McCarthy, Alaska

Ghosts, Glaciers, and Grit at the End of the Road

Ninety miles of gravel and questionable suspension lead to a town tucked into the wild heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. McCarthy isn’t just off the grid; it’s a living legend— where mountaineers, artists, and old-timers settle arguments with a shared pickle. In this funny, big-hearted travel memoir, Dane D. Blaze takes the glacial plunge, tiptoes through the echoing bones of Kennecott Copper Mine, and flies the mail route in a tiny bush plane, only to be adopted by a community fueled by sourdough, sass, and beautiful, unscripted chaos.

Travel Memoir ~80–100 pages (1–2 hr) Glacier & Ghost Town

Chapter 1: An Excerpt

The road to McCarthy is equal parts scenery and dental test. By the time the gravel gives up and the footbridge appears, you’ve shed a few expectations and at least one loose bolt. The Root Glacier hisses underfoot—alive, creaking, blue enough to make a painter swear—and somewhere above, the Kennecott mill stacks whistle a ghostly tune that isn’t entirely the wind.

Locals argue policy and hockey with the same tool: a pickle passed around the table until peace is declared. Bush pilots deliver mail and rumors in single-engine punctuation. And when the midnight sun finally blinks, the whole valley exhales like it’s been holding its breath all summer.

Tips? Bring layers, humility, and a camera that won’t cry when it gets cold. If a stranger offers you crampons, say yes. If a moose crashes a wedding, also say yes.

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Become a Pathfinder

See something we missed? Spot a detail that doesn’t add up? That’s where you come in. Pathfinders don’t just read the journey, they help write it. Correct the facts, fill in the gaps, and blaze new trails for fellow travelers.

Does it cost anything? Ha! Nope. In fact, we pay you. Even better, you can write off your travel on your taxes (check your local laws). We’ll even help you fill out the forms.

Talk about a no-brainer. You’re a money-making, tax-break-taking, pathfinding machine.