John Hall's first taste of Alaska came in June 1955, when he was 12 and his dad brought him on a trip up the Alaska Highway. Jump ahead, and Hall has now been sharing his love of the state with visitors for 40 years, writes travel columnist Scott McMurren.
Two travelers pose with their “John Hall’s Alaska” jackets. Each of them have been on four Alaska tours, as evidenced by the year embroidered on the back. For some of us, not much. Maybe it’s a job or a spouse that brings us north. Or, perhaps it’s stepping off a plane and getting one look at the mountains. Perhaps it’s a wilderness experience that seals the deal.
Hall and his father spent four days in Fairbanks. “Back home in Minnesota, my curfew was when the streetlights came on. But in June, in Fairbanks … well. I absolutely loved it,” he said. While the hotel was successful in the summer, business dropped off in the fall. “We needed to supplement our income,” he said.
During his 40 years leading tours, Hall has fine-tuned the amenities on his coaches, where guests spend a lot of time. There is a galley and a restroom and more room between the seats. “We don’t sell anything at our presentations,” said Hall. “They are strictly informational. I want them to know what to expect, what they will see and do.”
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