Why I Love Alaska...

I love Alaska.

I know that is a much repeated phrase and can become a bit trite at times. Many people love Alaska. Some have a love/hate relationship with it.
There are an infinite number of reasons why someone would either love or hate this place, because it is that big, that immense, that encompassing.

There are many layers to my love for Alaska. My relationship with Alaska has been an extremely significant and momentous one in my life. Alaska welcomed me into its folds when I was a misplaced girl from the Deep South, and gifted me with a sense of belonging in the Far North I had yet experienced in the world. Alaska offered me sanctuary, like any misfit, from a busy and irrational world I did not understand. She has since put me to the test and shown me my mettle, my depth and my command of myself. Thus, she has, in the true fashion of any important relationship, offered me a unique perspective of my own soul. She has let me leave, continuing to not only hold a place for me, but to sing her siren’s song beckoning me home.

I don’t say these things poetically or for the romance of fawning. I say them because I have earned the right to say them through my trials and tribulation with her. I say them because I know that I was meant to be here, and because I am grateful for the intensity of experience that has embroidered my life.

I think it is common for people who live here to mire in the misery of the mess, the weather, the cost, or in disagreements on how things should be run. Alaskans love to be contrary. It is one of the reasons we have come here, to go against the common grain.

But I have learned to step back and nod my head politely when someone feels the need to vent about the insults she flings about so recklessly. I won’t defend her. Alaska on her best days can be indefensible. And I love her for the very reason that she is unapologetically extreme, daring those who don’t like her to leave her. I wish that in my lifetime, I had carried myself with such uncompromising confidence. My perspective on Alaska’s character is a sacred secret I carry in my heart, and I feel no need to convince anyone to love her like I do. Anyone who lives here should know not to expect sunshine and roses anyway.

If you come here expecting either, you will be sorely disappointed.
During my time in Alaska, I have lived with no water to wash with and no electricity to light my way on dark winter mornings, holding a flashlight between my knees as I rummaged through black garbage bags of clothes for something clean to dress my babies in before school. I have dug out my stuck cars when I couldn’t afford to pay someone to plow the driveway, and I have dug out my outhouse when it was too full and the ground too frozen to dig a new one. I have split wood with my babies on my back, and I have bathed those four precious children in Rubbermaid trash cans with water hauled in 5 gallon gas cans. I have cleaned fish till I couldn’t stand the smell of it, and I have butchered moose for days on end on my kitchen table. I have built my life in Alaska from rock bottom, from a place that offered no cushion and no wiggle room. And in return for my hard work and tenacity, she has offered me her abundance. She has given me miracles of light, every day a different palatte, a changing hue. She has provided unexpected friendships and synchronicities of spirit. She has taught me wonder. Her landscape has moved me to tears, and her voice has sung me to sleep in the gentle hush of summer. She has woven her magic in the cells of my body, so that if I were to ever leave again, I believe I would die a little each day. It may be mad to wax on about such a place, unforgiving and relentless as she is. But I think there are those of us, every once in a while, who are bitten in a way that is profound for us. Robert Service had a way of describing the essence of that venom, illustrating with words that madness that some of us feel for this northern clime. I’d say it is fair for anyone to question my passion for a place that has as many faults as redeeming qualities. But then there will be those very few who comprehend, who have lived by trial and adversity and come out wiser and richer. They will have sat quietly and watched the changing light in all its wondrous subtlety, listened to the solitude closing in with clamoring cacophony, or looked into the depth of the wilderness and seen their own reflection staring back at them from its shadows. They will know what I mean and they will say, “Ah…yes.”

--- Deb Pollock

Visiting Alaska is not Folly

The Last Frontier

in the United States of America.

It’s true.

Nowhere else can you find the raw beauty of mountains and streams, glaciers and oceans, forests and wide open spaces like this place I’ve called ‘home’ for the last 44 years.

Also known as The Land of the Midnight Sun, it is mind-boggling to take it all in, especially in one visit, or one lifetime.

Even if you were born and raised in Alaska, as my children and grandchildren, the 570,665 sq. miles of mostly rugged wilderness is over-whelming.

But, don’t let that stop you.





Anchorage Museum

Musk Ox taxidermy 

It's not all wilderness. Contrary to popular belief, Alaska has museums and art galleries, hotels and shopping, theater and fast food chains. Maybe not on the grand scale of the Lower 48, but it's all here.

 

 

 

 






Anchorage Museum

Touring Mammoth Exhibit 












Anchorage Museum

Sewn seal gut strips - Raincoat

 

Alaska Botanical Gardens

 



We also boast about our wildlife, Fur Rondezvous, dog sled races, Denali National Park, record fishing, small and big game hunting, skiing and the Aurora Borealis (northern lights) that are like no place on earth.

