At play where the midnight sun holds court
Jack M 
To the uninitiated, the perception of Alaska is strongly shaped by popular culture, mythos, and one’s own wild imagination. My view was shaped by similar notions prior to becoming familiar myself. What does the land hold within its dark and icy clutches? One can be somewhat forgiven for the common perception cold takes hold of … Read more
A smile crept across my face as I gazed out the window. 35,000 feet below, glaciers splayed out in every direction with the surrounding mountains towering over narrow valleys. A small winding road led around their outskirts, the black asphalt offering a snaking cleared passage through a land of white. I picked out familiar landmarks. … Read more
Since moving to Alaska, I’ve made a point of heading back to Chicagoland to visit family around Christmas. It’s always been a special time in my family and has only become a richer experience as I’ve grown older, where I’ve been able to introduce, start, and continue traditions with Alana and now our kids*. Logistics … Read more
“Man always kills the thing he loves, and so we the pioneers have killed our wilderness. Some say we had to. Be that as it may, I am glad I shall never be young without wild country to be young in. Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?” -Aldo … Read more
Eight years ago, I shared my favorite Alaskan books and media. Many more pages have passed through my fingers since then and a glance at my Goodreads page shows 117 books read on my “Alaska” shelf. You’d think that after reading 117 books about one state I’d long have run out of all the good … Read more
Below is a list of podcast interviews and written features of our PCT trip. This post will be continually updated with any new discussions and/or features. Podcasts Advanced Retroadaptics Tangentially Speaking with Chris Ryan The By Land Podcast Hiker Trash Radio Great Stories on 9010 Podcast (Alana interview) The Unruly Podcast (with both Alana and … Read more
In the far north, winter keeps a tight grip on the land. By early April, the thermometer’s mercury on many a day still finds itself below the freezing point. With the cold refusing to yield its icy grip, one begins to wonder if spring’s warmth will ever come—nearly all of winter’s snow remains on the … Read more
After months of writing, editing, and formatting, I’m pleased to share that my book, You Carry the Tent, I’ll Carry the Baby, has launched is available for sale from all major online book retailers and beyond. The response so far has been incredibly heartening, with many people finding inspiration and motivation from the book. The … Read more
As some of you may know, after Alana, Enedina, and I returned from our journey along the Pacific Crest Trail, I embarked on a new adventure—transforming our experiences into words. Today, I’m thrilled to share a milestone: my book, “You Carry the Tent, I’ll Carry the Baby: One Family’s Journey on the Pacific Crest Trail,” … Read more
Sometime in the first few days of September, Din and I were walking the aisles of Grocery Outlet in Quincy when a woman stopped us to ask about our trip. She was skeptical about us heading into the mountains at this time of year and was asking why we were going so late. “We’re actually … Read more