcast locally made in AK. And I love that it’s public media!

dancingwiththeearth ,

Excellent!

Love this show and all the ways it inspires folks to appreciate enjoy our beautiful state! Keep up the good work.

mad pitcher ,

Awesome bro

One of the best podcasts ever

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