37 years, 100 trips, 14,500 miles, and 850 days (or so)

It's been most of my life and I may have missed some but these are the big lines (over a week or 55 miles), the important ones, and the little ones that matter.

By foot, ski, skate, paddle, and pedal.

With my wife, our kids, my friends, and on the multi-day/multisport races my rivals, and sometimes just myself.

From 1977, as a 16 year old solo hiking from Eielson Visitor Center to the Igloo over Anderson Pass, to a couple weeks ago, when Luc and I nordic skated from Selawik to Kotzebue.

From Kaktovik to the Kigluaiks, from Umnak to Yakutat.

Sure, they're not all connected (yet), but I have a few miles left in me to see the wonders of Western Alaska, float the Yukon, pedal and paddle from Cordova to Yakutat, cross from Cordova to Seward with a packraft, link Aniakchak with lake Clark. Plenty to do!

One thing to know is that many routes I did more than once, especially the Wilderness Classics. Another is that these are just quick sketches with the path tool in Google Earth. Don't use them for navigation, please!

You can also see my favorite places: Kenai's Harding Icefield, Hayes Range, Arrigetch Peaks and South-central's whitewater.

It's impossible to ever be satisfied with these "lines-on-the-map". While satisfying to draw the last trip in, like Bono says, "It's no secret that ambition bites the nails of success", and planning for the next link-up of old lines or fill-in of blanks spots (can you spell K-O-B-U-K?) is the grist of life: hope for what the future brings.

Thanks to Hig for asking for the lines on Google Earth for Erin's story in Alaska Dispatch -- otherwise they'd just hide on the Raven Map of Alaska that leans against a wall in my office....

Best Hike in Chugach State Park

Birdwood Girdle * * * *
11 miles 1 day
Penguin Ridge from Bird to Gird Hike
Man-trail; sheep/goat trail; steep meadow; B2 descent (alders/woods)
6,000 feet gain
6,000 feet loss

Description
This must be the best day-hike in the Chugach. Go only when day is beautiful and will stay clear and sunny. Walk from Bird toward Gird as the views are much better, the trail improves, and there’s more water on the eastern end. Resist the urge to start at California Creek – just don’t do it that way!

Drive to Bird and take Konikson Road to the Chugach State Park parking lot in the gravel pit. Walk up the dirt road past the gate. Take the right branch (left goes to put-in for Bird Creek.) Look for sign saying “Penguin Ridge Trail”, or something like that, on a post to your right. Follow this up to the microwave tower, gain the ridge and take it until you can see Girdwood. Carry at least three quarts water and some food. Camera and map of whole Chugach also worth carrying, maybe binoculars, too, but now your pack’s getting heavy. Go Lite!

Plan on about 2 hours from parking lot to ridge top, then 5 hours along ridge to where the ridge swings north and you can see Girdwood train station. Work your way down meadows (oh so steep be careful at top and don’t get cliffed-out in any gullies – keep to buttresses or ridges as you descend) between alder patches for 3,000 feet in a bout a mile and an hour and a half.

Walk to Train Station. Meet your date there. Go to Double Musky for dinner. Drive home.

Sleep well.