The World By Road » Journal

New Photos – Hyder, AK

Steven Shoppman — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:29:00 +0000

At the very bottom of Alaska lies the town of Hyder. With only 100 citizens in the summer and as little as 40 in the winter, this little town is like no other. They have a total of 8 students in the school, no police force and the only way in and out in winter is via floatplane. It is full of bears.

Nels’ Notes: Nomadic Wandering Shenanigans June 26-July 3, 2009

Nels Thoreson — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:40:50 +0000

Miles, upon miles, upon miles. Miles in the rearview mirror. That, for sure, was the theme of this week, as we traveled from Valdez, Alaska to Edmonton, Alberta. That is a haul, spanning close to 2,000 miles. We spent the weekend at the wonderful Brookside Inn Bed and Breakfast, and were graciously accommodated by hosts Jerry and Susie. We had some great meals and conversations with them, and were beyond lucky that they had an abundance of halibut. Home cooked meals are never taken for granted by anyone on the crew.

1000 Miles Later

Steven Shoppman — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:32:00 +0000

One month ago we set out from Denver for the great wide open wilderness of Alaska. Before leaving, Craig and I conducted considerable research on the last section of road to Prudhoe Bay named the James W. Dalton highway. I found a website with an entire page devoted to the road named The Dalton Highway, “The Haul Road.”

The Alaska Sea Life Center

Craig Johnson — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:01:40 +0000

“It won’t be so funny if he starts courting you,” said the intern. Meagan and I were laughing because a puffin had just hopped on her leg. We were taking part in the Puffin Encounter Tour, one of the programs offered by the Alaska Sea Life Center in Seward, Alaska. This particular hour long tour involved learning about the sea birds on display and then getting a chance to interact and feed the birds. Apparently, feeding the puffins is serious business as the seemingly harmless birds can bite extremely hard; although there are two expert interns there to protect you.

View from Above

Kristen Magnuson — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 05:01:15 +0000

Sometimes, sensations created by certain experiences simply cannot be put into words. Flying in a tiny propeller plane that has glacier-landing and take-off capabilities over one of the world’s last vast wilderness areas untouched by man in one of this nation’s most mind-blowing national parks is undoubtedly one of those experiences. Thanks to the staff at Talkeetna Air Taxi, we were able to have the opportunity to enjoy this amazing ride.

Nels’ Notes: Nomadic Wandering Shenanigans June 19-26, 2009

Nels Thoreson — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:30:40 +0000

We’ve really enjoyed ourselves in Alaska, and all feel very fortunate for all that we’ve been able to see, experience, and the people we’ve been able to meet, so it was nice that we got to give back a little this week, as well. This week has been another great week in the northern most state. It began with a great lake and river kayaking trip/fly fishing trip with Denali Southside River Guides. We got the opportunity to go out with Craig Jorgensen and two of his crew members on Byers Lake to thoroughly enjoy a day on the water. “I wouldn’t give this day of kayaking and fishing up for anything,” said the fisherman of the crew, Craig Johnson.

Into The Alaskan Wilderness

Nels Thoreson — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:23:51 +0000

Off in the distance were rapids. The Teklanika River raged. The volume and force of the water was powerful. There was nothing that could be done. We were 16 miles out on the Stampede Trail, now called the Stampede Road, 8 miles from the “Into The Wild” bus, and there was nothing we could do. Craig, with a rope tied around his waist, attempted to wade across, but to no avail. It could not be done.

Photo of the Week: Denali from the Sky

Craig Johnson — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:01:19 +0000

On one of our scenic flights with Talkeetna Air Taxi, the summit of Denali (or Mt. Mckinley) made a rare appearance.

Catching up in Fairbanks

Craig Johnson — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:01:36 +0000

Don’t get me wrong, I cherish these unique experiences and it’s one of the main reasons that I’m on the expedition. However, after the mad dash to the Arctic Ocean and back I think I speak for all of us on the crew when saying we were happy to have a host for a couple of nights at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge upon our return to Fairbanks.

New Photos – Banff National Park

Steven Shoppman — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 03:11:00 +0000

Banff is the home to the Canadian Rockies. The sights are amazing. There are hundreds of trails to hike, mountains to climb, rivers to fish and recreation to be had. This little section of the planet is an outdoor lovers dream, and it was a highlight of the expedition for all of us. We spent about five days in Banff and Jasper, and even though I have already been there 4 times, I would go back again in a heartbeat. Enjoy!