AlaskaExplored is THE DESTINATION for all things Alaska. Whether you’re planning an epic moose hunting trip, or you just need some restaurant recommendations, we’ve got you covered. Here at AlaskaExplored.com you’ll find expert tips, detailed guides, stunning photographs, and so much more. Together AlaskaExplored has more than twenty years of experience traveling, working, and exploring the beautifully rugged, 49th state.
Working in television has taken us all around the world, and no place more than Alaska. During our time in Alaska we’ve documented countless stories from every corner and crevasse of the state. We’ve helped showcase the grandeur of this wild place for National Geographic, Discovery, Disney, Animal Planet, and more. Now we want to share our knowledge and real life experiences with you!
Between our two contributors, they have worked on the biggest and most iconic shows in Alaska. Including; Deadliest Catch, Life Below Zero, Port Protection, Life Below Zero: Next Generation, Bering Sea Gold, Battle on the Bay, Alaska The Last Frontier, Slednecks and The Last Alaskans.
How it Started
Like most people heading to Alaska for the first time, JJ and Paul had no idea about the adventure ahead of them. The thrill of traveling to new frontiers and exploring the unknown is the reason we travel. A series of unlikely events and encounters is the origin of Alaska Explored.
Nearly a decade ago, two strangers from dramatically different backgrounds ended up on a flight to Alaska with a layover in Juneau. Paul sitting in the back of the plane, spotted JJ, seated in the front, thinking to himself, I hope that isn’t who I’m working with for the next month. The plane landed in Juneua for an hour layover.
Paul headed to a bar across the street at a Mexican restaurant. JJ stayed in the airport and met the rest of the Nat-Geo crew flying on the plane. A few hours later, landing in Petersburg, Alaska, JJ and Paul were assigned to work together as part of a small crew living in a remote cabin on an island. They made great TV, and two strangers became friends. They now both go to the bar together on the layover.
AlaskaExplored is Born
Fast Forward ten years, countless television episodes were produced, dozens of king salmon caught, and nearly a million Alaska Airlines miles earned. JJ and Paul have stayed close friends and have been fortunate to explore some of the most stunning places in Alaska together.
We have met remarkable people in fascinating places, from ANWR to Adak, Kodiak to Nome. We know the best tents to sleep in at -50° and how to set them up, we also know the best pool table in Homer, and if you want to mail a postcard from one of the only floating post offices in the country, we can share that with you too (hint: it’s in Southeast). AlaskaExplored was created to share our experiences and knowledge with you, so you can create our own epic adventure in the last frontier.
Meet JJ
After growing up in Georgia and getting a degree in Video, JJ packed his belongings in a 91′ Accord and drove to LA. He eventually landed a job washing dishes on the cooking competition show Top Chef. He pestered the camera crews enough to let him start working as an assistant, and soon he was working on shows like Fast N’Loud, Cupcake Wars, and Rob Dyrdeck’s Fantasy Factory.
For the better part of the last decade, JJ has been operating a camera and producing shows in Alaska. He’s been a part of the Emmy award-winning series Life Below Zero and Deadliest Catch, as well as many others. JJ lives with his wife and two French bulldogs in Portland, OR. When he’s not sleeping in the snow for work, he loves to cook and hike. He also runs the recipe blog MarriedfortheMeals.com
Meet Paul
Paul started his career as a photojournalist, working in the Middle East and Africa, shooting assignments in Congo, Pakistan, Rwanda, Chile, Cuba, Antarctica, and Iraq. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Time Magazine, US News and World Report, and The New York Times, among others.
After a decade of working for newspapers, magazines, and photo agencies internationally. Paul started working in film and television for Discovery, National Geographic, History Channel, Animal Planet, A&E, and Disney+. Paul spends most of his year working in Alaska but calls Lancaster, PA home, where he lives with his wife, three children, and three dogs on three acres.
