Little Chapel in the Woods

Just when I think I've encountered most everything in the Last Frontier, I learn something that completely causes me to stop and reflect on the adaptations Alaskans have made throughout their history in order to survive and prosper.

I learned that once I become an "official" Alaskan resident (July 2011); not only do I get drastically reduced fees on my hunting and fishing licenses, as well as the benefit of sustenance hunting and fishing to my freezer's content, I am also allowed to perform a marriage ceremony for one lucky couple over the course of my lifetime.

Because I don't plan to live out my golden years in this beautiful state, I'm offering my services to any engaged couple who wants to come to Alaska to get married this summer.  Since it has been almost 25 years since I repeated the marriage vows myself;  I'll brush up and make your wedding ceremony definitely memorable. I may not be able to find an Elvis impersonator but I can definitely supply as many Mountain Men as you'd like.  And because Joe can also perform one ceremony in his lifetime; we'll make it a "2 for 1" special!

Any takers?

We're not in Texas anymore! Part two...

Due to technical difficulties, I've been unable to post updates to my blog.  I hope I have this corrected and intend to be more diligent with my posts..  I'm still working on getting pictures to post...

Deer season vs. moose season

I just survived my first opening day of moose season. When I say "survived" I mean that literally. In Alaska, each citizen is allowed to harvest two moose each year for their freezers. Private hunting leases are rare because everyone takes advantage of the millions of acres of public land open to hunting. As long as you pull your vehicle 50 yards off the road, you can hunt. Further, if a moose ventures into your yard, it is considered fair game in Alaska.  I just hope my neighbors are good shots!

The moose here are plentiful and quite a nuisance. Everywhere you look, you will see signs posted warning of the danger of an automobile/moose collision. Add to that the herds of caribou that pass through this area and you have quite an interesting morning commute.

In Texas, if you hit a deer with your vehicle, it is at your discretion what you do with the meat.  In Alaska, all wildlife is considered state property.  By law, you are required to notify the State Troopers.  They contact local charities who have registered to receive the meat. The meat is sent to a processor and donated to them on a rotating basis. 

A moose can weigh 1200 lbs. In Texas the equivalent would be to go out to your pasture and kill two full-grown steers for every member of your family. Many families here feed their family solely on the moose they are able to kill and the fish readily available in the rivers and streams. There is quite a political debate with regards to the government's regulation (i.e. control) of sustenance hunting and fishing in Alaska.  In many rural areas, Park Rangers are viewed as the enemy and citizens have filed suit against the federal government in protest to their heavy-handed tactics with sustenance hunters.  It is understandable when we are told a moose will feed a family of four for a year and a pound of hamburger costs almost $7 per pound here.  In Texas that cost is reversed.  At the current price of a hill-country deer lease and all the supplies necessary for the 2 month season, I am comfortable in estimating that venison far exceeds that price per pound...at least in our family!

As in Texas, preparation for opening day begins months in advance. Alaska is no different. You could feel the anticipation building with each approaching day. On the afternoon prior to opening day, Joe's entire office shut down. It was nice having him home early but I really didn't grasp the whole concept until I drove him to work the next morning.

On opening day, our usual commute began 2 hours after sunrise and you could see all of the trucks with trailers parked in clearings. The trailers were to haul the 4-wheelers and I presume the moose if the hunters were lucky. The roads, however, were quiet that morning.

By that afternoon, it was an entirely different story. I traveled my usual route out of town along a 2 lane road and observed several trucks driving erratically headed in the opposite direction. I thought that they must be volunteer firemen on their way to a huge forest fire but I could see no smoke. As I met Joe and headed back into town, I was seeing different oncoming traffic with erratic patterns. Trucks pulling trailers loaded with 4-wheelers were darting in and out of the line of traffic, each trying to gain an advantage on the other trucks and trailers. We had the Alaska version of NASCAR taking place on a two-laned highway!  Then it occurred to me...these were the same men I had noticed earlier leaving their jobs to head home and hook up the trailer and grab their guns. They were returning to the rural area to hunt and were racing to secure a prime hunting spot among the hundreds of other hunters.

I've observed similar behavior along I-10 during deer season. Hunters from Houston and beyond are booking it to the Hill Country to get in that evening hunt. I can only imagine how chaotic it would be if you didn't have a deer lease and hunt by a "first come-first served" basis as they do here.

Since moose season has opened, we have not seen one moose along the roads. We are told they will return with the first snowfall to eat the green vegetation along the easements and clearings. Of course, by that time, it will be dark for 20 hours a day. Currently, I am not nearly as concerned about hitting a moose as I am about getting run over by a moose hunter!

Disclaimer: As those who know me can attest, I am a proud, 7th generation Texan, born and raised in that great State as were my parents, grandparents, and so on all the way back to the Pre-Republic days. I love our State almost obsessively and through my limited travels understand clearly that we Texans are a unique breed. That said, my following observations are in no way are intended to discredit the Republic or her citizens but merely an exercise in comparison for discussion's sake.

My new addiction...

It has been a busy week for me. I flew the red-eye to Houston on Sunday to pack up the house and put most of our worldly possessions on a Mayflower moving van. I said goodbye to family and by Thursday evening, I was back in Kenai and wondering if my trip home was reality or just a dream. It is strange what jet-lag will do to you!

Since I'm sure you don't want to see pictures of boxes and empty rooms, I thought I'd share a state treasure I've discovered here...

I have always liked coffee. It has been a constant in my life since the days of college finals where my roommates and I would take a half gallon of Blue Bell ice cream and dig a hole in the middle, filling it with M&Ms and top it all off with coffee. (actually it may have been Kaluha but that is another post entirely.) We'd then take our spoons and eat directly from the carton. This concoction fueled many a late night study session at Texas A&M!

When you are so far from home, you see things and process them based upon your past experiences. For the first few weeks I would drive by the numerous roadside stands and wonder how a snow cone stand could possibly stay in business in Alaska, let alone so many of them! Who would want a snow cone in the middle of Alaska? I certainly couldn't understand the attraction that would have upwards of 4-6 cars lining up in the drive-through windows of these stands all hours of the day.

After about two weeks of rainy weather, we had our first day of sunshine and I was able to see for myself what these snow cone stands were advertising. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that they weren't snow cone stands after all! Coffee on every corner and at every major intersection served from cute little houses with names like: "Hooked on the Bean", "Lotta Latte," " Express Espresso."

With my first sip, the heavens parted and I heard of chorus of angels. Oh, my heavens it is good! Joe will remember the fishing in Alaska: I will remember Kaladi Brothers Coffee.

It has become a ritual to drive through one of the coffee huts while I'm running errands or exploring the area. Around 2 p.m., I find I'm looking for errands to run in town so I can treat myself to another frothy latte. I'm enjoying trying the different stands and getting to know the kids working there.

During my trip home this week, I was sitting in the drive-through of the local Starbucks. Everyone was ordering their Grande Mochas and their skinny-soy-double espressos. It suddenly occurred to me how enjoyable it was to pull up to one of my coffee huts and order "the regular." It just seems so much simpler. Of course, my addiction has resulted in Joe referring to the huts as "Crack Shacks." Hopefully, that name won't catch on!