Month: January 2020

If you dream of treading untouched wilderness, watching caribou stream across pristine tundra, and viewing polar bears prowling the coast, there's one place on Earth with your name on it: The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Although the refuge often makes headlines for the decades-old battle against oil drilling that would disrupt its delicate ecological balance, this 19.2-million-acre wildlife sanctuary is truly remarkable for its immaculate wildness. It is a life-changing, otherworldly experience for the few hundreds of people who are bold enough to visit in any given year. Here are eight reasons why you should be one of them:

1. The Dramatic Landscape

The refuge's broad, flat, arctic coastal plain suddenly erupting into the 9,000-foot-tall peaks of the Brooks Range is one of the most majestic displays of geography on the planet. But this is just one of its dramatic landscapes. It's also home to river-carved valleys in the Brooks Range, hundreds of miles of leafy boreal forest, and the windswept coast. Along the rugged beaches polar bears search bone piles left by whalers from the only human settlement in the refuge, the tiny 240-person village of Kaktovik.

2. Endless Sun on the Horizon

From late April to mid-August, the sun never dips below the horizon in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "Where else can you enjoy twenty-four hours of sunshine?" says Michael Wald, co-owner of Arctic Wild. "The lack of darkness means a lack of time constraints. You can hike out over the curving horizon at 2 a.m." When you pair that with seemingly endless wilderness and vistas, Wald says, your imagination becomes one of the few limits to what is possible—and it means the so-called "golden hour" for photographers (when lighting is at its best) seems to go on forever.

3. Hundreds of Thousands of Caribou

Nomadic caribou may wander more than 3,000 miles every year in search of food and safety. But there's one place you can count on seeing them. Every spring, nearly 200,000 of them—members of the Porcupine Caribou Herd, the largest herd in Alaska—arrive on the refuge's coastal plains to birth their calves. They will forage until mosquitoes hatch and drive them along the coast and toward the mountains in search of relief, usually in late June or early July.

4. Polar Bears

Bear-viewing is one of Alaska's biggest adventures. It doesn't come any bigger than setting out from Kaktovik to search for polar bears. This is one adventure that you definitely won't want to undertake on your own. Polar bears see humans as potential prey, so it's best to search for them from the comfort and warmth of a secure vehicle, with the company of a guide that knows how to deal with one of the largest land predators in the world.

5. That's Just the Start of the Wildlife

Caribou and polar bears may be the most famous animals in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but every summer the refuge teems with wildlife. Muskoxen, wolves, lynx, arctic fox, grizzly bears, and black bears also call this land home, along with some forty species of fish. Snow geese swoop in by the tens of thousands. Roughly two hundred other species of birds migrate here to mate, breed, and raise their young under the midnight sun.

6. True Wilderness Fishing

The mighty rivers that flow out of the Brooks Range to the north hold Dolly Varden trout, grayling, arctic char, arctic cisco, and lake trout. You'll also find grayling south of the mountains, along with burbot, whitefish, northern pike, and several species of salmon. Fishing is allowed year-round, but the waters are only ice-free during the summer.

7. The Challenge and the Space

The refuge's remoteness makes even entering the refuge is a thrilling challenge. Your options are to walk in from the Dalton Highway, which is close to the western edge of the refuge, or to take a bush plane into the refuge from the tiny communities of Arctic Village or Kaktovik. Because there are no official checkpoints for entering the refuge, there are no exact visitor numbers. Estimates range between 1,200 and 1,500 people every year. You can easily spend a week or ten days here without encountering another human. Many feel you haven't felt the true power of being alone in nature until you've been surrounded by 19.2 million acres of untouched wilderness.

8. It's a World Apart

At this point, almost every ecosystem on the planet has been touched and changed by man. But the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which has quite rightly been described as America's Serengeti, is one of the few intact, undisturbed, ecosystems left. "The refuge is the quintessential exhibit of Earth's perfect biome," says Daniel Oberlatz, owner/guide for Alaska Alpine Adventures. "There are very few places left on our planet where you can immerse yourself in something as captivating. Being able to touch and feel a landscape, and the wildlife within it, along a continuum that is simultaneously both ancient and present. The wilderness of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge isn't bound to the hands of human time, and is thus completely and perpetually alive."

For more information on what the Sierra Club is doing to protect this national treasure, click here.

