Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
Valdez Old Town
Rain turned out to be the perfect excuse to explore the Old Town Museum and the site of the original Valdez. Survivor interviews, recreated buildings, and a driving tour of Old Valdez transformed the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake from history into something deeply personal, revealing how an entire community was rebuilt just a few miles away.
Meares Glacier Tour
The day after kayaking Columbia Glacier, I returned to Prince William Sound aboard the Stan Stephens 26 Glaciers Cruise. Meares Glacier, whales, puffins, bald eagles, sea lions, waterfalls, and unforgettable conversations made this one of the highlights of my Alaska adventure.
Columbia Glacier Kayaking
Experienced a full-day excursion to Columbia Glacier in Prince William Sound, including amazing kayaking among brilliant blue icebergs, harbor seals resting on floating ice, and the thunder of glacier calving. It's an unforgettable opportunity to explore one of Alaska's most spectacular—and rapidly changing—tidewater glaciers near Valdez.
Chitina to Valdez
Rain, rushing water, and low clouds set the tone for a slow day in Alaska. While driving back toward Glennallen for fuel, I stopped for foggy landscapes, puzzled over a lone truck sitting in a field beneath a massive cloud bank, and eventually found a beautiful campsite where two rivers met beneath snow-covered mountains. Sometimes the best days are the unplanned ones.
Salmon Fishing in the Copper River
A lazy catch-up day turned into a memorable Alaska travel day, with a walk across the Kuskulana River Bridge, views of the Copper River, salmon fishing near Chitina, fish wheels in the current, and a quiet riverside camp for the night.
Father’s Day In Remote Alaska
After a long day exploring Kennecott, Root Glacier, and McCarthy, I spent Father's Day parked beside the McCarthy Road reflecting on family, retirement, and life on the road. From blogging and photo editing to planning Valdez and enjoying a rare mosquito-free afternoon, it was a quiet day that reminded me how connected we can remain, even from remote Alaska.
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.
TOK, AK
A restless night beside the border led to a day of discoveries. From watching geese in a quiet pond and finally learning the purpose of thermosyphons along northern highways to reflecting on Indigenous languages and culture before crossing back into Alaska, the drive to Tok offered far more than just miles on the odometer. The day ended at Eagle Trail State Recreation Site as I prepared for the journey toward Wrangell–St. Elias.
River Beauty and Rough Roads
A simple drive from Whitehorse to Tok turned into a nine-hour day of coffee shops, grocery store adventures, faulty gas pumps, roadside naps, wildflower photography, rough sections of the Alaska Highway, international bicycle travelers, and rabbits that seemed determined to stand in the middle of the road. The scenery was spectacular, even when the weather refused to cooperate.
Skagway to Whitehorse
Before leaving Skagway, I explored the Gold Rush Cemetery and Reid Falls, learning about Martin Itjen, Soapy Smith, and Frank Reid while photographing one of the town's most visited historic sites. The drive north on the Klondike Highway offered rain-soaked mountain views, a stop at the historic Venus Mine near Carcross, and a return to Whitehorse to end the day.
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, AK
An early morning ferry ride carried me from Juneau to Skagway through the mountains and waterways of Southeast Alaska. Along the way I reflected on my time in Juneau, photographed coastal scenery, and listened to a colorful family announce wildlife sightings from across the ferry. After arriving in Skagway, I spent the afternoon walking through town, reading historic plaques about Captain William Moore, the Klondike Gold Rush, the SS Princess Sophia disaster, and the transformation of the town from frontier gateway to cruise ship destination. The day ended with Thai curry from a food truck, quiet streets beneath bright evening skies, and an unexpected encounter with hundreds of crows gathering for the night.
Heating and Planning
What started as a failed glycol pump in British Columbia turned into an 18-day battle without heat while traveling through the Yukon and Alaska. After unsuccessful attempts to find a technician in Haines and Juneau, I tackled the repair myself and restored heat to the van. The experience also exposed flaws in my carefully planned Alaska itinerary, leading me to abandon a rigid route in favor of a more flexible hub-and-spoke approach for the remainder of the trip.
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.
A Day in Juneau, AK
My first full day in Juneau began with a visit to the Alaska State Capitol and ended photographing Celebration 2026, the largest gathering of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people in the world. Along the way I explored Alaska history, discovered the story behind the territory's Liberty Bell, wandered the waterfront, and met locals who made the city feel far more personal than the cruise ships and souvenir shops would suggest.
Haines, AK
A slow drive from Yukon to Haines, Alaska turned into one of the most memorable days of the trip. Along the way I photographed snow-covered mountains, discovered two black bears while shooting a panorama, crossed a nearly empty border, explored the surprisingly friendly town of Haines, and watched hundreds of birds feeding on Pacific herring just offshore.
Toward Haines Through Clouds
After a quiet morning beside Kluane Lake, I headed south through Haines Junction and onto Haines Road. With clearer weather than the day before, the snow-covered mountains finally emerged from the clouds. Frequent stops for photography, vast open landscapes, and the strange experience of daylight lingering late into the evening made for a rewarding day in the Yukon.
North From Whitehorse, YT
A short drive from Whitehorse turned into a day of unexpected discoveries. I followed a side road to historic Mendenhall Landing, photographed one of the largest beaver lodges I've ever seen, explored the Kluane National Park Visitor Centre, and learned about the Southern Tutchone people. With rain, wind, and low clouds hiding the mountains, Yukon reminded me that conditions can change quickly.
Signpost Forest
I arrived in Watson Lake, Yukon without realizing how much history was packed into one small stop along the Alaska Highway. From the massive Sign Post Forest and the Northern Lights Centre to the wartime history of the Alaska Highway and a quiet walk through the local cemetery, the day turned into something far more interesting and reflective than I expected.