Category Archive: Uncategorized

Mill Tours, Cookies, and Pocket Cheese

We were on day five of enjoying time with our friends in McCarthy. So far, we had packed in a Fourth of July celebration and two days of fly-out adventures. This was supposed… Continue reading →

SUPing it Up in Sand Point, Alaska

We arrived in Sand Point on June 4th, the second day of a long-anticipated trip exploring the Alaska Peninsula. In the half day we had in Sand Point, we spent time with our… Continue reading →

Agripina Bay AKA Butt Cheek Beach

After camping near Becherof Lake the night before (read about it here), we had a leisurely morning packing up, and by midday, we were on our way toward Sand Point. Since this was… Continue reading →

Camping at Becherof Lake

On June 3rd, we departed Wasilla and made our way out of the Matanuska Valley, and headed southwest towards the Alaskan Peninsula. For the last ten years, Woodsen and I have dreamed of… Continue reading →

Heading to the Valdez Fly-In

It’s been a chilly spring in Alaska, but despite the cold, May brings all the usual spring activities that marks the beginning of our busy season exploring Alaska. The first weekend of May… Continue reading →

A Night at the Manitoba Hut

At the end of March I (Danica) headed out with the kids for a night at the Manitoba Hut. The Manitoba Hut can be accessed by parking at the mile 48 pullout on… 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-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 →

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 →

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 →

Camping on the McArthur River Video

A video recap of our dreamy overnight trip to the McArthur River.

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- 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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

My First Gold Nugget Triathlon

For years I’ve heard about the Gold Nugget Triathlon (GNT) and was always impressed when I heard of friends participating in it. I knew it involved swimming, biking, running, and that it filled… 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 →

Exploring the Anchorage Mudflats

I love the coast. I grew up exploring foaming tide pools and running barefooted on the beach in Northern California. We left California and moved to Florida when I was 6. In Florida, we… 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 →

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 →

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!

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 →

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 →

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 →