Hey! What do you think about running off to Alaska, growing your hair long, and living in a little cabin in the woods far from any cities or towns of any size? Could you live without a store nearby? Imagine shopping in July for enough supplies to last until mid winter. Days are spent getting the wood shed filled, working on the cabin or outbuildings, maybe just editing video or answering mail. After freeze-up (in November), one can travel to the post office 30 miles away by dog team or on a snowmobile. Winter, it turns out, is the best time in Alaska (except 4:20, but it's always 4:20 here). So how about it? Do YOU have what it takes? I do, and that's how I live except for these little work trips to town.
have you been watching Dick? ... If not then i suggest finding n seeing or reading one mans wilderness so you get to know Dick better
You are living my dream. I spent last summer in Katmai National Forest on the Alaskan Peninsula. Have the Dick Proeneke book. Absolutely love everything about Alaska. It takes a strong and beautiful spirit to live there and appreciate the wildness and remoteness. Where do you live? Any other info?? I am so jealous....I felt like I had come home the first time I was in Alaska....keep on going back and one day will for good.
I really enjoyed watching Dick Proeneke's movie about his life. In his film, he really shows how he lives alone in the bush. In my videos, I show how You can live in the bush.
ME ME I've got what it takes pick me! I mean it. I spent 2 winters in northern Quebec "practicing". I even went without heat for two months in -25C temperatures. I'm outta my freakin MIND!! Yah, I definitely want to know more about your experiences, cookiec. But I have no idea how to work out the administrative crap--finding real estate, local permits for construction of dwellings, etc. Otherwise, I'm there!
There is a lot of land availble here in Alaska, but to get the 5% down/no credit check deal from the state, you must live in Alaska for a year or more, and there may be many other requirements that can change all the time. It took me 3 years to get my homestead. It's not hard, you just have to be too dumb to give-up when everyone tells you "it cann't be done". On the Alaska state web site there is one homestead being offered as of 6-1-05, but there are thousands of pieces of land. I live on my homestead as much as possible. Usually 8-10 months of the year. Because of the remote location, I must work in town time to time.
Hey cook, this is the first encouraging bit of info I've heard in a long while. Thanks also for the website link; I'm checking that out now. You never know... I might be your neighbor in a couple years. And yes, I definitely fit the bill: too dumb to give up. Way too dumb. So do you have any pics of the terrain up there? Are we talking igloos & arctic wasteland, or is there at least some tree cover?
what's the homestead? it seems as if you aquire a homestead if you stay for 3 year or something. are there benefits to you? tax cuts? or is the 5%, etc stuff, the benefits that make it a homestead? not to say they aren't enough, that's a great great deal (if you can cut it =P). How big is this land? How are the land taxes?
For people that are ready for a big move to a remote area, the opportunities here in Alaska are fantastic. The only homesteads that are being offered now must be bought outright. The price of land varies according to the location of course. For a remote piece of land one can expect to pay from about $3000 and up. Many different types of land are offered OK, so if you qualify, go to the state of Alaska Department of Natural Resorces. If the land you want cost $5000 then the down payment is only $250 plus adm. fees. Think of it, for less than $500 anyone who qualifies (most people can qualify after one year of living in Alaska) can get a start on their own piece of land! If the land is in the right location, there are no taxes at all.Alaska Land LOL. Nothing but igloos and snow. Ha Ha Ha. I'm twenty miles south of Denali Park - home of the tallest mountain in north america!
how harsh is the weather? what kind of salary do you need to make to live without starving/making it through the winter? what kind of community is there in alaska, i imagine you guys dont have block parties and whatnot =P do you think a commune can be made in alaska?
Alaska is a really big place. If you look at a map of the US, look at the size of Texas. Now, Alaska is just over double the size Texas! The weather here is very different from one end of the state to the other. Most of the state gets cold in the winter, but just how cold depends on where you are. I used to live in Fairbanks. The first winter there, I lived in a low area, and did not know it makes any difference. After a two week mid-winter cold snap, where the high temp for the day never got above -60 F, I moved to higher ground. (The cold air is heavy and collects in low areas) Where I live now it doesn't get below zero much in the winter, but the summers are cooler than sunny Fairbanks. Of course, you won't find palm trees growing outside in Alaska. People don't have to live a rough life just because their in Alaska. We do have towns, cars, stores.......WalMart. I don't know if this is the right place for a group living project or not. Most of the people I know want to do there own thing. You will find that most Alaskan's don't like anyone telling them how to live.
How's the cost of living, cook? Someone once told me that a Big Mac can cost you $6 (not that I'd ever be caught dead in a McDonalds... but it's a pretty good gauge of living expenses). I know the point of homesteading is not to rely on society and Walmarts, but I'm sure it takes a while to get to that point.
After I lived in Alaska for about 10 years, I went to Oregon to go to a friends wedding. I was walking through a store just looking at how cheap everything was. Comparied to the prices I am used to, things were almost being given away! Of course, when I made a comment about prices, the person I was with said, "yeah, the prices sure are getting high". LOL The prices on food and things that must be shipped into the state, are much higher than they are down there. It makes a big difference where you are in Alaska too. Where a gallon of gas might cost $2.19 a gallon in Anchorage, in the bush, one should be ready to pay $6.00 a gallon. The cost of getting it to the store is a big factor.
I've been consideriing this for awhile. My father has lived in alaska for 10 years. I have been there twice. Its funny that upon telling people about alaska, usually the first thing they ask is "isn't it cold all the time?" when if you take Fairbanks for instance, in the summer time its not uncommon for the temperature to rise to 80 or above. Summers are nice aside from the state bird (the mesquito), but as stated before the winter is where the fun is. My first time in alaska i was bitched at for saying the word snowmobile, was told the correct word is snowmachine. Ah man, i need to get back
my friend alyssa lives out in alaska right now. her sister is a resident of alaska so right now shes living in a tent or something on her property. i remember her sister abby being very natural and she never wanted electricity. shes awesome, very very rustic living. i would be down to give it a try someday.
