ABOUT ME

I am standing in the distance on a rock looking out at snow dusted mountains in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. A crystal clear natural pool of water is in the foreground.
Get to know me

Hey, I’m Heather!

I am the founder, writer, and traveler behind Alaska Adventurers, and have spent the last couple of decades seeing as much of Alaska as I can. I lived in Alaska for seven years and I still travel there as often as possible with my family, a.k.a. my fellow adventurers!

My husband, Matt, and I like to take the road less traveled so we enjoy hiking, backpacking, and exploring new remote places with our kids. We’ve been toting them around since infancy to high peaks in the wilderness.

I am also a culinary explorer at heart. Whether it’s whipping up gourmet meals in the backcountry or enjoying the wood cook stove in our off-grid cabin in McCarthy, Alaska, I have a passion for the art of cooking.

My love for food extends to discovering and sharing the best dining experiences Alaska has to offer. From hidden local eateries to the finest restaurants, I’m on a quest to bring you the most delicious finds and recommendations!

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WHERE I HAVE BEEN

My Favorite Places in Alaska

The historical red mill building in Kennecott, Alaska perched on a hill with a wooden ore delivery trestle leading to a lower structure, flanked by smaller red buildings under a clear blue sky.

Wrangell-St.Elias National Park

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the largest national park in the United States and encompasses 13.2 million acres! It’s a backpacker’s dream and one of the best places to plan a fly-in camping trip in Alaska.

A serene winter landscape in Fairbanks with frosted trees and bushes against a clear blue sky, fresh snow covering the ground and a trail of footprints winding through the scene

Fairbanks

Fairbanks, Alaska’s Golden Heart City, is in the interior of the state. This is the land of the midnight sun and a place where you can experience hours viewing the aurora borealis during the long winter nights. Fairbanks is a tight-knit community with loads of local culture and wonderful art galleries.

Golden sunlight illuminates a mountain peak near Galbraith Lake in Alaska with shadowed rolling hills and a distant mountain range under a soft blue sky at one o'clock a.m. in July.

Arctic Circle

  • Brooks Range
  • Packrafting
  • Dalton Hwy/Haul Rd.

Getting to the Arctic Circle isn’t exactly easy, but it can be reached by driving or flying. The Dalton Highway is the rugged lifeline connecting Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle from Fairbanks. I have driven the Dalton Highway and camped at Galbraith Lake, right near Gates of the Arctic National Park.

View of Denali towering over the surrounding tundra and mountains in Denali National Park, Alaska, with a winding road leading towards the peak on a clear day.

Denali National Park

  • Camping + Hiking
  • Wilderness Tours

This is probably the most well-known national park in Alaska, and for good reason. It’s easy to get to, packed with wildlife, and home to the tallest mountain in North America. I’ve camped, hiked, and explored all over this area, and put together a guide to Denali with everything I’ve learned for planning your first visit.

My Story

Blogging & Traveling

Living in Alaska

My husband, Matt, and I met in Vermont in 2005 and I was suddenly and gleefully moving to Fairbanks, Alaska with him shortly after that! He had already been living in Alaska for 10 years at that time so I got to cheat a bit and learn about my new lifestyle from a local.

I enjoyed an amazing move driving over 4000 miles, my car following his truck and the trailer that held all my belongings, so that was an adventure in itself. We drove mostly through Canada and my memories of driving the Al-Can are vivid to this day.

We lived in a “dry cabin” (yes it was dry inside but that term means it doesn’t have plumbing) on Murphy Dome, in Fairbanks, for about 2 years. That was an experience! We hauled our water, fuel, and well, basically everything, down the trail in the woods to our little cabin. Groceries and gas were 30 minutes from home.

Meanwhile, my husband was working hard building a house on the same property that we moved into in 2008. Yes, it had plumbing! Our life on Murphy Dome was magical. It just happens to be one of the best places to view the northern lights, so that made it even better. I have so much to tell about my adventures in Alaska.

My son and I stand smiling inside an ice cave with ethereal blue light filtering through the ice, highlighting the rugged texture of the cave walls and rocky ground beneath us.
Ice Cave – Root Glacier, Kennecott

How I Got Started Blogging

I have always loved sharing my travel experiences with friends near and far for a few decades. Because living and traveling in Alaska has made such a huge impression on who I am today, I decided it would be amazing to be able to share what I know about this state with readers worldwide!

Why I Blog

  • I’m here to encourage you to take that leap—secure that plane ticket to the Last Frontier, book your Alaskan lodge, and embark on the epic adventure you’ve always envisioned.
  • Seeing how I’ve navigated my own travels to explore Alaska’s wonders will inspire you to pursue your journey to this majestic place!
  • I want to help other travelers by giving honest information based on my extensive experiences in Alaska. I hope it inspires others to try something new!

Where Am I Now?

I live full-time with my family in Central Vermont sandwiched between the Mad River Valley and Waterbury. We have access to excellent skiing, hiking, fine dining, swimming holes, and farm-to-table food.

We travel from Vermont to Alaska every couple of years with our kids, that is, once we save enough air miles to make the trip more affordable! We moved to Vermont to be closer to grandparents while our children grew up, knowing we could always return to Alaska.

This reads: Travel Alaska Certified Expert in blue text over a white background. There is a small mountain logo above the word travel.
Logo design featuring the words “anchorage WILD EXPERT” over a stylized mountain and cityscape backdrop. Silhouettes of a moose, a soaring bird, and a whale tail highlight Alaska wildlife, reinforcing the wild nature theme.
What to Expect

What will you find here?

Travel Inspiration

My job is to share all the amazing places with you and help inspire you to visit AK!

Adventure Travel Tips

We’ve gone on epic backcountry trips. Be on the lookout for ideas and tips!

Transportation Guides

Alaska is HUGE! I help you choose the best form of transportation for your travel style.

Travel Resources

I am a researcher to the core. I will give you all the resources and info you need to plan the best trip!

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