Video recap of our McCarthy Cabin Delivery

In August 2025, Stitt Construction delivered a premade cabin to McCarthy, Alaska. Here’s a video recap of the cabin’s delivery and setup. Read more about the process in the following blog posts. McCarthy… Continue reading

McCarthy Cabin Build-Settling In

In April, Woodsen’s dad, Wes, had signed a contract for a custom cabin and sauna to be built. Now it was August 13th, and his custom prebuilt cabin had been delivered to McCarthy… Continue reading

McCarthy Cabin Build-Delivery

McCarthy, Alaska, is a small town in Alaska, approximately six hours from Anchorage, and in the middle of the wilderness and the Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park. While there’s a few restaurants and various… Continue reading

McCarthy Cabin Build-Design and Preparation

The first trip Woodsen and I took together in the Super Cub was out to Wrangell St Elias National Park. We flew directly to Ultima Thule Lodge, where Woodsen had worked for four… Continue reading

Canning Alaskan Moose Meat

When Woodsen first started going on an annual moose hunt, we enjoyed having our meat sent off and turned into a wide variety of products, from burgers and sausages to cheese dogs and… Continue reading

A Video Snapshot of our Summer 2025 Adventures

It’s mid-December, and although there’s no snow on the ground and much more wind than I prefer, my spot by the fire is cozy, and I’ve been enjoying working on my yearly photo-related… Continue reading

Keeping Kids Warm in Alaskan Winters

Our approach to keeping our kids warm has shifted significantly with our numerous opportunities for field testing over the years. Before reading my suggestions, please note that this is not a comprehensive comparison… Continue reading

Fall Hike to the Root Glacier

After a beautiful flight to McCarthy full of fall colors, I was excited to spend some time exploring the area from the ground. While Woodsen and I spent time exploring the area when… Continue reading

Fall flight to McCarthy

Over the years, we’ve enjoyed many trips to McCarthy; in fact, Woodsen and I’s first trip together in the Super Cub was to the McCarthy area. From what I can recall, our past… Continue reading

Day Trip to Ninilchik

If you’ve read a handful of my blogs, you might have noticed that we make quite a few trips on repeat every year. Visiting the Lemans at the beach in Ninilchik is one… Continue reading

Beach Time in Seldovia

Warm morning sunlight ushered in our last day in Seldovia. We savored it by the plane while kids gradually woke up and joined us outside. After the kids were fed, we headed to… Continue reading

Art, Berries, and Community in Seldovia

Our first day in Seldovia was nothing short of dreamy. The next day, we woke up, enjoyed yogurt with fresh-picked berries, and savored a mellow morning. A few hours later, the Barnetts picked… Continue reading

Camping in Seldovia

Shortly after our trip to Council, the kids came down with hand-foot-and-mouth disease so we spent a week or two at home. It felt like it took forever, but eventually their blisters faded… Continue reading

Heading North- Homeward Bond

After spending five days in Council, we packed up, headed to the airport, and said goodbye to our friends the Stangs. Eska fell asleep immediately after takeoff for what we hoped would be… Continue reading

Heading North- Fourth of July in Council

We had planned on spending the Fourth of July in Council, Alaska at the tail end of a ten-day trip that had started with a stop in Delta Junction. As we had been… Continue reading

Heading North- Around Council

Ten years ago, Woodsen and I took a trip to explore the Seward Peninsula, and the Stangs had offered their guest cabin in Council as a place to stay. While we were very… Continue reading

Heading North- Council and Lunch at the Ophir 15 Dredge

A day exploring around the historic Ophir river near Council

Heading North-A Day Exploring Fairbanks

We had started our time off in Fairbanks hanging out with our friends the Crabbs and watching firefighting planes scooping water at the nearby float pond. That evening my friend BJ happened to… Continue reading

Heading North-Camping in Fairbanks

We started the day in Delta Junction visiting friends, and by late morning, we had packed up, said our goodbyes, and headed to the airport. We planned on a short one-hour flight to… Continue reading

Heading North- Delta Junction and Clearwater River

Our second day in Delta Junction proved to be hot by Alaskan standards. Temperatures were forecasted to be in the 70s, but the thermometer in the shade read 80°F. We had run into… Continue reading

