To say that we are “set in our ways” up here in the last frontier would be a very accurate statement. It’s just that, we know what we like and we like what we know. Our lifestyle is about enjoying the great outdoors and our bounty of natural resources. The peaceful solitude that comes with being the largest and most uninhabited state in the nation is something that we treasure with every ounce of our being. So when we get bombarded during the summer months by both tourists and those pesky mosquitoes, we have a tendency to get a little temperamental. Check out these 20 things that you’ve likely grown to undeniably hate if you’re from Alaska!
- The “unofficial” state bird.
Flickr - D. Sikes When you find a beautiful lake or an awesome muddy trail that you think looks like a great time… you remind yourself that it’s probably just a cesspool for mosquitoes to come and eat you alive! Why Alaska, WHY?
- Bad drivers.
Flickr - Michael Hayes Didn’t use your turn signal? Not suprised. Oh and you want to use the right hand lane to pass? Of course you do. Alaska has some of the worst drivers! GAH! We’ll just blame it on those not “from” here… 😉
- Any temperature below zero degrees.
Flickr - mazaletel When your nostrils and eyes freeze within seconds of stepping outside, it’s not cool. Or that ice fog? Yeah, not a fan! Playing outside in the last frontier all year long is what we DO. But when it’s below freezing, it’s just brutally painful. In so many ways.
- Or when we don’t get enough snow.
Flickr - Keith Parker The best part about winter is the RIDING! Sleds, snow-machines, skis, snowboards, snowshoes… the Iditarod! Bring on the snow! The more, the better.
- Or over 80 “ish” degrees.
Flickr - Alex Deem Yeah, and then there is that whole “hot weather” thing. If Mother Nature could just cue in her dial to give us the perfect semi-warm but not too hot temperature. Maybe then we would be satisfied? Meh.
- Crowds.
Flickr - Ayleen Gaspar Don’t we live in Alaska to get away from the crowds? Sure they are okay on occasion but every time we say “yes” we can’t wait to get back to our happy place of solitude.
- People that don’t like dogs.
Flickr - James Brooks Tell us again why you live in the only state in the nation that has dog mushing as the official state sport? If you don’t like dogs, we can’t be friends.
- Tourist season.
Flickr - Jasperdo We call this one a “love/hate” relationship. We love people that want to experience Alaska and tourists are definitely bright eyed and bushy tailed. And truly, the revenue that tourism brings to Alaska is remarkable. We are grateful, SO very grateful for that. But again with the crowds. The people. EVERYWHERE. Ahhh! Sorry to get excited but when our population nearly quadruples overnight, it hits us like a ton of bricks. Maybe that’s why we love winter so much?
- Otherwise known as traffic season.
Flickr - Mel Green None. Stop. Traffic. For five long months. Commute time doubles and we are banging our heads against the window if our playlists are not updated prior to hitting the ’no cell reception’ areas.
- Or construction season.
Flickr - carol mitchell On top of all the traffic, we have the super long waits. At least the views are always spectacular in Alaska.
- The maximum speed limit.
Flickr - jdegenhardt 65 for how many hundreds of miles? Get outta here! Nope, it’s true. It’s nuts, but it’s true.
- City limits.
Flickr - Visit Anchorage PR You know that saying “the real Alaska starts when you leave the city,” that’s what we’re talking about. Real Alaska. The city is great but our love affair is with the wild, untamed beast that the last frontier is known for.
- A bad breakup.
Flickr - Michael Hayes There is no way to pretty up this picture. Just brutal. Breakups in Alaska are the pits, man.
- Black tie affairs.
Flickr - Robert Sheie A fancy event? But since it’s just about a mile away from the docks I’ll just wear my Xtra Tuf’s and nicest flannel shirt. Hopefully that’ll do. If not, screw em’. I tell you what will be fancy; pulling up some monstrous king crab. Now that’s my kind of black tie affair!
- All the rules on the water.
Flickr - U.S. Pacific Command From the salt to the freshwater. Commercial to sport. So many rules and SO many constant changes throughout the season. Who can actually keep up with this stuff? It’s bewildering. We get it, it’s necessary. We have to protect our fisheries. We respect that. But MAN is it a full time job to try and stay on top of it all!
- Waiting for your tag to get drawn.
Flickr - Warren Hoflich Sittin’, waitin’, wishin’, hopin'.
- Farmed salmon.
Flickr - Ann Barker Could the choice be any more obvious? Farmed salmon is garbage. Wild, natural, sustainable seafood is the only way to roll. And in Alaska, if you eat that farmed garbage (with the exception of delicious oysters)… you will probably be shunned.
- Buying seafood in general.
Flickr - Amber When we run out of hailbut, salmon, shrimp, crab and prawns… GASP! That embarrasing moment when an Alaskan has to buy seafood from the grocery store. Never fun.
