Necessity: The Mother of Invention

I've started fires with sparks on split-open cotton balls coated in Vaseline, sparks on magnesium shavings, and my favorite sparks on char-cloth nestled in a bundle of dried grasses. Spent hours stalking around with a hand saw searching for dry wood to keep those fires going. Filtered and purified my own water on the trail for safe drinking. Learned to use a number of different fasteners, straps, buckles, and knots to great effect out in the field.

And now, I finally know where I get it from........

The classic backpack re-adjust on the baby changing station at Exit Glacier! Now THAT'S using your resources!

Some places are like people. Some shine and some don't.

Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood, AK, just south of Anchorage.

Creepy hotel. The kind of hotel you wanna make sure you don't visit for all work and no play, lest you become a dull boy.

No hedge maze, but a sweet view from the top of the tram.


Both photo credits to my pops.

Great Walkaways In History

Mom & I, the "beach" at Kincaid Park on Cook Inlet at low tide, Anchorage, AK July 2011:


Mom & Dad, trail to Byron Glacier, Portage Valley, AK July 2011:


David Banner, SoCal, July 1979:

Some 'splainin' to do

Yes. I have slacked on posting. Big time. Sneak preview - my favorite pic of the summer, my mom & I at Hatcher Pass during their visit (photo credit to my dad)

Midnight (Sun) in the Garden of Good & Evil

I've been fortunate enough to cram in 3 camping trips in the last 5 weeks, plus multiple hikes (although short ones) and bike rides. There's no excuse for not gettin' while the gettin's good!


The weather, being the weather, can always surprise you - like this spooky sight - that's not the previous winter's snow on the front of that peak - that's the previous night's!


I've been here four years and a week or so, so I'm always a summer ahead (5th summer, 4 winters). Surprisingly, I talk to plenty of people who say "I ain't seen a dadgum bear in dern near (blank) years" (for effect, read that in your head in the voice of an old woman in a country store.) The fewest bears I've seen in any of my summers is five. Last year it took until August, but I'm happy to report I've already come across a blackie, so the streak is alive! Maybe I'm a like a bear magnet - talk about a double-edged sword.

Do I have a picture of the bear? No. Or of the baby moose I saw the other day or the bull moose with velvet antlers? Ah - sorry. Would a squirrel suffice?


Out of context I would have guessed this guy was some kind of prairie dog - actually, it's an arctic ground squirrel. Is it just me, or is that squirrel giving me the stink-eye?

With all the wild animals around it's nice to retire to the comfort of your Chalet, with Denali rising above the clouds through the window....


There was a much better joke planned here, if I had remembered to take a picture of the full context of the "Chalet" window. So I'll just say it - rest stop pit toilet (like a permanent port-o-poddy) - seriously, have you ever seen a better picture from a port-o-poddy?

I'm a huge fan of hiking around above the tree line for obvious reasons - 100% visibility, no surprises - especially when you're on your own. Pretty light for 9:30 p.m. huh?


Unstable weather patterns + mountain air currents = "isolated showers" to say the least. Better than anything on TV.


Sometimes, when you put yourself in the right place at the right time, with a little patience, the world just unfolds for you. (if you can't make out the rainbow, click to enlarge)


Going on midnight (sunset 12:11 a.m., sunrise 3:41 a.m)....


You may notice the divot on the right side of the tent - low 40's and SERIOUS wind that night - thank you rain fly! Inside it was like a peaceful little sanctuary.