Avery Ellfeldt
Alaska Desk Reporter, HainesAvery Ellfeldt covers Haines, Klukwan and Skagway for the Alaska Desk from partner station KHNS in Haines. Her coverage touches on issues ranging from mining and conservation to climate change and tourism in the Lynn Canal. Avery joined the Alaska Desk in early 2025 after moving to Haines sight unseen.
Avery has covered climate change for Politico’s E&E News in Washington, D.C. and Denver, Colorado, her hometown. When Avery isn’t at work, you can find her hiking, backpacking and learning new outdoor sports. She also enjoys photography, cooking with friends and occasionally using her bachelor’s degree in Spanish, which she earned from St. Olaf College in 2019.
Reach Avery at avery@khns.org.
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The Chilkat Valley’s eagle gathering is central to the area’s identity – and it serves as an economic boost for the town of Haines at the start of the winter. -
A former state geologist spoke with KHNS about what’s happening with the Palmer Project near Haines. -
The 95% number has been repeated so often, for so long, it’s become something like conventional wisdom. But experts aren’t convinced it should stay that way. -
Lately, Fred Sharpe has been focusing on whale noises that can be heard at the surface. He says they're understudied compared to their underwater counterparts. -
Vizsla Copper Corp. has purchased the Palmer Project from America Pacific Mining Corp. -
None of the farm’s produce is sold. It’s all shared throughout the community, either for free or in exchange for work. -
The terminal would complicate travel for residents trying to access the hub-community for healthcare and air travel. -
The Dahl Memorial Clinic and Chilkoot Indian Association are gathering supplies and food from community members, which will be shipped to Anchorage. -
The Alaska Earthquake Center has long provided NOAA with seismic data for tsunami monitoring and warning purposes. That work will wind down in November, after the federal agency said it can no longer fund the contract. -
The report paints a picture of the so-called Cascade Point ferry terminal as a project with more pros than cons – especially in the long term.
