Firsthand stories from the Last Frontier. The Arctic Archives hosts conversations with Alaskan hunters, trappers, guides and other men and women with epic stories from their time in the outdoors. Listen as guests recount adventures, close calls, and other unique experiences in the wild places of Alaska.
In another recording from the historical audio collection of The University of Alaska in Fairbanks, Don Sheldon shares a few more stories including a plane crash due to heavy snow, watching a grizzly bear kill a moose, and a mysterious murder of a mining family near Talkeetna.
This recording is part of the Tanana Yukon Historical Society Collection, recording number 76-54-10 in the University of Alaska Oral History Program
8 Sept 2026
Episode 12: The Don Sheldon Tapes, Part 1
In this 1970s recording, bush pilot Don Sheldon tells two stories, one involving a 1965 hunt with an alcoholic and somewhat eccentric millionaire, and another with a plane crash during a fishing trip a little ways from Talkeetna.
This recording is part of the Tanana Yukon Historical Society Collection, recording number 76-54-06 in the University of Alaska Oral History Program
6 Aug 2026
Episode 11: Sam O. White, Alaskan pt. 2
Another episode from Sam O. White, this time he talks about a long survey expedition going from Shaw Creek, the Goodpaster and Forty-mile Rivers, the village of Eagle, floating on the Yukon to Circle, and finally walking back to Fairbanks.
Sam O. White is interviewed by Neville Jacobs in Fairbanks, Alaska on June 21, 1974. These interviews are part of the Tanana Yukon Historical Society Collection, recording numbers 76-38-02 and 76-38-03 in the University of Alaska Oral History Program.
18 Jul 2026
Episode 10: Lesssons Learned from Guiding, Hunting, and a Boat Crash with Tyson Porter
Tyson Porter from Fairbanks describes a boat crash incident he was involved in and reflects on what he's learned as a fishing guide. He also talks about some of his hunting experiences and whether or not grizzly bear meat is good food.
3 Jul 2026
Episode 9: Sam O. White, Alaskan pt. 1
Pioneering bush pilot and game warden Sam O. White is interviewed by Neville Jacobs in Fairbanks, Alaska on June 21, 1974. These interviews are part of the Tanana Yukon Historical Society Collection, recording numbers 76-38-01, 76-38-02 and 76-38-03 in the University of Alaska Oral History Program. Sam begins by describing how his career choices led him to Alaska, then shares a number of stories from his adventures in the state.
17 Jun 2026
Episode 8: Bushcraft in the Old Days
H.O. "Red" Williams is interviewed by Bill Schneider in Fairbanks, Alaska on March 7, 1985. Recording number 85-21 courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Oral History Program. They discuss how Red came to Alaska and got into flying, and some highlight stories from his years as a bush pilot.
3 Jun 2026
Episode 7: Old Fairbanks, with Howard Luke
Howard Luke is interviewed by Bill Schneider on January 26, 1982 at his camp on the Tanana River. Recording number 82-65 courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Oral History Program. They discuss Howard's life in Alaska, dogsled racing, boat racing, local place names and superstitions, and more.
18 May 2026
Episode 6: Living Outside, from Bristol Bay to Fairbanks
Temple Dillard talks about growing up in Twin Hills in Southwest Alaska, and eventually moving to Fairbanks. He describes how he got into trapping, sewing, and selling furs, bringing his kids along for his adventures, a bit about native languages. His YouTube channel "Temple's Longtails and Furs" can be found here: www.youtube.com/@TemplesLongtailsandFurs (http://www.youtube.com/@TemplesLongtailsandFurs)
2 May 2026
Episode 5: Life on the Yukon
Jormah and Amanda Pope talk about their 12 years living in the wild along the Charley and Yukon rivers in Alaska, including time in a wall tent as well as in the historic Slaven's Roadhouse. From hunting, trapping, and fishing to how everyday life worked, they describe coping with the challenges of life in the bush, especially with their two young children.
22 Mar 2026
Episode 1: Muskox Mayhem
Stephan Krueger describes his adventure hunting muskox on Alaska's west coast with his dad and a friend. While the adverse weather conditions for which the area is known endeavored to minimize the level of enjoyment, all three manage to harvest their animals and return safely (minus one tent).
17 Mar 2026
Episode 4: The Proper Method for Pursuing Wounded Bears
Austyn, Scott, Randy and Josh reflect on a close-call grizzly hunt they shared in Spring of 2025. Between mistakes made and the unpredictable nature of bears, what they thought would be a straightforward hunt turned into a 45 hour predicament and a lifelong memory.
23 Feb 2026
Episode 3: Chaos on Kodiak
In this episode Bob Schmidt tells how he stopped a charging brown bear at the last second on Kodiak Island, and reflects on other bear encounters in the area. We spend some time discussing how grizzly/brown bear meat is worth a try, and wrap up talking about his experience trapping wolverines.
16 Feb 2026
Episode 2: Dall Sheep, Back in the Day
An older recording of the late Winfred Barr describing how, in 1953, he and his dad leveraged bad weather to navigate closer to a band of Dall sheep rams after spending a sleepless night in a cave.
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