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Homer New reporter Sarah Knapp admires Alaska's beautiful landscape during a trip to Anchorage. (Photo by Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Sports

Out of the Office: Sticking to New Year’s resolution

I’m still trying to find out where I belong in Homer.

Erika Arthur leads Libby Jensen and Krista Arthur in the 17th Ski for Women on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion
Erika Arthur leads Libby Jensen and Krista Arthur in the 17th Ski for Women on Sunday, Feb. 7 at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna.

Sports

Out of the Office: Skiing doesn’t have to be perfect to be good

“One thing I definitely miss about Anchorage are the groomed cross country ski trails,” read the text.

Skating on Jean Lake on Nov. 21, 2021. (Photo courtesy Sabine Poux on Ashlyn O’Hara’s camera)

Sports

Out of the Office: Solace in skating

I’m used to the cold, but Alaska’s darkness has proved difficult to get used to.

Michael Armstrong and his dog Leia harvest a Christmas tree in December 2013 on his land on Diamond Ridge near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Jenny Stroyeck)

Sports

If you don’t have your own tree lot, harvest trees on public lands — and stay off private property.

As I postholed through 3-foot deep snow in my Diamond Ridge driveway this Sunday, I thought back to…

Michael proposes to Sarah at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Sports

Out of the Office: Falling in love one snowflake at a time

Homer News reporter smells snow - and gets the surprise of a lifetime.

Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai River curls to Skilak Lake, as seen from the Hideout Trail on July 5, 2020.

Sports

Out of the Office: Clearing the trail

One of the benefits of growing old is waking up and, despite having done nothing particularly noteworthy the…

Fall leaves frame a shot of Kenai Lake on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Sports

Out of the Office: To everything, there is a season

We don’t really have “seasons” where I’m from. It stays an amicable 75 degrees and sunny pretty much…

Anthony Botello fishes for halibut off the coast of Homer, Alaska, on Sept. 6, 2021. (Camille Botello)

Sports

Out of the Office: Fish on!

I was pretty spoiled as a kid.

The afternoon sun makes birch leaves glow yellow on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at the Hidden Lake Campground in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Sterling, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Sports

Fall in Alaska is subtle but fabulous

On my mother’s side I come from a long line of New Englanders, the kind of people for…

Michael, Sarah, Pete, Becky, Will and Margaret take a picture in front of Exit Glacier in Seward on Aug. 21.

Sports

Out of the Office: Finally feeling at home

Homer News reporter Sarah Knapp explores Alaska with Tennessee family.

Photo by Jeff Helminiak 
A waterfall flows at McCullough Gulch in Colorado on Aug. 5, 2021.

Sports

Out of the Office: Best-laid plans

The plan was for the family to meet in Colorado to try and summit one of the state’s…

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge’s July 3 discovery hike was at the Vista Trail. (Photo by Camille Botello)

Sports

Wishing y’all well

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be “well” lately. Like, what does that actually…

Camille Botello reaches the Skyline summit near Cooper Landing, Alaska with dirty ankles on June 27, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Sports

Out of the Office: The view from Skyline

In some ways, the isolation of the pandemic has proved even more harsh for me.