Outdoor Explorer - Alaska Public Media Alaska Public Media
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- Sports
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Customer Reviews
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!
Excellent!
Love this show and all the ways it inspires folks to appreciate enjoy our beautiful state! Keep up the good work.
Awesome bro
One of the best podcasts ever