Alaska
Archive
Right now, the Supreme Court is hearing a case that could take away the federal government's ability to regulate rivers in 100 million acres of Alaskan wilderness
The first full-length mountain film to be shot entirely in 4K is no gimmick: it's a game changer for high-action, small-budget productions
Unlimited access for big-tired bikes
The coolest zero-carbon home we've ever seen
Ian McIntosh did everything right—whether he meant to or not
The rules: Pilot a boat 750 miles from Port Townsend, Washington, to Ketchikan, Alaska—no motors allowed. The prize: $10,000 nailed to a piece of wood. The result: Seven capsizings, four lifesaving Big Macs, one dramatic coast guard rescue, and a cast of oddball adventurers who reclaimed the salty heart of ocean racing.
Find a hardy vehicle and hit the (off-) road
A close examination of the president's recent trip to the state reveals that he made some inroads, even with those who balk at his progressive environmental agenda
High school runner Allie Ostrander is about to take the world by storm
Armed with the latest technology, a team of climbers aims to find out Denali's exact elevation
Sleeping in the wilderness is great. Not so great: making camp and dealing with the inevitable missing stake. So we've got recommendations for tent-free wilderness digs on any budget.
When François Guenot vanished last summer on a wild and remote Alaskan coastline, many in the state dismissed him as yet another unprepared greenhorn. But a revelatory road trip with François's father and brother revealed he was something special: a tough, soulful wanderer whose story resonates with the grand traditions of the American outdoors.
You’ll recognize at least a few of the names on American Rivers’ annual Endangered Rivers list—but what will you do to ensure they remain pristine?
These adventure geniuses will make your next trip the one you never, ever forget.
Dallas Seavey is the latest in an esteemed bloodline of Iditarod champs. Since 2012, he's won the race twice and set records as the race's youngest and fastest. This year's goal? Out-mush dad.
Give a bunch of guns and gold to hearty, tattooed Alaskans, and turn them loose.
Among the benefits to hitting the trail in winter? No mosquitoes. But there are more!
Ski operations in the Last Frontier are making an exodus from the once thriving scene in Valdez. And that means better powder for you.
The bold move ostensibly protects one of the world’s most productive fisheries. But the bay’s most pressing threat remains: the Pebble Mine.
What was he thinking? (No, really, we asked him.)
Unleash your inner Norse god while driving one of these scenic winter routes.
Afterglow isn't just the year's most captivating ski movie—it's also a giant TV ad. And it could be the future of adventure films.
Do cell phones, satellite messengers, and personal locator beacons create more false alarms in the backcountry?
Swiss explorer Mike Horn looks to grind out a big first—again.
Long stretches of open road through some of the most beautiful areas of the country, peppered with wildlife sightings, adventurous detours, and good brews—it's so much more than getting from Point A to Point B.
These oases of relaxation, adventure, mindful eating, and awe-inspiring views are going to be very popular once it's safe travel again. Until then, we can dream.
Take it to Alaska's Kenai Peninsula and find some of the best fishing, paddling, and moonshine-sampling of your life.
The volcanic remains at the heart of Aniakchak National Monument—the least visited site in the national park system—are a trippy mishmash of postapocalyptic cinder cones, hardened lava, and flame-colored walls. The only catch? Doing it right involves days of trekking and rafting through some of the planet’s toughest, most bear-heavy terrain.
Some in congress want to change a bill that allows presidents to designate national monuments. Should we care?
Imagine surfing on a wakeboard while a big-ass kite pulls you across the water—and occasionally out of it. This is kiteboarding in horribly reductive terms (but you knew that already). Let’s get to the part where pro kitesurfer Damien LeRoy answers the question in question. Damien…
Epic adventure narrative about the 1897 Yukon Gold Rush airs this week
Explore the continent's most awe-inspiring place on a bold road trip across the last frontier.
Sure, it’s the biggest state in the union. But that doesn’t mean every adventure in Alaska has to be an expedition. These six day-hike-friendly trails will give you a taste of the Last Frontier’s wild beauty and still get you back in time for last call.
Travel to these destinations for tons of open space—and it's all yours
From southern Europe to southeast Asia, six regions where great adventure is infused with even better food. Pack your appetite.
In the quest to make—and sell—the perfect drink, no one is going further than Scott Lindquist of Alaska Distillery. To concoct his premium vodkas, he hunts down 300-pound icebergs on Prince William Sound, then taps their ancient waters to power mysterious blends that keep winning awards. David Kushner heads north to sail and sip with the intrepid craftsman.
I’ve always wanted to watch the Northern Lights over the night sky. Where’s the best place to go see them?
Want to know what domestic bliss looks like? A rundown cabin with no electricity on the edge of rain-soaked Alaskan wilderness.
James Balog has spent his career pushing the artistic and adventure boundaries of nature photography. For the past five years, he's been capturing the impact of climate change on glaciers, culminating in the powerful film Chasing Ice. What he documented was catastrophic—and should be required viewing for every policymaker on earth.
Along for the ride with the homesteaders of the Discovery Channel's Alaska: The Last Frontier
If you plan to get out in an inflatable this season, you’re probably going to have a great time regardless of what body of water you’re cruising. But if you’re looking for the biggest thrills and the most excitement, consider this your go-to list.
Forget the necktie. He doesn’t need another one. Want to let dad know you care? This year, send him on one of these adventures. Don’t have a dad—or don’t care for the one you’ve got? Send yourself.
Watch Felt Soul Media's award-winning documentary about the fight to save Bristol Bay, Alaska’s salmon from an open-pit mine
While many gun proponents remain adamant that firearms offer better protection against a charging bear than pepper spray, a growing body of scientific research suggests otherwise
Forget the drunk, stumbling, bleached-blonde, muscled hordes of Panama City. Take a trip to one of the country’s top spots for adventure and come back refreshed.
