Real Alaskan Men - 'Mr. June 2013'

 

"ROSS" 

As Alaskan Romance Writers we are always on the lookout for
Hot Hunky Hero types.

So please, Mr. Alaska Man - tell us about yourself.

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, favorite food, and any other statistics you are willing to share. Just remember though, we are a PG 13 site and blush easily.
I was born in northern Minnesota. The trek to Alaska came right after I graduated college in 2007. One of my best friends in college was from Wasilla. My biggest desire when I graduated was to move somewhere, anywhere with mountains.  Alaska’s a place I have grown to love & call home!
I am a Civil Engineer for a communication company and primarily design communication sites. 
When I’m not at work I enjoy hanging out with my friends whether it is movies, a bonfire or going out for drinks. I like a good adrenaline rush so white water rafting is always a good time. Hiking in the mountains with my dog while listening to the sounds of wilderness. Wood working is a big hobby of mine. I’m always down to try new things.  Life is too short to not keep an open mind.
I’m an avid snowboarder and power lifter, and love competing.
I'm 29, 5’7” 185 lbs. 
Favorite food - well I eat a lot of bacon and eggs. I love bacon. Ha-ha. Generally I eat pretty healthy but I am always down to try some new foods at least once.

What kind of woman appeals to you, and who do you let make the first move, you or her?
I very much enjoy an active woman that takes care of herself. Being active myself I seek someone that can keep up. A woman that displays intelligence, family orientated, caring, self-respecting, fun, sensual and adventurous. Not much beats being able to get lost in your companion's eyes.

Where is your favorite place to take a girl on a first date, and why?
I tend to keep it pretty traditional. Maybe go for a walk in the park followed by dinner. I enjoy something that gives us a chance to chat a bit and get to know each other.  Then, if that all goes well, let the adventure begin.

Winter can be long, dark, and very cold here in Alaska. What are your favorite frosty pastime activities? And, what is the coldest temp you’ve seen/been in?
Snowboarding is by far my favorite winter time activity. There is something about riding down the face of a powder covered mountain that just can’t be beat.  Wood working projects, good movie snuggled up on the couch is always a good time. Not much beats a good movie snuggled up with that special someone. The coldest I have ever seen was in Minnesota in ’97. The temps dipped down to -60 degrees. That was pretty dang miserable!

And, if we ask about winter then we simply must inquire about the too short, wonderful summers.
Fishing, camping and shooting some guns. My favorite though is having a big BBQ with all my friends, an ice cold beer and a bonfire for some s'mores! 

Alaskan men take their vehicles very seriously. What is your favorite mode of transport and why?
My snowboard. Ha-ha. Floating on the snow, ripping down that mountain, gives me pure serenity. However, I do LOVE to fly. Especially in a helicopter, which is something I get to do from time to time at work. We do a lot of remote communication mountain top sites that are only accessible via helicopter.

What is your favorite Alaskan animal – to see along the highway or on your dinner plate?
That’s a tough one. Well on the plate is easy, moose.  I love a good juicy moose burger. 
Bears are super neat animals. The power and strength they have amazes me. Also a reason why I never go into the woods without a fully loaded, powerful pistol! 
I’m not much of a 'bird for pets’ kind of guy, but in nature they amaze me., so seeing an Eagle soar through the sky is cool. Skydiving is something that comes to mind that is a must try some day!

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?
One of the neatest things I got to do was one day at work. They sent me out in a helicopter to look at a couple mountain top sites out in Prince William Sound for five hours. The Chugach mountain range is so powerful from the air. We even flew over the Knik Glacier and got to see it calf.

In your opinion, what exactly is it that makes an Alaskan Male so wonderfully macho and appealing?
My upbringing and roots are Minnesota born. Minnesotans are a bit friendlier. Alaska is the melting pot of the lower 48 so there's a diverse crowd up here. I’m an honest, hard working gentleman. I don’t much feel the need to prove my macho image. I’m perfectly happy being the nice guy that I am.

