I learned early on that hunting sheep on foot involves a lot more 'going home empty' than success. My most common experience is to find nothing to hunt. I can go for several years at a time without even seeing a legal ram. So why go? It's hard to explain. Of course, I would love to fly into sheep country to hunt, but that's never been in my budget. I go because there is something viscerally appeal...  Read More

I've always loved winter, but staying active during 6-7 months of dark and cold is a challenge. When I lived in Alaska's interior I could be hunting, trapping or snowmachining in the wilderness in minutes. That's no longer an easy option. This is why I started climbing mountains. It isn't easy, and it's not what you would describe as 'fun,' but it's good. It's good FOR me. Right now I'm in terribl...  Read More

When I started teaching in the Copper River School District, the hunting season for Dall sheep and caribou was August 10th to September 20th. The hunting season for moose was September 1-20. With school starting the middle of August, this meant I had 5 or 6 days to hunt sheep and then 5 more weekends to hunt caribou and moose.The year before, Laura had reserved the church for August 15th for our w...  Read More

When I finally climbed out of the tundra and into the gray rock, the mountain became steeper. The climb, still grueling, was less difficult. As I continued to gain elevation, my heart began to soar. This, battling through brush and tundra and vertical climbs to the very top of my small part of the world, is an experience that very few ever earn. The most surprising lesson that I learned is how muc...  Read More

As I slowly made my way in along an unfamiliar trail, I experienced the joy of seeing new country for the first time. Again and again I took out my spotting scope and 'glassed' for sheep. Finally, about ten miles in, I spotted rams. They were so far above me that even with a spotting scope I couldn't tell if they were legal. I simply shouldered my pack and started to climb. The base of these mount...  Read More

The mountain was steep and I had to bust my way through alders at lower elevations. As difficult as my first sheep hunt was, this climb was much harder. I finally broke out on top and found myself on the rim of a beautiful, large 'bowl'- but there were no sheep. I was able to cover some ground and glass great distances with my spotting scope, and there were NO sheep- none- zip- nada. By the time I...  Read More

After taking my first Dall sheep ram I felt that I was officially a 'sheep hunter.' At that point in my life I had already taken deer, elk, antelope and black bear with a bow and arrow, but this was BY FAR the most difficult hunt I'd ever been on. It was also a great confidence builder, because this was the first time I had ever camped and hunted alone deep in the wilderness. (I had partners, but ...  Read More

God not only sees the end from the beginning, He also sees the beginning from the end- from the middle- from wherever you are in life right now. In other words, when God looks at you He still sees the three year old girl who loved to twirl and dreamed of being a princess. He still sees the four year old boy who wanted to be a superhero. God delighted in your innocence then- it's a place that he'd ...  Read More

In the same way that 'hunger' is the best seasoning for food, exhaustion is the best ingredient for rest. And yet we've all learned that it's impossible to rest when we have today's responsibilities and problems and stresses and challenges and offenses swirling around in our brain. Life is OFTEN very hard. The things that we carry are OFTEN very heavy. God knows. He understands. He will not remove...  Read More

I've always been wired for a challenge- for adventure- for exploring new territory. Many times I have hiked for miles into a new stretch of mountains and looked longingly at all of the country that I did not have time to explore. If a broken world contains so much beauty, what must it have been like when God first created it? While there is comfort in the familiar, there is something invigorating ...  Read More

My Dad and I were talking last night about our best fishing trip ever. In truth, it would be just about anyone's best fishing trip ever. It was the middle of June on a river in Alaska's interior, and the King salmon were running. Along with two of my friends, we launched 2 rafts about 11 PM and floated and fished from shore until the following morning at 6 AM. It was not uncommon for all 4 of us t...  Read More

For me the dream was never 'Alaska', it was simply to serve my country in the military. I was out of college and teaching school, but always regretted not serving. It was my decision to enlist in the infantry (hoping to be stationed in the south where I could get a good tan) that led to my being stationed in Alaska. As a young boy I could never have imagined that decades later I would be running a...  Read More