Alaska
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Wild Place to Wild Place
The last day in Alaska arrived with the long drive back to Anchorage waiting for us, but we weren’t about to leave without one more ski. We stopped by the ranger station and ran into Tucker, who years ago had… Continue reading
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Skiing the Big River
While the forest trails were delightful, there was something about skiing up the Susitna River that captured what we love most about Alaska: a vast riverbed winding toward an epic mountain range. Traveling up the river on the foray a… Continue reading
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
Alta Backcountry 