In the winter of 2012-2013, I read Dick Proenneke’s journals, recounted in One Man’s Wilderness, forever changing the course of my life. The picture he painted of a life in the wilds created a burning desire to leave the Chicago suburbs, the home of my youth, and set out for the Alaskan wilderness.  Four months later, I took the NOLS Semester in Alaska, spending 75 days sea kayaking, glacial mountaineering and backpacking within Prince William Sound and Wrangell-St. Elias N.P. 

Not long thereafter , I moved to Arctic Alaska, working and living as a tour guide within the expansive Brooks Range.  After finding my footing, I moved further north, to a 1930s 12 x 12 off grid cabin in the tiny community of Wiseman to pursue a subsistence lifestyle. The dark, isolated winters 70 miles above the Arctic Circle ultimately drove me south to relatively brighter and warmer climes in Fairbanks, where I currently live in a self-built home with my wife Alana and our daughter Enedina (‘Din).

In 2023, Alana and I set off to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail with 9 month old Din in tow. We hiked roughly 1,500 miles over 3 months riding a roller coaster of emotions from start to finish. I began writing after we finished, ultimately putting together and publishing a book, “You Carry the Tent, I’ll Carry the Baby.”

If you are interested in learning more about my background, I discuss it further in my first conversation with my friend Tyler on his podcast.

My writings here contain many of my outdoor adventures, bits from our off-grid Alaskan lifestyle, and other musings. If you find yourself yearning for more, I sometimes make videos on YouTube.

I hope you enjoy reading,