John Binkley

Name: John Binkley 
Age: 67
Residence: Fairbanks, Alaska
Occupation: Riverboat Captain

Years lived in Alaska: Lifetime
Current Location:  Riverboat Discovery Landing. Fairbanks, Alaska
Date of Photo: February 15, 2020
Temperature: – 24 F degrees outside 
Current Weather: Clear and Sunny

Image Description: John stands outside of the office of the Riverboat Discovery during a break from work on a winter morning.

What first brought you to Alaska:

I’ve lived in Alaska 67 years. I came to Alaska on a bitterly cold February day, in 1953. Born at St. Joseph’s Hospital, in Fairbanks, Alaska.

How has Alaska captured your heart?

Alaska’s captured my heart because of the beauty of land, and just the wonderful people that live in Alaska. My wife and I have had a chance to live in many parts of Alaska, including western Alaska, for over 11 years, and we’ve loved every part of Alaska. It’s a beautiful place, and a wonderful people.

Describe just one of your favorite “Best Days” or  “Most memorable experiences”  in Alaska. 

Some of the most memorable experiences of my life have been piloting a river boat up on the Yukon river. When you have a six hour shift from six to midnight, or from midnight to six, and you see the beauty of the land, the long, long hours as the sun just dips below the horizon, and just illuminates the sky, and the landscape, it’s, it’s magic. And it’s just one of the wonderful memories of my life is piloting river boats on the Yukon river.

What in Life do you know for sure?
What I know for sure in life is that family is the most important thing. I’ve been blessed to grow up in a family business, to work with my siblings, my parents, my grandparents, and over the years to now, be able to work with my grandkids in the same business, and continue to work with my kids, it’s a wonderful thing. And it’s particularly beautiful, because it’s in the most wonderful place in the world, and in the known universe, and that’s in Alaska.