At play where the midnight sun holds court
During the summer of 2019, our forestry work regularly brought us over the vast mountain ranges of Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park. Based in Glenallen, we regularly worked field plots north of the mountains near the border. This brought about long helicopter rides, flying over volcanic mountains, across large drainages and past dozens and dozens of … Read more
The wind blew the rain against the tent. The constant, loud pitter pattering of the windblown drizzle against the nylon amplified our perception of the storm’s intensity, making it seem torrential. During the night, the wind had upended two of the stakes, pinching the sides of the outer shell against the inner. As a result, … Read more
During my time living in the Brooks Range, I spent a lot of time staring at maps of the surrounding area and dreaming up routes and places that I wanted to go. One of those places was a packraft loop involving the North Fork of the Chandalar and the Bettles River via Geroe Creek. The … Read more
The Lost Coast of Alaska stands as one of the more remote regions of the state. The coast receives the brunt of storms rolling in from the Pacific and into the Gulf of Alaska, with no land in between to serve as a buffer. With its many bears, storms, and rugged terrain, the area remains … 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
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
June 4, 2014: Today I head north to begin my adventure. I will hopefully begin my trek tomorrow. My mom will be posting weekly or so updates of my expedition to this blog. With winter winding down, I feel as if now is as good time as ever to announce my plans for this … Read more