
Two beautiful hearts, one incredible future. May your wedding day be just the preface to a lifetime of unmatched joy and shared dreams.
Today at the lodge, I had the opportunity to meet people from all over the globe. One of the best conversations of the day was with Charles Johnson from Phoenix, Arizona, who just turned 105 a couple of weeks ago and is up here visiting the Denali wilderness. Mr. Johnson served in the U.S. Army during World War II and is truly the "real deal"—a man of immense humility, deep gratitude, and someone who simply refuses to act his age! The state of Alaska, our country, and the entire free world owe Mr. Johnson a debt of gratitude for his service. Here’s wishing this soldier of yesteryear a wonderful and memorable time up here in Alaska!
-Gary B. Jones
July 12, 2026
Check this article out regarding Mr. Johnson:

July 4, 2026
A couple of days ago, I had the privilege of catching up with two high school classmates at the Settlers Bay Lodge here in Alaska—and it was a truly wonderful experience!
My recent visitors were Leon and LaRue Pexton from Mona, Utah. We all attended Juab High School together over sixty years ago! As I told them, "It feels like a trick has been played on me—it is just so hard to comprehend how quickly the decades have flown by."
That’s me in the center of the photo with the Pextons. On display high above us is the custom sled, hand-crafted from Michigan ash, that I used to finish my very first Iditarod back in my rookie year of 2002.
Settlers Bay Lodge is one of the most popular spots in the entire state. It hosts hundreds of tourists and locals alike, offering incredible cuisine, great prices, and outstanding hospitality. Alongside my old sled, they display a fantastic variety of Alaskan artifacts and wildlife. Plus, their outside decks provide a spectacular view of the Cook Inlet with the famous Chugach mountains in the background.
It has been so great having Leon and LaRue up here in the Great Land! Happy Birthday, America! I am proud to be an American, an Alaskan, and a Utahn. Have an awesome week of safe celebrations!
— Gary B. Jones





Beyond the Sycamores
A gripping story of hardship and reward, life and death, and the ultimate journey to find oneself.
About the Book
Four childhood friends growing up in 1950s Appalachian America make a sacred pledge: if any of them should die, he must return to tell the others what life is like “on the other side.”
Beyond the Sycamores follows these boys as they drift apart into adulthood. Though separated by time and distance, their friendship remains unbreakable, and the oath made in their summer treehouse is never forgotten.
This novel is a powerful reflection on life, endurance, and the hardships that shape us. May your own journey be defined by wise choices, and when you reach the final page of your "book of life," may you look back and say, "Wow—what a great read."
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Beyond the Sycamores The Man from Booger Hollow
A powerful new novel of endurance, destiny, and the human spirit.
About the Book
Born into poverty and crippled by self-doubt, young Jeremiah Chittleborough faces a childhood of severe hardship in his family’s backwoods cabin in the 1960s Arkansas Ozarks.
At age 17, determined to change his destiny, he sets off on a daring journey. Completely penniless, Jeremiah hitchhikes all the way to Alaska with nothing but his only friend—a live mule gifted to him.
Along the treacherous road to the Last Frontier, Jeremiah discovers something far more valuable than gold. In the process, he finally uncovers the true identity of a mysterious stranger from his past. The Man from Booger Hollow is an inspiring story about the hardships that shape who we become.
Released in 2025, this novel is the latest release from prolific Alaskan author Gary Bryan Jones, adding to his growing collection of acclaimed fiction and non-fiction works.
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