Alaskan Traditions

So I know I have only been here for a month, but insanity is just kind of the norm up here. I recently read The Frozen Toe Guide to Real Alaskan Livin' by Brookelyn Bellinger. It is a great quick read that gives you a general idea of life up here including what it is like to take care of a homestead for the winter. Lets just say I will not be volunteering for that anytime soon! In her book she included some popular races and events around Alaska. Like in Fall At UAF they have a lumber jack competition followed by a denim and Carhartt ball. Yea I don't even know. Well one of the most extreme ones she listed is the Polar Bear Jump Off Festival. Which is exactly what it sounds like. A bunch of crazies dress up in costumes and jump into Resurrection Bay in the middle of winter for charity. It might be crazy but it sounds like so much fun! I am thinking it is going to be added to my bucket list. Here are some pics I found of it:

Another awesome competition that is held every year is called the Slush Cup. Where skiers come down a hill into a pond full of icy water. Again there are costumes. And most of the time the skiers face plant in the water. The winner is determined by air time and style. The list would not be complete without an outhouse race would it? The Chatanika Outhouse race which i think is like bobsledding with an outhouse? I am not 100% on this one but it is in Fairbanks so I will be finding out lol! The outhouses have to be hand built and 4 people push it around a 1 mile course. That sounds like a guaranteed good time to me!

0Like I said insanity...