At play where the midnight sun holds court
As I made my way into the headwaters, the snow became deeper and deeper. With mountains engulfing the valley, the area’s snow was not impacted by winds. The deep, sugar-like snow required tremendous exertion to move forward with each stride. A ski slides forward atop the snow. I transfer my weight and then sink a … Read more
Beyond the forest, waves crashed on shore, while within, drizzle from the sky above trickled through the canopy and down to the shrubs and mosses of the forest floor. On the beach, the stones shed the droplets, the water coursing down through them to meet the crashing waves and return to the sea. Within the … Read more
The wind whipped along the ridgeline, gusting across and ferrying the few loose flakes into the valley below. Up high among the tors, the light and the terrain made one think of winter. The soft pastels lit up the horizon beyond the mountains as the sun shone its last light for the day. Snow covered … 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
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
It’s said to be the best hike off the Dalton Highway in the Brooks Range. I had heard it from numerous residents of the area and I intended to find out for myself if that was true. My companion was my tent mate, Mark, and we decided on a day in late June to make … Read more