Outdoor Explorer - Alaska Public Media

After the Olympics | Outdoor Explorer

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,

Monitoring Cook Inlet beluga whales | Outdoor Explorer

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

Hiking the Alaska Long Trail | Outdoor Explorer

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

Mountain Running with Meg Inokuma | Outdoor Explorer

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

Mountain biking in Alaska's largest cities | Outdoor Explorer

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 g

Cycling across continents | Outdoor Explorer

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 Alaska Fellows Program | Outdoor Explorer

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

Ranger of the North | Outdoor Explorer

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 Na

Toolik Field Station | Outdoor Explorer

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

Life of a Commercial Fisherman | Outdoor Explorer

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

Alaska on Horseback | Outdoor Explorer

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 dur

Summer outside in Mat-Su | Outdoor Explorer

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

Family Business | Outdoor Explorer

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

Finding hope in the natural world | Outdoor Explorer

On this episode of Outdoor Explorer, we're catching up with author and wildlife biologist Caroline Van Hemert — whose new book has grown from years of watching the natura

David Hart: An Alaska Mountaineer | Outdoor Explorer

David Hart is one of many Alaskans with impressive mountaineering resumes that few people know about. Dave's early formative years were spent in his back yard of the Chu

Search and rescue in Alaska | Outdoor Explorer

Search and rescue in Alaska is complex and difficult. Even close to Anchorage, a city of around 289,000 people, search operations are challenged by steep mountains, thick

Hiking for healing and adventure | Outdoor Explorer

Eagle River residents and military veterans Justin and Wella Jay know what it’s like to spend weeks on a trail hiking and exploring together after tackling a thru-hike of

The Kenai River, Antarctica and beyond with Kelsey Kroon | Outdoor Explorer

Alaska shapes you in particular ways. It teaches you to read weather, to know your exits, to pay attention to what's underneath the surface. For Kelsey Kroon, it also tau

Sailing in Alaska | Outdoor Explorer

Alaska isn't always the first place that comes to mind when you think of sailing, but sailing clubs have a long history in Alaska. On the this Outdoor explorer, guest hos

Outdoor photography and the faces of the Iditarod | Outdoor Explorer

Photographer Jeff Schultz has built a career in Alaska capturing stirring images of the state’s wildlife, outdoor spaces, and the people, drama and dogs of the Last Great