Alaska Wolf Attack

Living here in Alaska has some wonderful perks... the beautiful outdoors, long sunny days, friendly people, and adventure at your finger tips. I grew up here and have loved it. But every once in a while you hear stories that reminds you of the danger here too.

A couple days ago a 32 year old special-ed teacher, Candice Berner, was out for a jog outside the village she teaches at. Unfortunately, that evening some snowmobilers found her body in the woods and discovered that she was attacked by wolves.

Such a sad story and a scary one too, not just because of what happened, but the fact people are unaware of is this is the first fatal wolf attack in Alaska history... and there are only a few in the world. Wolves have always stayed away from human, mostly. They are some of the most difficult animals to hunt because not only are the smart, but they can hear/smell us for miles and will stay away.

There have only been 3 fatal wolf attacks in the entire U.S. and they all involved wolves infected with rabies. So, the fear here in Alaska is.... did they have rabies or are they not afraid anymore? Such a sad story for someone who was out in a remote Alaskan village just trying to help and educate special need children.

So, everyone be careful out there... whether you are in Alaska, where the outdoors is your back yard, or living in Utah with bears, Florida with alligators, or Arizona with scorpions.... be safe and educate your self on the wilds out there.

Here is a link to the story on MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35901428

Fun Activities To Do In Alaska

Being from Alaska is always a nice conversation bomb. There are not many places that can trump Alaska, well besides from being over seas... because that is where my husband steals my thunder (he is from South America). Besides it being a shocker when people find out, a lot of people then say, "Oh I would love to go there." I always enjoy hearing that from people. I love my state a lot. I love Alaska, I love the people, I love the laid back atmosphere we have here and I love the small town feel with still having all the benefits of a large city. What I also love about Alaska is all the fun things there are to do here.

Alaska is a pretty active state. We enjoy our seasons, we have to, because summer isn't that long, so we must get what we can out of it and winter is long, so we must find things to do to keep happy. Lets just say, there is a limitless amount of fun you can have in this state. So, for any of you that may be planning a trip up here or need a little push into coming here, here is a list of fun things to do in Alaska.

Saturday Market

This is a fun tradition that Anchorage holds every year from May till September, open every Saturday and Sunday (hence why it is called Saturday Market). Whether you're shopping for fresh Alaskan grown produce, exotic goods from around the world, or Alaskan hand crafted souvenirs, you'll find it at the Anchorage Market and Festival. I always love taking friends there when it town cause it is fun to look around and plus they always have good "Fair Food" there, and honestly.... any excuse I have to eat "Fair Food" is a blissful thing! And the cherry on top... free admission and free entertainment.

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) is a wonderful nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife through public education. AWCC takes in injured and orphaned animals year-round and provides spacious enclosures and animal care. Animals that cannot be released into the wild are given a permanent home at the center. They have bison, moose, elk, deer, bears, eagles, and always a flow coming in and out of animals. They are incredibly friendly and come right up to the gate. I don't even know how many times I have pet the moose or elk there. It is nice because inside the center is a road that allows visitors to drive throughout the area.... so if you are not wanting to venture out, you can stay in the nice warm car. It costs $7.50 per adult and $5.00 per child, but you will not pay more than $25 per car... which is a good price for the up close fun you will be having, plus there is a fun little gift shop and cafe to be enjoyed.
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26 Glacier Cruise
The 26 Glacier Cruise follows a 135 mile route through College and Harriman Fjords on board the Klondike Express, the most luxurious high-speed catamaran in Alaska. Departures are daily and head out from Whittier, which is 60 miles southeast of Anchorage. The 26 Glacier Cruise is said to be one of the best cruises in Alaska and it is sure to be one of the highlights of your trip. I have not done one yet myself, but I hear they are amazing and am told constantly that I need to see it for myself.

