Every year at the end of August in the Black Rock Desert of northwest Nevada, Black Rock City is built, and for about a week it becomes the third largest city in Nevada, with around 60,000 inhabitants. It is the host city for the annual event called Burning Man and it has all the amenities you’d expect to see in any other city of this size. It has with bars, restaurants, bike shops, clothing boutiques, auto mechanics and recreation centers. But the thing that differentiates this city from other American cities is that nothing at Burning Man is bought or sold, traded or bartered; Black Rock City runs on a gift economy. Every resident is expected to participate, and to bring something to contribute for the common good. What you decide to contribute – that’s up to you.

On this episode of Outdoor Explorer host Adam Varrier explores Burning Man. He speaks with Cherie Yanek. She’s the race director for the annual Burning Man Ultramarathon, which takes place in the middle of the week at 5 o’clock in the morning, to beat the mid-day desert heat. In the second half of the show, we hear from the artist Miguel Guzman about the art piece he created along with his partner, Iyvone Khoo, using recycled and biodegradable materials including Mycelium. The sculpture is presented in an area of Burning Man called “Deep Playa," which is open desert, some distance from the tent city that holds the occupants of Black Rock City. The art piece represents the Mayan Rain God, Chaac, and our conversation took place at around 3:00am under a full moon and the stars of the Milky Way galaxy stretching from horizon to horizon across the night sky.

HOST: Adam Varrier

GUESTS:

Cherie Yanek, race director for the annual Burning Man Ultramarathon

Miguel Guzman and Iyvone Khoo, artists

LINKS:

Burning Man website

Burning Man Ultramarathon 50k

Miguel Guzman's Instagram page

Iyvone Khoo's website

BROADCAST: Thursday, September 28th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT

REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, September 28th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT

What makes an outdoor expedition successful? Most trips in the outdoors, whether one day or two weeks, are enjoyable and fun, that's why Alaskans, even on wet summers like this one, flock to the outdoors. But some outings turn into epics and even tragedy. On this Outdoor Explorer host Paul Twardock talks about what makes a good expedition happen with retired Denali Mountaineering ranger Daryl Miller and current South District Ranger for Denali National Park Tucker Chenoweth. They discuss what made some of their expeditions succeed despite life-threatening weather and what they've learned advising and observing expeditions on Denali.

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUESTS:

Daryl Miller, retired Denali Mountaineering ranger

Tucker Chenoweth, South District Ranger for Denali National Park

LINKS:

Leave No Trace.org: Plan Ahead and Prepare

National Park Service: Climbing Denali

REI: Food Planning

The Hall of the Mountain King

Alaska author Don Rearden grew up in Southwest Alaska living and observing rural life. His books "Raven's Gift," a novel, and "Without A Paddle," a collection of poems, reflect his Alaska experiences and life. Don also co-authored books featuring two of Alaska's professional military rescuers. Don joins host Paul Twardock to discuss Alaska's culture, history and environment and how they influenced his writing.

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUEST: Don Rearden, author

LINK:

Don Rearden's website

Biking single track trail on mountain bikes has become very popular in Southcentral Alaska. Trails have proliferated and more are planned. Long trails like the Alaska Traverse will help connect communities and increase non-motorized recreational opportunities. In the Matanuska Susitna Valley and Chugiak/Eagle River individuals and groups are busy building and maintaining trails. On this Outdoor Explorer host Paul

Twardock welcomes Will Taygan with the Chugach Mountain Bike Riders and Rene Dervaes with the Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers to discuss what is happening in Mat-Su Valley and Chugiak/Eagle River and the upcoming Alaska Mountain Bike

Summit.

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUESTS:

Will Taygan, Chugach Mountain Bike Riders

Rene Dervaes, Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers

LINKS:

Chugach Mountain Bike Riders

Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers

Alaska Trails

Single Track Advocates

Joe Kurtak embodies a modern day Alaskan. He was raised at a remote mining camp in eastern California, went to college, then came to Alaska in 1971 for a summer job. He quickly fell for everything the Great Land had to offer, especially its geology. Joe worked for 40 years mapping Alaska's geology while working for both private firms and the federal government. Along the way he also pursued his love of skiing and sea kayaking. On this Outdoor Explorer Joe shares his wealth of knowledge of Alaska's geology, including Prince William Sound, and some of his many adventures with host Paul Twardock.

