At the beginning of September, we had the privilege of hosting our long-time family friends, the Lemans, in McCarthy. We enjoyed four days of beautiful fall weather and explored the area on foot,… Continue reading
If you’ve been following a bit you’ve probably noticed that what started as a blog has transitioned to featuring more videos recently. Woodsen and I were talking about this transition the other day,… Continue reading
On August 22nd, I had the privilege of participating in the Lost Lake Run as part of team Rugidly Sophisticated Female. The Lost Lake Run is more than just a trail race; its… Continue reading
After my friend Britta introduced me to the Lane Basin Trail when Atlee was a Toddler, it’s been my hands-down favorite place to hike and explore in Hatchers Pass. While the rocky “road”… Continue reading
At the end of July, we headed up to Hatcher’s Pass to hike the Gold Chord trail with family visiting from out of state, and were grateful to be greeted with beautiful weather… Continue reading
This summer we had the pleasure of hosting our friends the Johnsons in McCarthy, Alaska. We were excited to bring them to a few of our favorite spots nearby, including a landing strip… Continue reading
Long before the kids were out of school for the summer, we had tentatively planned for our friends, the Johnsons, to visit us in McCarthy for the Fourth of July weekend. We’ve been… Continue reading
We love sharing our flying adventures with friends and family, but its not that often where schedules and weather line up to make it happen. When my cousin Matthew and his family came… Continue reading
During a visit to McCarthy in late June, we took advantage of a nice weather window on the coast between Cordova and Yakutat, and headed that direction in our plane. We stopped at… Continue reading
We first heard about the Why-Not-Tri the same year we lost Woodsen’s Mom and the kids’ beloved “Omi” to ALS. We don’t usually make many summer commitments, but Atlee had been interested in… Continue reading
In early June, our family set out to see how far we could make it down the Aleutian chain, a trip Woodsen and I had been dreaming of for the last ten years.… Continue reading
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
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
Enjoy a journey down memory lane as we reflect on what an amazing Papa Woodsen has been, and continues to be, to Atlee, Melozi, Yukla, and Eska. We are grateful for you Woodsen!
For a long time, Woodsen and I have dreamed of exploring the Aleutians in our own plane. I’d say the idea first blossomed while Woodsen was working for Lifemed in Dutch Harbor in… Continue reading
Last summer, when I finished making a video of our trip to Seldovia, I couldn’t help but notice that while it captured that trip, it failed to capture all the experiences and memories… Continue reading
We returned to Port Alsworth for our annual trip over Memorial Day weekend to take part in the Sourdough Fly-in and spend time with friends. Here’s a recap of our weekend.
One of the trademarks of springtime is preparing for and participating in the Gold Nugget. All year, but especially in the springtime, I can frequently be found telling my friends how much I… Continue reading
On May 8th, we flew to Valdez to enjoy a weekend camping under the wing and taking in all that the Valdez Fly-in has to offer. Here’s a recap of our weekend. Read… Continue reading
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
At the end of March I took the kids for an overnight adventure to the Manitoba hut. Heres a video recap of our trip, and you can read more about our adventure here.
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
Atlee just had her tenth birthday, which is crazy for me to think about, but in honor of her birthday, I’m pulling out an old post I wrote about her first year of… Continue reading
A short video capturing the highlights from our 10-day trip over spring break to McCarthy and Valdez.
For the last decade, our typical spring break tradition has been heading out on the Iditarod trail to follow the race by plane. This year, we decided to switch it up and head… Continue reading
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
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, 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
As I went back through our 2025 adventures and slowly made movies for our family to enjoy, I kept skipping over a couple of places, one of which was Ninilchik. Making a video… Continue reading
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
Another year and another trip to Seldovia where we enjoyed a beautiful view from our camp at the runway, visiting friends, and time at the beach. Read more about our time in Seldovia… Continue reading
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
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
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
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
After a few days in Delta Junction, we continued North to Fairbanks, then on to Council, near Nome, Alaska. Enjoy a recap video with a few highlights from our trip.
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
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
A day exploring around the historic Ophir river near Council
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
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
At the end of June, Woodsen had a chunk of time off, so we made a last-minute decision to head North. The first stop on our trip was Delta Junction, where we visited… Continue reading
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
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
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
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
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
A video recap of our dreamy overnight trip to 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
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
Follow along as we head out for an Alaskan beach adventure exploring Hook Point, Kayak Island, and ending in Cordova, AK.
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
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
Join us as we head out to Lake George with my Sister and her family for a windy day, enjoying and exploring the glacier-filled lake.
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
At the end of May, we flew to Kodiak on Alaska Airlines and enjoyed four days of beautiful weather while exploring the island.
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
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
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
For Memorial Day weekend, we made our annual pilgrimage to Port Allsworth to see friends and enjoy the Sourdough fly-in. On the way home, we had a mid-flight meltdown and decided to land… Continue reading
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
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
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
Every year, our first trip of the summer is flying to Valdez, Alaska, for their well-known fly-in and STOL competition. This year, we headed to Valdez a day early, and my friend Kate… Continue reading
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -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
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
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!
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
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
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
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
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
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
