Chas Davis spends most of his weekend’s from August until the end of May traveling with the cross country and track and field teams at the University of Alaska Anchorage. So what does the associate head cross country coach do when he has a free weekend? He travels some more. 

Davis has visited 57 of the 63 national parks in America, all 50 states and 36 different countries (counting Israeli Occupied Palestine as separate from Israel). 

“It was definitely a goal to visit all 50 states and every National Park starting about in my early 30's. I decided I would visit all 50 states after realizing I had already visited about 40. The every National Park thing came about when I realized I had been to the vast majority in the West & the rest wouldn't be that difficult or expensive to get to minus the remote Alaskan and island ones not accessible by traditional commercial means.  And now I only have one continent to go - Antarctica - which is next on the list. Really just came about after I had visited the previous six.”

His quest to visit the remaining six National Parks is more manageable now that he is living in Alaska as four of the remaining parks, Kobuk Valley, Gates of the Artic, Glacier Bay and Lake Clark, are all in the state. 

How did he develop a love for visiting new places? 

“I really enjoyed my time backpacking around Japan for my high school senior trip and three summers in Italy with a study abroad program, but it was when I decided I wanted to coach - so would have limited time and finances - that I realized I could still travel a lot for cheap if I was focusing on road trips and outdoors destinations...that kind of travel isn't expensive,” said Davis. “But then my good friend also put me on his airline standby benefits around 2012...which could get me just about anywhere in the world for dirt cheap...and there was no going back.”

His motivation for traveling is simple. 

“Traveling helps remind me that there is a world far beyond my little world.”

With all of the places he has traveled, does he have a favorite? 

“Not sure I have a favorite, but really loved my time in the middle east...from Jordan to Egypt, Turkey, Israel and Palestine...and Morocco if that counts?  If I'm going for the outdoors, it's going to be hard to beat New Zealand and Patagonia between Chile and Argentina.”

All of his travels have led to some unique interactions and experiences. 

“I chased down street thieves in Lima, Peru to get all my money, passport and credit cards back.

“I realized I had been hanging out making friends with an ex-Irish Republican Army operative in pubs all over Derry, Northern Ireland by the end of the night.

“Watching the war in Syria from a tourist observation hill in Golan Heights, Israel, complete with tracer fire at night while hearing the rumbling of explosives from both there and the Jordanian side.

“Almost collapsing on the way back down from the top of Kilimanjaro needing medical attention, but barely stumbling back into camp.

“One time I was camping on BLM land outside the gates of Area 51. I was a huge alien/UFO buff growing up so always wanted to explore the area. The guards blasted loud music with a spotlight on my camp all night, but nothing I was doing was illegal so I was perfectly happy staying for the experience. But on the way out of that isolated desert road the next morning, I somehow ended up with two flat tires & a fighter jet that "buzzed" me from the air shortly before making it back to the main highway.”

Sometimes he travels alone but other times will bring someone along to share in the adventure. 

For the last seven years he has traveled with his sister Brittany over the holidays. 

“If it is an outdoorsy destination though, a good friend of mine I coached at Creighton will sometimes accompany me.” 

Does he have a least favorite destination? 

“Nebraska. Lived there for 11 years.”

So what’s next for the world traveler? 

“Antarctica would complete all seven continents. I have American Samoa National Park and the newest National Park New River Gorge left as well as the four Alaskan National Parks not on the road system. But after I’ve experienced all the National Parks and continents, I just want to keep exploring off the beaten path, where that leads.”