All I can say is WOW.

What a great adventure and what a character your DH has for an uncle. It's wonderful to know that there are still people living like that. Your descriptions were fabulous.

It's been years since I was in the sort of bush you describe, but it brought back SO MANY memories! Thank you so much!

Now having said that I remember walking through tussocks like the area you described, and when I read about it my knees started "sympathy" aches. It's the second-worst type of walking in Alaska IMO, the worst being on deep-ish "rotten" snow - you take a step and think you're okay, then *crunch* and you're thigh-deep in snow (or else have capsized.) 100 yards and you feel like you ran a race.

And it's really something when <i>Bettles</i> seems like civilization. (No offense, Bettle-ites.) Oy.

Again, marvelous and thank you so much!

Enzian-- I know, too bad the wine was so heavy. We would have taken more! We are sending more OR wine up to the cousin so that when they fly there in January they can all enjoy it.

Gardyloo--I agree, it is great knowing there are still such amazing people! Glad to bring back memories. It is definitely not the norm I realize:) LOL at sympathy aches and the knees. And yes, Bettles, lol!

Yes, those tussocks. Let's just say that on the hike in I didn't realize I knew the extent of my swearing vocabulary. I kept it all in my head, but geez, lol!

I already miss being up there. DS is already planning his summer adventure there next year. He is thinking of going for the entire summer and doing some backpacking further out even. Our uncle and even asked him to come take care of the cabin when he is not there. After last summer, DS almost decided on UAF for school, but then realized what the winters meant:D

Is there a place near the cabin(s) where planes on skis can land in the winter?

Gardyloo--no, not yet. There is a clearing like .5 to 1 mile away. That is where he is going to snowshoe it out into a landing strip so his DD can land. BTW, he will be 70 next month. Talk about inspiration on how to live!

I think they should make a movie about it - and you could be the star of course

sunbum--Well close...our uncle is writing a book about his life living up there.

My 16 year old was leaning over my shoulder to ask me something when I was reading your report. I said "look at this." He started reading and didn't want to stop. I handed him a chair and moved over. His comment was "this is so awesome."

Thanks for sharing.

Winters in Fairbanks are not "that bad!" I worked at UAF for 6 or 7 years, and really enjoyed the winters there. The sun shines almost every day (short but sweet, with beautiful golden light). The XC skiing is great, as the snow is always dry and fluffy. And it doesn't get under 20 below all THAT often. . . I was pretty amazed at how the campus has grown, especially at the science end of campus. We had dinner with a family with two sons, one at UAF and one at UAA. Both were great kids and spoke wel of the programs they are studying.

Wonderful report about an amazing experience! Thanks for sharing.

The favorite part of my Alaska trip a few years ago was a drive/fly up the Dalton Highway to the oil fields. Along the way we stopped to visit a man who lives out in the wilderness, in a little cabin, and grows and hunts his own food year round. His "refrigerator" was a hole in the kitchen floor into the permafrost below the cabin. It was amazing.

I loved the remoteness of the area, and the Arctic town - Deadhorse - had a real frontier type atmosphere, which seemed to me like the real Alaska. But it was nothing like your adventure!

I envy your opportunity to have an authentic, pioneer experience, and the scenery must have been glorious.
Your uncle sounds like a really interesting individual. What great memories you must have!

5alive--That sure made me smile! Getting kids excited about things like this is huge, IMO.

Enzian--Trust me, I was really pushing for UAF. Great engineering program there, but then again he ended up at a school with a great one too. Funny about the temps. Our cousin said when Fairbanks is 30 below, they are about 40 below in North Pole. I can still picture the look on DD's face when she heard that;)

panecott--That is the same refrigerator set up as our uncle has. Our cousins DH works in Coldfoot, so he just flies his plane up there to get to work. It is such a different life and I am pretty sure I am too wimpy to live that way.

thanks mms, am printing out to read at my local coffee shop tomorrow morning. looking forward to some relaxing, travel stories time.

Great trip report! I've been to Fairbanks in February (work trip) and every one I met there loved it (mostly military). What a great experience for your son to be able to spend so much time with his uncle. Thanks for taking us along into the bush.

As you know, I have some relatives who live in Alaska.
Bears were always mentioned..
I wish your uncle would write a book ..

I can see me now, waking up in the middle of the night to go pee ... where ? bears ? ladder ? :D

Scarlett--The book is already in the works. He is hoping to finish it this winter. And yes, middle of the night to pee sure makes your heartrate go up! LOL!

DH and I were talking this morning how it is so nice that DS is more like a grandson than a great nephew. Always great to see kids bond with their elders.

Making more beer bread today. That stuff is addictive!

Wow, I'm so glad I found this report...so very entertaining and fascinating, mms! I really enjoyed reading it! Well done.:)

This is an awesome trip report, mms! You sound braver than me to go hiking with just your kids and a pistol, even though your kids are really young adults. This is the type adventure you all will remember for the rest of your lives!

Please let us know when the book is published. I'd love to read it.

I want the cookie recipe!

Love this report. What an adventure.... But dang, with the continual reminder of your having packed a gun everywhere you went, I thought (hoped) you were setting us all up for an encounter with a grizzly. Then again, I guess a bull moose could be threatening too. Thanks for the great read.

Wow, oh wow, oh wow!!!!! Love it mms!