Profiles | The Filson Journal

Steel, Fire, and Tradition: Blacksmith Neil Kamimura

Will Kutscher — Thu, 04 May 2023 22:12:28 +0000

At first glance, Kamimura can seem intimidating. His burly arms are covered in tattoos, a serene gaze emanating from a face framed by a bushy black beard and long hair often worn in a bun. His worn leather apron is a testament to the long hours he spends daily inside the T Kamimura Blacksmith Shop on the Big Island of Hawaii. But like the ocean breezes so common here, his smile quickly dominates the room, especially when he begins discussing his life's passion, making stunning blades in paradise.

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Reborn Refuse: The Art of Allie Spurlock

Will Kutscher — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 23:34:45 +0000

Walking along Baranof Island's rugged and rocky beaches can be an adventure. On the leading edge of the Alexander Archipelago, it often bears the brunt of the Gulf of Alaska's ever-changing weather and moods. But that unpredictability excites artist Allie Spurlock each time she leaves her studio in Sitka to explore. See, for her, a day spent roaming the tree-lined beaches is like a treasure hunt, and she loves finding her version of treasure in the form of washed-up trash.

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Heading into the Deep: Divers Institute of Technology

Will Kutscher — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 20:01:33 +0000

Located in Seattle, WA, the Divers Institute of Technology (DIT) was founded in 1968 and is one of the premier commercial diving schools in the world. Learn more about the school and its rigorous training program on The Filson Journal.

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Filson Life: Mush

Will Kutscher — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 19:59:29 +0000

In Alaska’s North Slope, professional dog musher Lauro Eklund and team set out to hunt the migrating porcupine caribou for winter sustenance.

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Pure Passion: Tori Hickel

Will Kutscher — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 00:43:09 +0000

“On the pond, it didn't matter if we had icicles on our eyelashes or frostbitten toes, we were out there for the pure passion and joy of it.” –Retired professional hockey player and coach Tori Hickel. Learn more about Tori on The Filson Journal

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Martin Buser: The Racer Comes Home

Will Kutscher — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 20:46:37 +0000

Running a string of sled dogs in the cold arctic night on the Iditarod Trail is not for the faint of heart. Ripping over frozen undulating terrain, dimly lit by an ever-bobbing headlamp, a musher must alternately trust that his team is not heading towards disaster while cheering them on as they plunge further into the darkness. They tread on a razor's edge at times. Mushers often tie themselves to their sleds to ensure that if things go south, they are not stranded on the trail as their dogs continue to race forward. There is little time to soak in the icy beauty that surrounds the sled. Instead, one must focus on the next checkpoint and the ultimate goal, Nome. The race is infamous for breaking the will of even the heartiest, and many a musher has called it quits mid-race. But not Martin Buser.

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Grit: Marc Warnke’s Pack Goats

Will Kutscher — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 20:27:32 +0000

Goats are one of the earliest animals domesticated by humans. While they’ve been utilized for countless purposes, it’s still oddly uncommon in America to use them as pack animals, but one man hopes to buck the trend.

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A Short History of U.S. Fire Lookouts

Will Kutscher — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 18:34:34 +0000

Fire lookouts have long held an important service to our forests and communities. While technology advancements help make spotting fires easier, 150+ fire lookouts are still actively manned in the U.S. today. Learn more about their history here

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Dispatches from the North: Kotzebue Sound Salmon

Will Kutscher — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 21:29:09 +0000

"Fish are hitting already, splashing. Seals surface nearby. Andrew whoops, “Rich!” and roars down-current to find a spot. I wring my sopping gray gloves, curl stiff cold fingers around the lines, and start pulling in salmon.”

Seth Kantner has fished commercially in Alaska for 49 seasons. He’s also a best-selling author, wildlife photographer, and wilderness guide. During changing seasons in the arctic, we’re excited to have Seth writing for us about his life in Alaskan Arctic and on Kotzebue Sound. Read the first of the series exclusively on The Filson Journal.

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Mary Goddard: Imprints of Copper and Community

Will Kutscher — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 20:02:38 +0000

Carved into silver, the fiddlehead catches my eye as light reflects off a displayed cuff’s surface. We are standing in Mary Goddard’s studio in Sheet’Ká (Sitka), Alaska. On the wall, seemingly fresh splotches of paint sample shades of green that seem to bring the most northern rainforest into the small space. Copper sheets, large unfinished tina’as, and a formline eagle and raven sit waiting to take flight on her worktable.

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