When I first started writing in earnest, I promised myself that someday I’d set a story in Alaska. Hubby Don, daughter Sue Ann and I lived in Fairbanks for sixteen years. Sue Ann still lives there, with hubby John and adorable Baby Faith.
Although I lived in Interior Alaska, when I began writing Unsafe Haven, I found myself locating my fictional village of Staamat in Southwest Alaska, one of the least-populated regions. Small villages, scattered along rivers like the Kuskokwim, have existed for generations by subsistence hunting, trapping and fishing. Some villages have electricity; others don’t. Necessities like indoor plumbing and actual roads can be the exception instead of the norm. In the summer, their residents travel by river, or from village to village on ‘roads’ that are little more than trails. In the winter, snowmobiles and dogsleds serve as transport. Bush planes either land on small, rough gravel runways, or right on the frozen rivers. Actually, bush planes land wherever they can!
I thought it might be fun to base my Thursday Thirteen on Alaska facts. Thirteen of them!
- Where DO the Roads go?
Not very far, depending on where you live in Alaska. Even in a bigger city like Fairbanks, roads only go out so far and then stop. In one direction, you can drive to Chena Hot Springs (roughly sixty miles from Fairbanks) and then you drive no further. In another direction, you can drive to Deadhorse (about four hundred miles due north) but the road you have to travel on would probably turn your hair white, especially during the winter. And a four-hundred-mile-long road is a drop in the bucket when you consider how utterly immense Alaska is. In remote Alaska, around some of those aforementioned, small villages, you’d be lucky to see five miles of a rough road in any direction, before you run into a body of water, be it lake or river.
Mosquitoes: The Unofficial “State Bird” of Alaska isn’t your ordinary, run-of-the-mill skeeter. These buggers are MEAN. And aggressively bloodthirsty. Although some cities spray for mosquitoes, it doesn’t seem to do a lot of good. A nice, seven-year cycle bumper crop of dragonflies are welcomed with open arms, because nothing can clear out a horde of skeeters faster than another horde of hungry dragonflies. You quickly learn to love dragonflies, I guarantee. Alaskan mosquitoes are fast, dive-bombing you the very instant you step outside. It’s impossible to out-jog them, too. Trust me, I’ve tried. They also laugh in the face of DEET.
- Penguins and Polar Bears: One lives in Alaska and the other, well… doesn’t. Penguins live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere (Antarctica). Often, some well-meaning artist will paint them into an Alaskan setting, or write them into an Alaskan story, because you’d think they’d fit right in. I’m sure polar bears, who do live and thrive in Alaska, would love to see the penguin populate their turf.
Polar bears are awfully cute when they’re cubs. And they grow up to be really, really deadly.
No Fleas or Snakes! In keeping with the animal (and bug) theme: nary a flea is to be found in Alaska, so most vets will tell you. But you have to remember the pets – both dogs and cats – that come to Alaska with their human parents, either on vacation or in a permanent move, might have a traveler or two on their fur. It’s not much, but it was enough to keep our Rat Terrier Daisy Mae in Advantix, the entire time we lived there. As for 
snakes: Nope. As pets, sure. Out in the bush, ‘snaking’ over the tundra and through the waist-high fireweed? No worries!
Speaking of Fireweed: For a weed, it’s darned pretty. Called ‘Fireweed’ for two reasons: because it’s often the first flora to grow back after a bush fire, and because of the color it turns in the fall, when the tops of the plant “cotton” out, a traditional harbinger of Arctic winter. It also makes delicious honey.
Baseball at Midnight: The Goldpanners, a semi-pro team in Fairbanks, play some of their best games at midnight. Their annual Midnight Sun Game is played on the longest day of the year, when the sun shines down at 12:30 AM and the fans don’t go home until at least two in the morning. And boy, are those mosquitoes hungry, at two in the morning! If you go to a game, bring DEET. Or a pet dragonfly.