- Or buying any meat really, of any kind.
Flickr - Evan Long It doesn’t get more responsible and organic than sourcing wild Alaska game. Oh and did we mention delicious? Yeah that should be at the top of our list!
- People that don’t like Alaska.
Flickr - jhencolors2 Too wild, outdoorsy and rough for you? That’s okay. If you don’t like Alaska, just stay far, far away. You wouldn’t be welcome here anyways!
Can you think of anything else that those who are from Alaska have likely grown to hate?
Flickr - D. Sikes
When you find a beautiful lake or an awesome muddy trail that you think looks like a great time… you remind yourself that it’s probably just a cesspool for mosquitoes to come and eat you alive! Why Alaska, WHY?
Flickr - Michael Hayes
Didn’t use your turn signal? Not suprised. Oh and you want to use the right hand lane to pass? Of course you do. Alaska has some of the worst drivers! GAH! We’ll just blame it on those not “from” here… 😉
Flickr - mazaletel
When your nostrils and eyes freeze within seconds of stepping outside, it’s not cool. Or that ice fog? Yeah, not a fan! Playing outside in the last frontier all year long is what we DO. But when it’s below freezing, it’s just brutally painful. In so many ways.
Flickr - Keith Parker
The best part about winter is the RIDING! Sleds, snow-machines, skis, snowboards, snowshoes… the Iditarod! Bring on the snow! The more, the better.
Flickr - Alex Deem
Yeah, and then there is that whole “hot weather” thing. If Mother Nature could just cue in her dial to give us the perfect semi-warm but not too hot temperature. Maybe then we would be satisfied? Meh.
Flickr - Ayleen Gaspar
Don’t we live in Alaska to get away from the crowds? Sure they are okay on occasion but every time we say “yes” we can’t wait to get back to our happy place of solitude.
Flickr - James Brooks
Tell us again why you live in the only state in the nation that has dog mushing as the official state sport? If you don’t like dogs, we can’t be friends.
Flickr - Jasperdo
We call this one a “love/hate” relationship. We love people that want to experience Alaska and tourists are definitely bright eyed and bushy tailed. And truly, the revenue that tourism brings to Alaska is remarkable. We are grateful, SO very grateful for that. But again with the crowds. The people. EVERYWHERE. Ahhh! Sorry to get excited but when our population nearly quadruples overnight, it hits us like a ton of bricks. Maybe that’s why we love winter so much?
Flickr - Mel Green
None. Stop. Traffic. For five long months. Commute time doubles and we are banging our heads against the window if our playlists are not updated prior to hitting the ’no cell reception’ areas.
Flickr - carol mitchell
On top of all the traffic, we have the super long waits. At least the views are always spectacular in Alaska.
Flickr - jdegenhardt
65 for how many hundreds of miles? Get outta here! Nope, it’s true. It’s nuts, but it’s true.
Flickr - Visit Anchorage PR
You know that saying “the real Alaska starts when you leave the city,” that’s what we’re talking about. Real Alaska. The city is great but our love affair is with the wild, untamed beast that the last frontier is known for.
There is no way to pretty up this picture. Just brutal. Breakups in Alaska are the pits, man.
Flickr - Robert Sheie
A fancy event? But since it’s just about a mile away from the docks I’ll just wear my Xtra Tuf’s and nicest flannel shirt. Hopefully that’ll do. If not, screw em’. I tell you what will be fancy; pulling up some monstrous king crab. Now that’s my kind of black tie affair!
Flickr - U.S. Pacific Command
From the salt to the freshwater. Commercial to sport. So many rules and SO many constant changes throughout the season. Who can actually keep up with this stuff? It’s bewildering. We get it, it’s necessary. We have to protect our fisheries. We respect that. But MAN is it a full time job to try and stay on top of it all!
Flickr - Warren Hoflich
Sittin’, waitin’, wishin’, hopin'.
Flickr - Ann Barker
Could the choice be any more obvious? Farmed salmon is garbage. Wild, natural, sustainable seafood is the only way to roll. And in Alaska, if you eat that farmed garbage (with the exception of delicious oysters)… you will probably be shunned.
Flickr - Amber
When we run out of hailbut, salmon, shrimp, crab and prawns… GASP! That embarrasing moment when an Alaskan has to buy seafood from the grocery store. Never fun.
Flickr - Evan Long
It doesn’t get more responsible and organic than sourcing wild Alaska game. Oh and did we mention delicious? Yeah that should be at the top of our list!
Flickr - jhencolors2
Too wild, outdoorsy and rough for you? That’s okay. If you don’t like Alaska, just stay far, far away. You wouldn’t be welcome here anyways!
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