***northernstars***

[possumannie]

I was so excited to see that you are from Soldotna, Alaska! I am actually an education major at the University of Oklahoma and I have about 2 semesters and a summer left; I have been researching places that really need educators because I want to go somewhere that I can truly make a difference. Soldotna High School is on my short list of places that I plan to contact closer to graduation! The pictures are so beautiful and I was very impressed by the Kenai Peninsula Borough school district website; it just seemed like the communities are really involved and enthusiastic about what is going on in the schools!

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I am so encouraged to know that maintaining a raw diet IS possible living in Alaska! If I end up there, I plan to do a LOT of cook-less jarring before I leave. LOL

[northernstars]

Alaska is beautiful and of course I am partial to the Kenai Peninsula! I have lived in Alaska since 1959, living in Anchorage until 1978 when we moved to Virginia for 5 years then it was back to this beautiful place!

I especially enjoy watching all the wildlife; eagles, swans, geese, ducks and lot of other birds. Then there are the moose, caribou, bears (both black and grizzly); wolves and foxes, wolverines, and much more. We have traveled over most of the state by car, (all the way up past the arctic circle). We have family that live in Barrow, so I have flown up there a few times to visit! We used to do much more traveling than we do now.

If you decide to visit then let me know! My daughters both attended Soldotna High School, too. We now have two high schools in Soldotna.

We have two fairly large grocery stores, although not huge by most standards! I am fortunate that I can get most of the fresh, organic foods that I want. Sometimes we drive the 160 miles to Anchorage to buy from the health food store there.

Good luck as you explore your options!

Sharon

[Riiiya]

ooh i have to confess- i've been having this URGE TO GO TO ALASKA for the last two months!! I don't know why exactly, it just...mesmerizes me!!! I want to see Aurora Borealis, the beautiful landscape, the wildlife! You guys are luuucky :D

[northernstars]

I thoroughly enjoy watching the aurora! Last year we saw an incredibly beautiful one where the primary color was red! It was beautiful and scary! We are far enough south that we don't see them really often. Up in Fairbanks they see them quite often, but they also have much colder temperatures, too.

Once when I was there (Nenana) it was -65 degrees! At those temperatures the ice is not slippery either! They usually close the schools when it gets -55 degrees because the buses don't run. Then the kids just go outside to play!

[possumannie]

That's so amazing! I get so giddy thinking about seeing all those beautiful animals and the breathtaking scenery close up! The possible lack of indoor plumbing...not so much. LOL

About how many days a year would you say the schools close because of the weather?

[northernstars]

From what I have experienced, the schools rarely close!

Alaska is so large that we often have almost a 100 degree difference in temperatures between the state's highs and lows on any given day! You have to remember that Alaska is 1/5th the size of the 48 states!

[northernstars]

that there are places to go to the bathroom while travelling, too. There are several nice but unheated bathrooms located along the highway system and stores usually have bathrooms available for their patrons. We usually stop off at Girdwood to use their facilities. There was only a problem one time while enroute to Fairbanks and had to stop at an outhouse when it was -50 degrees and windy! The toilet was coated in ice!

[Riiiya]

that there are places to go to the bathroom while travelling, too. There are several nice but unheated bathrooms located along the highway system and stores usually have bathrooms available for their patrons. We usually stop off at Girdwood to use their facilities. There was only a problem one time while enroute to Fairbanks and had to stop at an outhouse when it was -50 degrees and windy! The toilet was coated in ice!

brrr-rrrr yikes :eek: And still- i looooong for Alaska :rolleyes:

[MarciRoundtheWorld]

We were in AK (and a drive through Soldatna) this September. What an amazingly beautiful place. We can't get over it and can't wait to go again. Wish I had known there is a raw restaurant in Anchorage and raw people there!

[northernstars]

Next time you are in the area let me know cause I do know where lots of really good places to see some spectacular sites!

They still have not found that medical helicopter from Soldotna I wrote about in my blog. Keep praying for all aboard!