Alaskan Survival

Buzzbait

Buzzbait

Gold Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2001
Messages
6,698
Did anybody catch the special on the National Geographic Channel late last night? It was on families that have forsaken modern society, and have gone to live in the furthermost regions of Alaska. That’s some tough living by the looks of it. Moose burgers for lunch. Moose fajitas for dinner. Moose something-or-other for breakfast the next morning. Moose cakes for a snack. You’ve really gotta’ like moose, I guess. And all this while trying not to freeze your cajones off.

The rewards were quite enticing though. Imagine never having to purchase a single light bulb. Never having to pay a bill. Getting to use your hands for everything that needs doing. And being able to teach these skills to your kids. That’s quite a life. You may not live until you’re 104, but you sure will actually live a whole lot more than a 104 year old city boy.

And during all of this struggle and work, you get total honesty. You can’t get much more honest that just you and nature. Not that honesty is always convenient and safe, but it sure does look nice from where I’m sitting. :)
 
Hey Buzzbait I use to think man just live out in the boonies where its just you and the woods ahhh must be nice.:D :) And then I watched deliverance:eek: and said a little traffic aint so bad:D :D
 
That excellent documentary was entitled "Braving Alaska," and was shot about eight or nine years ago. I've seen it a couple of times on PBS, and I have it on tape.

As for knives, it was interesting to see that these guys who live out there and have to survive every day with their equipment, used small knives for the two animals they killed.

One guy killed a moose, and took it apart with a fixed blade knife which looked to have a blade no more than four inches long. The other guy killed a caribou and took it apart with what looked like either a folding Trapper, or a Stockman. The guy with the caribou did carry, however, a full sized single bit ax.

Did you notice the couple who lived in bear country, and both the man and his wife were NEVER without a Ruger .44 Mag. strapped on their hips? And the expression on the little girl's face when she received the new doll from the bush pilot who flew in the family's mail and supplies periodically. What joy expressed by the little girl over the gift! That shot was priceless.

How about the 16 year old girl who ran her dog team over a hundred miles circuit to check her traps, camped out in deep snow every night with nothing but a tent, sleeping bag, small stove, and her .30-30. Alone.

Yep, those are tough people, and it's an interesting show, for those who haven't yet seen it.

L.W.
 
I saw that show several years ago and really enjoyed it. Sorry I missed the rerun.
 
Buzz,
Moose is actually the BEST meat I have ever eaten. The thought of readily availible moose steaks makes me forget[for a nanosecond] about the sub-zero cold and the snow drifts.

I guess I'll have to make do with Whitetail venison:rolleyes:
 
In the late 1980s a friend and I canoed about 300 miles down the MacMillan River in the Yukon. About half way down we met two families, headed by Lee and Bud, who lived largely off the land over 100 miles from the nearest road or native village. It was quite a setup. I returned and visited them in '93, but by then they had been forced off their outpost by the drop in fur prices and other issues.

They had a kitchen/dining cabin with huge cabinets filled with racks to dry meat. Stoves in the basement provided low heat. They could dry an entire moose in a couple days.

I've always wanted to return during the winter and learn to make snowshoes, trap, build wilderness shelters, etc.

I'd love to see the Alaska show because it sounds like there were a lot of similarities.
 
DancesWithKnives, I see you live in L.A. (unlucky you!) I lived there for 35 years before escaping, and it was PBS-KCET Ch.28, where I saw "Braving Alaska," twice, several years ago. You might give the station a call and ask if they have it on their schedule any time in the future, or, if you might buy a video of it. I think the video is worth a 20$ bill.

Best of luck. L.W.
 
Leanwolf,

Thanks for the info. You were smart to get out early. My hoped-for move date to Alaska is May 10. Unfortunately, selling my little condo is running a bit behind so it may be later in the summer. I was born in Santa Monica and the Southern Calif. climate can't be beat. Unfortunately, the people who now have control of California politics are hostile to my interests---so I'm voting with my feet and leaving.
 
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