Nature can be awe-inspiring in some places. Mountains tower over rivers, and wildlife is governed by a rhythm that’s older than the civilisation. Alaska, for example, is a place of unyielding majesty. For adventurer and animal lover Shane Untamed, it is the ultimate playground of exploration, wonder and untamed discoveries.
Shane embarks on a three-part Alaskan adventure in his quest to experience the wild at its most raw.
- The traditional way to catch wild salmon is on rivers that are alive with life.
- See the Kodiak bears, North America’s largest land carnivores, up close.
- See the giants of the sea, the whales, as they breach in the coastal waters and sing.
This is not a list of incredible wildlife encounters. This is a journey of transformation, immersion and challenge, an exploration of one of Earth’s most wild frontiers.
Landing Alaska: The Wilderness begins, The Shane Untamed
Shane’s adventure begins when he lands in Anchorage. Anchorage is Alaska’s biggest city, nestled between the majestic Chugach Mountains and the icy waters of Cook Inlet. Alaska is different, even here at the edge of the wilderness. The air is cleaner. The horizon is wider. The wildlife is not hiding – it’s just waiting.
Shane isn’t the average traveller. He’s not looking for landmarks or luxury. He wants to know the world as it is. In Alaska, these terms are: Be prepared, be respectful, and expect to be surprised.
Shane leaves Anchorage and heads southwest to the Kenai Peninsula. This region is known for its rugged coastlines with glacial rivers and salmon runs. Here, his first mission starts.
Salmon, the Lifeblood of Northern Canada
The wild Salmon is a symbol of Alaska. Every year, millions of salmon return to rivers and streams from the ocean, where they were hatched, to spawn. This annual migration is more than just a wonder of biology. It’s also a cultural, ecological and historical cornerstone for the entire region.
Shane meets a local fisherman, Niko. He is a member of the Dena’ina Athabascan tribe, whose ancestors depended on salmon millennia ago. Together they hike along the misty shores of the Kenai River with fly rods, surrounded by dense spruce forest and the haunting calls from bald eagles above.
Niko explains to Shane that it’s more than just catching fish. It’s all about respecting them. “They give us life.”
The water is crystal clear, cold and fast. Shane mimics the traditional technique taught to him in the morning. Hours pass. A strike follows. A sudden pull. The muscle flashes silver beneath the surface. The fight starts.
Shane finally catches his first Sockeye Salmon after a long struggle. The five-pound fish has vibrant red sides and is determined in its eyes. After a brief moment of holding it in the shallows, he thanks it and releases it into the river.
This is a small but powerful act of respect. In Alaska, nature isn’t a commodity. It’s kin.
Kodiak Bears – Lords of the Land
After completing his salmon list, Shane continues to Kodiak Island, located in the Gulf of Alaska. Kodiak, with its 3,500 square miles, is the second-largest island in the United States. The land is shaped by ancient volcanic eruptions, dense spruce forests, and the constant churning of wind and tide.
The most famous inhabitants of Kodiak are not the trees or mountains, but rather its Bears.
Kodiak Bears are a subspecies of the brown bear and the biggest land carnivores of North America. Males can reach 1,500 pounds in weight and grow to over 10 feet on their hind legs. When seen in the wild, they are enormous, impressive, and deeply humbling.
Shane joins forces with Allison, a wildlife scientist who has studied these giants for over a decade. They fly by floatplane into a remote river valley, accessible only by air. This is where the bears gorge themselves on salmon in the late summer.
Allison says that the bears aren’t only big. “They’re smart. “They know the rhythms of the land like no human has ever done.”
Shane, from a respectful distance, observes two cubs and their mother fishing in the river. The cubs play and wrestle in the grass as their mother removes fish with ease from the river.
Just beyond the bend, Shane spots him – a huge male with shoulders as broad as truck doors, a thick coat glistening in river spray. The bear surveys the scene and moves along the edge of the water with surprising grace.
There is no fear, only reverence. Shane’s not at the top of his food chain right now. He is a guest in an ancient kingdom.
Whales – Echoes of the Deep
After conquering land and rivers, Shane now sets his sights on the sea.
He returns to the mainland to Homer. This seaside town is known as the ” Halibut Fishing Capital of the World” but it’s also famous for its marine life and the sweeping views of Kachemak Bay.
Shane is a member of a marine research team aboard a small vessel that was designed to observe whales. They are on a mission to find and observe some of the biggest animals that have ever lived on Earth, the Alaskan humpbacks.
As the fog lifts, snowcapped mountains appear in all directions. The air is filled with the smell of kelp and salt. Next, a noise. A misty blast. A blast.
A Humpback Whale leaps from the sea, spins in mid-air and then crashes back to the ocean, causing the boat to be thrown around.
It’s a spiritual experience for Shane.
He says, “These aren’t just animals.” “They are living monuments – reminders of an older, wilder planet than we usually remember.”
The crew sees orcas, as well as sea otters and puffins. But it is the humpback whales who steal the show. Their deep, beautiful, and eerie songs vibrate like poetry through the water.
Surprises Along the Way
No wild trip goes as planned. Alaska is unpredictable.
While hiking on a trail in the vicinity of Katmai National Park, Shane comes across a bear print that is about the size and shape of a dinner plate. It’s still wet from the rain. He pauses, heart pounding. Here, nature doesn’t respect boundaries or signs. Nature here lives by its own rules.
Shane meets off-grid homesteaders in Wrangell St. Elias National Park who live with a near-zero dependence on the modern world. Around a campfire, they share their stories about surviving blizzards and raising sled dogs.
In a small Inupiaq village on the Arctic Coast, Shane takes part in a storytelling circle and learns how native communities coexisted for generations with the harsh Arctic extremes before GPS or Gore-Tex.
The soul of Shane’s adventure is these moments that are unfiltered and unplanned.
Shane untamed – The man behind the mission
Shane’s not just here to thrill. He’s looking for the truth.
He writes, films and speaks to entertain, to bridge the gap between the modern world and the wild, hidden, undiscovered world. His style is raw, immersive, and humorous at times. But always reverent.
He says that “being untamed” is not about breaking rules. It’s important to remember that we are all part of something larger, and wildness has a place within us.
Shane Untamed doesn’t chase adventure. Whether he’s fishing with local guides, watching the sun’s last rays hit the fur of a bear, or listening to a whale’s low rumble echoing through a fjord. He is chasing a connection to the land and animals, people, as well as something primal within us.
Takeaway: It’s More Than Just a Checklist
Shane’s journey, though profound, is not just about the salmon, whales, or bears. What those creatures mean is important.
- Salmon, show us the
Power of perseverance
- The bears are a symbol of strength, respect and courage.
- Whales teach us depth and mystery
Alaska teaches us a lesson in humility.
Shane Untamed does not leave with trophies but rather with stories. Stories that encourage others to get outside, to pay attention and to remember that the wild, beating heart of Earth still exists.
