Given the fact that there are only about 5000 miles of “highways” across Alaska, you would think we have conquered them all by now. However, the 366-mile Richardson Highway is one I’ve barely explored. It runs from Fairbanks and dead-ends in Valdez on the eastern side of the state. And while Justin has been down to Valdez, I haven’t. So when a girlfriend (Alex) suggested we go, I found a pocket of time Labor Day weekend for the getaway.
I will never see all 600+ named glaciers in Alaska, but why not try??? The 13-mile long MacLaren Glacier at about 3,500 feet has been on my list for years because it is “semi-accessible.”
Currently living/working: How many times and ways can I explain that Alaskans operate on full throttle through the summer? Some kind of mosquito-powered adrenaline compels us to pursue a no-sleep summer, which mostly equals a no-work winter. While the summer days fly by at a breakneck pace, we are still doing well finding balance between…
Currently living/working: I had two shifts for the library this month, so clearly my winter work is winding down. Plus I was only in AK for 14/30 days, so there’s that logistical detail. With that being said, both of us have had writing projects this month, Justin is still doing his Visitor Center work & we had our first yurt rental! With summer’s unrelenting productivity hot on our heels, we tried to enjoy the last bits of rest and freedom …
Currently living/working: In typical winter routine for us, March was a combo of travel (Iditarod) & work. Justin has still been managing Discover Denali, I’m still subbing at the library, and our writing projects have been plentiful!
In my opinion, winter is much more enjoyable (tolerable?) when you get outside and play in the snow. Justin & I discovered cross-country skiing in 2008 while living in New Hampshire, and we wasted no time picking up a used XC ski kit that winter. I still have the same skis and poles from 2008 and they’ve laid tracks and made memories in several states since then. And while I still will only consider myself an amateur skier, I’ve come a long way since our NH skiing adventures.
Justin & I spent March 7-13 in Unalakleet volunteering as “trail crew” for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race! This was my 3rd year volunteering, as Justin went solo last year to Kaltag in 2024 since I was out of state taking care of my mom. In 2022, we volunteered in Galena and in 2023 in Shageluk.
In keeping with my annual recap of home improvement projects accomplished (really for my own record-keeping), let’s rewind to summer 2024. (Here’s summer 2020, 2022 & 2023).
I love that we live in an authentic log cabin, but after 5 years of ownership, I would consider wood structures to be very high maintenance. Wood is more prone to damage from water, insects, movement, but most structures up here are logged. The upkeep every summer involves an exfoliation (sanding) and a spray tan (staining). This year, we tackled a second wall of the cabin. It was a bit more difficult because there was the door frame and windows, so we had to pull off several pieces to treat (and repainted them green to pop … because why not). This side gets most of the weather (sun, wind, etc), so it was particularly in need of attention (and we already have noticed a difference this winter). As a reminder, the process is for us to sand all the old stain off, then fill in any cracks with backer rod/caulk, then slap on 2 coats of stain.
Currently living/working: Uniquely this winter, we both actually have 1 job outside of the house; both allow us to make our own schedule. Justin is still working part-time for Discover Denali, our borough’s visitor center that promotes tourism beyond Denali National Park into the surrounding gateway communities. My job is with Alaska Geographic. Some might recall I worked for this company during the summer as an educator. This winter, I am stocking the tiny store inside Denali National Park’s winter visitor center while my friend (who is the manager) is traveling. Regardless, I am loving it as it brings me back to my Hallmark days (where I worked for nearly SIX years from ages 16-21).
I mentioned in my currently posts that I took a last-minute “support staff” role at Alaska Geographic for the summer. It turned out to be the job I didn’t even know I needed and wanted!! I freaking loved it. And I thought it deserved a dedicated post because there were so many blog-worthy things about the role related to it this summer. Alaska Geographic is the nonprofit partner of Alaska’s 8 national parks. What does that mean?
Currently living/working: Justin & I have made a habit of doing daily check-ins with each other because of all the directions we’ve been going in this summer. Who’s cleaning the yurt? Who’s cleaning the red house? Who’s leading the New Wave hike? Are you working at AK Geo today? Are you doing Discover Denali work…
Justin’s sister, Jamie, is trying to go for the record of being our most frequent visitor, as she came in 2021, 2022 and now 2024 (and actually this is her 5th time in the state)! I’m convinced she loves Alaska as much as her brother does … The stars aligned when Jamie and Rachel had…
In the summer of 2021, Justin & I went dipnetting for salmon with my Uncle Fred here in Alaska. It was to be my uncle’s last trip, as it is no easy feat if you are in your 40s, let alone in your 70s as he is! While I promptly decided after dipnetting in 2021 that I was one and done, Justin was keen on filling our freezer with salmon whenever he could squeeze in a trip. The summers of 2022 and 2023 were just so incredibly busy, but this summer, a friend of Justin’s said there was an open spot on his privately chartered boat at the beginning of July, Justin said aye aye captain & anchors away!
During the last week of June, one of my best friends that I’ve known for nearly 35 years, Sara, came to visit! She (and her family) visited me (us) in several of the places we’ve lived, but Alaska is a different beast. In general, we have low expectations for friend visitors since we live well…
Currently worried about: As many of you might have already heard, a fire broke out near the entrance of Denali National Park on 6/30. Fortunately, crews are working hard to contain it (25% contained so far) and it hasn’t spread very far (388 acres so far). However, it certainly disrupted some tourist activities (closed the park, halted the train, etc), wiped out power in the canyon business district of the park, which displaced workers from their seasonal housing and put jobs on hold. This is heartbreaking for our area where businesses depend entirely on tourism squeezed into 4 short months.
I am grateful at this point because our wood-sided homes surrounded by an enormous forest of natural fuel are not yet affected. It’s easy to downplay volatile weather and our crumbling Earth when viewed in isolated snapshots of events on the news. But when it’s unfolding before your eyes … that’s an entirely different perspective. In general, I’ve always told people it’s not a question of IF there will be a wildfire in our area, but WHEN. This summer has been unbelievably hot and dry thus far after a very low snow winter (as evidenced when our seasonal pond dried up by June 10 versus July 10). So we wait and see and hope for the best and roll with the adaptations in tourist operations.
Currently living/working: I took a leave of absence from my job … Wait, who am I kidding? I’m a freelancer who makes her own schedule. For the foreseeable future, I’m an unpaid—but much appreciated—caregiver to my mom in NJ. It’s what I dubbed as my limbo life. Meanwhile, Justin is battling the dregs of winter…
Hey U2 fans out there! Did you know there are real places reminiscent of the late 80s song, “Where the Streets Have No Name???” When Justin & I moved to Healy within Denali Borough in 2019, we didn’t give much thought to the fact that there were no house numbers and street names around the…
Currently living/working: Writing while hibernating, as per the season. But we’ve also been regularly giving weekly virtual presentations (Life in the Last Frontier: Alaska) for libraries! Current mood: I did not rush into any substantial writing projects after the seismic seasonal shift to winter, knowing I needed a minute to recover from the frenetic…
I’ve mentioned this before, but my Uncle Fred has lived in Alaska for 40+ years, so he’s been our mentor and introduction for all things Alaska. One of his favorite fall pastimes with friends is spearfishing! As with dipnetting for salmon (which we’ve personally only done once), spearfishing is not the Alaskan fishing displayed in…
We welcomed A LOT of friends/family this summer and fall, with the culmination being Justin’s mom (and her friend) specifically timed with Justin’s bday. (For the record, our friend Sarah made this sign for Justin since I am so terrible at creating bday fanfare). The selfish perk of having visitors is the excuse to check…