Heading North— A Day Trip to Fielding Lake

We had arrived in Delta Junction the evening before and decided to go on a day trip to Fielding Lake for the day After packing gear and food and hitching up the boat,… Continue reading

Heading North- Wasilla to Delta Junction

Some trips come together seamlessly, others feel like they are on the brink of falling apart at any moment. Weather shifts, things come up, plans keep changing, and kids get sick. Plenty of… Continue reading

Drift River Lupin- 2016

Since I just posted about our time in Drift River this year, I thought I’d share a blog post I found sitting in my drafts from Atlee’s first time at Drift River. The… Continue reading

Back to Drift River

We had enjoyed a magical 24 hours on the McArthur River, but with the weather turning, we decided to pack up and head home. While packing up, Woodsen remembered he had been in… Continue reading

Solstice on the McArthur River

Summer in Alaska is short, and we feel the pressure to enjoy the warmth and daylight all summer, but there are a few days that we are especially intentional about being outside. One… Continue reading

Mccarthy and a Day Trip to The Fan Glacier

After two days camping and exploring Hinchinbrook and Kayak Island, we headed to McCarthy to spend time making the rounds visiting friends. Our friends let us stay in a small cabin on their… Continue reading

Hook Point to Kayak Island

Our airplane adventure had started the day before and brought us to Hook Point on Hinchinbrook Island. You can read more about that amazing day here. Clouds rolled in midday, so after debating… Continue reading

Camping on Hinchinbrook

Since Woodsen and I’s first anniversary, we’ve made it a tradition to set out on an adventure around our anniversary, June 10th. This year, Woodsen again got time off work, but on June… Continue reading

Early Summer Day trip to Lake George

June 8th 2025 We love sharing airplane adventures with friends and it’s extra special when schedules, logistics and weather work out to fly our extended family out to share the experience with them.… Continue reading

Kodiak- White Sands Beach

Our last day in Kodiak turned out to be sunny as forecasted. We had checked out White Sands Beach the day before when it was cloudy and cold, and we were excited to… Continue reading

Kodiak- Pillar Mountain & Buskin River

We started off our second day in Kodiak with a drive to White Sands beach. The weather was overcast, but we anticipated sun the next day. We decided to check out the beach… Continue reading

Kodiak- Fossil Beach & Surfers Beach

Most of our adventures during the summer are last minute and determined by schedule and weather, which was exactly how our trip to Kodiak worked out. We had returned from Port Alsworth on… Continue reading

Landing in Lake Clark Pass

Over the years we’ve flown through Lake Clark Pass many times in all sorts of weather. At the top of the pass theres a small strip surrounded by two glaciers, a river, and… Continue reading

The Port Alsworth Sourdough Fly-In – part 2

After a fun Friday in Port Alsworth (you can read about it here) we settled in and camped by the plane. Saturday morning greeted us with sun, which made Eska’s 6:30 am wake… Continue reading

Arriving in Port Alsworth-part 1

For the last six or seven years it’s been our tradition to head to Port Allsworth for the Sourdough Fly-in over Memorial Day weekend. We first made our way out to Port Allsworth… Continue reading

Alaska to Oshkosh Video Recap

In the summer of 2024 we set out as a family on our biggest adventure yet. We left Wasilla, AK and flew to Oshkosh, Wi and back. It was a month long adventure… Continue reading

A Video Recap of Our Unforgettable Day in Valdez, Alaska

In August 2024, we flew to Valdez for the day and enjoyed exploring the bay with our friends, the Fosters. Here’s a video recap of our unforgettable Alaskan adventure. Find the full blog… Continue reading

Exploring Valdez: A Family Day Trip in Alaska

Our annual pilgrimage to Valdez usually occurs in May when we enjoy the festivities and friends hosted by the Valdez Fly-in. In 2024, we skipped the Valdez fly-in and opted to spend time… Continue reading

Alaska to Oshkosh Teaser Video

At the beginning of the trip we found a song that everyone liked and the kids wanted to listen to over and over. It became a bit of a theme song to our… Continue reading

The Home Stretch-21

As amazing as our trip had been, it felt good to be back in Alaska. Although still far from home, it was familiar. Even the dance with planning flights around weather, something we… Continue reading

Southeast on a Sunny Day-20

We took off Petersburg with not a cloud in the sky and made our way towards Juneau. The scenery was beautiful and only got better the further we went. At this point I… Continue reading

