So You Think You Can Hack It? The Cold, Hard Fucking Truth About Alaska

[Mblaze]

16. I lived in Anchorage from 1965 to 1972

As a teenager. It was fabulous. What wild fun we had. I was in three popular bands over those years and had the pleasure of opening for the big groups who would come up from the "lower 48". I met my wife there.

Alaska engenders an internal feeling of awe mixed with gratitude that is nearly palpable. In those days, when you drove by a garbage dump where I live now you would see raccoons and seagulls. When you drove by a dump in Alaska, you would see bears and eagles.

I was drafted after high school and joined the USAF to avoid Viet Nam. I was actually stationed back in my home town, Anchorage. When I left the service, I left Anchorage and never went back.

I remember high prices but not as high as this gentleman reveals. I remember the dark days and light days but they didn't really bother the teenage me. I remember ice fog when we would drive out of town and could see every light in the city reflected straight up into the sky. It was nearly as beautiful as an aurora borealis. I also remember Alaskan stories when people would tell me about hair-raising close calls. I had those close calls myself.

When I moved back to Seattle, for weeks it seemed like the locals were almost ghost people because they didn't have that sourdough presence.

Thank for your article willbrad9080.