I have just returned from teaching a 6-day private Tracking class near Fairbanks, Alaska. This was my third time in Alaska and the furthest North I have ever been.
I have been in many grand wilderness areas, everything from the Pine barrens in New Jersey to the Seven hundred thousand acres surrounding my current home. No matter which forest in the lower 48, no matter how many miles I’ve walked into these areas, I, at least, can still feel the rush and din of society. Most people do not know this, but in the vast majority of the lower 48 states, I could take you, blindfold you, drop you into a patch of woods, and if you have the ability to walk in a straight line for a few miles you will most likely encounter something made by humans. Be it a logging road, a country road, or maybe even a McDonalds! I need to fact-check this, but I believe the farthest you can be from a McDonald’s in the lower 48 is a few dozen miles. Up there, you stand at the top of Ridge and look; as far as I can see, it is nothing but wilderness. Heaven on Earth!
I am starting this blog with these facts because Alaska is completely unlike any patch of woods down here. There are areas so big, and there is nothing but the temples of creation stretching in all directions and the beauty of Nature in its (mostly) Natural state. Most people know that Alaska is a hub of mining, Fossil fuel production, and logging, but the vastness of the North country remains unexplored. When there, I feel it is calling to me., saying, “Come wander the moose trail, learn the properties of some new plant friends and animals to study. This leads me to discuss next year's “Alaskan Wilderness Adventure.” This class will be like no other, with only 8 to 10 spaces. It will be a seven-day experience where we walk into the wilderness with ultralight gear and do some adventuring. Think of it as part educational part, exploration, and part adventure. I will be releasing the dates and a more detailed description very shortly!
Classes!
I am in the process of adding both online and in-person classes, but I'm leaving a lot of space open for people wanting private classes. Contact me! I operate on a Sliding scale if you are interested, so a private class may be less costly than you think. I am also offering group discounts! I am also working on designing your online classes. But these will be more long-term commitments, around four months. There will be one Zoom session a week, I will send out one or two pre-recorded videos, and just when you thought you would never do any again, homework!
Special Collaboration Class!
I have been speaking with my good friend Mathieu Hébert from Les Primitifs, which is a school based in Canada. His website is in French, but I translated it. So, when you click the link, it should be in English. If not, you can use Google Translate. We have been friends for years since we met at Tracker School. Since then, his school has become the premier winter survival school around. The class doesn’t have a title yet, but it will focus on various skills, from awareness and movement to cultivating what I call the “Nature Mind.” The “Nature Mind” is the ability to connect with the landscape and know where to find certain resources you need to maintain your life force in a survival situation. This is a unique class, and only a few spaces will open as he brings some of his Staff members and students. The current dates are March 5th-10th here in the Sandy, Oregon area. I will post the exact dates with a full class description as soon as we discuss a few more details. Stay tuned!
Other Changes!
At some point in the near future, my website will split in two. This website will be solely dedicated to the educational side of my life, and my new website Will be strictly for my Photography, Where you go to purchase prints or custom pieces, and my school store as my clothing collection of Shirts and other items with my photographs on them will live. It will make things less cluttered on this site.
I would also be remiss would also be remiss if I didn't mention my current Go-Fund-Me. My business is still new, and it's only me at the helm. Donations have helped me immensely. I never imagined I would run into so many roadblocks, your donations and sharing my social media posts. Help immensely!
Much love, Thanks, and praises,
T3