Written by Lisa Maloney for RootsRated in partnership with Sierra Club and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.

Wilderness doesn't come any bigger or better than the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. If you dream of photographing caribou as they flood through mountain passes, polar bears haunting piles of old whale bones, and dramatic landscapes that swoop from broad coastal plains to craggy 9,000-foot peaks and back down to boreal forest, this is your target.

Traveling and photographing in the refuge is also the challenge of a lifetime. It's a 19.2-million-acre wilderness the likes of which very few people ever experience. Here are a few things you should know about photo trips inside the refuge:

What Photo Gear to Bring

When you have to carry every piece of gear yourself, that giant telephoto lens starts looking a lot less attractive. We spoke to Michael Wald, co-owner of the guiding company Arctic Wild about how to shoot without breaking your back carrying the lenses.

"If you're after wildlife photography of course it's great to have a monster lens. But a 70-200mm lens will do a decent job," says Wald. "As long as you bring a tripod to keep it stable when you're zoomed way in."

The other piece of equipment many people overlook, Wald said, is a wide-angle lens.

Even if you're heading to the Arctic Refuge specifically for the wildlife, that wide angle is the only way to capture the immensity of the land around you. "What I generally pack is a 35-50mm, and that covers the big spaces," Wald said.

One thing Wald doesn't recommend bringing is a big, hard, plastic case for your camera gear. Boxy cases are hard to pack and don't fly well. Instead, he recommends a truly waterproof bag—like a dry bag or a roll-top paddling pack—with padding inside. Last but not least, make sure you bring plenty of camera batteries and memory cards.

The Logistics of getting to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

There are no roads, checkpoints, or established trails in the Arctic refuge—you can come and go anywhere you like. For most people, there are two ways of accessing the refuge. Most will take a small plane from Fairbanks to the tiny communities of Arctic Village or Kaktovik, and from there ride bush plane into the refuge. A few rough it on foot from the Dalton Highway, which runs near the western edge of the park.

Give yourself at least a day before leaving Fairbanks to account for any luggage issues and leave at least one free day between your return date and your flight out. That's because not only can the weather delay the bush plane that's coming to pick you up, it can also delay you on the ground thanks to poor visibility, high winds, or high water at stream and river crossings.

There is no cell phone coverage in the refuge. Satellite phones work in many parts of the refuge, though satellite positioning and your proximity to massive peaks in the Brooks Range can make that coverage spotty. If ever there were a place to practice extreme self-reliance, this is it.

When to Go

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in the winter is a brutal environment. It's breathlessly cold and dark and for a few weeks the sun doesn't rise at all—obviously not ideal conditions for photographers. But in June, July, and August, the waters thaw and the land comes alive as the sun circles the horizon, staying up all night to make up for its winter break.

Although summer temperatures in the Arctic refuge can reach as high as the 80s, you're more likely to encounter mild temperatures in the 40s and freezing temperatures can happen any time of the year. After all, this is Alaska.

Wald pointed out another perk of the refuge's endless summer night: the so-called golden hour can last all night long.

"In temperate latitudes, you've got to rush around for the half an hour just before, just after sunset," he said. "But in the far north in the summertime, we've got that rich, low-angle light all night."

Where to Go

Even Wald struggled to choose just one favorite place in the entire refuge. It's not hyperbole to say that this entire wilderness area is spectacular. Ultimately, he settled on what he described as one of the most iconic, and in some ways, photogenic parts of the refuge: where the mighty peaks of the Brooks Range sweep down to meet the broad Arctic coastal plain.

These mountain passes are a great place for spotting caribou as they migrate to and from their calving grounds on the plains, along with predators that are busy hunting to feed their own young. However, if you're looking for polar bears, your destination should be Kaktovik. This tiny, 240-person Iñupiat community is the only human settlement in the refuge, and its proximity to the coast and piles of old whale bones both contribute to frequent sightings of this land mammal.

Are You Ready?

A visit to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge really is the opportunity of a lifetime—and as long as you plan ahead (most people, hire a guide) you'll come away with jaw-dropping photos and stories to match. And if you need inspiration in the meantime, browse through the photos of professional photographers like David Shaw, who guides for Wald and has provided a number of the photos on the Arctic Wild website.

For more information on what the Sierra Club is doing to protect this national treasure, click here.

