Essays

by Erin McKittrick

Now vs. Never vs. Later

Natural Gas in Cook Inlet and the pitfalls of short-term planning.  The Case for Leaving Wealth in the Ground. (2012)

As the Beaches Wash Away

Global warming and its impacts on coastal erosion, as explored through an journey to Alaska's Malaspina Glacier. (2012)

Running with Red Dog

As we traveled through the region, I tried to discover whether Red Dog Mine was a godsend to the local economy, a disaster waiting to happen, or maybe all of the above? (2010)

The Dead and the Dying

A journey through the diminishing glaciers of the southern Kenai Peninsula with three generations of family. (2009)

Lost Forests on the Lost Coast

A short expedition to explore remediation, rebirth, and the aftermath of logging on the Gulf of Alaska coast (2009).

The Fruits of Insanity

A cold and windy February odyssey in the Kenai Fjords. Or how a pair of unusual people feed off eachother to produce something a little bit wonderful, and a little bit insane. (2007)

Where Threatened Waters Flow

A journey through the watersheds downstream of the proposed Pebble Mine, through wilderness, communities, and an uncertain future.(2006)

More

And read trip journals from over a dozen older trips on our old AK Trekking website.

in Magazines

Reflections on Glacier Bay

- by Erin McKittrick.  From the Journey on the Wild Coast, originally published in National Parks Magazine (Winter 2010).

A Long Trek Home photoessay

- by Erin McKittrick.  Published in Wend Magazine (Summer 2009).

Proposed Mine Endangers Bristol Bay

- by Erin McKittrick.  From the Alaska Wilderness League Newsletter (February 2007, page 6.)

Site of the Proposed Pebble Mine

- by Erin McKittrick.  A photo essay on my 2005 trip to the Pebble Mine site in Environment News Service. Or read it on my page

by David Coil

Metals Recycling: A Necessary Start

A discussion on the complexity and necessity of metals recycling, focusing on aluminum as an example. (2010)

Reconsidering the "Value" of Gold

Thoughts on the arbitrary value of gold, as contrasted with the environmental destruction caused by mining it. (2010)

by Others

-by Andrew Mattox (2012).  Modern day backpacking, synthetic gear, and the realization that we are all made of oil.

-by Mike Borden (2012).  An account of a photojournalism trek to Grewingk Glacier on the Kenai Peninsula.

Circling the sound

- by Bjorn Olson and Kim McNett (2011).  A journey essay describing an environmentally-focused circumnavigation of Prince William Sound in a homemade kayak during summer 2010.

Close Encounter with a Grizzly Bear

- by Mike Borden (2010). A detailed account of a dangerous grizzly encounter in southcentral Alaska, along with practical information about bear safety and bear spray.