The genesis of the adventure

Living in western colorado, (Grand Junction) I'm spoiled by all the outdoor activities people flood to Denver for, except we really have em... and they're close.

One of my happiest places has always been on the water. From early on, beach vacations with the family rooted an interest and curiosity with water. Growing up in Georgia, I explored the whitewater rivers of the southeast by raft and canoe. These days it typically manifests as trips running rivers in and around Utah, usually with rafts/packrafts.

I'm so fortunate to have found this wonderful little group of rafters that has slowly become my family over a few filled river seasons. I'm talking the kind of "tribe" that makes me more interested with the idea of having children of my own.

All that being said, two of the members of this family started hatching plans to run a river up in Alaska... which I've always had plans to explore "someday". Flights, logistics, gear, timeframes all started getting discussed. The Kongakut river in northern Alaska was selected, which will spill us out onto the Arctic ocean as a finale. As my excitement for the trip started to congeal, I also came to the realization that it would end up being my one big adventure for the year. Mainly due to cost. I had some inklings of a plan to hike the Pacific Crest Trail this year.

So the thoughts churned, and I tried to tessalate all the dates and travels and financial demands into a picture that allowed both adventures. Or at least more adventures. Playing with the flight options for the seventy eighth time, I finally had it.

"Guys, I think i'm just going to drive up to Alaska."

"....Uh, you know thats going to take a long time..."

"Yeah! I could take a really long time..."

The idea was born and I couldn't get it out of my head. I could finish building myself a campervan (I had already started prior to the AK plans) to live out of to keep some of the costs down, and just cruise my up, exploring along the way. I'd have something like six weeks to get to fairbanks in time to meet the boys for the Kongakut run.

Perfect! I Quit my job (put in my notice at least) and got to work. I purged all of the material possessions I could, with intentions to own only what fit in the van. While I surely downsized, I had to compromise and get a 5x10 storage facility. Not a total failure. All of the engineering/carpentry that went into my van was improvised. Its apparent that it was the work of a rookie. but I love her. She's literally got my blood, sweat and tears soaked into her... along with a few foul words that may still be echoing off the walls inside.

I'm hoping to track the journey here. From Grand Junction, up through Canada (which ive never been) and all over Alaska, with an amazing couple weeks on the water with some of the best friends a guy could ask for. It very well may be that nobody but me reads these words, but thats OK with me. Condensing these experiences into words is always very cathartic for me.

If you are coming along on the journey with me, I hope you're excited. I surely am!