Written by Lisa Maloney for RootsRated in partnership with Sierra Club and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.

One of the arctic’s most unforgettable outdoor experiences takes place in the dead of night, when the air is frigid and the ground frozen. But while the earth remains locked in winter’s grip, the sky comes alive in the vivid greens and reds of the aurora borealis. Known more commonly as the Northern Lights, these natural marvels top many travelers’ bucket lists. While northern Europe is a popular destination to catch a glimpse of this otherworldly phenomenon, it’s possible for U.S.-based travelers to see them without digging out the passport. In fact, a growing winter economy has cropped up in Alaska around tracking down the elusive aurora. And with that, here’s an insider’s guide to seeing the northern lights in Alaska.

A Bit of Background

A quick science lesson on how the Northern Lights are formed will enhance your appreciation of them. Some aspects of exactly how they happen are up for debate, but in the simplest terms, the phenomenon is created by the interaction between the sun’s solar winds and the earth’s magnetosphere. When the magnetosphere is disturbed by these winds, particles of protons and electrons are released and move into the upper atmosphere. They then discharge their energy and the resulting reaction creates the aurora. While green is the most common color, reds and blues can also be seen.

Planning Your Northern Lights Tour

The middle of winter may seem like the obvious time to see the Northern Lights in Alaska. However, the most dramatic activity occurs around the equinox in September and March. The cycle of the moon can also play a part. New moons—and the week preceding and following them—are an ideal time to see the Northern Lights, since the sky is darker.

On individual nights, the ideal time fluctuates. The highest levels of activity generally falls between 10pm and 2am, so if you’re not planning to stay up during that time, you can set an alarm every hour or two for a cursory check of the night sky. In addition, the University of Alaska-Fairbanks has an excellent online tool that offers aurora forecasts up to four weeks in advance. Bear in mind that, like the weather, aurora forecasts are not always 100 percent predictive.

Where to Go

The Northern Lights can be seen in September as far south as southeast Alaska. While the aurora is consistently present in the southeast region of the state throughout the winter, its propensity for precipitation means the sky is often blanketed in clouds. The capital of Anchorage in south-central Alaska is the easiest access point in the state. But there are street lights north and south of town for many miles that can make finding great displays challenging.

Located almost in the dead center of the state, Fairbanks is an old gold boom town that has persevered as Alaska’s second-largest city. A 45-minute flight from Anchorage, Fairbanks has the best combination of consistent auroras with reasonably easy access (at least by Alaskan standards). Because it has only a few outlying communities, it’s easier to get away from the lights of the city, which is critical for ideal aurora viewing.

Ambitious types willing to rough it a bit more can also consider several harder-to-reach destinations. The town of Barrow, located on the coast of the Arctic Ocean, receives year-round service from Alaska Airlines and has outdoor winter tours. For those who want to combine a wilderness experience with their aurora chasing, consider Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, the largest wilderness area in the United States at 13.2 million acres. Lodging is scarce but possible in the winter, and all ranger stations and visitor centers are closed. Accessibility is limited and motorists should be prepared with a well-equipped winter vehicle.

Where to Stay

As the aurora industry has grown, numerous lodges, tours, and resorts have sprung up to cater to the demand. For the independent traveler, it’s certainly possible to do it on your own. All you need is a solid aurora forecast and clear skies. For overall ambience, it’s tough to beat a pair of natural hot springs near Fairbanks. About 60 miles from town, Chena Hot Springs is the most popular and includes lodging options and nightly tours. Manly Hot Springs is four hours to the west and is well-suited for those who don’t need to be pampered with high-end amenities.

Several state and federal agencies provide and maintain a large number of cabins as far north as Fairbanks. These low-budget options start at around $45 a night and are generally accessible by hiking trails, though some are located along the road system. These rustic backcountry cabins are a solid option for visitors with some experience in winter travel. Be prepared to ski or snowshoe to reach them, and check the appropriate websites beforehand to see what is and isn’t offered, amenity-wise, during winter. But if you can deal with some rustic digs for a few days, these cabins, which are often available in winter, are just the spot to call home base for an unforgettable experience—and almost guaranteed sightings of these mesmerizing Northern Lights.

