After years of kayaking Northern Ontario, Canada, I finally made it to Alaska to drop my paddle and hiking shoes into its splendor.

Alaska, the land of awe-inspiring majesty and untamed beauty, captivated my soul for years before I ultimately left my outdoor brothers behind and embarked on a solo trip to kayak Prince of Wales Island by way of Ketchikan via float plane. No guide, no hand holding, no spoon feeding. Just me and a blind date with Mother Nature’s wilderness. And she did not fail to deliver for a single moment, the breathtaking landscapes stretched into eternity. Towering mountains adorned the waterline with glistening snow capped peaks piercing the cerulean sky, reflecting the sheer grandeur of God's craftsmanship. Vast expanses of pristine wilderness unfolded in front of me slowly and surely over the course of multiple days, stroke by paddle stroke. Bald eagles, black bears, dungeness crabs, and an almost-too-close encounter with a pack of wolves were my company along my pre-planned route.

Areas of particular beauty were Hydaburg, Klawock, Coffman Cove, and Thorne Bay. Days would pass without seeing a soul until I crossed paths with a lone crab fisherman in Naukati Bay. This kind soul welcomed me under his wing for two days to assist him in baiting and setting crab pots 200’ down on the ocean floor to ultimately haul up gorgeous and tasty dungeness crabs. Together we boiled them on the shoreline in a large pot of seawater, swapping stories while enjoying dinner paired with the most refreshing ice cold beer he brewed himself. Only in Alaska do you encounter an absolute stranger and experience an unforgettable moment.

Prince of Wales Island was an absolute heaven, the kind of escape this outdoorsman dreamed of and finally experienced up close and personal. Life is so, so good.