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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 18, 2013 - 01:56am PT
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Is it weird if I am missing devil's club?
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Oct 18, 2013 - 09:27am PT
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I love Alaska. I have been there many, many times for both climbing and work. I love the wildness of the place and the hardiness of (some) ot the people but i could never, never live there full time......the darkness of winter would drive me around the bend. The maritime climate of all of the major populaion centers, save Fsirbanks, is also not to my liking nor are the politics..
All in all, Alaska, for me, is the paradigm example of the saying....."Great place to visit but you wouldn't want to live there."
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 18, 2013 - 09:59am PT
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Can agree with that Donini. I'm glad I grew up there. But I don't see living there again. Love where I'm at. Lots of great stuff to do right here and I can drive almost anywhere in the western US in a day.
But often enough I miss some things about Alaska. Really enjoy the stories folks have shared here.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Oct 18, 2013 - 11:41am PT
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For me living up there was getting to meet the Real Alaskans like Bob Reeves, Lowell Thomas Jr., Cliff Hudson, Cougar Bill (don't remember his last name), Clem Tillion (''Mayor' of Halibut Cove) and,
of course, the many wonderful Native Alaskans who would give you their last scrap of seal
meat if you needed it. But I would really have to need it, that stuff is the proverbial 'acquired taste'.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Oct 18, 2013 - 11:48am PT
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Emon
Trad climber
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Oct 18, 2013 - 04:33pm PT
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Great thread! I am missing Alaska, too, and so excited to head home to have my baby there when the semester ends.
To chime in on the love-hate ambivalence about AK. I love love love the winter there. Cozy inside, skiing outside, sunnier than (I think) it gets credit for. For me, it's the cold summers that get me down. I remember the August chill coming one year and realizing I had not worn a t-shirt outside all summer.
Our house pretty much abutts the Chugach, so sadly--or not--I don't roam too far beyond "my backyard" there, but I hope to get to Ruth gorge and do more exploring someday. Here's a story I'll share to that feeds into Fairbanks/Los Anchorage lore. One year, I'm skiing along in the Sonot Kazoot race. I pull up alongside a local, inwardly griping about how my skis just aren't moving well over this cold snow (my wax was good). At that very moment, this local says happily to me, 'See there. It warms up a bit and the skis really glide!' I'm thinking: 'Note to self. Never live in Fairbanks.'
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bergbryce
Mountain climber
California
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Oct 18, 2013 - 04:53pm PT
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I recently remembered a rather gnarly "only in Alaska" story I had heard one day after we closed down the slopes at Alpenglow (small ski resort near Anchorage) and were sharing stories. (caution is this gross)
This one hearty guy was talking about winter life in the cabins near Fairbanks. In case you don't know, outside this relatively modern city, there live a significant number of folks who choose to live in rustic cabins with maybe only electricity and certainly no indoor plumbing.
Well this dude tells us about the couple times a winter task of having to use an ax or a heavy shovel to knock over the frozen "$hit stalagmite" in the outhouse that eventually grows to a height that it must be dealt with. It makes for a rather strong visual and one I'm happy to not have had to deal with personally.
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AKDOG
Mountain climber
Anchorage, AK
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Oct 18, 2013 - 05:44pm PT
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The weather may suck and nobody has a full set of teeth, but the place kind of grows on ya, been trying to leave for 25 yrs.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Oct 18, 2013 - 05:59pm PT
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Nice place, that Alaska. But man, those are some of the crankiest people on the planet.
Come to LA and we'll take a drive my friend.
The people I knew up there only got cranky when the tent got buried.
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Darwin
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Oct 18, 2013 - 10:54pm PT
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klister
climber
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Oct 19, 2013 - 12:10am PT
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Oct 19, 2013 - 12:14am PT
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It's a tough commute...
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cyndiebransford
climber
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
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Oct 19, 2013 - 12:36am PT
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Took a drive today from Soldotna to Homer. It was about 50 degrees, some rain. I love living in Alaska.
Two weekends ago.
Dipnetting on the Kenai in July.
At midnight on the Summer Solstice.
Hiking on a frozen lake to the face of a glacier.
I don't regret leaving California for the Kenai Peninsula.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Oct 19, 2013 - 12:49am PT
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All the bears in Alasks seem to have a full set of teeth....what's up with the humans?
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johnkelley
climber
Anchorage Alaska
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Oct 19, 2013 - 12:59am PT
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Where else can you catch rainbows like this?
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Oct 19, 2013 - 01:27am PT
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The wife is up in Seward right now, winterizing our cabin. Does anyone wanna buy a cabin in Seward?
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Larry Nelson
Social climber
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Oct 19, 2013 - 02:02am PT
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Hey Darwin,
Where were your pictures taken? Is it South of Chena Hot Spring?
Larry
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Larry Nelson
Social climber
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Oct 19, 2013 - 02:44am PT
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Speaking of toothless Alaskans:
Back in January 1980, I drove my 73 Gremlin while moving from San Diego to Anchorage with everything in it that I owned.
On one of the travel legs, I took the ferry from Prince Rupert to Haines. It was an overnight journey and you could sleep on a seat in the observation room for free without renting a room because of winter off season policy.
Just before I turned in, I became somewhat uncomfortable as this scruffy young guy kept staring at me. He finally approached and asked if I wanted to buy a pair of Levi's for $2. They went for maybe $12 in those days. I eyed him and asked to see the Levi's. They were my exact size and nearly new. He took my $2 and went into the bar for last call.
Best deal I ever had on a good pair of Levi's.
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fivesix
Trad climber
hope, alaska
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Oct 20, 2013 - 09:09pm PT
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I don't actually live in hope. Not sure why I put it there. I guess I thought it was funny at the time, considering this is a climbing forum. Hope is beautiful though. Many times a summer I'll climb along the seward highway, stop by girdwood for some grub, then head to hope for live music and beer. If you don't love winter as much as summer, you probably won't love Alaska. I love my home. My heart aches for the mountains that I'm married to when ever I leave. I can't wait to get home for the snow. Heres some random vids from over the years.
http://vimeo.com/32023247 Back country solo
http://vimeo.com/32133265 Back country with friends
http://vimeo.com/69364506 High lining with friends
http://vimeo.com/68491892 Beautiful Alaskan summer
http://vimeo.com/50585384 First snow of last year
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