A little fear goes a long way on solo backcountry adventures
Cautionary Tales: I've often been asked why I enjoy venturing into the outdoors by myself. Truth be told, it's not for everyone.
My Fairbanks-hating friends have it all wrong
Cautionary Tales: Hiking the Granite Tors Trail on a late-summer day, I wanted to shake my fist at every friend who told me Fairbanks wasn't worth visiting.
On flat ground after a climb? Gravity can still get the best of you
Cautionary Tales: A hike's not over till it's over, so I'll save my congratulations for when I'm back at the trailhead without injury.
How not to train for your first half-marathon
Cautionary Tales: 351st place? Given my level of preparation, I'm actually pretty proud of my first half-marathon finish.
Tell friends your game plan before a backcountry trip — and remember to send proof of life
Cautionary Tales: There are three key details I'll give friends before I go adventuring: where I'm going, when I expect to be back, and when they should call for help.
Whether paddling in place or going in reverse, this amateur is a work in progress
Cautionary Tales: My arm strength is more T. rex than Popeye. A natural paddler, I am not. But Alaska has so much to offer.
Summit beatdowns: When the best decision you can make is the most disappointing
Cautionary Tales: Whether the mountain you're climbing is 4,000 or 14,000 feet, knowing when to turn back is crucial. But on Mount Rainier, it was a tough call.
Don’t leave your spork at home, and other tips for hungry backpackers
Cautionary Tales: Much of the time I spend on the trail is consumed by food: when to eat, how to eat, and the beer and pizza waiting for me back in town.
Everybody does it: What to know before you ‘go’ in the backcountry
Cautionary Tales: Here's a refresher on how to handle human waste, whether you're in the woods, on a glacier or out of toilet paper.
Chance meeting makes summiting North Suicide Peak all the sweeter
Cautionary Tales: It's not uncommon for me to run into people I know on Chugach State Park trails — but this was one serendipitous encounter.
Learned on Kesugi Ridge: Sometimes a sufferfest is simply inevitable
Cautionary Tales: When the weather is battering your spirit and there's nowhere to go but forward, nature gives you a lesson in acceptance.
On hikes, never trust a wet rock. In the Chugach, never trust a rock.
Cautionary Tales: Chugach crud. It's the loose, crumbling rock that Southcentral Alaska climbers learn to live with, if not love.