Alaska, Alaska life, backpacking, fishing, rafting, hiking. This channel is for AKWild1. The videos capture my love of the outdoors in general, and my life in Alaska in particular. I live in a cabin I partially built on the edge of the largest national park in the country, Wrangell-St. Elias. Although I still have many modern conveniences, I still rely on subsistence hunting, fishing, and gathering. I enjoy backpacking, rafting, hiking, fat biking, fishing, hunting, photography, videography, woodworking, and pursuing a self-reliant lifestyle.
Recently my wife and I hiked 2005 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, so you'll see clips of our experience as well as a full documentary. I firmly believe in the rigorous outdoor lifestyle, simple living close to the Earth, and critical thinking. I believe many of our modern ailments and afflictions could be solved with healthy outdoor activity. The mountains are my medicine. Thank you for, hopefully, subscribing to my channel. All the best.
akwild1
Join me tomorrow for an episode on the realities older hikers face and how to adjust for them.
29 minutes ago | [YT] | 1
View 0 replies
akwild1
Fall is in the air.
1 day ago | [YT] | 12
View 3 replies
akwild1
Hello Wild People, please join me tomorrow for a 100-mile rafting trip down Alaska's wild Copper River, a place full of grizzlies, seals, glaciers, and serendipity.
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 17
View 1 reply
akwild1
I found out that my friend, Dennis Wheeler, recently passed away. He was an amazing man, full of wit and wisdom, best known for his ability to put together a fishwheel from materials most folks would throw away. He could fix anything, with practically nothing. He could turn fiber optic spools into garden fencing to protect against moose, turn tires into pots, and old plywood into fishwheel paddles. I got to know Mr. Wheeler and his wife, Dora, during the past three seasons. I spent a lot of time filming his skills and innovative machines, everything from a fish stripper to a ball catapult for his dog, Ted. The memories I treasure most are watching him sift through old pictures and relive them. Sometimes before I hit the record button on my camera, he would joke, "Well, now I need to clean up my language." He was surprised to see his video, "Master Wheeler" go viral, and achieve more than 1 million views, and 300 comments from his adoring fans -- and still growing. "Who would have thought people would want to watch an old hillbilly ramble on about fishing?" he said. Apparently, quite a few. When I visited him in June, he was just days out of serious surgery, yet there he was building another fishwheel. The Copper River will be a little lonelier without him. Yet, his fishwheel will keep rolling, his expertise providing fresh salmon for people all across the state. Remember to treasure the old-timers, and learn as much as you can from them. We need them to light the way.
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 36
View 6 replies
akwild1
100 miles of wilderness rafting down Alaska's cantankerous Copper River. No other people, no brush with civilization. That's the video I am working on for my next episode on AKWild1 on Youtube.
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 24
View 6 replies
akwild1
Hello Wild People, this summer I have been working on a documentary about the importance of the Copper River Red Salmon to the people in our region. I have interviewed all types of fishermen, Ahtna people, a chef, ecologist, artist and others to show the critical role this fish plays in our community, and Alaska. I have taken my film gear to some remote, rough and tough locations. I hope to have the documentary premiere in June 2027. Just thought you might like to know. Today I took some underwater footage of red salmon getting ready to spawn.
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 20
View 6 replies
akwild1
Hello, Wild People. Join me on Sunday, August 23 for an episode on six essential items that should be in your pack whether you are hiking or backpacking.
4 weeks ago | [YT] | 18
View 2 replies
akwild1
Join me tomorrow on AKWild1 on Youtube as we dipnet for Alaska Red Salmon on the Copper River.
1 month ago | [YT] | 17
View 0 replies
akwild1
In tomorrow's episode, I'll share some of my first encounters with our new freeze dryer. What are the benefits and drawbacks for long-distance backpackers who want to prep their own food for the trail?
1 month ago | [YT] | 16
View 2 replies
akwild1
Hello wild people. Look who came for a visit to my cabin today. A cow moose with calves is one of the most dangerous animals on Earth, so I kept my distance. Actually, I shot this pic from my porch, so I was pretty safe.
2 months ago | [YT] | 34
View 0 replies
Load more