Traveling in Alaska in Winter

Alaska in winter is a gorgeous and dynamic landscape, and coupled with the midnight auroras, it can make it easy to forget that this is a land and climate not to be trifled with. Even experienced Alaskans can be vexed by slippery roads peppered with black ice and snow drifts, so it’s even more crucial that visitors come prepared. When traveling on snowy roads, take it slow or wait it out until a plow truck can come through. Monitor the weather forecast whenever possible. Bring blankets, hats, gloves, fluorescent flagging, water, and food. In the event you need to dig your car out of a snow berm, bring shovels and a bag of sand or gravel to give your tires (which should be studded) all the assistance possible. Bear in mind that cell phone service is not always reliable outside of towns. Leave a travel plan with someone and remember that some highways are sparsely traveled in winter; you may be waiting a long time for someone to drive by.

Lastly, keep your fuel tank more than half full whenever possible. If you’re stranded for the evening, you’ll want every drop of fuel to keep the heater going.

Written by David Cannamore for RootsRated and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.

Despite there being more information on health and fitness today than ever before, I've found myself getting confused and frustrated by all the mixed messages.

After what feels like 100's of hours of research (I'm a geek), I've found a few principles that seem to be the "keys" to effective and sustainable weight loss. One of them is the importance of building healthy habits into your life. Another one is having the belief you can actually do it.

In this brief post we'll talk about what I feel is the most important one of all.

TDEE – The Science Behind Weight Loss

Everyday your body burns a specific number of calories just by existing. This is known as your Basal Metabolic Rate. The BMR is based on your weight, height and age. (Calculate your BMR here)

When you exercise or simply expend energy through physical activity, you burn additional calories. When you combine your BMR with the calories you burn through physical activity, you get your Total Daily Energy Expenditure. (Calculate your TDEE here).

This is what is known as your maintenance calories. If you eat this amount of calories you will maintain your weight. 

So How Do I Lose Weight?

You lose weight by having a calorie deficit.

A calorie deficit is eating less than your body needs to maintain itself and thus creating a deficit. Ever had more bills than you had money? You had a financial deficit. A calorie deficit is having less energy than you need to stay the same weight.

Let's say that based on your age, weight, and height your BMR is 1700 calories and through some physical activity you end up with a TDEE of 2300 calories. To maintain weight you simply eat 2300 calories every day.

To gain weight you eat more than your TDEE and to lose weight you eat less.

Of course, you can also achieve a deficit through burning more calories through exercise.

Every effective diet I've come across, whether it's high fat, low fat, high carb, low carb, uses a calorie deficit to achieve weight loss.

How Many Calories Are We Talking?

Technically you can eat nothing all day and achieve weight loss through having a calorie deficit.

Many "miracle diets" claim incredible results through eating specific magical foods or using unique protocols. Unfortunately many diets out there are nothing more than glorified Crash Diets. These diets put you into severe caloric deficit resulting in, yes weight loss (usually short term), but they can also cause health complications and damage to your metabolism.

To avoid doing damage, the general recommendation I've found and used is 500 calories less than your TDEE. Some people advise more, but I've found that to be unnecessary.

Also, having any more than a 500 calorie deficit makes it likely that along with losing fat you will lose lean muscle , which is not ideal as lean muscle helps burn additional calories.

There are 3500 calories in a pound of fat, so at 500 calories a day you will lose a pound in a week. (See how much exercise burns a pound of fat here.)

Note that your body can become conditioned to the same repeated exercise. This can affect your TDEE (see more about this).

How Do I Get Started?

I suggest that you use flexible dieting to accomplish the goal of creating a calorie deficit in order to lose weight in a healthy and sustainable way.

Flexible dieting is non-restrictive and allows you to eat all of your favorite foods as long as they fit within your TDEE and macro goals.

You could eat unhealthy foods and still achieve weight loss (as demonstrated by The Twinkie Diet). but weight loss and health are not mutually exclusive. My advice would be to fill the majority of your diet with fresh veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, and lean meats. This way you can feel great AND achieve weight loss.

Don't get bogged down by the latest and greatest research coming out of universities you've never heard of. All the conflicting diets and controversial advice from health gurus are enough to give anyone a headache.

Focus on your TDEE, which has proven time and time again, to be the most important tool for weight loss and getting healthier.

Just remember that whatever you decide to eat – the above information is enough for the majority of the population to get started losing weight. 

