Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
A Week Between Denali and Fairbanks
I spent my final days in Denali exploring Cantwell, hiking Horseshoe Lake and trying to master my Garmin 67i before driving north to Fairbanks. That's where the week changed. A noise I'd been hearing from the rear of the van turned out to be a brake pad worn completely to metal, leaving me parked for several days while Ford searched for parts and me wondering how 7 mm of brake pad disappeared so quickly.
Denali: East Fork Discovery Hike
A full day in Denali's backcountry took me across an icy river, through colorful tundra, and into grizzly country on a ranger-led East Fork Discovery Hike. Along the way I learned about the Pretty Rocks Landslide, photographed wildlife, and experienced one of the most peaceful landscapes I've encountered in Alaska.
Talkeetna Chase Bike Trail
Rain kept me busy sorting through over a thousand photographs before the skies cleared for a bike ride along Talkeetna's Chase Trail. Along the way I discovered Alaska birch syrup, sampled surprisingly good birch ice cream, enjoyed a local nitro stout at the Denali Brewpub, and ended another relaxing day in one of Alaska's most welcoming small towns.
Chugach State Park
A rare sunny Alaska day leads me to Chugach State Park, where I hike the quiet Eydlu Bena Loop Trail, come face-to-face with a hawk hidden in the forest, photograph wildflowers overlooking Eklutna Lake, and end the evening relaxing in Wasilla after watching SpaceX's Starship launch.
Homer - Grewingk Glacier Hike
Up before sunrise in a Homer church parking lot, then coffee at Coal Town before a water taxi across Kachemak Bay. The hike to Grewingk Glacier brought a black bear with cubs, porcupine scratches, and dozens of rock cairns, ending at a lake ringed by mega tsunami warning signs, an old herring saltery, and wildflowers worthy of Van Gogh.
Cooper Landing (2 Days)
Rain followed me from Seward into Cooper Landing, but it didn't stop me from hiking to Russian River Falls. What began as a day photographing salmon became something entirely different after a serious accident near the falls brought Fire and EMS racing up the trail. Between the rescue, hours spent photographing salmon, and conversations with strangers from across the country, it became one of the more memorable days of my Alaska journey.
Exit Glacier and Seward, AK
After finally feeling healthy again, I returned to Exit Glacier on a perfect blue-sky afternoon. A moderate hike through Kenai Fjords National Park led to spectacular glacier views, vibrant wildflowers, and unexpected conversations with hikers from around the world. I finished the day with sunset photography and gelato along Seward's beautiful waterfront.
Anchorage Cycling Trails
Anchorage surprised me. What started as a casual bike ride turned into an afternoon exploring miles of interconnected trails, watching moose from a safe distance, learning about the 1964 earthquake at Earthquake Park, and discovering just how bike-friendly Alaska's largest city really is.
Kennecott Copper Mill, Root Glacier, McCarthy, AK
What looked like a simple day trip to McCarthy became a lesson in Alaska logistics, mining history, and glacier landscapes. After navigating the infamous McCarthy Road, I toured the massive Kennecott Copper Mill, learned how one of the richest copper mines in history operated, and then hiked toward Root Glacier under gathering storm clouds before making the long journey back.
Caribou Creek Trail
After learning that snow and high water had made the Skookum Volcano Trail a questionable choice, I shifted plans and hiked the Caribou Creek Trail along Nabesna Road in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Along the way were interesting conversations, a mysterious abandoned jacket, relentless mosquitoes, stream crossings, and a quiet backcountry cabin tucked deep into Alaska's wilderness.
Sturgill's Landing and a Quiet Skagway
After a quiet morning in Skagway, I hiked the Sturgill's Landing Trail through dense rainforest overlooking Taiya Inlet. The day included wildlife photography, conversations with fellow hikers, citrus-flavored western hemlock tips, a navigation lesson with my Garmin GPS, and a surprisingly empty Skagway at the end of the day.
Skagway's KlondikeGold Rush Stories
I spent the day exploring Skagway's history, starting at the excellent Skagway Museum and ending with the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park film. Along the way I learned about Soapy Smith, the White Pass railroad, Buffalo Soldiers, and the hardships faced by thousands of stampeders heading for Dawson City. A stop at the historic Mascot Saloon and an evening hike around Lower Dewey Lake rounded out one of the most interesting days I've had in Alaska.
Mendenhall Glacier Nugget Falls Trail
A cold, wet day in Juneau eventually led to one of Alaska's most famous landscapes. When the rain finally eased, I headed to Mendenhall Glacier and followed the trail to Nugget Falls. Along the way I photographed fog-covered mountains, learned how dramatically the glacier has retreated, met visitors from France and India, and captured one of my favorite images of the trip.
Chetwynd, BC
A long drive through northern British Columbia turned into an unexpectedly interesting day of frozen lakes, roadside conversations, drifting logs, small-town cafés, and hours exploring the massive chainsaw carvings of Chetwynd. What started as a simple drive north toward Dawson Creek and Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway became one of those travel days where the unplanned stops became the story.
Prince George
I spent the day exploring Prince George, British Columbia, from the disappointing lighting and strange mix of exhibits at The Exploration Place Museum to hours wandering Cottonwood Island Nature Park along the Fraser River. The day became less about destinations and more about conversations, wildlife photography, wood carvings hidden in the trees, and the people I met along the trails.
Lake Crescent: Marymere Falls Trail
After a quiet night parked in Port Angeles, I spent the afternoon hiking the Marymere Falls Trail near Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park. Moss-covered trees, emerald green forests, Barnes Creek, and soft evening light made this one of the most peaceful hikes I’ve done in Washington. The day ended beside the water before finding another quiet street to sleep for the night.
Hurricane Ridge to Mount Angeles
A fog-filled drive up Hurricane Ridge turned into one of the most physically demanding hikes I’ve done in years. From steep snowfields and loose mountain trails to wildlife encounters, mountain photography, and an unexpected friendship with an Army trainer newly arrived from Alaska, this day in Olympic National Park became far more memorable than I expected when I left the van that morning.
Multnomah Falls & Hood River, OR
A low-energy morning turned into one of the fuller days of the trip. I hiked Multnomah Falls, talked a couple of women through the switchbacks, shot the Columbia River at golden hour in Hood River, and — almost by accident — ended up in a documentary screening about indigenous communities fighting for their river. Not a bad Tuesday.
John Dellenback Dunes
A solo hike through the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area along the John Dellenback Trail. From dense coastal forest to open sand and a quiet stretch of Pacific shoreline, this route delivers constantly changing terrain, challenging footing, and surprising solitude.
Harris Beach and Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor
From a quiet morning at Harris Beach to hiking the Indian Sands Trail in the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor, this stretch of the Oregon coast delivers nonstop views. Short hikes lead to cliffside overlooks, natural arches, and rugged shoreline. A practical look at what to expect, where to stop, and which trails are worth your time.