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Clam Digging

Yep! I said it.... CLAM DIGGING! It is seriously one of my favorite things to do here. If you drive south of Anchorage about 2-3 hours, you will come to Clam Gulch. Make sure you are ready, you will need rain gear (for the mud), boots (for the mud), clamming shovel, and a good attitude (for the mud). You will walk out on this sandy looking mud watching for little air bubbles popping up. Once you have found one, grab your shovel and get a hole dug. Start digging as fast as you can with your hands, because you wouldn't think clams are fast... BUT THEY ARE! You will feel them fight and squirm, as they try to work their way out of your grip. You will need a fishing licence for this, but it is truly a one of a kind experience.
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Coastal Trail

Gently winding along the coast eleven miles from downtown to Kincaid Park is Anchorage's most popular trail: The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Leave the bustling city behind, and explore a local treasure that tells a long tale of natural and human history. Skirt the fault line of the '64 quake, stroll through scented forests, look for moose, and take in sweeping vistas where you can spot beluga whales and North America's highest peak, all in a single view. Rollerblade, walk, bike, or jog this lovely trail and soak in the view. You may even stumble across some hidden beaches and enjoy a picnic on the sandy shore. If you are looking to have a tour and get bike rentals then check out Coastal Trail Rentals.

Miller's Ice cream
If you are driving between Wasilla and Houston (south of Talkeetna) you will pass the world's best ice cream stand! No joke... it is good enough to be on this list! We have a cabin up past Houston and my father always has us stop by the stand on the way up and he always yells, "Its Miller Time!". It is just simple soft served ice cream, but they twirl in a flavor of your choice, that mixes and swirls with the ice cream. Truly delicious, especially the green apple. :)

Halibut fishing/Deep sea fishing
I have lived in Alaska my whole life and have done many many fishing trips; King Salmon, Silvers, Reds, trout, and Humpies... they are all fun, but they are nothing like Halibut fishing. If you drive to Seward (about 3 hours south of Anchorage) you can charter boats with guides that take you out. They will drive out on the ocean about 2 hours or so till they find a great spot, and then you can fish. Doesn't sound that much different than other fishing, but it is what you catch that is fun. Since you are deep sea fishing you will catch anything... really... ANYTHING....shark, octopus, even scary gnashing teeth type fish. Plus you are in a larger boat usually with covering, so if you aren't enjoying the fishing you can lay down on the upper deck or go inside and play cards or read. When my husband and I went a few years ago we had a blast talking, hanging out, eating, playing cards, and fishing. He never caught a Halibut, but it did catch some crazy fish, one of them being a 5 foot Cod with teeth to match.

Alyeska Tram

About 45 mins south of Anchorage in the city of Girdwood there is a beautiful ski resort and hotel called the Alyeska Prince hotel. It costs $18 for adults and $9 for children for you all to go on the ski resort's mountain side. It is a beautiful view and always fun to hike around the mountains, plus if you don't feel like picnicking hillside you all can go down to the hotel and eat at their fabulous restaurant.

Hang Out Till Midnight

While here in Alaska you need to enjoy the endless amount of wonderful sunlight. There is nothing like playing tennis at 11 at night or biking the trails closing in on midnight. Go ahead, feel like a rebel... live it up during the midnight sun. :)

Ride The Train To Denali

From the very instant you board the Alaska Railroad, you know that you are in for a treat. The breathtaking beauty of the Alaskan landscape and the historic presentations by lifelong Alaskan conductors and tour guides make this trip one of the most unique and enjoyable travel experiences of a lifetime. The coaches offer seats, classic recliners, and outdoor viewing areas. One can really enjoy the Alaska wilderness while also enjoying the upper viewing dome, and a dining car complete with polished silver and sparkling crystal. This dining experience is said to rival the restaurants in the State. There is definitely no restaurant in Alaska that can compare with this backdrop.

Alaska SeaLife Center

The Alaska SeaLife Center is a non-profit marine science facility dedicated to understanding and maintaining the integrity of the marine ecosystem throughout Alaska with research, rehabilitation and public education. The center provides wonderful guides and even has free admission to Alaskan residents every month on the 10th. Some of the tanks at the center are really amazing, with spilt level viewing, so you can see what life it like above and below the water. The SeaLife Center is worth the trip and the money, especially fun for the kids.

Hike The Matanuska Glacier
Everyone, when they come to Alaska, wants to see a glacier.... but how about hiking one!? Cool, right!? Well, if that sounds like fun to you then you will want to head 50 mins north of Anchorage and come across the Matanuska Glacier. And if you are looking for a little more than a hike, visitors are even allowed to camp at the site... how many people do you think come back from Alaska saying they went camping on a glacier? If you would like to actually go Ice Hiking (with boots and picks) then you should check out MICA guides and look into taking a guided ice tour.

