Possibly one of the best adventure destinations on the planet, this small town just a couple of hours north of Anchorage was the town that helped to inspire the television series, Northern Exposure. While it is a world apart from the actual show, the charm of the place is like no other and the residents of the town are one of its greatest assets.
A man named Steve Mahay trekked up to Alaska many years ago. In those days homesteading land was still a viable option for an escape from the typical. Back in the 70s Steve realized that that was the way to go. Like many of the Alaskans we encountered in the north, Steve is a true legend with his jet boat operation in Talkeetna. Back when he started the company he was armed with only a 16 foot, 20 hp boat living in a hand built cabin in
We drove to Anchorage shortly after our early morning unsuccessful fishing trip. Somehow, whenever I arrive in a big city lately I get nervous. Anchorage is not that large of a city, but in comparison to the other towns we have been in it seems overbearing! Somehow I get consumed by the amount of street lights and availability of stores! But for the next three days we are nestling in at the Alaska Backpackers Inn.
The Richardson Highway that we took down to Valdez, Alaska is one long, meandering curve after another. Barely a stretch of straight road created awe-inspiring vistas that seemed to just spring-up of nowhere. One second we were driving along the road with tall trees and colorful wildflowers by our sides, the next second our eyes were popping out of our heads trying to comprehend the magnificence of a stunning sight of sun beams bathing massive, jagged snow-covered peaks that somehow just appeared in front of us. That stretch of highway was made for the gods, I do believe.
