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Post by mountainguy on Apr 24, 2006 20:24:00 GMT -5
Hello all. I am a retired military guy living in Colorado now and someday in the next several years looking to settle into a nice homestead. Got a lot of research to do on a location with good hunting, good water, good forest and few people. I'd love to have neighbors at a distance. We all need our space. I'm fairly well versed on survival skills and have read nearly every email on Chuck and Jenny's site. I am planning to build a log cabin, cache and out building on a wooded lot near a river that leads to civilization. With the heyday going on with the politics, gas price spiraling, overpopulation, etc., I can't wait to relocate to a place which presents things in much more simpler terms. Any advice would be greatly appreciated in the future. Mountainguy sends.
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Post by Washkeeton on Apr 24, 2006 20:42:18 GMT -5
Welcome Montain Guy. We are ready for any and all questions you may have. Ask away. I like how you posted a simpler life, simpler by the way of civilization intrusion and being connected to the grid, but by far harder because of the work entailed to survive up here.
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Post by Jenny on Apr 24, 2006 23:31:34 GMT -5
Hi mountainguy. Welcome to The Alaska Homesteading Forum! Glad to have you with us. It's always great to get a new perspective on things. I'm sure you'll add a lot to the forum. Hope to here more from you!
Best wishes,
Chuck & Jenny
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Post by Kristianna on Apr 25, 2006 20:19:49 GMT -5
Welcome, MountainGuy! K
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Post by mountainguy on Apr 30, 2006 20:40:42 GMT -5
Hello All. Hope the Alaska wilderness finds you all doing well. I've just recently started collecting as much information as I can on a myriad of things to include:
1. Alaska hunting/trapping. 2. Obtaining supplies of staples to use with subsistence hunted meat. Recently got a magazine from Alaska Bush Supply. 3. Building a log cabin and cache from the ground up. 4. Clothing needs for all seasons. 5. Potential power sources for being off the grid. 6. Canning, curing, long term storage of supplies. 7. Needs for day-to-day life. 8. Surviving money wise. 9. Medical concerns. 10. And last but not least, finding that right piece of land with water and timber supply.
Wooo. That's going to keep me busy for quite a long time I suppose. I'm starting now to construct a mega list of every item I will need to make things work. If you all don't mind, I'll throw out a question every once in a while and fish your minds for ideas that have worked for all of you. At least when I hit the ground, I'll be well ahead of the game.
I've been to Alaska twice while in the military and it has always been in the back of my mind to return one day. Once there, it just keeps calling me back to live there. Realize it's a hard lifestyle, but I think in the end, it's that simpler way of life that we should all go back to. Must admit that families were much stronger in the old days and the world was a much simpler place to live in. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to become a hermit by any means, but an open space and close friendships apeal much more.
Let's go with the first issue of finding the right plot of land. Anyone have any ideas on it. I've been to Alaska remote properties and read the forums on here about folks looking for land. Who should I watch out for, whose reliable, what the best venue for looking for land (Sites, etc), and what qualities do you all recommend for that "right" site.
Look forward to your imparting of wisdom on this issue. If I can ever add to your wisdom needs, let me know. Well, for now take care and God bless.
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Post by Washkeeton on May 1, 2006 0:53:26 GMT -5
Watch out for plots with lots of permafrost and bogs on the properties. When you were up here was it in the summer or winter and where were you. How long did you stay? That will give us an idea what you need in clothing and the such.
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Post by mountainguy on May 1, 2006 21:01:02 GMT -5
I was last up in Alaska in Nov 2001. Got around alot of the Fairbanks and surrounding area along with Anchorage, Homer, Sitka, Kenai and other locals surrounding Anchorage. Must admit that I was most impressed by the hospitality from local folks. Didn't matter that I was only visiting. I'm sure there are those who are counter to this, but it wasn't the norm.
I've heard of those horror stories about the bogs and marsh land that you can't see unless your feet on the ground. I don't plan to buy like that. I've got alot of winter gear to include down/fleece liners for winter coat. Probably need two each on depending on where I relocated. :<) Pretty used to living in the cold after spending time living in eastern Washington State, North Dakota, South Dakota, northern Idaho and the mountains of Colorado and Bosnia. Any ideas of clothing are most welcome. I guess the biggest question is, what's practical from all of your experiences and what's not?
Hope this reply finds you all doing well. ;D ;D
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Post by mountainguy on May 1, 2006 21:02:19 GMT -5
Two trips lasted for approximately four months during the winter and spring. About two each.
