Posted on 06/15/2016 5:57:09 AM PDT by w1n1
He doesn’t have to stress over traffic, smartphone service or making restaurant reservations – you know, those annoying details that smother almost everyone else on a daily basis.
That's the choice Tyler Selden and his wife, Ashley, made. The 30-somethings are one of a handful of families living on the South Carolina-sized Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and one of the subjects of Discovery Channel's series, The Last Alaskans. Living far off the grid 100 or more miles away from your nearest neighbor from September to March isn’t for everyone, which is why the Seldens feel so blessed about what they get to do.
What worries Tyler Selden is this: Is his an endangered way of life? He regrettably acknowledges that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will take over his cabin and trapline property once he and Ashley are gone.
"It's a preoccupation of mine. I have been thinking about it a lot lately," says Selden, who hopes to someday write about what will be a devastating day for his and the other families still attached to this piece of government land. The land will go back to the feds when the last living direct descendants of the families pass away.
"I don’t think it’s right and it’s a misguided policy that the refuge eventually plans to terminate those who occupy these winter camps," Selden adds. "They did it in the (Yukon–Charley Rivers National Preserve). That's what the National Park (Service) did – they kicked people out. What they did was they killed the culture."
But while he’ll do what he can to convince the government to reverse the policy, Tyler and Ashley are comforted by the notion that they are living on their own terms and fulfilling what always appeared to be their destiny when they first met in Duluth, Minn., and became college sweethearts. They took quite an interesting route as they bounced around Alaska and worked a variety of odd jobs and odder bosses. But in our conversation with a candid Tyler, it was worth the journey to reach this destination. Read the rest of the story here.
That’s a good article.
I read it in his voice in my head since I enjoy that show.
Outdoors ping.
We watch the show every week.
Apparently they, and most of the other 6 families only stay there in the winter. Spending spring and summer in civilization.
Another show we like is Life Below Zero.
My favorite frontiersman of both shows is Glenn Villeneuve. He is amazing.
The only ‘modern’ implement he uses is a rifle. No chain saw, snow machine, dog sled.
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/life-below-zero/articles/glenn-villeneuve/
Hated to see Bob Harte leave for town because of his health. His daughter is incapable of keeping up the cabin so I guess his site is gone for all intents.
Heimo and Ray’s families, all girls, appear to not be interested in the lifestyle.
I’ve been to Alaska a dozen times. There is something very captivating about it. This call of the wild, that rests deep in the soul of so many Americans. Why should the government own 90% of this huge track of land?
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