What’s the biggest fish you’ve ever landed?
The first summer in Alaska I pulled in a 60 lb halibut. Probably the funniest one was last summer when I finally hooked into the elusive Alaska king salmon. It was around 30 lbs and provided quite the exhilarating adrenaline rush!

Other than making love under them, what is your favorite thing to do when the Northern Lights are out and putting on a show?
Typically I just sit in silence and enjoy the visual stimulation they bring. I have a bit of a personal connection with them. A story I would be happy to share on a more personal basis.

And last but certainly not least, what is the most romantic thing about Alaska, and why?
Well I suppose if one doesn’t mind doing a little work to make it happen, a picnic on top of a mountain would be incredibly romantic. As long as no slips, trips or falls occur that could compromise the bottle of wine, it would be a peaceful little getaway. Hopefully the wine will calm some inhibitions while we are alone!

 

Our thanks to ROSS - 'Mr. June 2013' for a great interview on what REAL ALASKA MEN are all about.

 

Check back on the AKRWA blog to see what 'Mr. July' says!

Thanks for stopping by - see you next time!

Real Men of Alaska

We thought we would try something new:

On the first Friday of each month, we'll be interviewing some of the rugged, intelligent, male specimens found in such abundance in the great State of Alaska.

Please Join us in Welcoming:

Tim, Mr. March 2013 - Real Man of Alaska

Welcome Tim, and thanks for being here today. 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.

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)

I was born in Anchorage Alaska. I have also lived in North Carolina and in California, but I moved back to Alaska because I love it here. I am 24 years old, 6 foot flat, 155lbs., my favorite food is spaghetti, and for fun I like to climb, dance, and draw still life.

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

      I like a woman who is independent, intelligent, a good sense of humor, and natural beauty (low, if any, use of makeup). I like to make the first move, but at the same time I tend to be very passive, so it takes a couple of tries of increasing forwardness.

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

      It really depends on the girl. There is always the safe default of dinner and a movie, but why do that when you have access to a beautiful hike, or whale watching off Beluga Point, or some dance lessons? In short, I like to choose something that appeals to both of us.

4: What's the wildest experience you've had with a female companion since living in Alaska?

 

I have to say the wildest thing I’ve done with a female companion is something I like to call experimental dance. It’s like exploring movement possibilities and finding new ways to connect and move together.

 

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

 

After enjoying a fresh snow I like to come inside and warm up with some hot cocoa and snuggle while watching a movie, usually under a blanket. The coldest temperature I have ever been in is -58oF, and yes, I went inside after playing in that weather to warm up with some hot cocoa.

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 like to water ski at midnight. The lake is usually clear of traffic and smooth as glass. I also like to take advantage of the long lasting sunsets/sunrises and grab a few photos.

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?

      My favorite form of recreational transportation is skiing. I love the feeling of racing down a hill with simple tools and remaining in control.

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

      My favorite Alaskan animal to see on my dinner plate is King Salmon. I’m salivating just thinking about it.

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 done the polar bear plunge, panned for gold, eaten salmon eyes, eaten herring eggs, eaten sea weed (a common ingredient in chowder cooked at my house), climbed Mt. Marathon (out of season), and touched glacier ice.

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

      Shouldn’t you be answering this question? If you must know, my best guess is the connectedness with an untamed nature, and the ability to survive. Then all you have to do is throw in some myths and legends.

11: What’s the biggest fish you’ve ever landed?

As far as weight, the largest I caught was a 46lb halibut. As far as length I caught a 37 inch ling cod (it‘s like a rock fish).

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

Science experiments on cosmic particles, just kidding. I just like to watch them with someone that I love, let it start a conversation and let the conversation go where ever it takes us.

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

      Besides the northern lights, long sunsets/sunrises, and the unbelievable scenery of Alaska?  I guess, in my opinion, it’s not really the place or individual things that are truly romantic, but how they are presented and who shows them to you. What makes the idea of Alaska romantic is the idea of being shown the wonders by someone who loves it for what it is, and you for who you are.

Well said - Thank you, Tim, for answering all of our questions and for being our very first:

Real Man of Alaska - Mr. March 2013!