How I Ended Up In Alaska
Taking a drink of glacier water from a stream in the Denali Mountains. Photo by Angie V. Photography.
What keeps you from taking a chance and moving to a new place to start again? A few years ago, I was asking myself this same question. I was at an impasse in life. I’d lost my fur baby of 9 years, hated my job, home life, and it made me realize life is short. I began to think about my next move. Living in Florida at the time was comfortable, I had the outdoors and good friends. But something was missing, I wasn’t happy. A friend suggested I investigate seasonal work as a guide because I loved the outdoors. I started to search for a change in scenery, and it led me to Alaska.
I stepped off the plane in the tiny Ketchikan airport, luggage in hand. The smell of fresh air embraced me as I boarded the ferry to the mainland surrounded by mountains filled with red cedar and western hemlock trees while the bald eagles flew above. I was nervous but ready for the summer and new scenery. Never in a lifetime did I think I’d be here, unexpectant to me, life was never going to be the same. I spent the summer as a walking guide, taking guests along trails to find wildlife and teaching about not only the history of the forest but also our deep connection to nature and wildlife.
That summer changed me. I fell in love with Alaska. The experience gave me the chance to learn more about myself as a person and create a bond to the land. I made plans to return the following year. Returning to the lower 48 felt like life lost its color. I traveled a little, but when Covid hit, life came to a halt. My contract to return to Alaska was cancelled and I found myself entering a deep depression.
Road Trip along Interstate 40 during COVID. Photo by Angie V. Photography.
I tried to figure out a way back to Alaska, but could only wait for the world to reopen. In the meantime, I bought and converted a campervan. I felt this was my temporary solution to freedom, mentally and financially. I lived in my van, “Peter Parker”, full-time while working and traveling until 2022. I finally made it back to Alaska for the summer, but it was different this time. The job in Ketchikan did not pan out, but I refused to leave and ended up in Anchorage as a tour director.
This was the perfect job for me. It allowed me to share my love of Alaska with others and save money toward my dream of owning land. All my life, I had been searching for belonging. In Alaska, I finally found a home that gave me comfort and stability.
Growing up, I had always wanted more from life, but I also wanted to please my family. I did what was best for them and confused their desires with my own. I was taught that the only way to achieve happiness was to get married, have children, land the perfect job with a pension, and buy a house with a white picket fence. It was the American dream, but not mine. Moving to Alaska gave me what I truly needed most, healing–and a chance to reclaim my own vision for my life.
Exploring Nature In Ketchikan, Alaska. Photo by Angie V. Photography.
My Healing Place
The outdoors has always been a healing place for me as a domestic violence survivor. It gave me a safe space to conquer my fears, grieve and find the strength I needed to leave my abuser. The Alaskan outdoors has helped me to develop a sense of self worth. I knew the moment I arrived in mainland Alaska it would be home. Adventure and having unlimited access to the outdoors create an environment for flourishing. Alaska breathes life into me, touching places in my soul that no other place has. The vast land gives me perspective into how small we are as humans.
Alaska is a blank canvas for me as a painter and photographer. I am surrounded by creativity. From the springtime bloom of flowers growing in the fields to the glow of the Northern lights dancing in the dark sky during the winter months. I carry my camera everywhere I go to encapsulate its beauty to savor forever. As I walk on the trails through mountainscapes, sea kayak with friends or boat rides to the glaciers spotting marine life, Alaska’s Eco diversity exhilarates me, encouraging my imagination to flow freely.
Winter Hiking to a primitive cabin. Photo by Angie V. Photography.
My New World
Alaska is not only a place to thrive, but it pushes your limits and forces you to adapt, be flexible, and overcome obstacles because as beautiful the state is, it can be harsh and unforgiving. The winter months can bring depression and sadness, but staying busy and picking up new hobbies has helped me get through. The short days and long nights make way for arts and crafts, gatherings with friends, and outdoor activities. One of my winter traditions is loading my sled with supplies and hiking to a primitive cabin to camp. There is something about pulling your necessities along a snow-covered trail in negative degree weather that is invigorating. I reflect on life with the sounds of the crackling ice from the nearby lake while reading a good book or painting by the light of the wood stove’s fire burning, to keep me warm. As rigid as the cold and solitude are, winter is also transformative.
Fly Fishing for sockeye salmon in the Kenai River. Photo by Angie V. Photography.
Community
I consider myself to be self-sufficient. I thought that I was the only person who could make my life better, however I was wrong. It takes a community and I have been fortunate to find mine. I recently purchased land to develop into a homestead and was surprised at all the offers to help. I’ve had co-workers and neighbors offer their assistance even friends have flown up to work on the property.
The community has taught me how to fish, use my chainsaw, fell trees and build structures. We trade for goods and services, helping one another unconditionally. The community has given me a sense of acceptance and security. Alaska is a very red state when it comes to politics, but it feels different here. People are willing to help no matter your political affiliation, and I think it’s because we all have the same goal, to survive. As a black woman living alone in Alaska, I have felt safe. When I lived in the lower 48 the vibe was very different. Traveling in my camper van there were places I was scared to go, and I worried about things like gun violence or someone robbing my van. Here, my biggest worry has been learning to drive in the snow. Not to say we don’t have crime because we do, but I don’t have to think about it as often.
The Challenges
There are cons to living so far from the contiguous states. The first is the cost of goods such as food. We have farms in the state, but a lot of items are brought up by barges or planes. At times I miss the conveniences of variety. I live in a small town with only a couple of large grocery stores. There are a lot of local shops that carry some items, but the cost is sometimes more expensive. Online ordering such as Amazon can take weeks to arrive. To supplement food, I fish in the summer to sustain myself in the winter months. I also barter with friends. I trade firewood for smoked salmon or halibut, and this year I’ll learn to forge mushrooms and berries.
Other drawbacks are the distance between family and friends. Traveling to visit one another can be difficult. The cost of flights is expensive, especially because I live in a rural town. I’ve missed special occasions like birthdays and weddings. We speak often, but it’s not the same as memories in person. The pros however outweigh the cons. I am still settling into the Alaskan style of living but the journey so far has taught me how to show up for myself in the most authentic ways.
The unknown can be scary and we often talk ourselves out of doing things which are difficult. To achieve true happiness we have got to take chances, get out of our own way and live the lives we not only desire but deserve. I offer this encouragement: if you want to move to the city of your dreams, go! Do the research, visit a few times, but never give up on your vision of finding the perfect town to call home.
You can follow along with my life in Alaska by following me on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram under the handle Angels Excursions.