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Post by mountainguy on May 1, 2006 21:04:11 GMT -5
Sorry. Didn't mean to be rude before I began with Washkeeton. Hello Jenny, Chuck and Kristianna. Hope to correspond and learn a great deal from all of you in the future.
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Post by Washkeeton on May 1, 2006 23:40:56 GMT -5
Bunny boots. Bunny boots. Bunny boots. If you are thinking of going north they took my daughter and I down to 70 below with temps to spare. Never had a bit of any cold with the feet. Being rubber makes them nicer. If you get water into them the water can be pored out and the boots will continue to stay warm. wonderful to mush with especially if going through over flow. No effect to the interior of the boot cause they are rubber with a thin cloth over them. I had lakes out here between my back door and dog lot and ds and I both have a pair of bunny boots. Had I used the leather uppers or the sorrells I would have actually been walking through ice water with them and ruining the interior lining as well as freezing my feet for the past month. As it was we were fine and both of our feet stayed warm. Your lists you will find that you will probably over buy. I did and now I want to get rid of. It costs less to by outside but cost will be almost equaled out when you figure you will have to haul most stuff up here and fly it out. Move up here and buy up here what you actually need while your living here. Use the first yr up here to get to know ak and where you want to live. The locals where you move to can and will share what is good and not. Then your not stuck with a piece of land that you have neighbors that dont want you there and will just as soon shoot you as look at you. Yes the town folk are nice and wonderful. The bush folk are not as nice. They are there cause most want to be away from society. The natives that are in the north woods do not like white or black folks and will make their life misurable. You do need to know the area and if it is ok to hunt cause north there is a lot of native lands and they will have no problems making your life bad if you hunt on them with out permission. There is a lot of mental illness in the bush also. Lots of parinoid folks out there that are not on meds. (had a couple as neighbors) Nice guys on meds. Wouldnt trust them at all if i met them out in the bush. That is what I would do if I were to do it again.
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Post by Kristianna on May 2, 2006 19:53:04 GMT -5
I didn't think you were rude at all Mountainguy. Its nice to have you here.
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Post by mountainguy on Jul 14, 2006 20:07:01 GMT -5
Things have been pretty quiet it appears with only a smattering of postings lately. I have continued to investigate the remote properties website in Alaska along with fuel alternatives. I am looking at numerous levels of power and heat production redundancy. These include solar and wind power generation. Anyone have any background with these two so far as types to get, cost, installation, etc. Look forward to hearing your experiences on this one of many issues of research. Thanks in advance.
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Post by smwon on Jul 15, 2006 14:12:22 GMT -5
I've been to Alaska twice while in the military and it has always been in the back of my mind to return one day. Once there, it just keeps calling me back to live there. Realize it's a hard lifestyle, but I think in the end, it's that simpler way of life that we should all go back to. Must admit that families were much stronger in the old days and the world was a much simpler place to live in. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to become a hermit by any means, but an open space and close friendships apeal much more. I can understand the sentiment about 'Alaska keeps calling'. They say a person either hates it or loves it. I am with you on that one and plan to return sometime in the near future before I am too old to enjoy the lifestyle. This place has been way to quiet...
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Post by mountainmomma on Aug 29, 2006 23:36:04 GMT -5
Hey there Mountain guy. I looked at the remote properties site before I bought my place on the southern Kenai Peninsula. I was never really comfortable with that site. I found MY place on www.alaskarealestate.com. Its a compilation of all (or at least many of) the official Real Estate agencies/agents in AK. I recommend finding a place that also has at least moderate road access. At least a place that you can four-wheel, mush, snowmachine, or hike out of if need be. I agree with the sentiment that you ought to wait till you're up here to REALLY stock up. Pretty much everything you could possibly need is up here. If its not, its probably easier to have it shipped up here rather than trying to haul it up. That said, I have several things myself that I'd like to haul up here someday. But, its best I think that start out with as little as possible. It takes a lot more nerve to purge your extra "junk" once you're up here. Anyway, good luck. I remember when I was in a similar place mentally (and actually geographically too). Its an exciting time.
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Post by Washkeeton on Aug 30, 2006 12:41:00 GMT -5
Mountain momma when i click your site I get sent to a microsoft site. ? I am in the process of purging now so I can work on moving out again. It is a lovely feeling to be able to work toward a selfsufficient goal isnt it?
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