An Unexpected Collaboration
It was in December 2021, when painter Klara Maisch and I spoke on the phone for the first time. Having participated in ITOC Zoom presentations since November 2020, we talked about our shared interests in the boreal forest: seasonal shifts, wildfire succession, and nutrient cycling in layers of soil. By the end of that first conversation, we agreed to be penpals of sorts. My words…
Winter on my mind
Winter is on my mind—but summer shows no hint of waning. Here at our kennel on the edge of Denali National Park, I look out the window to our sled dogs. Spaghetti, Bowtie, Melli and the rest lounge in 70-degree sunshine. It’s far too warm to run them in front of the ATV—hard to imagine that any day soon we’ll head out on sleds over snow-covered trails…
On the launch of a new edition
Summer has arrived at our Denali kennel. The snow has melted, lakes are almost ice-free. The shorebirds and migratory songbirds have returned—many pausing during their long journey to northern nesting grounds. The early blooming pasque flowers have shown their iconic faces. Sunlight lingers well into the night…
Reflections on the Long Run
One year ago, in February 2016, my memoir Fast Into the Night went out into the world. At a celebration in Anchorage, when I stood at a podium and read aloud from my book for the first time, I realized the story I’d worked on for ten years was no longer mine. To look out at my First Friday audience felt awkward and intimidating…
North to Toolik Field Station
I’ve been to the Arctic in winter. For four days my dogteam and I traveled, tripod to tripod, along a snow covered line between earth and air. Together we pushed toward a shifting horizon through a topography washed in soft light…
Changing of the Season
Winter has come to an abrupt end in Denali Park. Three short weeks ago we were on a 250-mile dogsledding trip—a welcome adventure that I managed to pull off between two lower-48 book-tour trips. Today, our mushing trails are puddles, our dog yard has returned to gravel. Scores of swans have winged their way north…
A book and its cover
One year ago, my editor asked me if I had a photo in mind for the cover of my memoir. I dug through piles of images and found no stand-out solution. Then, early one morning around 6 AM, I got onto my computer, “googled” my name, and…
On Finish Lines
“I see a finish line!” I call to my dogs, every time we near the end of a race. At the sound of those words, my huskies charge ahead. Brie, often in lead, accelerates. Sharp Cheddar barks. Truffle and Taki take a nip at each other. The mood on the line…..