Alaska was in his blood

When Aaron Banks graduated from Wasilla High School in 1992, he was headed to bigger and better things -- like the University of Colorado, and life in the Lower 48.

A funny thing happened during his time in Colorado, though. He realized that Alaska was in his blood, and he missed the place where he grew up. The hustle and bustle of life in Colorado couldn't compare to the opportunity Alaska holds, and when a job opened up in his field, he made the move without thinking twice.

"I love the A-K and couldn't wait to get back," Banks said. "I won't live anywhere else."

If you want to catch up with Banks, you better get outside, because that's where he spends most of his time. He is an avid fly fisher, and can be found on Southcentral Alaska waters in search of any species of fish -- although rainbow trout are high on his list. He also enjoys hiking and backpacking, as well as camping -- basically, anything that gets him out of the house and into the wilderness.

While most of his outdoor pursuits are recreational, he did add a little competition to the mix last year. Last winter, Banks ran in the Little Su 50, a 50-kilometer race in which participants use mountain bikes, snowshoes or skis. This year, he is shooting for an even bigger accomplishment -- finishing the Little Su 100, a 100-mile race that takes place in the Valley in March.

"I'd love to do the race to McGrath someday," Banks said, always looking down the road for a bigger outdoor opportunity.

Banks gets his love of the outdoors from a childhood spent in the backcountry of Alaska. He grew up on a llama farm in Wasilla, and was a Boy Scout -- earning his Eagle Scout honor in the process. His father, Henry, and his mother, Patricia, are outdoor enthusiasts, and it just became a regular way of life for Banks growing up.

"We were always camping and doing things outside," Banks said.

Even his job keeps him outside. After earning a geology degree from the University of Colorado, he went to work at a firm in Colorado. He has worked for two companies in Alaska since his move, and is currently working for RM Consultants in Anchorage. He has traveled around Alaska, spending weeks at a time in remote villages and military bases, studying geology and reporting how projects can be carried out based on geological variables.

At the same time he decided to move back to Alaska, his parents were moving out. His father retired from BP Exploration about four years ago, and now Banks' parents travel around the Lower 48 in a motorhome, volunteering at such places as national parks and bird conservatories. They were up in Alaska for the entire summer, but left for their home on wheels two weekends ago.