Written by Dan Bolton for Healthy Eater and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.

Beauty bloggers and gut health experts agree: We all need more collagen! Collagen plays a critical role in helping our bones, joints, hair, and connective tissues stay strong and healthy. It’s the most abundant protein in the human body – you can think of it as the glue that keeps everything together. Supplementing with collagen – at all ages – is a natural way to promote gut health, boost immunity, and keep our hair, skin, and nails strong and healthy.

Today I’m sharing a ridiculously fun way to get more collagen into your diet – with these fruity, all-natural, keto-friendly collagen gummies, flavored with Everly powdered drink mix! Everly is a delicious way to help you drink more water. It uses 100% real ingredients like stevia leaf and red radish to create colorful, fruity flavors that your whole family will love – with 0g sugar! In addition to drinking it in my water, I love adding Everly to recipes as a way to add a burst of flavor.

This recipe combines the gut-healing power of collagen with the hydrating, fruity goodness of Everly. All you have to do to promote a healthier, more balanced body is eat a handful of these gummies every day! Don’t mind if I do.

Why We All Need More Collagen

Almost all of us could benefit from a collagen supplement. Here’s why: The most obvious reason is that our body’s natural collagen production declines as we get older. This is why our hair, skin, and nails lose their luster and strength over time. Supplementing with collagen can improve the look and health of our hair, skin, and nails, helping us look and feel our best.

The second reason is a product of our modern lifestyles: We actually used to consume a lot more collagen in our diets than we do now. In an effort to use every part of the animals they were eating, our grandparents’ generation ate a lot of collagen in the form of home-cooked soups, stews, gravies, and broths. Since our generation tends to cook less, we have far less access to the collagen naturally occurring in the animal-based foods we eat.

The third reason to supplement with collagen is also due to lifestyle: Taking collagen regularly can help counteract the damage to our gut caused by processed foods, sugar, excessive caffeine, smoking, stress, etc. Having an imbalance in your gut can cause all sorts of problems, from anxiety and mood swings to heightened food sensitivities and weakened immunity.

How to Get More Collagen Into Your Diet

There are three ways to get more collagen into your diet. One way is to add collagen peptide powder into virtually any liquid you consume – smoothies, juices, soups, etc. This powder dissolves in hot and cold liquids. You can also cook meals from scratch using ingredients high in collagen – such as bone-in chicken thighs, and soups made from knuckle and marrow bones – to draw out the naturally occurring collagen.

Or, you can eat (keto-friendly) candy. With three simple ingredients and a fun gummy bear mold, you can make these magical, sugar-free gummies and eat them by the handful.

Note on ingredients: This recipe calls for gelatin powder, which is made of collagen that has been heated. Gelatin forms a gel when combined with warm liquid, while collagen does not. I’d recommend keeping both gelatin and collagen on hand, as they serve different purposes.

Note on tools: Although it adds a fun touch, a gummy bear mold is not essential to making this recipe. Pour your gummy mixture into a flat, square or rectangular container and cut into cubes for easy, basic gummies without the fuss.

Everly Collagen Gummies

INGREDIENTS

3.5 tbsp Great Lakes or Vital Proteins Gelatin

1 tbsp Everly (flavor of choice)

1 cup hot water

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine collagen and Everly in a bowl or a large glass measuring cup (such as Pyrex). While whisking or stirring rapidly, add the hot water and stir until dissolved. Pour into silicone molds (or see note above) and refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours.

Recipe Credit: Maja Majewski for Everly

Written by Everly for Everly and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.

If you're a sweet tooth you're going to love this super easy chocolate recipe you can whip up at home. All you'll need is 3 ingredients plus any toppings you might like to include.

The nutritional information is for half a bar of chocolate.

Healthy Chocolate at Home

• Melt the coconut oil gently on a low heat if required. 

• Mix cacao powder and agave nectar together with the coconut oil until a smooth paste is formed. 

• Allow the mixture to cool and thicken slightly in the fridge before spreading evenly on a flat piece of baking paper.

• Once the mixture is spread thinly on the baking paper, you may choose to add some toppings. For example crushed nuts, goji berries, sea salt etc. 

• Place the baking paper in the freezer for around 30minutes to fully harden. 

• Break the chocolate off the baking paper and enjoy! 

Written by Claire Bladen for Healthy Eater and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.