Hopefully this has tempted you enought to come up here... and if not... then I don't know what will. So happy planning and hopefully see you up here :)

Alaskan Bear

Okay, normally I like to throw in my two cents or have a little blib about something, but this story speaks for its self. And all I can say is that.... I would have pooped my pants!!!!!

Here is the story....

These pictures are of a man who works for the US Forest Service in Alaska, and his trophy bear. He was deer hunting last week when the large grizzly charged him from about 50 yards away. The guy emptied his 7mm Magnum semi-automatic rifle into the bear and it dropped a few feet from him. The big bear was still alive so the hunter reloaded and shot it several times in the head. The bear was just over one thousand six hundred pounds. It stood 12' 6" high at the shoulder, 14' to the top of his head. It is the largest grizzly bear ever recorded in the world.

The Alaska Fish and Wildlife Commission did not let him keep it as a trophy, of course; but the bear will be stuffed and mounted, and placed on display at the Anchorage airport to remind tourists of the risks involved in the wild.

Analyzing contents of the bears stomach, the Fish and Wildlife Commission established the bear had killed at least two humans in the past 72 hours, including a hiker missing two days prior to the bear's own death. Backtracking from where the bear had originated, the US Forest Service found the hiker's emptied 38-caliber pistol. Not far from the pistol was the remains of the hiker. The other body has not been found. Although the hiker fired six shots and managed to hit the grizzly with four (that the Service ultimately retrieved, along with twelve 7mm slugs, inside the bear's body), it only wounded the bear and probably angered it immensely.

Think about this: If you are an average size man, you would be level with the bear's navel when he stood upright. The bear would look you in the eye when it walked on all fours! To give additional perspective, this bear, standing on its hind legs, could walk up to an average single story house and look over the roof; or stand aside a two story house and look in the upper bedroom windows.

Well, at least we don't have poisonous spiders :)

Bullwinkle on the Rampage

This weekend I had an interesting experience. Since we are staying in my parents house while they are away for a little while we are taking care of everything. My mom has been having an on going battle with the neighborhood moose. She has been trying to fight them off her beautiful bushed and lilac tree for as long as I can remember...and well....she usually loses. But even though she is gone.....her fighting as not been in vain! I have put myself on the front lines of this battle and had my first combat just the other day.

I came home and found a moose munchin' away on the shrubs. I pulled the car up and started honking my horn trying to scare it off, only to push in more into the yard and go for the even fuller bushes....not really what I was going for.

So when I got into the house I went to the front door where the moose had moved to and tried to scare it off. I grabs some sticks off the ground and started tossing them at the beast... he completely ignored me by the way. But finally I got his attention and he turned....and turned FAST!. I jumped and got behind the door and shut it. I get on my tip toes and look out the window of the door and the moose has followed me and well.....tried to get in!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=03BQ75vlZQk

Sorry if the video does not work, I believe there is something wrong with blogspot.com becuase I have not been able to view it yet. Click on the link to view it on youtube. That is the only way I have gotten it to work :) Sorry

But the best part is....is that I just kept having this vision of this crazy moose busting down my front door chasing me through the house :) As soon as he started sucking on the door knob I ead bolted the door!.....like that is going to do anything :)

The Last Frontier

Well, the next time I make a post with will be from my Alaskan igloo! We are leaving here this weekend and flyin' up. It is sad to say goodbye, but we are very excited to see our family and be with them again.
I have gotten a bit of questions as to why we are moving to Alaska, what is taking us up there, and where in Alaska...so I will shed a little light on these questions.


We are moving up to Anchorage so my husband can get his master's degree while he is working at Wells Fargo. My parents live in India right now so they have been nice enough to offer us their wonderful house for awhile. So we are truckin' up north to make some roots, money, and get an education. We are just really looking forward to being around family and to have this great experience at Wells Fargo and for school.


And for all of you that maybe have some more questions....here are some fun facts about Alaska to tie you over till my next post!




- Alaska has over 1/2 the world's glaciers

- Alaska is 55 miles east of Russia

- We are the only state to have coastlines on three different seas. Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea.

