At play where the midnight sun holds court
Every major multi day winter ski trip that I have attempted has resulted in failure due to significant foot blisters. I wanted to be like the cool kids and use the Dynafit plastic boots but could never seem to get them to work. Shells and liners that were too tight or hotspots that couldn’t be … Read more
The pain stopped me in my tracks. A jarring sensation went up through my lower legs, from my shins on down. I thought again if it was worth it. Should I just turn back? No. I told myself once again that I wouldn’t be mentally weak. Almost reluctantly, I continued on stumbling over tussocks toward … Read more
Dubbed by many as “the run” on the Haul Road, the Atigun-Sagavanirktok float offers intense boating through the northern reaches of the Brooks Range and onto the North Slope. I had wanted to do the trip since arriving in the country. Something always seemed to be lacking, mainly a partner or time. In late August, … Read more
I’ll start with what turned out to be the most notable strategic decision, not bringing a packraft. It’s easy with the benefit of hindsight to say I should’ve brought one. Water was really high and I could have cut significant time off my total. But knowing what I did then, I probably made the right … Read more
The Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic, as the name implies, is an annual wilderness event occurring in the mountain ranges within Alaska. The event was started by a group of friends in the early 1980s and has continued ever since. It is a point to point trip, meaning you’re given a starting and ending location and you … Read more
I had undergone a transformation over the past year and a half. On the Colorado Trail in the summer of 2014, I found myself so scared of bears after hearing one huffing and stomping around in close proximity to my tent one night that I thought they were waiting around every bend. I would get … Read more
All summer I had stared at her. She lay glittering right across the river or just off the road depending on where you were, changing colors with the seasons. If you think I am talking about a woman, I’m going to guess that you haven’t been to Arctic Alaska. For there are no women here, … Read more
This past summer, there were over 3 million acres in Alaska that burned as a result of over 600 different wildfires. A lack of snow last winter, coupled with a normal, dry summer in the interior, provided a perfect catalyst for wildfire conditions. Although there weren’t many fires nearby Coldfoot, we were not immune to … Read more
As part of my job, I interact with people from all across the world and spend at least a few hours with them. I hear a lot about people’s preconceived notions of the Arctic and how it differs from what they imagined, especially in the summer time. I hope to dispel some of those myths … Read more