About
The quest
To put it simply, the goal is to stay at every single cabin offered by the National Forest Service in Alaska. At first glance, it seems very reasonable, but if you dig a little deeper it is an ambitious goal.
Most of these cabins are located in southeast Alaska, which is comprised of a series of islands. There is no road connecting the islands, and travel is restricted to boat or plane..and that’s just to get to the towns.
The cabins are located in remote areas, often requiring another boat or float plane ride. It will take a lot of planning, time, and money to make this happen (plus some luck), but there is no doubt that the memories along the way will be worth it.
This blog will cover the entire process of achieving this dream, from start to (hopefully) finish. I will post about the trips to each cabin with photos, videos, and other insights. I will also discuss the behind the scenes planning and logistics, as well as the financing and costs of the trip.
My Story
I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and always had an affinity for the outdoors. I graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Natural Resources and wanted to pursue a living as a fly fishing guide.
In 2011, I visited friends in Southeast Alaska…and my life was forever changed. We caught steelhead (my favorite species of fish), went crabbing, saw bears, and drank a lot of whiskey. After 11 days, I knew I needed to live there. It took a couple of years from that moment, but eventually I accepted a job working at a remote salmon hatchery on Baranof Island.
The next summer I landed a job guiding at a prestigious lodge out in Bristol Bay, where I spend the next three summers. After my fourth year in Alaska, I made the decision to move back home in search of more stability and a “regular” life. I was able to get a job at a startup and for a while was very interested in the idea of growing a business, but Alaska was never far from my thoughts.
I finally decided I needed to go back, and in 2021 I booked a two month trip, which is where the idea for the cabin quest was born. In 2022 I moved back to southeast Alaska full time and opened a fly fishing outfitter, Tongass on the Fly.