In this episode Ryan Sapena from Seek Outside walks through his favorite tent setups — the Courthouse, Cimarron and the ultralight Silex — and explains liners, stove choices, and simple maintenance tips. He also covers setup best practices and common mistakes (tensioning, guy-outs), condensation management, accessories, and buying advice including Black Friday sales and lead times. Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Thanks to the sponsors:Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Steve Shannon is a former teacher turned strength coach in Fairbanks. In this episode we discuss why everyone should be an athlete with the goal of improving the quality of their lives, not just pursuing athletic achievements. He gives practical advice on training youth athletes, fueling performance with protein and sleep, and using simple habits "exercise snacks," and rucking to stay fit for hunting and life. Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Thanks to the sponsors:Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Atlas bar founder James Oliver talks about the motivation behind making a high‑protein, low‑sugar bar with real ingredients, grassroots sales at gyms, a 100‑mile running challenge eating only Atlas bars, and the importance of honesty when marketing. We also discuss the current state of metabolic health in America, craving challenges and information.  Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Thanks to the sponsors:Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Anna Sakawsky is the host of The Coop and editor of Homestead Living Magazine. In this episode she shares her journey from city life, practical tips for gardens, infrastructure, chickens, pest management, and cost-saving strategies. We also cover food preservation (canning, fermenting, freeze-drying), dealing with failures, choosing starter animals, and what readers can expect from Homestead Living magazine and the podcast. Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Thanks to the sponsors:Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

In this episode Kevin Fraley talks about chasing brightly colored “pumpkin” Arctic char above the Arctic Circle. We also discuss his contaminant research along the Dalton Highway, concerns about the proposed Ambler Road, the rollback of the Central Yukon Resource Management Plan, and related impacts on fish, caribou, and local subsistence. Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Thanks to the sponsors:
 Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)
 Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)
 Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Udo Cassee is the owner of Sheldon Air Service in Talkeetna. In this episode we discuss year-round operations including flightseeing tours, ski-plane glacier landings, transporting Denali climbers, bear-viewing trips, and air taxi services. Udo explains his small-group approach, aircraft types (Cessna 185 and radial Beaver), and the legacy of Don Sheldon. Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Thanks to the sponsors:Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Jack Westerheide discusses his path from marketing and consulting to building Scout, a platform for collecting authentic stories and research about hunting and fishing. We also discuss how social media, influencers, and AI reshape trust, gear reviews, industry dynamics, and why capturing real traditions and consumer insights matters for the future of the outdoors.

Alaska Wild Project's Daniel Buitrago recounts his brutal moose hunt that featured rain, flooded rivers, broken winches and bridge building. We also discuss plans for an upcoming bison float hunt, filming a feature for Alaska Wild Project, and community events and meetups for the hunting season.

Harrison Gottschling is back to recap his week-long backpack sheep hunt with his 10-year-old son. We discuss managing expectations, the lows of weathered-in tent days, gear choices, and parenting on the trail.  Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Thanks to the sponsors:Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Abby and I recap our blacktail deer season, my recent moose hunt and gear we have liked.   

In this episode Lou Tamposi and I discuss Substack, intentional eating, home-cooking tips, farmed seafood, buying directly from small farms, hunting and processing venison, simple recipes and balancing family life, fitness, and food choices. Lou's Substack is Cow-we-doin'.  Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Thanks to the sponsors:Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Trout Unlimited CEO Chris Wood discusses the history and impact of the Roadless Rule, the Tongass National Forest, and how roads and logging affect salmon habitat in Southeast Alaska. We talk about the rule’s origins, lessons learned over 25 years, the need for balanced local economies and recreation, and how collaborative restoration and thoughtful management can protect fish, communities, and sustainable timber uses. Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Thanks to the sponsors:Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Amanda Montheil is a writer and former wildfire hot shot. In this episode we discuss her time fighting wildfires, growth through struggle, handling intense situations, community, and writing. Her podcast is called Life with Fire and her Substack is Little Fire Burning.  Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Thanks to the sponsors:Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Since we didn't get into detail about the actual hunting, this episode is the play-by-play of the bucks the Bales brother tagged. 

Jaden, Tyler and discuss what makes hunts impressive, the importance of attitude, reputation, and personal quests. We also talk about the variety of hunts we did over their 10 days in Alaska and that it's okay to have fun and enjoy the experiences.  Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Click here for a 20% discount on an annual subscription to The Westrn, the outdoor community’s newest newspaper. Thanks to the sponsors:Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

In this episode Jaden and Tyler Bales and I recap our first trip into the mountains for blacktail deer. We discuss the reality for locals who must travel by boat, truck or both to access hunting grounds, how AI is impacting the outdoor space, flooded tents and knowing when it's time to call it and get off the mountain.  Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Click here for a 20% discount on an annual subscription to The Westrn, the outdoor community’s newest newspaper. Thanks to the sponsors:Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

On this Opening Day road hunt, Abby and I discuss habitat and the impact of corporations and private equity on local business and outdoor companies. Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Click here for a 20% discount on an annual subscription to The Westrn, the outdoor community’s newest newspaper. Thanks to the sponsors:Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Jaden Bales and his bother have never been to Alaska so in this episode Jaden and I talk expectations, logistics, gear and weather as he packs for the trip to hunting blacktail deer in Southeast Alaska.  Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Click here for a 20% discount on an annual subscription to The Westrn, the outdoor community’s newest newspaper. Thanks to the sponsors:Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Margaret Stern lives in Talkeetna, Alaska, and is preparing to build a cabin on her new property. In this episode we talk about her first project in the remote interior of Alaska, milling lumber, foundations, making adjustments, plans for the new cabin and unique property luxuries like DIY saunas.   Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Click here for a 20% discount on an annual subscription to The Westrn, the outdoor community’s newest newspaper. Thanks to the sponsors:Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

In this episode, Harrison Gottschling and I discuss the joys and trials of raising children in Alaska (particularly his life in a dry cabin), the attempted sale of public lands and making the most of daylight.  Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Click here for a 20% discount on an annual subscription to The Westrn, the outdoor community’s newest newspaper. Thanks to the sponsors:Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)Backcountry Hunters and Anglers