What's it Like to Live in Alaska

By: Shelley Duncan

Does it really stay light all day in the summer? Do people live in igloos? When people find out I was born in Alaska, they want to know these questions and more. Does it ever get warm, do people ride around on dog sleds. Honestly, I remember nothing. I moved away when I was a year old. But I have been talking with a co-worker who recently moved to the states from Alaska. She had all the answers.


Does it really stay dark all day during the winter? Pretty much. For about 6-8 weeks from mid December through mid February, there are only 2 hours of real sunlight. During the summer from about mid June through the end of July there are only 2 hours of night. The picture to the left is taken at 4 in the morning. This does cause a lot of Vitamin D related illnesses. SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is highly prevalent. Alaska also has the highest rate of suicide as well as high incidences of rape, drinking, and drug use. On the other hand, Alaska also has the nation’s highest ice cream consumption, go figure.


First things first, people do not live in igloos and they do not ride around in dog sleds. People do live in log cabins, some very rustic, but not in town. There are cities just like in the lower states. Fairbanks has a population of around 82,000; Anchorage 261,000 and the capital Juneau around 31,000. People live in normal houses and drive cars and trucks. There are some remote towns that are only accessible by plane, but in southern Alaska, towns are just like in the lower states.


Let's talk about the snow. No, it doesn't snow all year long. In fact it only snows from October through December, then it gets too cold. But it snows enough that it sticks around until May. The snow actually provides insulation. People get concerned when it doesn't snow much as they pile the snow up against their house for the insulation. In the winter it can get as cold as 80 below zero. At this point, school is optional. They have blankets for their cars and have heaters for their car engines that you plug in at night. They have an interesting law that says you have to pick up hitch hikers when it gets colder than 20 below. And yes, it does get hot. During the fire season, it can reach 100 degrees.


People in Alaska like to go shopping just like you and I. My mother used to talk about 'Sears chic' because Sears was the only big chain store at the time. Sears is still around, but they also have Fred Meyers, Safeway and Gottschalks plus the first Wal-Mart recently. They even have malls. Very small strip malls, but they do have malls. The prices may be a little higher then you're used to. In fact, according to Nichole, prices are about double what she pays in Washington.


Tourism is the biggest industry in Alaska, especially in the summer. But they also do big business in fishing, crabbing and the pipeline. With fishing and crabbing, people can make enough in several months to last them for the remainder of the year. You can make $30-40,000 per month. Crabbing, though lucrative, can be very dangerous since it's done in the fall. The ice forms on the boats which you have to keep knocking off. If you don't, the boat sinks. In the winter you will find lots of Asian tourists. Their culture considers is good luck to conceive a child under the aurora borealis.


There are still moose that wander aimlessly, often right down the middle of town. In Anchorage there have been problems with bears wondering into town. You'll also see lots of elk, musk ox, wolves, eagles and a plethora of other wildlife further out of town. Some say the wolves are as big as bears. You don't have to travel far from town to be in the wilderness. Let's not forget the insect world. Not to be messed with, the mosquitoes are said to be as big as golf balls during August. And the hornets you do not mess around with. On the plus side, they have no poisonous spiders or snakes.


Let's talk about the snow. No, it doesn't snow all year long. In fact it only snows from October through December, then it gets too cold. But it snows enough that it sticks around until May. The snow actually provides insulation. People get concerned when it doesn't snow much as they pile the snow up against their house for the insulation. In the winter it can get as cold as 80 below zero. At this point, school is optional. They have blankets for their cars and have heaters for their car engines that you plug in at night. They have an interesting law that says you have to pick up hitch hikers when it gets colder than 20 below. And yes, it does get hot. During the fire season, it can reach 100 degrees.


There are still moose that wander aimlessly, often right down the middle of town. In Anchorage there have been problems with bears wondering into town. You'll also see lots of elk, musk ox, wolves, eagles and a plethora of other wildlife further out of town. Some say the wolves are as big as bears. You don't have to travel far from town to be in the wilderness. Let's not forget the insect world. Not to be messed with, the mosquitoes are said to be as big as golf balls during August. And the hornets you do not mess around with. On the plus side, they have no poisonous spiders or snakes.




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