Question: Are Alaskans Friendly?

Off subject….. but this 18” Arctic Grayling is my friend!
Look at that dorsal fin!

In our travels around the country, we have almost always felt that the folks we interfaced with have been very friendly. I am talking about the “locals”, wherever we traveled. Sure, you run into the occasional asshole, but encounters with that breed are relatively rare.
Our friends who have been to Alaska, told us that Alaskans are very friendly to “outsiders” (people from outside of Alaska). At first I did not see any difference with Alaskans. But as we travel more around the state my perception is changing. I think they are a friendlier people.
I am talking about people who live in Alaska or at least spend the better part of every year up here. Not the tourists, like us who get a fleeting look at a small part of this huge state. Most of the Alaskans we meet, at one time, came from the outside. They came up to find work, such as on the pipeline or the Alaskan Highway. They fell in love with the country, while stationed up here in the military. They just stayed or came back to live here. They came up on vacation and then returned to live here after they retired. Sometimes they came up to visit relatives and just stayed. Sometimes they came just to “escape” something.
Regardless of how they got here, they want to stay. We have talked to very few Alaskans who yearn to be anywhere else. Sometimes they get away for a few weeks in the winter to a warmer place. But even those trips are not that frequent. They accept the harsh winter climate or the lack of sunlight, as just the way it is. They make the most of the sunny days and have plenty of activities during the long winter months. Hunting, skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing etc. give them plenty of options. There are plenty of social and community activities in every town and village. Volunteer opportunities are abundant. I guess it is like any place else, you have to get out and do things, try things, make friends.
Of course all these are generalizations. Which is very difficult when talking about individuals. But these are the perceptions that we come away with when we “generalize” about Alaskans. We have not had the opportunity to meet many life-long Alaskans. The ones we have met have typically been the children, of the folks who moved up here. I need to look up the statistics on what percent of the population has lived here all their lives. What percent are indigenous (big work, huh?). I have been reading a few books about the people who live away from the highways, in the bush or arctic country. We talk to a few folks in the cultural centers or read exhibits in the museums. Fascinating people living in such contrast to our way of life, where we take so much for granted.
Wow! I am supposed to be answering the question about friendliness. I find when write or even think, as I grow older (more mature) I drift around. Dee and I were talking yesterday about how we set out to do a task, get sidetracked, do something else, and forget what we started out to do. I suspect of few of you readers may have experienced this as well Oh, well, I guess that is why we originally call this blog “ramblings”. Now back to the subject.
Alaskans are very friendly. People say Hi when you cross paths. Store keepers greet you when you come in. Of course they all ask “where are you from?”. But it is often not just a passing greeting. They truly are interested. You could spend hours with them talking about where we are from. It is then when I usually ask, What is your story? Why are you here? Do you like it here? Would you like the leave?  There answers are basis for most of the perceptions above.
When you ask someone for directions to some place, be prepared for a thorough, detailed reply. I remember I asked a gas station attendant in Fairbanks how to get a restaurant we had heard about. It was like listening to your GPS. He repeated it twice. THEN he asked me to repeat it back to him! (I passed the test, but still missed a turn). He also proceeded to tell me about other good places to eat. That is typical. People go out of their way to help.
In the campgrounds there are many tourists like us. But since we like the out-of-the-way places, we often camp with real Alaskans. We will often strike up a conversation. They are having fun, camping or fishing. Getting out with their families for the few really good weather months that they have each summer. Sometimes we feel guilty, but not that guilty, to be here in the summer months and head out when the going gets tough. But not that guilty that we won’t be heading back to Arizona when the weather starts to change.

Marlene and Gary – Our new long-time friends!
Recently we were on an all-day glacier and sea life viewing cruise out of Valdez. We were very fortunate to sit with a couple, Gary and Marlene. We became friends. Gary told me I needed to try Arctic Grayling fishing in the Clearwater River. They have a cabin nearby and have been coming up from New Hampshire each summer for 26 years. Before we parted I had directions, who to ask local permission from, a good fishing spot and what flies to use.
A few days later we walked into the Clearwater Lodge bar, which is right next to the campground on the Clearwater River. As promised, Gary and Marlene were there, chatting with friends at the bar. We were introduced to everyone and immediately felt at home. So much so that we have been back every night this week Great people and all are real Alaskans. We know everyone by first name now. Yesterday LD and Dave both brought in some smoked salmon for us to try. They couldn’t believe we didn’t like salmon. They told us the salmon they had smoke would make converts out of us. We were skeptical but we LOVED it. We will be back there tonight to spend a few hours with those friendly Alaskans. Unfortunately, Gary and Marlene have to fly back “outside” today. We will miss them, but are we are fortunate to have became very close to them.
The smoked salmon was great!
The Gang at the Clearwater Lodge.
Ron, my fishing friend from North Pole.
The day we got to Clearwater a couple in a motor home parked next to us. I was getting my fishing gear set up when Ron walked over and introduced himself. He and Susan are from North Pole, up the road toward Fairbanks. He volunteered to show me where he fishes, actually right in front of the Clearwater Lodge. The next day he invited me to join him and Les, the campground host (also a true Alaskan), to go up stream in his jet-powered boat to fish for grayling. What an opportunity. Great guys. And I caught an 18” grayling.
Yesterday, Dee was walking Jaxon (I may have been taking a nap but I am not sure , when she met a guy who was just pulling his boat out of the water. She asked him how he did and they struck up a conversation and found out he was from Rochester near where we lived. He gave her a fly to give to me, a gray sparkle dun, saying it had worked for him. Another nice friendly Alaskan. I wish I had not been napping.
In conclusion, Alaskans Are Very Friendly Folks! It is fun being up here. I was thinking about some words that might describe the typical Alaskan and they include proud, independent, self-sufficient, confident, resourceful, relaxed and friendly. all characteristics that I admire.
Well, I have written another long blog without covering some of the past tourist things we saw and did. One of these days I will catch up. Or maybe I will be diverted once again…………