Alaska

  • Skiing Through It

    Valentine’s Day has always mattered to Elaine and I. At this point it feels like superstition, but more than that it’s a way of marking time. Doing something together. Something intentional. And if there is a better way to spend… Continue reading

    Skiing Through It
  • North, Unrushed

    February 12-13, 2026 Winter in Alaska does not reward urgency. The sun arrives late, almost sheepishly, and the town follows its lead. Nothing opens until midmorning and no one seems particularly concerned about it. We woke up our first full… Continue reading

    North, Unrushed
  • Going North in Midwinter

    Taking a short break from the Greenland journal to tell about a recent trip to Alaska’s interior. February 11, 2026 Since we took over the ski shop in 2020, Elaine and I have not taken a midwinter trip. Winters are… Continue reading

    Going North in Midwinter
  • June 20, 2024 – Day 13 – Summer solstice, huge passes, more bears

    November 6, 2024 Note: Given the events of yesterday’s election, I feel a higher sense of urgency to tell the story of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, for this is the very spot where President-elect Donald Trump wants to drill… Continue reading

    June 20, 2024 – Day 13 – Summer solstice, huge passes, more bears
  • June 15, 2024 – Day 8 – The Arctic Meets the Desert Southwest

    Today we entered the desert-southwest portion of the Brooks Range, with dry canyons, arroyos and the sweetest sage I’ve smelled north of the Wind Rivers. People often compare the Arctic to the desert. Both are dry and give similar sensations… Continue reading

    June 15, 2024 – Day 8 – The Arctic Meets the Desert Southwest
  • Brooks Range Traverse Gear List

    This is a list of the gear we used on our hike/paddle across the Brooks Range. This was roughly 600 miles of hiking and 400 miles of paddling. Gear is super personal; what works for some people doesn’t for others… Continue reading

    Brooks Range Traverse Gear List