From the filmmaker:

We stood on the ice dunes of the glaciers of Alaska in the midst of a snowy winter. Trekking the slopes of another planet had been on our list for a long time. The silence and majesty of the mountains surrounding us, the bluest ice we had ever seen and the steady rush of ice turned to water. How did we get here? We met Rick by chance on a rainy road in Seward, Alaska. He had a worn work jacket, a great white beard and the friendliest demeanor two travelers could ask for. He turned out to be the skeleton key to the locked treasure that was our way into Exit Glacier. We had the entire ice field to ourselves. And a sole chance to tell its story. So we took it.

Katie and I got to spend one gorgeous September day with Rainbow River Lodge and their veteran guide Benjamin Todd. It was by far one of the best trout fishing days I've ever had. Rainbow River Lodge is a premiere fly out lodge located on Pike Lake adjacent to the Copper River in Alaska's Bristol Bay. Learn more about Rainbow River Lodge - Click Here. 

We had the opportunity to visit the folks at Iliamna River Lodge this past September. Despite inclement weather, we found fantastic fishing on their homewater - the Iliamna River. This fishery is well known for their trophy Arctic Char, and in 3 days of fishing, we found plenty of them. They also have a healthy population of resident Rainbow Trout and lake-run trout from Lake Iliamna. Iliamna River Lodge operates a fly out lodge operation from June to October. 

Contact us to find out more about Iliamna River Lodge

Located on the world renowned Kvichak River in the Bristol Bay region, the Alaska Sportsman's Lodge is one of our premiere AK fishing destinations. Watch their newest video and find out what makes ASL so special.

From the Filmmaker Ryan Peterson:

A salmon in Alaska makes an incredible journey on the Susitna River, as residents consider the cost/benefits of a massive government-proposed hydroelectric dam.

Produced and directed by Ryan Peterson, in partnership with SusitnaRiverCoalition.org, with support from Patagonia.com.

JUNEAU, AK – Today, the U.S. Forest Service finalized an amendment to its Tongass Land and Resource Management plan that includes important measures for better conserving more than 70 salmon and trout streams within Southeast Alaska’s 17 million acre Tongass National Forest. The measures are the culmination of a multi-year community supported process, and are detailed in the final record of decision for the Tongass Forest Plan Amendment.

“The decision is a major step toward safeguarding fish and wildlife across wide areas of the Tongass National Forest,” said Mark Kaelke, Southeast Alaska Project Director for Trout Unlimited. “In making Tongass 77 areas off-limits to old growth logging, the Forest Service has recognized both the economic and social significance of salmon to residents and visitors to the region, and the agency has deepened its commitment to true multiple-use management of the Tongass.”

Key provisions of the decision include increased conservation standards for the Tongass 77, which are a collection of the most important and productive wild salmon areas on the forest. The amendment also provides for a gradual transition of the Tongass timber program from one based on old-growth logging to one based on sustainable young-growth forest management. By increasing conservation measures for high-value salmon streams and creating more flexibility for the Forest Service to plan young growth timber sales, this decision promises to help move the Tongass beyond the long-standing controversies of old-growth logging while allowing the forest to better serve residents and communities who depend on hunting, fishing, tourism or commercial fishing.

"Including the Tongass 77 areas in the amended Forest Plan will help ensure that in the future we have viable freshwater streams that are crucial to our guests experience in the Tongass,” said Arne Johnson, owner of Bear Creek Outfitters in Juneau.

A diverse group of more than seven thousand Alaskan businesses and individuals that value and rely on wild salmon and trout for their livelihoods, including commercial fishermen, guides and outfitters, as well as conservationists and sport anglers, voiced support for conserving top fish-producing watersheds within the Tongass during the lengthy public process leading up to the final plan amendment.

"Conserving the Tongass 77 is a huge step in the right direction for the people and businesses of Southeast Alaska,” said Mark Hieronymus, Sportfish Outreach Coordinator for Trout Unlimited and veteran fishing guide on the Tongass for the past 11 years. “Fisheries, tourism and recreation are the economic drivers in Southeast, and this new Plan Amendment recognizes those values and sets sound conservation measures for the high-value areas of the Tongass 77 that will ensure their continued contributions to the Southeast Alaska economy."

The Tongass is the nation’s largest National Forest, producing hundreds of millions of wild salmon each year that support commercial and sport fishing industries, account for 10% of all regional employment and contribute $1 billion annually to the local economy. Visitors from all over the world come to see the Tongass and support a booming travel industry accounting for another 15% of regional employment and another $1 billion in economic activity.

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Trout Unlimited is the nation’s oldest and largest coldwater fisheries conservation organization. In Alaska, we work with sportsmen and women to ensure the state’s trout and salmon resources remain healthy far into the future through our local chapters and offices in Anchorage and Juneau. Follow TU’s Tongass efforts on Facebook, and visit us online at tu.org. Learn more about our work to conserve key areas of the Tongass National Forest at www.americansalmonforest.org

This short video was inspired by one of my favorite lines from Dr. Seuss's famous book "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" It reads as follows:

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite. Or waiting around for Friday night or waiting perhaps for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil or a better break or a string of pearls or a pair of pants or a wig with curls or another chance. Everyone is just waiting. NO! That's not for you!

What are you waiting for? It's time to seize the day and chase those lifelong dreams. Alaska awaits!

Wonderland, a Powder Productions Original, is a skier's quest to find her ultimate dream line in the greatest skiing state—Alaska. Helicopters not included.

This past June, we had planned to do a packraft adventure film in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with a couple friends from Whitefish, Montana. We were not sure what to expect, but like always, we wanted to make a film that was true to our experience.

Looking back, the Arctic sort of wrote the story all on its own. The exotic nature of 24-hour sun, no trees, swaths of ice, and a seemingly endless and ageless mountain landscape captured us for a full 2 weeks. It really seemed like we were on a different planet – eating when we were hungry, sleeping when we were tired, and playing at all hours of the day without any regard for the time. Most importantly, we were far, far away from the chaos of humanity that had been exacerbated by a crazy election year. It felt good to be on a different planet where talks of Hillary and Trump weren’t rattling our brains. Celebrities and cell phones had no grip on our reality. This planet was a sanctuary from all that. Our minds could go quiet, and our eyes were suddenly open to the most astonishing wild beauty that we have left. The dull sadness about life faded, and everything was bright again.

You don’t have to go to the Arctic to find refuge. Thankfully, we have wild and beautiful places in our backyard – and they belong to us as Americans through our public lands. Enjoy the film – comment, share, and remember that life is still beautiful. 

- Cory Luoma

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