Sunrise, Sunset: It’s often said, by folks who’ve never lived in Alaska, that there are months of nothing but sun, and then months of nothing but dark. While parts of this theory might be somewhat accurate in Barrow, above the Arctic Circle, Interior Alaska gains and loses minutes of the day the same as any other place in the world. They just do it faster, that’s all. Days lengthen toward June, shorten after June. Longest daylight in Fairbanks at the height of summer: roughly twenty-two hours. Shortest daylight in Fairbanks at the height of winter: roughly three hours. Sleeping with the sun hitting you right in the face: priceless. You learn to treasure those nights.
Aurora Borealis: Has to be seen to be believed. Until you’ve seen it in a northernmost region such as Alaska, you haven’t seen it. You only think you have. The colder and blacker the night, the better. Some of the most gorgeous Aurora displays I ever saw occurred at temperatures far below zero.
Which brings us to: Weather Extremes. Alaska’s got ‘em. Where else in the world can you swelter in eighty-degree summer and freeze to death at forty below in the winter? Winter brings the dreaded ice fog: thicker than normal fog, you can almost feel it against your face. It hurts to breathe it in. It is, in effect, frozen air, or at least frozen whatever-happens-to-be-in-the-air. Nasty stuff. 
If you can survive the dead of winter, your reward will be the wonder of a short, but fabulously wonderful summer. Flowers blooming, Farmer’s markets selling locally-grown veggies and fruit. Heat and sweat and swimming at the lake. Boating on the Chena. Ahhhh.
Life in the Bush: Not easy, but for those hardy enough to give it a try, very rewarding. You'll find tiny cabins, some of them miles from the most rudimentary roads and without plumbing or electricity, and their owners come to town maybe twice a year and load up on supplies. Sourdoughs, true Alaskans in every sense of the word, who eke out a living with a lot of fortitude and inventiveness.
Glaciers: Once you’ve seen one, up close, you’ll never forget it. Immense, beautiful, dangerous. They shift and move and grow and breathe. Their depths are pure blue, they rumble like thunder when they break and crash, and if you drop a piece of a glacier into water, it crackles in a fascinating way. Planes land on them, boats keep a respectable distance from them, and I don’t know anyone who isn’t awestruck by them.
Igloos: Yes, they still exist and are still popular as a temporary shelter. They’re often constructed for use as a hunting and/or fishing base. They can easily last for most of a good, hard winter as long as care is taken when heating the interior with a fire or a kerosene lamp. Snow is one of the best insulators in the world. Just ask a polar bear.
- The Last Frontier: I firmly believe everyone should see Alaska at least once in their lives. Put it on your “Bucket List.” Whether you visit in the summer or in the winter, you’ll never forget it. More than twice as large as Texas and with less than a million residents statewide, Alaska is so hugely majestic, so diversely beautiful, so uniquely unique.
I hope you enjoyed this peek into our forty-ninth state!
My second novel, Unsafe Haven, takes place in Alaska and is currently in the submission process.
My website: http://char.chaffin.com
Facebook and Twitter: http://facebok.com/char.chaffin http://twitter.com/char_chaffin
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
0 COMMENTS
Callie Hutton
13 years agoWow, Char. I thought I learned a lot about Alaska when I read Unsafe Haven, but your post was so informative. Makes me want to grab my duffle bag and head north. Wonderful post. Best of luck with Unsafe Haven, which is truly a wonderful story.
Maggie Shayne
13 years agoThis is a beautiful blog post! I loved the imaged, learned a lot, and enjoyed every line. Thanks so much for writing it.
Mandi Casey
13 years agoWow, Alaska is such an interesting state, thanks for sharing. Great post!
Danica St. Como
13 years agoI have some of my most brilliant moments when I'm mowing our fields with a Kubota tractor and a Bush-hog. I actually carried a Dana wordprocessor on the tractor with me for a while, but now carry a pen and legal notebook (less chance of damage). I worked out the plots of four books in a series of seven, while mowing. Do you find that helping out with the farm work gives you opportunities to brainstorm your stories?
Bill
13 years agoI really enjoyed your blog, Char. Alaska is a beautiful state and one we hope to visit one day.
Ellen Hartman
13 years agoHi Char,
When I was moving away from Seattle to return to the east coast, my boyfriend (now husband) and I decided to visit Alaska. It was a now or never trip! When we landed in Anchorage, we realized we'd completely neglected to scope out directions to the cabin we were staying at near Denali. The woman at the rental car counter said she could help us. "Turn left at the traffic light at the airport parking lot and drive for five hours. The cabins are on the right."
