At play where the midnight sun holds court
If one were to travel north through Alaska, they would witness a variety of different environments. There’s the coastal environment with its sea life, large trees and rainy locales. There’s the mountainous environment of the Alaska Range, where tall peaks of ice and rock extend into the sky. The state’s Interior brings stunted spruce forests, … Read more
The horses moved against the current, pulling the long draft boat up the river. Atop the flat bottomed boat lay thousands of pounds worth of gear. Whiskey, food staples and hardware were just a few of the many objects within the shipment. Men stood aboard the boat, using long poles to stay in the deeper … Read more
About a year ago, on the 27th of April, the ice went out and water traveled freely down the Middle Fork of the Koyukuk Valley once again. The following story details that event a few days past. This year, the rivers and creeks remain frozen, while than a foot of snow lingers on. With true night … 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
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