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

 

Real Men of Alaska - Mr. August 2013

 

...meet 'BILL'...

 

As Romance Writers We Are Always On The Lookout For Hot Hunky Hero Types, So Please, Take A Few Minutes And Tell Us A Little About Yourself, Bill.

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 though, we are a PG 13 site and blush easily J

I grew up in the southeast city of Ketchikan where my mother was born. I moved up to Anchorage when I was 25 years old to attend college at UAA . I have always been a pretty gregarious 'people person', so it made perfect sense for me to move into the restaurant industry as a means of supporting myself.

I’m 5’9” weigh 150lbs, have brown hair, green eyes and am blessed with a wonderful group of family and friends that are constantly supportive.

I’m not picky when it comes to food (with the exception of seafood- you can only eat so much fresh seafood growing up without becoming a little sick of it), but if forced to pick one place in Anchorage to eat I would probably say either Bear’s Tooth or Moose’s Tooth. They both have great food, but the atmosphere and most importantly the beer is what sets these two places apart.

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

I’m extremely attracted to someone with strong moral character who knows what they want and where they’re going in life. Someone with a great work ethic is a huge turn on. As trite as it may sound, I love when you meet someone and you can tell immediately that you’re meeting the “real” them. Life is all about these wonderful connections that you make with the people around you.

On a more basic level, if you love food as much as I do, we’ll instantly have something in common.

3: Where is your favorite place to take someone on a first date, and why?

 

I honestly really enjoy meeting people out on the town. One of the most important things you can do on a first date is put the other person at ease. When you both are in a comfortable environment it opens the door to honest communication.

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

Well… as someone from the southeast where tourism is such a major part of our economy, it’s sort of a rite of passage to moon the cruise ships in the summertime.

So I’m neither confirming nor denying anything, but some hapless tourist may or may not have seen my shining little behind.

5: Winter can be long, dark, and very cold here in Alaska. What are your favorite frosty pastime activities? (Remember the PG 13 rating J)

And, what is the coldest temp you’ve seen/been in?

I love the winter in Alaska. Many people have this misconception that winters here are long and depressing, which for me has always been a point of contention. Winter here is not unlike any other situation in life-it is what you make of it. I love getting out and skiing, skating, watching the northern lights, snowshoeing, whatever. As a true Alaskan, we all know that the weather doesn’t actually restrict our fun, often it just adds to it.

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?

I feel like I am like most Alaskans in that, in the summertime especially, I work hard and I play hard. Between double shifts at work, and extended camping/hiking/fishing trips, I more than make the most of my days.

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 learned how to drive on a manual and for me, that is one of the most important aspects of driving. I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for big pick-up trucks, but more than anything I like being in control of the vehicle and having the option to downshift in the wintertime when braking may not be an option.

That said, there is nothing more fun than riding around in the summer sunshine on a moped.

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

I can honestly say that I’m not much of a big game eater, and while it is fun to see the common moose or bear along the side of the road it is pretty exciting when you get to see an Arctic fox or snowy owl.

Also can I mention how exciting it is to NOT see snakes, scorpions, or billboards while driving along?

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?

I’ve probably had a beer in most reputable (and irreputable) bars in southeast Alaska. I’ve adventured my way around most of the state and have certainly tried (almost) every local microbrewery here.

I have refrained from such activities as eating muktuk given my dislike of seafood - and may I just speak for all men when I say that the Polar Plunge isn’t exactly a good way to (physically at least) impress anyone.

But I will say, that if you haven’t been, you should definitely check out the Ice Worm festival in Cordova.

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

The beard.

11: What’s the biggest fish you’ve ever landed? And we mean the kind with scales and fins that swim in water, not the locker room bragging rights variety. J

In terms of story material, isn’t the one that gets away always the bigger/better tale?

With that in mind, I’ll have you know that I have lost many a lure in many an epic battle with our scaly friends. And I should note for the record that I come from a long, proud line of terrible fishermen.

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

In my travels throughout the years, I have found that in many places, “common courtesy” isn’t so common. One of the most romantic things for me about Alaska is that if your car slides off the road in the wintertime, without fail you’ll have 5 people stop to help you in 10 minutes time.

Here, it’s easy to get into a real conversation with someone in the Kaladi Brother’s line.

Here, when someone asks you how your day was, odds are, they actually want to know how your day was.

We haven’t resorted to apathy and disinterest, and to me, that is extremely romantic.

Our Thanks to Bill for a great interview - and to you

for stopping by!

 

Stay tuned for Mr. September 2013 -

- have a great summer!

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!

 

 

Who Says Size Doesn't Matter?

   I live in Alaska and I’m here to tell ya - Hell ya, size matters!

Alaska has 128 times more area covered by glaciers than all of the remaining states combined. 100,000 glaciers in all.

In the summer, in a big part of Alaska, we have 22-24 hours of sunlight. And in the winter, 22-24hrs of, nothing to do but loven, darkness.

We have 3 million lakes, and if you add in the rivers and streams, the number jumps to 6 million.

Alaska covers 586,400 sq. miles

It has 17 of the 20 highest mountains in the U.S., and 19 peaks over 14,000 ft.

Mt. McKinley, or Denali as we call it, is the highest mountain on the American Continent at 20,230 ft.

Alaska has bragging rights to 1/5 of the entire land mass of the continental U.S., and it is twice the size of poor little Texas.

It has more coastline than the entire lower 48 states at 33,000 miles. And, we have approximately three fourths of the entire world’s fresh water stored in our glaciers.

The largest gold nugget ever discovered in Alaska came from Nome in 1903. It weighed 155 Troy oz.

And of course, the very best thing about Alaska, the men way out-number the women!!!

(And what a group of men we have!)

So, the next time someone asks you 'does size really matter?' - just tell them, in Alaska it does!

 --- Maxine Mansfield