Charles Wohlforth

Why and how we take risks is a constant topic on Outdoor Explorer. On this edition, we take it head on, with Craig Medred, the controversial and outspoken outdoor writer who has often commented on others' backcountry mishaps. In particular, we'll be discussing the Chris McCandless story, which is the subject of another new book and a PBS film. The topic is risk, reality, media fantasy, and how they interact. Join us for a lively hour of radio. KSKA: Thursday, Nov. 20, 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

Anchorage has produced a crop of playwrights whose work you can see many weekends on local stages, and some who have gone national, including David Holthouse, who's play Stalking the Boogieman has received rave reviews from the New York Times and other national publications. David will join me, Charles Wohlforth, along with local writer, actor and director Dick Reichman, and your questions. KSKA: Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

The caves of Prince of Wales Island are magnificent and truly weird. Alaska has deep, complex caves that have never been fully explored. And there are many caves of ice, too, with incredible shapes and colors, that are constantly changing. Join us to talk about exploring caves in Alaska, caves of rock and of ice. KSKA: Thursday, Nov. 6, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Download Audio

When we meet for Hometown Alaska on Wednesday, the election of 2014 is finally behind us. At least the voting and the ads are over. We're still trying to figure out what it means. Join host Charles Wohlforth and two former politicians for an hour of election digest. KSKA: Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Download Audio

In a few weeks Alaskans will vote on whether to raise the minimum wage from $7.75 an hour to $9.75 in 2016, the highest level in the country, and to have it continue to rise with the cost of living. We'll discuss the pros and cons of upping the minimum wage, and the employees and businesses who would be affected by a change to the lowest hourly pay. KSKA: Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

Too many bicyclists have been killed by drivers in Anchorage in the last year. Enough to make riders reconsider using our streets. We'll host a community discussion on bike safety. As more people are using bicycles for transportation, are we taking the right steps to keep the roads safe for all travelers? Join us with your questions and comments. KSKA: Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

You don’t have to be a genius chef if the people you are cooking for are hungry enough, which is one reason why freeze dried food tastes so good at the end of a day backpacking. But there’s so much more you can do.On the next Outdoor Explorer, we'll hear from two backcountry cooking experts to talk about ideas, tools, and the yummiest stuff you’ve ever tasted out under the sky. KSKA: Thursday, Oct. 2, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

The bore tide in Turnagain Arm is an amazing phenomenon that is seen few places in the world, a wall of water that rushes in on a clockwork schedule, vast and intimidating. So… why not surf it? On the next Outdoor Explorer, we’ll meet some of the hearty folks who ride that big wave, and talk about surfing the remote shores and big waves found all over Alaska’s coast. Listen now:

Geocaching is sort of like outdoor treasure hunting, and it's getting really big in Anchorage. Host Charles Wohlforth recently gave it a try with his daughter. They had an iPhone app and a mission to look for hidden caches logged on a website powered by GPS equipment. The result? A fun, and somewhat addicting, new hobby. Join us on air to learn more about geocaching. KSKA: Thursday, Sept. 18, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

The week's show is for the gearhead in all of us, as we talk to guys who are fixing up some of the coolest old stuff around, and what's more interesting than that? A group is rebuilding a full-sized steam locomotive that once ran on the Alaska Railroad, and now will run again. And we'll have a restorer who rebuilds historic airplanes at the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum. KSKA: Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

Jennifer Pharr Davis hiked the Appalachian Trail in 46 days, averaging 47 miles a day. David Johnston finished the 350-mile Iditarod Invitational in four days, running on snow. They’ll both join us as we try to understand what makes ultra-endurance athletes tick. Their accomplishments are almost super human. How do they get that way, and what makes them go? KSKA: Thursday, Sept. 11, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

Fall is in the air and it is time to put up the food you caught and gathered over the summer so it will last you till spring. On the show, we’ll roll up our sleeves and get down to the details about the best ways to butcher, smoke, can, and freeze what you caught and picked over the last few months, and the next few weeks, so that when the snow flies you can taste a little of the summer and make the most of your harvest. KSKA: Thursday, Sept. 4, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen now: 

Anchorage played a major role in the Cold War with our large military installations and missile batteries, but did you know spies and counter-spies were working here, too? In advance on a major conference on Cold War history, including espionage, Hometown Alaska looks at what was going on under the surface in our city a generation ago. KSKA: Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

There's a lot to know to be a successful hunter or angler, and not everyone learns it from a parent or family friend. That's especially true for women, who may not have been treated as potential outdoors people as girls. As the fall season begins, we will explore the opportunities for hunter education, including classes created for women, and learn what it is that you really should know. KSKA: Thursday, August 28, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

You can’t always assume the places you love to recreate will still be accessible for the next generation, especially on the edges of urban Alaska where development happens rapidly. The Matanuska Valley contains some of our favorite places. We'll discuss the work being done to conserve it by a private non-profit organization, and about fun spots like Bodenburg Butte, the Palmer Hay Flats, and the many other hiking, biking, hunting and fishing areas to enjoy. KSKA: Thursday, August 21, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

Big changes face Alaska's students this year, with new standards of what they need to learn, and new tests to find out if they learned it. We are joined by the superintendents of both the Anchorage and Mat-Su school districts to learn about the changes, and the Commissioner of Education to explain the thinking behind them. On the first day of school, hear from Alaska's top educational leaders, and ask your questions. KSKA: Wednesday, August 20, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

Taking a fishing charter from a small boat harbor is a classic Alaska experience. It’s a time to bond with friends and family, to enjoy the thrill of excellent fishing, and it's a way for many Alaskans to stock their freezers for the winter. This week on Outdoor Explorer, we're taking our show on board a fishing charter outside of Homer. Host Charles Wohlforth gets the rundown on new halibut regulations in effect this year and an insider's perspective on what makes a fishing charter fun and successful. KSKA: Thursday, August 14, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

One of the great joys of hiking in Alaska is seeing the plants and flowers, watching how they change as you pass through different ecosystems and elevations, and learning the names and characteristics of the species you see. The mountains and woods where we hike are always beautiful, but when you understand what you are seeing the pleasure is greatly increased. Join host Charles Wohlforth and guests to learn more about Alaska wildflowers. KSKA: Thursday, July 31, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

This week's Outdoor Explorer comes to you from the Chilkoot Trail, the infamous route used by Klondike gold rushers during the late 1800s. As you walk the trail, signs of that crazy gold rush period are evident, but even more impressive is how a century has erased much of the gold rush's footprint. Host Charles Wohlforth and friends take on the 33-mile trail over five days of hiking. KSKA: Thursday, July 24, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Download Audio

In 1967 the Wilcox Expedition attacked Mount McKinley with 12 young men. Only five came back alive. The disaster was the worst in the history of the mountain, and changed many lives and the way people thought about climbing it. Two authors have recently released books on the event, and both join us on the show to rehash what they remember from the deadly event. KSKA: Thursday, July 17, at 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Download Audio