Curious why people move here (pictures, hunting, outside)

[Barkingowl]

Originally Posted by Rance

One moved to Anchorage but has not posted in quite some time.

That would be Ashley...

[Barkingowl]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

It ain't a Christmas card. I've been there in the middle of the night at 50 below when the propane is freezing up and there is no other heat source and you'd better think fast or die. I've been there when my child woke up and couldn't breathe and 911 was just a recording; I've been at sea when the weather got rough an the only way to save my son's life was to put my body over his and hold on to whatever I could ...seen my dog almost killed by a moose. I left a roasting chicken (raw) outside one time for ten minutes after unloading from a trip to Wasilla....went back to get the chicken and it was gone....I had no human neighbors.

I've also spent a lot of my life absolutely enthralled--especially by the upper Susitna, and by the Tongass--


but...

it's deadly as f-all.

One simple slip and the romance is gone.

Met you really need to put your life into book form. I bet it would be a best seller. Have you ever thought about going on Top Chef or Hell's Kitchen?

[shadowmatrix]

Thank you, Met. I don't know how many weeks, days, and hours I've spent researching Alaska to find the "real truth" about living up there. In August of 2009 I'll be driving up there alone to attend UAF and I've spent all this time reading comments in forums just like these about Alaska.

I've heard the romantic, touristy reasons for moving and staying in Alaska. The mountains, lakes, (aka beautiful scenery as another postcard is shown as 'proof' of how beautiful it is), historical places to visit, winter sports to die for, etc.

That's all great, but I wanted to know how people bathe that live in cabins with no water. What exactly -do- people heat homes with? What's this whole thing about plugging in your car at minus 50 degrees outside and how do ppl not freeze to death walking to their car?

Beautiful scenery and poetic words of being the "last frontier" won't help me learn what it's really like up there and how to survive. Thank you, Met, for finally telling it like it is without all the glamorous, romantic notions. Feel free to tell more so ppl like me down in the lower 48 who are moving up there will REALLY be prepared.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by shadowmatrix

That's all great, but I wanted to know how people bathe that live in cabins with no water. What exactly -do- people heat homes with? What's this whole thing about plugging in your car at minus 50 degrees outside and how do ppl not freeze to death walking to their car?

The human body is a lot tougher than I think many people realize. I can't really say how we don't freeze to death, we just don't. The truth is, a healthy individual who is well dressed can make it for a while in temperatures what low. The key word is WELL DRESSED!
I don't have a medical explanation for this, but it seems to me that after it drops below about -20, it doesn't seem to get colder even as it does. Maybe it's just me.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by Xa'at

I can't really say how we don't freeze to death, we just don't. The truth is, a healthy individual who is well dressed can make it for a while in temperatures what low. The key word is WELL DRESSED!

Here's a story that explains it well.

During WWII Alaska's coastal villages were organized as the Alaska Guard, which lives on today as the Eskimo Scouts Battalion of the Alaska Army National Guard. It seems as though the first time a US Army General visited with a coastal unit he was quite impressed. It was certainly not a regulation outfit, but they did have some very unique characteristics that were obvious. Their ability to fight a prolonged battle was what concerned the General, so he point blank asked a unit "If you deployed to the field, how long would you be able to survive and fight?"

Seems the unit's men looked at each other and had a discussion in Eskimo, and then answered him in English:

"Until we get old."

[bkyhi]

From reading many of the various forum posts it appears that "moving to Alaska" has a lot in common with doing many things that are a little off the beaten path.

Common sense, training-knowing what to do and when, realistic expectations (environment, lifestyle, culture, employment, what to eat etc...), financial resources, calm in a crisis, putting up with the hardships and discipline, knowing your place and fitting in, knowing yourself and your abilities, humor

add to that general stuff:
what to do with all your time (I wouldn't expect much external entertainment in most places) AND probably a few hundred very specifics I haven't even begun to think about yet.

I have gotten alot of information from all the various posts, and once I've gone through more of the archives I know I'll have a bunch more questions.

Thanks to everyone for the info.

[Metlakatla]

That's all great, but I wanted to know how people bathe that live in cabins with no water. What exactly -do- people heat homes with? What's this whole thing about plugging in your car at minus 50 degrees outside and how do ppl not freeze to death walking to their car?

My well used to freeze up so I'd just go take showers at the local laundromat--they charged four bucks a shower and it was coin operated.

Heating fuel is getting really expensive--I heated my place in the Susitna with propane. A lot of people use Toyo stoves. It's best to have more than one heat source if you're going to live above the panhandle. I've gotten by with just a wood stove in SE.

-20 is nothing, really. I've run out to my truck in that with just a light coat. Anything lower than that...the first thing you need to understand about that is that just when you think it really isn't that cold after all--that's when you're in the beginning of deep crap. Your most important survival skill--cognitive reasoning--is starting to go at that point. You just need to be hyperaware of your surroundings and use your head. Don't take a lot for granted and become very familiar with plans C, D, E, and so on.

[SarahB82]

I'm moving to Alaska this summer, and I can't wait for the challenge. I've got the income with a job already set up there, and I've got a small understanding of what it might be like - Lived in Northern Vermont for about four years - and I realized that it's probably nothing compared to Alaska. Yet, I still can't wait.

For some odd reason, I'm currently in Arkansas and just about every person I know thinks I'm the strangest person they know. I can't explain my attraction to Alaska... only that I think it'll fit my personality better than anywhere else I've lived. Which is very strange to say since I've never been there before...

Hmm... I'm hoping that didn't come off as one of those flighty romantical types, because I get that it will be a hard living experience, but that's one of the reasons Alaska drew my attention. I just hope I can live up to what I've said here.

[Barkingowl]

Sarah what do you do for fun?

[SarahB82]

I'm usually up for anything - though I'm not a typical 20something 'party person'. lol I like being outside in general. Snowshoeing was fun while I was in Vermont as well as camping in -10 degree weather, but I'm ashamed to say that I've never been on a pair of skis, so that's something I'm looking forward to. Hiking, camping, day tripping in a canoe. I'm not into hunting - though I understand the need for it if it's done properly(just don't make me kill bambi and we're cool. Fishing, even if I haven't gotten a chance to do it very often. I basically grew up on my grandparents farm in Missouri, so nature and I go way back. On the opposite side of that, I enjoy reading nearly anything I can get my hands on and attempting to write a novel or two that no one will ever see. lol Any kind of crafts make me happy too. I'll say with as much modesty as I can that I'm fairly creative in that sense.