Back Again–Orcas Island & Petersburg-19

From Smiley Creek we headed back to familiar territory. We had camped in Orcas Island on our way down, and for the first time it was nice to know what to expect when… Continue reading

All Smiles at Smiley Creek-18

We departed Johnson Creek as a flight of two and stayed close to our friend Matt as we slowly climbed up. The smoke from local fires was thick, but we still enjoyed views… Continue reading

Johnson Creek 180/185 Fly-in-17

Woodsen, who is part of the Alaskan chapter of the 180/185 club, had been receiving emails about a fly-in at Johnson Creek Idaho, but since our plans were all very flexible we weren’t… Continue reading

Exploring Yellowstone Park-16

Early in the morning Jack stopped by our camp and picked up Woodsen to go on a flight see and check out a couple grass strips in the area. The kids and I… Continue reading

A Bumpy Flight and a Familiar Face-15

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here’s a picture that shows not only the chaos of our airplane, but how we felt after the flight from South Dakota to… Continue reading

Rest and Reset in Timber Lake-14

After a jam packed day enjoying The Days of 1910 celebration, we decided to stay a third night in South Dakota to rest before pushing on to Montana. Christa has a habit of… Continue reading

Days of 1910 Celebration-13

On the last full weekend of July, Timber Lake, South Dakota remembers their towns origin by hosting a town celebration. A large tent is erected downtown and the street under the tent is… Continue reading

Health and Harvest in South Dakota-12

Timber Lake is a small town in the heart of South Dakota farmland, so you might be curious how we ended up there. I could make this a short story, but since health… Continue reading

Family Time in Wisconsin-11

We departed Oshkosh and made the quick flight over to Antigo Wisconsin to see family. My Grandparents on my Mom’s side live in Antigo, and family from Texas, Japan, and Alaska were converging… Continue reading

Highlights of Oshkosh-10

The biggest highlight or accomplishment from Oshkosh was really just getting there😊. 10 days, 20+ hours (still need to add that up) and thousands of miles, but we made it! I’m proud of… Continue reading

Arriving in Oshkosh-9

We said goodbye to the Dudgeon’s in Sioux Falls and loaded up the airplane for the flight to Oshkosh. The views from the plane were lush and green and the kids enjoyed spelling… Continue reading

Pushing on to Sioux Falls-8

We had one more stop before the final push to Oshkosh. South Dakota was a good midway point between Montana and Oshkosh, and Woodsen had been in touch with a couple in Sioux… Continue reading

Family, Friends, and Fine Dining in Livingston -7

When we were first thinking of flying to Wisconsin we knew Livingston, Montana would be a stop on our trip. Woodsen’s Aunt and cousin lived there and we had also recently sold our… Continue reading

Bellingham, Mt Baker, and The Burns-6

The eight minute flight to Anacortes for fuel, and the seven minute flight to Bellingham was a breeze compared to the long flights we had up to this point. Our friends the Burns… Continue reading

Camping at Orcas Island-5

One of the best things about airplane campgrounds is instant community with a common interest in aviation. It wasn’t long after landing that we started meeting other campers. First we met Tom &… Continue reading

The Long Haul-4

When Woodsen began flight planning for our trip we knew that the flight between Southeast Alaska and the lower 48 would be our longest flight. My passport had lapsed, and the kids didn’t… Continue reading

Exploring Mitkof Island-3

Day three of our trip was overcast and rainy. After breakfast and coffee we dropped woodsen off at the plane to refuel and look at the door handle that broke the day before.… Continue reading

Yakutat to Petersburg-2

July 11th and day 2 of our big adventure. We woke to typical coastal weather (rain), ate breakfast, then since we didn’t want to repack the cake in the airplane we had cake… Continue reading

Leaving Alaska in July-1

Well, our family’s grown a tad since I’ve written a post 😄. Now theres six of us! Atlee (8), Melozi (6), Yukla (3), and Eska (5mo). It makes me teary eyed thinking about… Continue reading

4th of July in Mccarthy

Where should we go for the 4th of July? That’s the question we usually start tossing around sometime in June.  And, while I’ve only experienced the 4th in Bethel, McCarthy & Seldovia, the… Continue reading

No Longer Spoiled by Super Cub.

