August ... at last! Why am so happy about August, you ask? Well, I have always been partial to August because it is my birthday month. August 3rd marks 47 years. My birthdate makes me a LEO in the astrological world, and for those who know me, that will come as no surprise.

I am also excited about August this year because it marks the 10 anniversary of my expeditions to Alaska. This year I will be traveling with my good friend Dan Oberlatz as we head into the fabled Revelation Mountains. These mountains are located in the far Southwest corner of the Alaska Range and are so hard to get to that most of the peaks remained unclimbed. Several parties have tried over the past 40 years with the likes of Fred Becky, Evan Charard, John Roberts, and recently a couple of phenoms that actually made some first ascents.

Dan and I will attempt to traverse the Revelations by way of the Lyman Fork of the Big River and travel 71 miles on foot to a place called Sled Pass, right underneath the behemoth Mount Masolius and then pack-raft our way down the Stony river some 50 miles where we will try to find a place for a pilot to come in and pick us up. The Revelations are some of the most remote mountains in the world, and our traverse will be a first. We will travel unsupported meaning that we will carry on our backs 15 days of food and supplies, I suspect this will mean 90 pounds or more of burden on each of our backs until we eat our way lighter, or consume most of our cherished Kentucky bourbon.

For me, Alaska is the carrot that keeps me fired up throughout the year. I wish I could share the feeling of being totally alone in the most raw and incredible wilderness. There are no trails, phones, faxes, computers, roads, planes ... nothing. It is so rare to find places that remain totally undeveloped, and unexplored by humans. That it is my great pleasure, and honor to walk the world as it was 10,000 years ago. So as you enjoy that delicious pastrami sandwich, think of me eating my 1/2 cup of rice for the day. But don't feel sorry for me ... I will be full to the gills in the last great frontier!

Mark Stevens