There are people from all walks of life.

(I am partial to the many wonderful writers that live in Alaska, of course. Check the AKWRA web site & past blogs for info & books available, written by Alaskan authors:

http://www.akrwa.blogspot.com/2012/06/wonderful-akrwa-authors.html

When Vitus Bering,

a Dane working for the Russians, & Alexei Chirikov discovered the Alaskan mainland & Aleutian Islands in 1741, the huge land mass of Alaska—equal to 1/5 of the continental U.S.—was unexplored.

When Secretary of State William Seward arranged for its purchase from the Russians for $7,200,000 in 1867, they dubbed Alaska “Seward’s Folly”, despite only paying about 2 cents per acre.

Folly? I think not. 



Potter's Marsh - south of Anchorage

Aside from Alaska’s oil reserves, fisheries & wood industries Alaskans have preserved wetlands, such as Potter's Marsh south of Anchorage, and over 100 State Parks (3.5 million acres) for future generations to enjoy.

Portage Glacier Area

 

Places like Mendenhall Glacier in the North Tongass National Forest and Portage Glacier, south of Anchorage, are a tourist’s dream come true.



And with a population of only around 710,000, Alaska has lots of room to host visitors.

So, start planning your trip to Alaska, and check out our authors & books – we'd love to share our unique perspectives!
 

http://www.akrwa.blogspot.com/2012/06/wonderful-akrwa-authors.html

There is so much more to be said about Alaska, and our AKRWA authors can't wait to tell you!

Next turn, I’d like to tell you about a little place called Eagle River, just outside of Anchorage, where I live.
   
                    Interested?

          Keep checking us out!

    http://www.alaskawriters.com/membersites/akrwa/index.html  

--- Jae Awkins

 

Autumn in Alaska

The fireweed has gone to seed. The weather has turned rainy.  A chill has replaced the warmth of the sun. Red and yellow are creeping into the green foliage. Summer’s over, and it’s fall in Alaska.

The salmon fishing is down to the last of the silvers, and the berries are all picked. Kids are back in school, and the State Fair has finished displaying giant vegetables. But it’s not all bad news. My old friends the ravens are back in town. I can dig out my favorite sweaters and fleece vests. And it’s writing season.

Now, I know writers should write all year long, and I do. But I find it easier to write this time of year. In the summer, the sunlight beckons me outdoors and there’s so much to do that can’t be done at other times. Those excuses go away in the fall, and friends and family stop inviting me to barbecues or outdoor activities. It’s okay to sit with a cup of tea and stare out at the rain while I think of the next book plot, or hammer out a scene on the laptop. We Alaskans allow ourselves to hibernate a bit in fall and winter. So it’s the perfect time of year to write.

 

What about you? Do you find it easier to write at certain times of the year?

Lynn Lovegreen writes young adult historical romance. Her first Gold Rush book will be published with Prism Book Group this December. See her at Facebook, Tumblr, or www.lynnlovegreen.com.

Real Men of Alaska

 

Mr. September 2013

 

"Brandon"

 

As Romance Writers we're always on the lookout for Hot Hunky Hero Types. So, this month we're going to hear what BRANDON is all about:

Here are some questions that we asked Brandon, and his answers follow, so sit back and get to know him.

(Brandon, remember we are a PG 13 site and blush easily). 

What kind of woman appeals to you, and who do you let make the first move, you or her?

   Fun loving, nerdy, a good sense of humor - the kind that can put up with my ...bad puns, either way.

Where is your favorite place to take a girl on a first date, and why?

   Why, the mall of course! We can get to know each other better - and I can find out what kind of stuff she likes.  

What's the wildest thing you've ever done, other than...well, you know...with a female companion since living in Alaska?

   Hmmm...I punched a moose once - he snuck up on me. (True story!)

 

Winter can be long, dark...and very cold here in Alaska. What are your favorite frosty pastime activities (not counting the obvious, of course - remember the PG 13 rating)  ...and, what is the coldest temp you’ve seen/been in?  

     During the dark, cold parts of the year I like to curl up and watch TV shows I missed during the summer - enjoying some tea and spending time with my loved ones.

And, if we ask about winter then we simply must inquire about the too short, wonderful summers. What are your favorite things to do during all those long hours of sunshine?

 

   I really enjoying the sunlight, spending time outside.

 

Alaskan men take their vehicles very seriously. What is your favorite mode of transportation – car, truck, snow machine, four-wheeler, airplane, skis, snowboard, etc...and why?

