A Love Letter to Alaska // With Beverly Larson

Beverly Larson (@beverlylarson_) embodies free-spirited adventure. Born in Alaska, she was raised by parents who loved the outdoors. As a family, they spent most of their free time camping and hiking. In her adult life, she has continued to spend as much time in nature as possible - alone, with her golden retriever (Bentley!), or with her friends!

RPA: Tell us about your passion for sharing the magic of nature with others!

Bev: "I was so lucky to have parents who took us everywhere. I became pretty confident in the outdoors, and as a teenager loved taking my friends who had never been camping on backpacking trips. I’ve definitely been known to take friends on “easy” hikes that somehow end with us summiting a mountain - turns out, I’m a little too good and under-promising and over-delivering!

I loved sharing the outdoors so much I went to school for it! I have a degree in Parks and Recreation with an emphasis in outdoor education and leadership from Northern Arizona University. For the last 5 years, I worked as an adventure cycling guide for Trek Travel, where I’ve really enjoyed taking people road biking through scenic landscapes and making meaningful connections with everyone I’ve guided."

RPA: Why is Denali such a special place for you? 

Bev: "Denali is special for most Alaskans. 'Denali' means 'The Great One' in the native Alaskan language, and it truly embodies the name. Even though it’s 6 hours away, you can see the mountain from Anchorage on a clear day. My family spent lots of time camping in the tundra when I was young, and some of my favorite memories are of seeing Denali in the midnight sun in summer, it takes up the entire sky and is truly magical."

RPA: Can you tell us about one of your favorite times in Denali National Park? 

Bev: "When I was in middle school my family rented an RV and drove the 6 hours up to Denali National Park. The park doesn’t allow civilian vehicles, you have to take a tour bus once you get there, so we all climbed in this old school bus for another 6 hour drive over bumpy dirt roads. It was definitely not the ideal situation for a 12 year old! 

But after a few miles in the school bus, a mama grizzly bear and her three cubs ran across the road. Then after a few more miles we saw a moose and her babies out the window. Then a bit later a wolf. And then we were there! We saw Denali, and the entire bus was brought to their knees. It’s a mountain that will do that to you."

RPA: What’s your favorite wildflower?

Bev: "It has to be fireweed!!! The bright pink flowers just feel like summer to me. And in Alaska, they’re my summer clock. They pop up green in spring, then start to turn pink from the bottom up, and then when they’re in full bloom I know I have two weeks left of summer. Then the green slowly turns red and I know fall is here.

It’s a very special flower, and reminds me that summer is precious because we only get so much!"

RPA: Why is it important to share the outdoors? 

Bev: "It’s so important to share the outdoors because it’s a finite thing. Every year humanity chips away at nature, and wild places are getting smaller and smaller. But people will protect what they know. I really want to try and protect what we already have, and the more people who are out in nature, then the more people who will care about it and want to protect it.

Also, this sounds so cliche, but nature truly heals people. It’s volatile and harsh - especially in Alaska - but at the same time can be the most serene and peaceful place. Nature teaches you balance and how to survive a storm and then come out the other side. People can always learn more about themselves when they’re out in nature."

RPA: What is the biggest lesson nature has taught you? 

Bev: "That things are going to work out the way that they are going to work out, and you have to learn to be OK with it. You don’t always have to be the one steering the ship, and it’s OK to be in a certain phase of life for a while and then move in a different direction - just like the seasons change.

Life works the same way a river carves a valley, it’s going to take years and years and years and it’s going to go the way it’s going to go. And it's definitely not a straight path! Straight is a human creation, nothing in nature is perfectly straight. So we have to surrender to what happens and trust that we are going where we are meant to go!"

If you enjoyed this article, follow along on Instagram @beverlylarson_ to see Bev's adventures in Alaska, Washington, and beyond! Thank you Bev for these absolutely stunning photos!!