Paul Twardock

2 weeks ago | alaskapublic.org | Paul Twardock

As spring approaches and the snow disappears, summer trails reemerge from their own hibernation. At the same time, trail crews are gearing up for their summer projects. On this Outdoor Explorer Haley Johnson and Mariyam Medovaya with Alaska Trails join host Paul Twardock to discuss various trail projects, including upgrades to the Crow Pass Trail out of Eagle River. In addition, they discuss the Bureau of Land Management's recently released Alaska Long Trail National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study.

2 weeks ago | alaskapublic.org | Paul Twardock

Well-cared-for outdoor gear makes for successful outings, and saves money. On this episode of Outdoor Explorer host Paul Twardock talks gear care and repair with three experts: Jamie Hirano teaches textile repair and reuse at the Anchorage Museum, Patrick Higgins is the Director of Outdoor Studies at Alaska Pacific University, and Jeremy Cronon is a field instructor and partnership director with the National Outdoor Leadership School, or NOLS.

1 month ago | alaskapublic.org | Paul Twardock

Trail builder and Anchorage ski racing pioneer, Jim Mahaffey, visits the studio to discuss his arrival in Alaska in the 1960s, the early years of the Alaska Methodist University Ski Team and the construction of the APU ski trail system in the U-Med district in Anchorage. Jim’s program pioneered the early development of women’s cross-country ski racing and his program supplied many of the members of the first American women's Olympic teams in cross-country skiing.

1 month ago | alaskapublic.org | Paul Twardock

On the top of Mount Gordon Lyon, overlooking Anchorage and the Arctic Valley Ski Area, is a set of buildings holding an important piece of Alaska's History. Nike Site Summit is one of three Nike Hercules missile sites in Southcentral Alaska. Operating from 1959 to 1979, Site Summit's Nike Hercules missiles were designed to intercept Soviet Union bombers with high explosive or even nuclear warheads. It was decommissioned in 1979 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

1 month ago | alaskapublic.org | Paul Twardock

Lisa Roderick spent 22 years managing Denali Basecamp on the Kahiltna Glacier, acting as flight control for glacier pilots, weather reporter, first responder and more. In her time at base camp manager she spent the equivalent of years of her life living on the massive Kahiltna Glacier and the vertical world of the Alaska Range. Her position gave her great insights into mountain aviation and mountaineering.