   Ah...a blimp? Yes, that would be fine with me. Why, you ask? Because it would just be awesome.

What is your favorite Alaskan animal – to see along the highway or on your dinner plate?

   Along the highway...birds - any kind of bird. On my plate - no, thank you.

Have you ever wrestled a polar bear, mushed a dog team, panned for gold, eaten muktuk, done the polar bear plunge, climbed Denali, run the Mt. Marathon, or any of the other, found only in Alaska, activities?  

   Eaten muktuk...I have done that - not something I would like to try again - and I have ran outside in knee deep snow, in my boxers.  

In your opinion, what exactly is it that makes an Alaskan Male so wonderfully macho and appealing?

   It might be the cold. It might be that we all drive moose to work. Who knows? My guess is the chest hair!

Other than making love under them, what is your favorite thing to do when the Northern Lights are out and putting on a show?

     Get photos of them! (Sometimes I just sit there and watch)

And last, but certainly not least:

In your opinion, what is the most romantic thing about Alaska, and why?  

   The sunsets, and the mountains. I love it when it the sun is setting and the sky is blooming with reds and pinks. It's very relaxing. (Or moose poop...cauz it’s all natural.)

 

 

 

 Our Thanks to Brandon for this candid interview!

 

On the first Friday of each month we'll have a new Alaska Man for you - watch for Mr. October!

 

See you next time...

 

 

Happy Summer Solstice -- I Think

Summer Solstice is pulling its usual trick of not letting the sun actually shine through. It was sunny last night as the actual moment of Solstice hit, but today, on Friday, when people who work can actually stay up and play through the shortest nights of the year, the sun has done a runner on us. Or rather, it's called in the thick, gray cloud cover. 

So, Happy Summer, Alaska. It's business as usual here!

It's a bittersweet celebration. Those of us who love the light and accept the winter's darkness as the price to pay for all this lovely brightness, are sad that the planet has now turned the corner and the northern hemisphere will now start slowly sliding further away from the sun.

When I lived "Outside" solstice, winter or summer, never really crossed my consciousness. Up here it is far more noticeable and as people who live half the year in boots and coats, we revere the sun. 

We love the long summer days, although we can live without the mosquitoes, and we use the time to get out and play. Windows and doors are thrown open, houses and heads are aired out. Gardens are grown either for show or food or both. Dogs are walked, people exercise outside, time is spent on decks burning offerings to the gods of summer. Lakes are popular spots for swimming, fishing, boating and all manner of water play. The canoeists shake their paddles at the jet-skiers and campers listen for the call of loons drift hauntingly across the water. 

This is when I miss the cabin we used to own about a thousand years ago. It sat on a hill above the lake and from there we watched wild life cross a narrow channel from one side of the lake to the other. Moose, bear, muskrats and all manner of creatures used the same trail. The tall birch trees would filter the sunlight creating dappled shade and the leaves rustling in a gentle breeze played a lazy song. We'd sit by the firepit on the edge of the lake, telling stories, arguing politics and catch up on life with friends far into the night. Good days.

So however you celebrate the turning of the season, the official end of Spring and start of Summer, take time to relax and enjoy the day. Have a beer or iced tea with a friend or loved one. Grill a burger or two and remember to sacrifice one to the spirit of summers past, present, and future.

Remember to live and enjoy the warmth and ease of summer. Before you know it the sun will be setting before 10pm and you'll begin to wonder where summer went.

Morgan O'Reilly
Facebook 

First Camping Trip of the Summer

Last weekend my family and I ventured out on our first camping trip of the summer. I use summer loosely because we live in Alaska. What we refer to as summer others refer to as fall/winter. It’s an acquired concept and one that a lot of people who venture to this rugged state never acquire.

Always, my family’s first outing is to the Valdez Airshow. This is our test run with the camper and I’ll admit we forgot a lot of stuff. Thus the test run. But the breathtaking drive made up for our forgetfulness. Even though snow still blanketed the mountains, there were definite signs of spring. Just the hint of melting sends most Alaskans into a euphoric state that lasts until the first snowfall.

Here are some of the sights we were gifted on our first night of driving.

 

 

Since we left on a Friday night and my husband had worked all day, we drove for three hours and then pulled into a rest stop near Mendeltna. Once we set up camp, my kids got busy. It was like nature’s movie screen. They would wait for a car or truck to pass and flail about, trying to get them to honk. Thank you to all the drivers who made their night by tooting your horns. Ten total by bedtime. Of course this did my heart good not to have my daughters hooked up to electronic life support and instead watch them enjoy the kind of fun we had to settle for as kids.

