Posted on 07/09/2017 6:18:02 AM PDT by simpson96
(full article title: LIFE OFF THE GRIDMeet the Atchleys… the world’s most remote family who live hundreds of miles from civilisation with only hungry bears for company)
FOR many of us, the dream of living a peaceful, self-sufficient life away from it all will always be just that: a dream.
But for the Atchley family, normal life is just a distant memory after 18 years spent living off the grid in remote Alaska.
David, Romey, and their 13-year-old son, Sky, are the only people living on their 250-mile stretch of the Nowitna River.
The hippy, weed-loving family have cast off society to carve out their own life, forging a world where only the three of them matter.
Fairbanks, the nearest town, is a 200-mile snowmobile ride away, making your walk to the local Asda look pathetic in comparison to the Atchleys' epic - and dangerous - route to buy groceries.
There are no other people to wind them up, no promotions to chase and definitely no Facebook feeds to check out in the Alaskan wilderness.
There, the prepper family live a life with nothing to worry about... apart from marauding bears, hungry wolves, forest fires, thin ice, disease and the -65 degree temperatures.
And every detail of their previously unseen life has now been documented by British photojournalist Ed Gold, in a series of stunning shots which are all part of an ongoing exhibition at Colchester's Firstsite gallery.
(Excerpt) Read more at thesun.co.uk ...
Alaska Ping
...in America
There are places in Northern Asia, Gobi, etc... that are farther removed and with less infrastructure.
How sad for the son.
Pays to be sharp and on your toes in the wilderness. Else, you might end up on the menu.
“But for now, the family unwind with their son by smoking their way through their homegrown (and legal) supply of weed.”
Hey, look, that grizzly bear’s coming over.
Far out, man.
Inspiring. They’re totally isolated, with no connection to society at all. Other than to buy snowmobiles, corrective lenses, new clothing, arms and ammunition, modern appliances, musical instruments, ...
JayGalt wrote: "How sad for the son."
Indeed - it's sad for the wife too.
"Teenage son Sky, described as a "social experiment" by his dad..."
and
""When Romey said one day she’d like to use the internet, David said that if she did, she’d no longer be his wife. He doesn’t want that world coming into their lives."
Control freak dad - sad
There have always been people throughout history who have sought to live solitary, isolated lives with minimal contact with others. Call them loners, hermits, mystics or “living off the grid”. While there is an inclination to admire their “rugged individualism” in these sad collective times, many are just crazy fools.
My thoughts are for their son. If only he could have some limited exposure to the modern world here and there.
The dad is approaching this retreat from society with an almost religious zeal. The son may become resentful in a few years, especially when he realizes all the experiences he’s missing and has missed completely.
If those two adults wish to hermit their own lives away, go for it, although I suspect the wife still misses her own family. Makes you wonder how is it that the dad can so easily walk away from his own family.
Was it so very dysfunctional?
My biggest surprise is that they agreed to be interviewed at all. Maybe the family was paid for their time. Not many ways to make money there.
Looks like a fun life. What if they need a dentist?
Mom will take care of him.
At least they are not on the government dole. I have more respect for them than the able bodied leeches who finagle dollars out of Uncle Sham.
Bigly Ouch!
Ping.
This will not end well.
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