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUEST: Joe Kurtak

LINKS:

"Mine in the Sky : The History of California's Pine Creek Tungsten Mine and the People Who Were Part of It"

"Of Rock and Ice: An Explorer's Guide to the Geology of Prince William Sound, Alaska"

Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol

On the next Outdoor Explorer our guest is Nicole Chamberlain and the Meowtaineer, Petra the Adventure Cat. Petra is a Siberian Forest Cat, well-adapted to the cold, and Nicole has taken her on many adventures on the snow and the water. They recently spent time at the Sheldon House in Denali and Petra became the first cat to ski on the Ruth Glacier.

HOST: Lisa Keller

GUESTS:

Petra the Adventure Cat, meowtaineer

Nicole Chamberlain, meowtaineer guide

LINKS:

Petra and Nicole’s Instagram

Petra and Nicole’s TikTok

Petra and Nicole’s Website

Sheldon Chalet Website

BROADCAST: Thursday, August 10th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT

REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, August 10th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUESTS:

Jessica Cherry, editor of "Wheels on Ice"

Andromeda Romano-Lax, author, contributor to "Wheels on Ice"

LINKS:

"Wheels on Ice"

More than a century of tales from the trails in ‘Wheels on Ice: Stories of Cycling in Alaska’

BROADCAST: Thursday, August 3rd, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT

REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, August 3rd, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT

On this Outdoor Explorer we're joined by Alison Mariella Dèsir, author of "Running While Black: Finding Freedom in a Sport That Wasn’t Built for Us." Her book unveils the running movement as being centered around and represented by White people, not only ignoring the foundational work and performances of Black distance runners but also not acknowledging that running while Black can be dangerous.

HOST: Lisa Keller

GUEST: Alison Mariella Dèsir

LINKS:

Alison Mariella Dèsir website

Harlem Run

Run4AllWomen

The Running Industry Diversity Coalition

Run Alaska Trails POC Trail Running and Adventure Retreat

Skinny Raven Book Signing

Out & Back with Alison Mariella Dèsir

Many Alaskans have helped preserve the open spaces we enjoy. Their hard work, dedication and perseverance gave us our state parks, trails and environmental standards that we enjoy. This Outdoor Explorer features Peg Tileston. Peg has been active in organizations including the Alaska Center for the Environment (now called the Alaska Center), the Alaska Women’s Environmental Network, the Alaska Conservation Foundation, the Alaska Water Resource Board, Trustees for Alaska, the Alaska and Alaska Common Ground. She has also been on the board of Chugach Electric Association, the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Council, and the Anchorage Recycling Task Force to name a few. She has received numerous awards including being inducted into the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame. Along the way she explored much of Alaska. She joins host Paul Twardock to discuss her many contributions and adventures.

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUEST: Peg Tileston

LINKS:

Alaska Women's Hall of Fame

Alaska Center

Alaska Common Ground

Alaska Conservation Foundation

Trustees for Alaska

BROADCAST: Thursday, July 20th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT

REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, July 20th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT

The bike race formerly known as the Fireweed 400 is back. Now simply called “The Fireweed,” this 200-mile race makes its comeback this weekend taking riders from Sheep Mountain Lodge to Valdez! This week on Outdoor Explorer, we talk with president of the board of directors, Sara Wendling about all things race details and catch up with the a few members of the 1wheel1ders, a unicycle team that will be participating in this years race.

HOST: Martha Rosenstein

GUESTS:

Sara Wendling, President, Fireweed Board of Directors

1wheel1ders, unicycle team

LINKS:

Fireweed race website

Facebook

Instagram

BROADCAST: Thursday, July 13th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT

REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, July 13th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT

People come to Alaska for a variety of reasons. Award-winning photographer Mark Kelley came with the hopes of meeting a whale, and almost 50 years later, he’s still here. On this episode of Outdoor Explorer host Martha Rosenstein and Kelley talk about the challenges of photographing wildlife in Alaska, turning his passion into a career and what it’s like to return to a special spot year after year to observe and photograph bears.

HOST: Martha Rosenstein

GUEST: Mark Kelly

LINKS:

Mark Kelly Photography

Facebook

Instagram

BROADCAST: Thursday, June 1st, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT

REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, June 1st, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT