Tok, Alaska in Winter
From 2008 to 2013, I lived in Rural Alaska, not to be mistaken with Remote Alaska. We were on the road system whereas Remote Alaska is not. Tok (pronounced TOKE), Alaska is situated 90 miles from the Canadian border at the crossroads of the Alaska Highway. See what happens when you put a city girl into a very, very, very small town.
Posted by Aliza on February 11, 2012
https://livingintok.wordpress.com/2012/02/11/living-in-tok-blog/
Last night, the aurora was active around 10 o’clock at night.
If you’ve never seen the Aurora Borealis, depending on how clear and intense it is, it can look like a glow stick has been emptied into the dark night sky and is flowing across the sky, back and forth, up and down, around, in and out. It can have an otherworldly feel to the way it moves, like alien lights, alive and dancing.
Here’s an image we took looking above our house from our driveway at the greenish glow.
Nature’s laser light show!
Posted by Aliza on December 4, 2011
https://livingintok.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/the-aurora-above-tok/
While it reached the minus double digits again this morning in Tok, it was more than balmy inside. Practically like Hawaii. But without the sun, the sand, the surf and the umbrella drinks.
And it got hotter a little while later, topping off at 86 degrees
I guess the wood stove is working. Really, really well.
How are you keeping warm this winter?
Posted by Aliza on November 17, 2011
https://livingintok.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/baby-its-cold-outside-but-hot-in-here/
It has been a strange few weeks.
First, our beloved sled dog was dognapped. I don’t know what else to call it. Basically, one morning he wandered into the woods around our house to do his business and didn’t come back. This was highly unusual for him as he never wandered far and always came home quickly, especially when called.
After 24 hours, we were worried and 8 hours later set off on a search, following his tracks. The tracks led to a nearby house, and then stopped. Upon knocking on the door, the residents – without opening the door (and locking it first) – said they had not seen our dog.
But the sound of our dog’s collar could be heard muffled. Then a muffled yelp. A few minutes later, he came bounding from around the house. Why did those people say they hadn’t see our dog? This incident was reported to the proper authorities.
Then the other night, my husband was almost attacked by two other dogs at night while walking his dog. It was dark so he wasn’t able to see them well, but he said they were vicious, relentless, and clearly trained to attack people. He was able to fend them off, however, it gave us pause when we thought what might happen if someone less physically big and strong – particularly a child – was faced with these dogs. Again, this incident was also reported, but those dogs are still out there.
We’re headed for a long, cold and dark winter. Here’s hoping we’re not going to have any more strange or dangerous dog incidents.
Keep your dogs close and safe. Keep your kids close and safe, too.
Posted by Aliza on October 27, 2011
https://livingintok.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/dognappings-and-other-dangers/
Typical dinner around here:
Caribou steak (broiled in the oven with salt and pepper), sauteed greens, corn on the cob.
Posted by Aliza on September 4, 2011
https://livingintok.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/wild-game-and-greens/
Summer is coming to a close. Actually, did it ever begin? I seem to remember a couple of gorgeous, sunny Alaska days somewhere in the mix, but for the most part, rain. Here are a few scenes from Summer 2011 in Tok…
How was your summer? Ready for winter?
Posted by Aliza on August 20, 2011
https://livingintok.wordpress.com/2011/08/20/end-of-summer-in-tok/
On the Alaska Teacher Placement website, you’ll find tips for shopping when you are living in rural Alaska. This is mostly geared toward bush Alaska, but not too far off what many of us face living in rural parts. (Thanks to Angela Gonzalez of Rural Cap for the link.)
Here in Tok, we are lucky to be on the road system. Can’t even imagine what it would be like without roads in. Or out.
Although things have improved dramatically in terms of rural Alaska shopping options since the 1980’s and early 1990’s, your first year or two in the Bush is still going to go more smoothly if you plan ahead!
There are several basic approaches you can follow to prepare for you first year. Which one is right for you depends partially on what village you are headed to, the size and composition of your family, and your consumption habits and patterns. You have three basic choices for how you order your basic items: traditional grocery shippers; on-line retailers, or do-it-yourself shopping trips to Anchorage or Fairbanks.
Here are some tips for Guerilla Shopping:
You are either on an overnight layover in Anchorage or Fairbanks, and have only a few hours to buy as much as possible. You know you will return to the village for a couple months – maybe longer – without another chance to get fresh stuff or necessities at prices like this. What’s a guy or gal to do?
And some tips on dairy products:
Real Milk
If you order several cases of sterilized, shelf safe “Real Milk” in pint containers, the cost is not all that outrageous. It will be more expensive than a grocery store in Pittsburgh or Minneapolis, but the net cost is not all that much higher than in Anchorage or Fairbanks.
Whole Milk
Whole milk is far easier to get than it once was, but is still quite expensive by Lower 48 standards. A gallon of milk in some village stores can be over $12, and you need to watch those expiration dates. But, a gallon of whole milk at Fred Meyers on-line today is $2.99, plus shipping.
Gallons of milk are treated like perishable produce for shipping purposes.
And, contrary to what my mother told me, yes, you can freeze milk
Powdered Milk
When I first moved up to Alaska, my family could only get “Milkman”, a powdered milk substitute that you mix with water. There really is no need to do this to yourself any longer, and I don’t recommend it. Some friends of mine STILL order it. Go figure.
You can read the entire post here.
I’m all for shopping local, and here in Tok we have both Three Bears and the healthfood options at Tok General Store. But I’m also all for Guerilla Shopping whenever we get to Anchorage or Fairbanks.
What are your favorite shopping tips for rural Alaska?
Posted by Aliza on May 6, 2011
https://livingintok.wordpress.com/2011/05/06/shopping-tips-for-rural-alaska/
Yes that is ice on the veggies!
We’ve been getting shipments of fresh organic fruits and vegetables from Full Circle Farm the last few months, resuming service after over a year. We stopped service previously after helping to bring Full Circle Farm shipments to Tok with others in the community including the tireless efforts of Francine at the Tok General Store because the shipments in winter were arriving frozen. The truck (from an Alaskan shipping company) that brought the boxes of fresh produce to Tok from Anchorage where they are flown in from Washington State didn’t realize the devastating affect of Interior winters on the contents in the boxes.
We resumed recently when we heard that the truck drivers learned their lesson finally after much spoiled produce and were putting the boxes in their cab. All was well and earlier this winter, we had a few great deliveries, savoring the fresh and diverse offerings. But now, for a second box in a row, we are getting produce that is frozen solid including tomatoes, tangerines, apples, pears, mushrooms, carrots, beets, kiwi and potatoes. The boxes are in the back of the trucks again.
The vegetables will fare better upon thawing than the fruit which will turn to a semi liquified state (applesauce and pear sauce may be in order before they competely spoil). The shelf-life of the veggies thawed, however, will be just a few days.
While Full Circle Farm has a 100% satisfaction guarantee which is greatly appreciated, it is discouraging to get half-edible but great looking produce at a time in the year that every little bit of “sunshine” counts. Well, you do what you can do and get what you can get in these parts.
I’m off to sautee some frozen rainbow chard.
Got produce?
Posted by Aliza on January 21, 2011
https://livingintok.wordpress.com/2011/01/21/perils-of-winter-frozen-fresh-product/
With the warmer weather the other week came a little melting of things, including our snowman.
Then the temperature dropped again so he is now solidly frozen in a bowing position.
He’s not budging, most likely for the rest of the winter, unless we get another warm snap.
Posted by Aliza on December 7, 2010
https://livingintok.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/the-snowman-takes-a-bow/
The other week we had a “heat wave” which created more frozen rain than snow. A thick icy crust coated everything, including car windshields. Not exactly conducive for safe driving but couldn’t get the car warm enough to melt it off and couldn’t chip it off with an ice scraper.
Wonder if they make ice scrapers in titanium…
Posted by Aliza on December 6, 2010
https://livingintok.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/winter-driving-in-tok/
A few weeks of neglect while traveling let the vegetable garden overgrow and go to seed a bit, but despite the neglect, the rain and the limited sun this summer, our garden’s yield has been pretty good. Just a few photos from the other day.
Ended up making a fresh pico de gallo with the tomatoes and a jalapeno along with a cucumber (store bought organic) and an onion (also store bought). Delish! The only downside: the peas this year are woody. Now what can I do with several gallons of carrots? The swiss chard was easy – the whole bunch sauteed was a perfect side dish for three for a single meal.
All in an Alaska summer’s growing season.
How did your vegetable garden fare this year?
Posted by Aliza on September 3, 2010
https://livingintok.wordpress.com/2010/09/03/a-tangled-garden-in-tok/
We got an earlier start this year to our vegetable garden. Actually my husband did all the work this year, and we’re slowly reaping the rewards. The only thing not from our garden in this picture is the tomato.
Here we have chives, a killer zucchini, radishes, spinach, swiss chard, mixed greens and lambs quarter. You can eat all the lambs quarter – tastes great sauteed – and even eat the flowers which taste fine raw.
What are you growing in your garden?
Posted by Aliza on July 25, 2010
https://livingintok.wordpress.com/2010/07/25/from-the-vegetable-garden-in-tok/
Living in Tok Alaska: City Girl Meets Rural Alaska 