Anchorage Daily News

Dutchman tells harrowing tale of K2 survival

Blinded by the glare off the snow and ice, attempting a perilous descent down K2 to save his life, the Dutch mountaineer came upon three Korean climbers.

Alaska climber swept away by ice on K2

From the president of Ireland to musicians in Alaska to climbers around the world, Ger McDonnell was remembered Sunday as a man full of life and eager for adventure.

Life jacket, students saved woman in river

Only a few days after 56-year-old David Yanoshek disappeared into the turbid waters of the Kenai River this summer, only a few miles upstream from where he was last seen tumbling in the surging flow after the boat in which he was riding hit a rock, another boater went for an uncomfortable and unplanned swim.

Silver lining

Expect the sultan of silver salmon anglers back -- with his crew in tow.

Memorial bench to honor former Hatcher Pass ranger

Generations to come will never get to know Pat Murphy, the likeable chief ranger at Hatcher Pass who died in 2006 from complications of bone marrow cancer. But his family and friends are making sure he leaves his mark permanently.

Outdoors hot line

Notices and listings of upcoming outdoors events

Overlooked treasure

Silver salmon return each summer by the thousands to such well-known streams as the Deshka and Little Susitna Rivers, as well as Willow Creek and Montana Creek off the Parks Highway and Jim Creek in the Knik River Valley. But two small creeks that meander through the heart of the Matanuska Valley feature fine runs that often get overlooked.

Southcentral fishing forecast

Where they're biting and where they aren't

Low red run triggers Kenai River restrictions

A faltering return of Kenai River red salmon that shut down commercial fishing in much of Upper Cook Inlet earlier this month escalated into the first significant in-river restriction on sport fishing Wednesday.

Stranded tourists rescued from Mount Marathon

A woman too scared to climb down Mount Marathon was helped off Seward's famous mountain just before midnight Saturday after an eight-hour rescue effort by the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group, the Seward Volunteer Fire Department and the Alaska State Troopers.

Mountain man

Even the toughest can do battle for only so long. And so it is that at age 81, Anchorage's Dick Griffith says he has done his last Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic.

Field notes

Outdoors highlights of the coming week

Diamond in the rough

The sun is making a rare appearance as Alex Rossiter drives through the parking lot of the Kepler Bradley Lakes State Recreation Area and pulls up by the bathrooms. As campground host, she cleans the decrepit outhouses as one of her daily duties. Collecting day-use fees, renting canoes and assisting visitors are some others.

Hunting laws need to apply to all, even troopers

As a hunter and a conservationist, it's hard to decide what is more disturbing about the brouhaha in which Gov. Sarah Palin and Alaska State Trooper Mike Wooten now find themselves involved:

Outdoors hot line

Notices and listings of upcoming outdoors events

UAA runner races a grizzly and gets lucky

Almost a week after the fright of his life, University of Alaska Anchorage cross-country runner Auston Ellis can't remember whether he heard the grizzly bear woof or a roar.

Woman recovering after Cooper Landing bear attack

Lani Vin Zant picked up her ringing phone in Wasilla late Wednesday night. The only thing on the line was her 15-year-old daughter Andria, sobbing.

Southcentral fishing forecast

Where they're biting and where they aren't

Hope's young salmon slayer

Armed with a medium-action rod and fuzzy hot-pink yarn tied to a 3/ought hook, Tyler Motoyama scouted pink salmon stacking up in Resurrection Creek like it was his duty.

Smokey Bear ad stirs up some fire from off-road advocates

A group that advocates motorized recreation is asking the Forest Service to withdraw a public service ad featuring Smokey Bear. The group says the ad sends the wrong message that riders operating off-road vehicles in a legal manner can start forest fires.