Congressman Jeff Flake's Big Deserted Island Adventure

The idea of a politician announcing that he took off to spend a week alone in the wilderness has acquired something of a bad reputation these days -- but, in this case, it's true. Congressman Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) recently spent a week this summer on a survival trip to a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean.

"(My travel photos and notes) were originally for family and close friends," Flake told Politics Daily. "They knew I was going on this trip, and I wanted to share it with them. But, after the Mark Sanford piece, I didn't want people to assume I'd been hiking the Appalachian Trail -- so I thought I'd release them."

During his seven day trip in August to Jabonwod, a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean, Flake lived on coconuts as well as fish and crabs that he caught himself. Explaining why he went there, Flake said he has been "a fan of survival stories for a long time" and wanted to give it a try himself.


The wilderness trip isn't the only notable mention Flake has garnered recently. Last week, Flake was among the congressmen invited to play basketball against the president and members of his cabinet. "I wonder how someone can get the Nobel Peace Prize after fouling me that many times in a game," said Flake, in a bit of post-game trash talk to Politics Daily, adding, "no, he's a good player."


But, though the congressman hopes to take another wilderness trip in the future, he isn't planning on heading out any time soon. "It may be awhile before I go on another trip," he said, "I'd have to work it around the congressional schedule."

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