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paulz
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# Posted: 14 Apr 2020 18:53
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Anyone watch the Discovery channel shows about the people Iiving in remote areas of Alaska? Like the gal who runs the fuel depot way up there? Have to admit I have been enamoured with the idea ever since I saw Dick Proeneke. But I doubt I could stand the cold, or the isolation, or about 50 other things.
So there's another fellow on the show with a dog named Junior, that follows him everywhere.. And he talks to Junior constantly. I was thinking how odd, only to realise it's a habit of mine lately too. "Hey Buddy, should we go buck that log?" "Hey Buddy, where the heck is the hammer?"
I think I talkng to him more than my wife. He's really not much help but he never argues.
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Alaskajohn
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# Posted: 14 Apr 2020 19:50
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Richard “Dick" Proenneke has a lot to do with why I live in Alaska. Back in the early 1970s as a young Boy Scout I got a chance to hear him speak and I was hooked. Several decades later I moved up to Alaska an purchased an old log homestead in the middle of nowhere and never looked back.
To the Alaskan shows, I never really had much time than to occasional watch, but most never interested me. I think the best is The Last Alaskan (not to be confused with The Last Frontier about the Kelchers which is a joke). The Last Alaskan is filmed in the 19 million acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and has some of the most amazing cinematography on TV. Heimo Korth, one of the cabin permit holders from the show, wrote a book a while back that is an excellent read and is just as inspiring as Dick’s story.
I live on the boundary of what is known as South Central and Interior regions of Alaska, so I don’t get the bone chilling cold that Dick got on Twin Lakes or the Korths get in ANWR.
When I arrive to Alaska, the first summer my wife and I charted a bush pilot to fly us out to Dick’s cabin on twin lakes and we camped in the area and visited his old cabin that’s still in perfect shape.
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 14 Apr 2020 19:50
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We like watching those shows as well... yeah not sure I'm cut out for some of their lives! Port Protection... yikes does it ever not rain or snow? Couldn't live there! If my hide isn't cracking it's too damp!
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paulz
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# Posted: 15 Apr 2020 10:48
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Alaskajohn, thanks for sharing your experience. I would love to see the Proenneke cabin some day. Alone in the Wilderness was on youtube right at the time I bought my property (lower 48), very much the inspiration for my cabin, although in comparison my cabin is in downtown New York lol.
I'll check out The Last Alaskan.
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Aklogcabin
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# Posted: 15 Apr 2020 11:17
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The Ak shows are ok. Take them for what they are. Last Ak is probably the one I would watch. They seem set.things up a bit. The Tongas National in SE forest is classified as rain forest but the sunny days are spectacular. But for me anyhow I don’t pay too much attention to the weather, mostly. It is going to be what it is , deal with it.
When out n about where there are no services and can get tricky if you screw up.
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NorthRick
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# Posted: 17 Apr 2020 18:02
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I've only watched a few of those shows and usually end up yelling at the TV and my wife makes me turn it off. So much of it is contrived it's not funny.
Out of them I've watched a few episodes of Life Below Zero. The guy who lives at Chandalar seems legit and tough. Chip in Noorvik used to post on an Alaskan forum and seems pretty down to earth, although the show creates some drama that seems unnecessary.
I've watched one episode of Edge of Alaska. It's based in McCarthy where we've owned property since 1999. We personally know a number of the people in that show. We've flown with Gary Green too and he pointed out the various camera mounts on his plane used in the show.
There is another show, can't remember the name, but the star was our friend's next door neighbor. He is quite the character on the show and in real life.
We had a parrot that I talked to a lot before she died last year. We had her for 26 years and she would both ask and answer questions and sing songs with you. We used to take her to the cabin on the back of my snowmachine. She did not like the ride but loved being at the cabin.
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