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are pictures from the second day of trip. We only had one mishap when the hatch of our camper blew off and we had to backtrack eighteen miles to find it. Luckily it was in one piece and my husband easily reattached it, saving us from having to go home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Valdez Airshow is where the general aviation population shows off its stuff. STOL (short takeoff and landing) competitions were the first order of the day. Some of the smaller planes can take off in as little as 200 feet and land even shorter. It’s amazing to watch.

Being plane owners, my husband’s a pilot, we love to walk around and check out the other planes. This one I call the monster truck of planes. The tires were huge and the black paint job only added to its badass feel.

Also on display was a Japanese Zero. Very cool.

But the best thing at the Valdez Airshow was Fiona, a nine week old English bulldog. Her owner, a pilot and friend of ours, had loaded the kids and the puppy into the plane for a weekend of camping fun. Fiona wore a red down vest and needless to say, drew more attention than the competitions. I wish I could have taken her home.

Overall, the trip was great fun and I can’t wait for our next outing, clamming at Deep Creek. I’m sure the weather will still be chilly and water icy, but I doubt that will stop Alaskans from taking advantage of one of the first low tides of the season. I can almost taste those clams already. Yum.

Real Men of Alaska - Mr. May 2013

"BEN"

 

 

 As Romance Writers

we are 

 always on the lookout for 

  Hunky Hero Types  

 

 

     So, here's BEN     

  to tell us a little bit  

      about himself...    

 

 

    BEN, Welcome to the AKRWA Blog Site    

 

   Please answer the following questions ---  

 --- what are REAL MEN Of ALASKA like?  

 

 1: Were you born in Alaska, and if not, then how did you end up here? What do you do for a living, and what do you do for fun. Age, height, fav. food, and any other statistics you are willing to share. (just remember - we are a PG 13 site and blush easily)  

 

     I was born in Wyoming. I was a flight paramedic. Right now, I’m in school to be a Physician’s Assistant. I’m 6 foot 5 inches, weigh 220, and I was a WYO state swim champ. I work out, and all of that means I have a six pack, ladies.

 

 2: What kind of woman appeals to you, and who do you let make the first move, you or her?  

 

     I’m physically active, and I really like a woman who can participate in my lifestyle. And who cares who makes the first move as long as it’s made!

 

 3: Where's your favorite place to take a girl on a first date?  

 

     Really classy restaurant (need he say more?)

  

 4: What's the wildest thing you've ever done with a female companion since living in Alaska?    

 

 

     Sky diving

 5: Winter can be long, dark, and very cold here in Alaska. What are your favorite frosty pastime activities (remember...pg-13) - and what is the coldest temp you’ve seen/been in?  

 

 

     Snow machining, cross-country skiing, snow boarding.

As a paramedic, I’ve been stationed in Barrow, Alaska in the winter. I saw temp of 40 below zero.

 

 

 6: And, if we ask about winter then we simply must inquire about the too short, wonderful summers. What are your favorite things to do during all those long hours of sunshine?   

 

     Go boating. I wake board, jet ski, waterski, hike, take my dog and run.

 

 7: Alaskan men take their vehicles very seriously. What is your favorite mode of transportation – car, truck, snow machine, four-wheeler, airplane, skis, snowboard, etc., and why? 

 

I really love driving my Corvette convertible, but I also loved flying in the Light Flight helicopter.

 

 8: What is your favorite Alaskan animal to see along the highway - Or on your dinner plate?  

 

     Wolf. Hands down.

 

 9: Have you ever wrestled a polar bear, mushed a dog team, panned for gold, eaten muktuk, done the polar bear plunge, climbed Denali, run the Mt. Marathon, or any of the other, found only in Alaska, activities?   

 

     Oh, I’ve done the polar bear plunge.

 

 

 10: In your opinion, what exactly IS it that makes an Alaskan Male so wonderfully macho and appealing?  

         We just ARE          

   macho and appealing   

   (Come up and check)   

 

 

 11: Other than making love under them, what is your favorite thing to do when the Northern Lights are out and putting on a show?   
 

Watch them!

 

 12: And last but certainly not least, in your opinion, what is the most romantic thing about Alaska, and why?  

 

     Well heck - that’s got to be cold, dark, long winter nights...

  ...and really nice fireplaces.   

 

 

 

Thank you, Ben. We appreciate your candor and honesty.
We love REAL ALASKAN MEN!

To our Readers - please join us the first week of each month for another interview with REAL ALASKAN MEN -thanks for following us!