- Purchased from Russia in 1867 for under 2 cents an acre.

- There is no sales tax in Anchorage.

- There are approximately 100,000 glaciers in Alaska

- Alaska has about one registered pilot for every 58 residents

- Anchorage encompasses 1,955 sq. miles - about the size of the state of Delaware

- The Alaska flag was designed by 13-year old boy

- Alaska has more than 3,000 rivers and over 3 million lakes

- Alaska holds about 19% of the world's volcanos


- In Barrow the sun never sets from May 10 to August 2, 84 days, and it never rises from November 18 to January 24, 67 days

- Alaska is as big as England, France, Italy and Spain combined

- If New York City had the same population density as Alaska, only 16 people would be living in Manhattan

- During World War II, two Alaskan islands, Attu and Kiska, were occupied by the Japanese for 15 months

From the Beehive State to the Last Frontier

Well, I feel like an official adult now. You would think I would already feel like one since...I'm married, have a child, can stay out late without calling mom and dad about curfew, but no....none of the above. You may ask yourself, "What was the momentous occasion that pushed this young girl into womanhood?".......the answer is.... MOVING.

I'm not talking about the hinky dinky packing of a U-haul...I mean hiring movers moving, picking up our lives and truckin' them across country, not from Utah to California.....but Utah to ALASKA! :) Is this is all so exciting? New? Adventurous? ANNOYING?...oh yea that's the answer.

I have never really moved anywhere. I was born and raised in the same house and even had the same bedroom my whole life. So this has been a whole new experience that has really opened my eyes as to how much you can root yourself into one place. I have been racking my brain about what offices/hospitals/schools that I need to call and get records/bills/forwarding addresses. This whole thing is making me want to get out of here sooner and settle in to our new place...and fast.

But as much as I am looking forward to moving back to Alaska, my home town, I am really going to miss a bit of stuff here in Utah that I can't get in Alaska...


1. Super Hot Summers
Don't get me wrong, I love Alaskan summers, but I get hot kind of easily and then cranky, but sometimes I really do love being outside and feeling that intense heat and just laying their in a hammock or grass letting it drain me. Alaska gets heat, but always with a nice light breeze and cover, not that desert/soon to see a mirage type of heat.


2. Outlet Malls
Utah has a lot of outlet malls and some pretty good ones too; Banana Republic, Old navy, Carter's, Oshkosh, Gap, and many many more. But as for Alaska....we just got some of these stores maybe 5-8 years ago. So I don't think there is a chance that we are having an outlet boom up there. But seriously there is nothing like getting a compliment on a cheap shirt and being able to say " Thanks, got it for $7 bucks!" It is a natural high for me.


3. Carpool Lanes
To have a carpool lane you need a freeway...and sad to say that Anchorage has no freeways, just highways. Who doesn't love that feeling of seeing a traffic jam, having your heart sink a little then....WAMMIE... you remember that your little one is in the back seat and you swing your car into that lane of freedom! Pure bliss.



4. Road Trips
My husband and I take last min trips all the time. We love sitting there trying to decide what to do for the weekend and then....bam....lets go to Vegas, Logan, California. We are spontaneous people who like having options. But, sadly to say, Alaska is a tad cut off from people....I mean there is always our neighboring Canadians, but I don't usually take a 15 hour drive to pick up authentic maple syrup and see a good hockey fight.. ehh :)


5. IKEA
Don't laugh at me unless you have been there! Men have their Home Depot, Women have their IKEA! It is a haven to all. It is a two story warehouse filled to the top and bottom with everything from couches and beds to children's tea sets and stuffed animals. You can find everything to supply your room. Walk in and they have the top level mostly with rooms already set up so you can walk through and see everything out being used. You can literally buy everything in that those rooms....even the handles on closets and pencil holders on desks! Everything is labeled with a letter and number so later on you can go downstairs to the warehouse area and find your lamp in aisle B, number 23. Everything in the store is cheap cheap cheap. They do have some pricier stuff if you want, but as a whole, easy on the pocket book. They even have a restaurant there so you can take a break and eat while you shop. But ladies the best part is, is that some of them even have daycare to watch your children so you can shop in piece!

So goodbye my hot heat, carpool, outlet malls, and my IKEA. I will visit soon and wont forget you.