I first came to Alaska in June of 2014 with my girlfriend to visit her family. After living in the Pacific Northwest for 7 years, I thought Alaska would be no different. But I was blown away by the mountains, wildlife, and the epic bodies of water.

We’d visit every summer after that first trip and always make the drive from Anchorage to Seward to run our favorite trail, Lost Lake. It’s a 15 mile thru-trail with the best Alaska has to offer— you start or end in a rainforest, see glaciers, alpine meadows, and a massive lake where you’d least expect it. (I recommend Lost Lake to anyone extending their stay in Alaska.)

But on our drive to Seward and our drive back into Anchorage, we’d pass lakes. Lakes I couldn’t stop thinking about. Emerald green water, tucked back into mountains. Snowy peaks in summer. Glaciers. Natural beauty I’d never seen before. I wanted to be on this water, rowing. We’d pass them again. And again. Until finally, I strapped a 1x to the roof of a Subaru and didn’t pass. I rowed on three lakes in a day, went back with a coastal shell, and did it again, this time adding Resurrection Bay.

After rowing competitively for 8 years and winning 2 National Championships with the University of Washington, I coached masters, juniors, pre-elites, and collegiately for 14 years, as well as help start two rowing programs in California. Since the spring of 2019, we’ve been lucky enough to call Alaska home, where I help coach at Anchorage Rowing Association, work at our local running store “Skinny Raven,” and couldn’t be happier.

I look forward to meeting you, and sharing Alaska with you!