This spring brought a big change for us. Shortly after flying the Iditarod, we found out that Woodsen’s dad had decided to sell the Super Cub. Honestly, I was crushed. It made total… Continue reading

Iditarod 2018

Oh, the Iditarod! That last great race evokes so many different emotions. There is so much to love about following the last great race, yet there’s also enough logistical challenges and inconveniences that it makes me cringe… Continue reading

Hope-Palmer Creek Trail

Heading to hope for is another of our summer. Usually, we wait till July to make sure the snow has melted off the trail.  My yearly visit to Hope is focused primarily on… Continue reading

Lost Lake

        When people new to Alaska ask what they should do for a day trip, Lost Lake is always one of my first suggestions. You can bike it.  Hike it… Continue reading

Portage Pass Hike

  This year we’ve been seeking out easy hikes.  We’ve realized short and easy is enjoyable at this stage of life — much more practical with a toddler in tow. Portage Pass met… Continue reading

Spencer Glacier

Adventures in a two passenger airplane can get lonely. Woodsen and I love sharing adventures and memories together, but having good friends to adventure with really enriches the experience. The more fun adventures… Continue reading

Port Allsworth Fly-in

Two years ago we met Lyle on the Iditarod trail. Channel 11 News had chartered his caravan for the journey and he was their personal pilot. Since then we’ve run into him many… Continue reading

Finishing the Year on the Snowbird Glacier

Well, it’s the last day of 2016, and we know that 2017 is going to be a very different year for our family. In just a few weeks I will switch my work… Continue reading

Skating in Nancy Lake State Park

Well, December has been ice skating season for us! We’ve had a string of below freezing, snowless, winter days to thank for this.  While it’s not the winter weather we had wished for, there… Continue reading

A Mini Adventure

It’s been at least a month since we’ve gone on an adventure in the airplane. We’ve realized that schedules and naps really are important and trying to do anything with a cranky, sleep-deprived child really… Continue reading

Kesugi Ridge Hike

July 19th-21st 2015 Woodsen and I are last minute planners.  I think it’s a common trait of Alaskans who enjoy the outdoors.  During the summer, I find it nearly impossible to make a… Continue reading

Camping at Rabbit Lake

There is always a downside to being spoiled, and we are no exception. I get so caught up dreaming up grand adventures in the airplane that I fail to explore the simple excursions and… Continue reading

Whale on the Way to Hope

Ever wondered what a humpback whale looks like up close? I hadn’t till we were driving the Hope road and we saw a whale on the beach. It isn’t every day you get to see a… Continue reading

Dutch to Umnak by Plane

  From my trip to Unalaska February 2016 The morning of my second glorious day in Dutch began just before dawn at the Grant terminal where I met my friend and pilot Chad who… Continue reading

A Tale of Two Tusks

Anchorage has been rainy for the past few weeks and I have unashamedly been staying home and enjoying it. It’s hard for me to believe, but last week I stayed home for 2… Continue reading

Across Alaska – Council to McCarthy

Across Alaska -Council to Mccarthy -June 24th- July 1st, 2015 I pick up the story of our big summer adventure in Council, a small town (if you can call it that) on the… Continue reading

Sun & Fun in Dutch Harbor

February 1st, 2016 Dutch Harbor (also known as Unalaska) has long been on my list of places to visit. Last summer we had considered a summer trip to Dutch and Umnak (the island just… Continue reading

Snapshot of the Arrigetch Peaks 

Views of Xanadu and Arial Mountain from the Arrigetch Valley. More amazing photos to come from our trip to the Gates of the Arctic this summer!

Atlee’s First Time Tent Camping- Valley of 10,000 Smokes

I think it’s safe to say that Atlee’s first campground wasn’t the typical campsite you would bring your 2-month-old to. In fact, sometimes I dreamily wonder if she would win the “youngest child to… Continue reading

Valley of 10,000 Smokes

Our day exploring the Valley of 10,000 smokes started at the head of the valley near the Mageik mountains. We woke up to clouds, but by the time we had packed up camp… Continue reading

Goose Bay On Skates

March 9th 2016. On the way back from flying the Iditarod we saw what we thought would be pretty good ice for Ice skating at Goose Bay. Last summer the mud flats at… Continue reading

