Loving every minute of it

When you love to hunt, fish and camp, Alaska is about as close to Nirvana as you can get, and that's the reason Peter Beck calls Alaska home now.

Beck was born in California and lived in Oregon for much of his life. But four years ago he made the move to Alaska, and has never looked back. Recreational opportunities abound in Alaska, and especially here in the Valley. That isn't lost on Beck, who turns to the outdoors as a respite from the daily grind.

"If you love the outdoors, Alaska has everything to offer," Beck said. "Hunting, fishing, everything. That's why I like it here so much. You can do just about anything you want."

Following high school and some college, Beck worked in the saw mills in Oregon, hammering out a decent living. Wanting a change in scenery, and for no other reason in particular, Beck picked up everything and headed north four years ago. He said he really can't pick one reason or another for his move to Alaska, but he's glad he did it. In the Valley, he found a philosophical home -- one that satisfies his craving for spending time in the outdoors, and he hasn't left since.

As an Oregonian, Beck chased steelhead in the waters of the Pacific Northwest. Now, as an Alaskan, Beck targets salmon and trout. His passion for the outdoors knows no season, either. You're as likely to find him shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the crowd fishing for king salmon on Montana Creek in early July as you are to find him on a lake in the middle of January, braving the cold and fishing for trout through a hole in the ice.

"It's Alaska. You can't wait until it gets warm to go outside," Beck said.

Hunting and fishing season is just about year round, but during the "off" season for Beck -- Monday through Friday each week -- he works in the construction industry. He also has a 13-year-old daughter, Stephanie, who keeps him busy at home. She, too, enjoys the outdoors, and goes camping with her father often during the summer.

Each summer, Beck enjoys playing for a team in the Mat-Su Softball Association. He has pitched and played the outfield for four years with the same group of teammates, he said.