Your comment about not too many roads reminded me of that!
I loved your facts and your pictures. Good luck with the book!
Ellen
Ann Montclair
13 years agoWe share a love for Alaska. We also share a love for fine fiction. Best of luck with your upcoming release.
donnamshields
13 years agoThanks so much for sharing Alaska with us. Someday, I would love to visit it.
Nona Raines
13 years agoChar, what a fascinating blog. So many things I didn't know about Alaska. No snakes, huh? Sounds like Ireland. And when you say Fireweed makes great honey, do they actually sell a Fireweed honey? Is it like Clover or Buckwheat honey? Thanks for sharing, and good luck with your recent submission!
Char Chaffin
13 years agoCallie, Ann, Donna, Bill, Maggie and Mandi, so glad you stopped by! If it inspires you to go to Alaska (or in Ann's case, to return), then I'm a happy displaced Alaskan girl! Thanks.
Ellen, I know just where you were! Too funny, and exactly right. From the airport, you get on the road and drive – on the same road. Thanks for dropping by!
Danica, yes! I do run plots in my head while I'm mowing. I mow five acres every three days, so I have lots of time for plotting. Thanks for visiting!
Nona, fireweed honey is collected from bees who visit fireweed flowers, the same as visiting clover. It's very light in color and has a buttery aftertaste. It's just delicious. After years of eating fireweed honey in Alaska, I find clover and buckwheat honey is too dark and heavy. I guess I'm spoiled! Thanks for stopping by –
Cindy Brannam
13 years agoWhat a great post. Beautiful scenery. Good luck with your new book!
Tiffinie Helmer
13 years agoGreat post, Char! I grew up in Fairbanks and those pictures were bittersweet. I miss it so much. I do return every summer to commerical fish in Bristol Bay so I also know about Alaska's Southwest. It's a different world that I also enjoy writing about. I can't wait to read Unsafe Haven!
Sheila
13 years agoBeautiful, Char. DH and I did the Alaskan cruise four years ago. You said it- Awestruck. I've never seen anything so beautiful.
Raven
Calisa Rhose
13 years agoVery interesting post, Char. Thanks for 'taking me to Alaska!'
Char Chaffin
13 years ago AUTHORCindy, Tiffinie, Sheila, thanks so much for stopping by! Cindy, everywhere you turn, you see gorgeous scenery, and the drive from Fairbanks into Denali will take your breath away. Tiffinie, I miss it too, so much. I only get back there maybe once a year to see my daughter and her family. We're thinking of going up for several months, but we have to decide whether we want the holidays there (with winter) or summer months (with warmth). Sheila, I've heard so many rave about the cruises that hit all the best parts of Alaska. Quite a few of our friends visitied us in Fairbanks as part of a cruise.
Char Chaffin
13 years ago AUTHORThanks, Calisa! Glad you stopped by –
Hannah Fielding
13 years agoWhat an interesting article. I love learning about new places. When I write a book I always enjoy the research phase. I've always focused on warm places before, but reading about Alaska has got me thinking about a trip outside of Europe…
Thank you for sharing this.
Hannah
Char Chaffin
13 years agoThank you, Hannah! I’m so glad you enjoyed my post. There’s so much more I could say about Alaska! But I’ll save it for another blog, another day. 🙂
DeNise
13 years agoLove the bit about the roads-lots of them are 'one way'-and since it (Alaska) is such a small town, everyone on the road knows you are or aren't supposed to be there. Every one knows someone.
Fun post.
Janna Shay
13 years agoThank you for sharing about Alaska. What a beautiful place. I've always wanted to visit there, now even more.
Good luck with your upcoming release and with everything you do. You're an amazing author.
Char Chaffin
13 years agoThanks, DeNise and Janna!
DeNise, you're right! Especially on the drive from Fairbanks to Anchorage, we'd always see folks we knew. It never failed. Glad you enjoyed the post.
Janna, you should definitely visit. Alaska is wonderful, that's for sure. Thanks for stopping by and for the lovely compliment!