Willow to Rohn- Iditarod 2016

March 6th – 7th 2016 Iditarod! When I first met Woodsen I had a list of goals for things to do in Alaska before I turned 30; visit Cordova, hike the Chilkoot trail,… Continue reading

Geocache 2016

May marks the beginning of a few weeks of aviation fun in Alaska. First we visit the aviation gathering hosted by the Airmens Association, then a few days later we head out to… Continue reading

Protected: Atlee’s Arrival

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Eklutna by Ice

Well, Anchorage just set a new record and needless to say it’s not one we are excited about! This February we logged 37 days without any snowfall, a record that had stood since 1958. Thanks to… Continue reading

Sweet Arrival

Woodsen & I are excited to announce that on Good Friday, March 25th, 2016 at 11:11 am we welcomed into the world the most beautiful little girl we have ever laid eyes on. She… Continue reading

Ice Skating Wasilla Creek

Earlier in the week I had seen a friend’s pictures of ice skating in the Palmer Hay flats that looked pretty spectacular! After getting the skinny from her I added it to the… Continue reading

Manitoba Hut Getaway

For the last seven weeks Woodsen has been on call, which was a great opportunity to make a little extra cash before our baby arrives, but it has left me very antsy to… Continue reading

Sunset Skate at Potters Marsh

For my birthday this year I asked for nordic skates. We first used them last winter and I was quickly hooked on the simple idea of putting a nordic binding on a blade and… Continue reading

Ski Day in Turnagain

A week or so ago Woodsen had added a Ski day to the calendar after hearing that Turnagain had gotten a fresh layer of snow. Little did we know how well we had picked… Continue reading

Serpentine Hot Springs

This summer during our trip touring the Seward Peninsula we followed the coast to Whales then turned East to Serpentine Hot Springs. Serpentine is approximately 85 miles North of Nome and is only… Continue reading

Fall Glory at Lake George.

When the leaves start to turn in Alaska I always breathe a sigh of relief. As much as I love summer it’s a manic season, always rushing from one trip to the next.… Continue reading

Across Alaska Part III- Exploring the Seward Peninsula

As hard as it was to leave our personal beach at the Moon Mountains, the stunning and ever changing coastline was a great distraction. It wasn’t long before we were swept into the… Continue reading

Across Alaska- Part II The Moon Mountains

After arriving in Nome the plan was to unpack the plane, take what we would need for the next few days, and set off to explore the peninsula. This was the part of the… Continue reading

Across Alaska- Part I Nome-ward Bound

Ever since we got married three years ago it has been our tradition to get a chunk of time off in late June, when Alaska summer is at its prime, and head out… Continue reading

Across Alaska in a SuperCub

Every year Woodsen & I try to finagle our work schedules to get a chunk of time off during the summer to explore a new part of Alaska. This year we decided on heading to the… Continue reading

Johnson Pass- First Ride of the Season!

Johnson Pass has been on the to-do list for a while.  We’ve heard it’s a great trail but has a tendency to get a bit overgrown in the summer. We both hate fighting devils… Continue reading

Halibut Cove

I have always heard about Halibut Cove, its long boardwalk, galleries, and the lone restaurant the Sultry. Recently I couldn’t get away from all the dreamy pictures of it that kept popping up. I reallllly wanted to… Continue reading

Valdez Fly-In 2015

The weekend following the Ultima Thule Geo Cache we all head west to Valdez for more airplanes and more competitions. The Valdez fly-In is most known for its Short Take Off and Landing… Continue reading

Egg hunt in the Wrangells

The yearly Ultima Thule Geocache is the one event that I have, and will continue to plan my spring calendar around. In early May our friends at Ultima Thule Lodge invite us and… Continue reading

Monday Night Tug Time.

Last night I enjoyed brodies on the tarmac in the tug for the first time. Another great perk of marrying a pilot! Not to worry we burned rubber before we hooked up the plane. When… Continue reading

Cha cha chaga

Woodsen and I first heard of Chaga via an article in our local newspaper the Alaska Dispatch. The article described all the health benefits, where you could buy a “chagalatte” here in town, and… Continue reading

Starting the Year at Lake George

A few days into the New Year the Aurora forecast was promising and I had just received a -40 sleeping bag that I needed to test out. With a few days off to burn… Continue reading