With La Niña back and the East Coast on a five-year blizzard streak, we devised the ultimate ski calendar to help you and your family take advantage. From a boot-deep New England Thanksgiving through spring-break corn snow in the Southwest, the outlook is decidedly epic.
On August 18, 1992, Chrisopher McCandless died alone in a bus in the Alaskan backcountry. Before his stay in the bus that others now visit as a pilgrimage, he journeyed all over North America. This gallery features some of the photos and notes from his ramblings. To read more notes and view more photos from Christopher McCandless, go to christophermccandless.info.
A treasure trove of unpublished letters and never seen photos offers a fresh perspective on the adventures of Christopher McCandless
The key to finding fresh adventure in the national parks? These ten strategies will get you far beyond the camera-toting hordes to where empty peaks, forgotten trails, and lonely rivers await.
What qualifies an adventure lodge as one of the world's best? Hot tubs and high thread counts, sure. But what sets these ten launchpads apart is access—to remote trails, steep runs, and lonely peaks.
They climbed the biggest walls, descended the longest rivers, and sailed the highest seas. And they went farther and faster under their own power than anyone else in 2010. Chosen for their ambition, their attitude, and their audacious lines, these are Outside's inaugural adventurers of the year.
We present our Trips of the Year, everything from whitewater rafting in Siberia to mountain biking in Argentina to the greatest multisport vacation in Alaska.
Two new island novels explore what it means to leave everyday life far, far behind.
Because the heat of summer is upon us, we scoured the globe for the greatest sailing, fishing, paddling, diving, floating, surfing—you get the idea—trips out there. And since you can't always pop over to Indonesia, we picked a few close-to-home adventures, too.
I'm graduating from a Masters program in May, and planning, possibly, my last great summer get-away before becoming a hard-working stiff in September. My itinerary from mid-May through August includes a hiking/camping cross-country road trip to Sedona, two weeks of camping and hiking in Alaska, volunteering as a fly-fishing instructor in Alaska, and traveling in Asia for three weeks. If you were putting together a recommended gear list (particularly lightweight waterproof jacket, backpack, tent, and sleeping bag) from scratch where would you start?—JosephPittsburgh, PA
An American imprisoned for the murder of his ex-girlfriend in a Nicaraguan surf town finally clears the air—sort of.
Cruise ships and wildlife buses? The tourist staples miss the point of Alaska: It's the last real place to find an epic, crowd-free adventure on American soil. We've scoured the state for the best wilderness lodges, river trips, lonely highways, and DIY escapes. Bear mace not included.
It's not enough to be at the forefront. In an era when everything has supposedly been done, these adventure icons ignore convention, court risk, and let their passion lead the way.
Hey, I'm looking for your recommendation on high-quality lightweight tents. I lead extended backpacking trips (30 to 45 days) in Alaska during the summer (read: snow is likely, so both three- and four- season tents are options), and am hoping to find a good three- to four-person tent that can withstand strong winds, heavy rain, and is light enough to be carried by the group. Double wall is preferable. Any suggestions? I'd like to keep the price under $600 if possible.—CaseyO'Malley, NY
I’m working in Southeast Alaska (Juneau) again for the summer as a deckhand on a whale-watching tour boat. The rain jackets they gave us last year weren’t all that great, and I want to bring something that offers a little more protection. I work 8 to 16 hours at a time, sometimes it's raining the whole time. I like being able to move, but weight isn’t that big an issue. As a younger student I am also budget-conscious. What do you recommend?—JosephAustin, TX
I'm doing the John Muir Trail this summer and am trying to decide between a down sweater (like the Rab Microlight Alpine jacket) or a down vest (like the Western Mountaineering Flight Series vest). The vest is lighter, but I'm concerned about warmth.—NanaNew York, New York
A new travel outfitter is offering up dream adventures guided by elite athletes. Is it too much of a good thing?
I gearing up to make a Denali summit attempt some time next year and I wondering if my Scarpa Summit GTX boots with a good overboot will be up to the task. I know it is crazy cold up there and I like my toes. What do you think? Kevin Lyndhurst, NJ
Make your next fishing trip to Alaska memorable with a stay at one of these resorts.
In one corner of Alaska's Bristol Bay, the sockeye salmon, a $300 million resource that's sustained fishermen like 29-year-old captain Lindsey Bloom for more than 100 years. In the other, the Pebble Mine, with its projected hundreds of billions in copper and gold. Get ready for the fiercest wilderness rumble since ANWR.
Seventy percent of the planet is water, but only 1.17 percent—1.63 million square miles—of that is protected. Compare that with the eight million square miles of land set aside and it's clear we have a long way to go. Here's where we should start.
My sons are serious cyclists in their twenties and want to do a bike trip with Mom and Dad in Alaska this summer. Can you recommend something challenging for them that won't kill us? P S. Highlands Ranch, CO
Yukon Quest champion Sebastian Schnuelle talks about eating vacuum-packed McNuggets, cooking for canines, and taking on Lance Mackey.
Out on the far edge of the Alaska frontier, a man can hide his sins. Robert Allen Hale—a.k.a. Papa Pilgrim—bought a homestead outside the remote town of McCarthy where he imprisoned his family and conned the world with tales of a simpler life. But for the 15 children living the nightmare, the only choice was escape.
Where do ski patrollers go heliskiing? I'm an expert skier looking to pull the trigger on heliskiing this year, probably in BC. I'm willing to pay for a little luxury, but don't want to be surrounded by intermediates who just happen to have the money. Dan G. London, England
Eleven years after Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild caused a sensation, the family of Christopher McCandless, director Sean Penn, and his all-star cast and crew talk about their quest to bring the fatal journey of "Alexander Supertramp" to the big screen.