Mild winter ... #makeitsnow

Let it snow!

Put together one ski slope, a bonfire, a group of enthusiastic skiers, and some peppy music. Add flash dance steps and, voila! You've got a snow dance on a mountain slope.

The winter of 2011-12 is proving to be skimpy on the white stuff, not only up and down the Eastern Seaboard but also out west, in the mid-west, and Great Lakes areas where a lack of extreme cold temperatures has caused thin ice on lakes and ponds.


Ski Colorado, Utah, and others have joined in the fun, posting snow dances to try and appease the snow gods, Mother Nature, and anyone else who can help save the winter sports season.

In Vail, Colorado, where this year's snowfall is some of the least they have seen in 30 years, the Southern Ute Indians continued a tradition begun 50 years ago, offering up prayers for snow and "moisture for Mother Earth."

Breckenridge, tucked high in Rockies, was excited today over 4" of snow at a time when they usually have several feet of snow on the ground.

Alaska, meanwhile, has an overabundance of snow this year with record amounts being recorded throughout with avalanche danger for highways and eight-foot drifts.

It's winter so I say bring on the snow! Open the skies and let the flakes float down and fill the winter woods and mountain ridges so the snowboarders, skiers, ice skaters, and snowtubers can enjoy their brief season of fun. It's January ... think snow!

Good-bye to Alaska ... trip nearing end

Village of Wrangell along Alaska coast line.

My friend wrote, "We saw the whale bubble-feeding. Hope he had more luck than we did!"

Sunset outside Juneau from deck of the ferry.

Successful fishing trip! Halibut ... they're like huge flounders and good eating. While visiting Alaska in the past, I preferred the halibut over salmon. State fishing regulations limit the halibut catch to one per person. They didn't have to worry about the salmon because none were biting that day.

The salmon were teeming on a bear-sighting expedition ...

... and the bears were catching them. This greedy fella has at least three or four salmon beside him on the rock.

This "American Fisherman" caught what his wife jokingly called his "world record fish," a scaulpin that they deemed "ugly fish."

Our Shenandoah Valley friends are winding down their trip to Alaska and are now on their way back to the Lower 48 on the Alaska Marine Highway. We've missed them and look forward to their return home in a couple of weeks. Here's the latest, but hopefully not the last, dispatch from Alaska:

This is our last stop on our Alaska adventure. Wrangell is on an island, population of 2,000. It's industry is fishing, crabbing and there are two canneries. It's a peaceful quiet town with local downtown shopping that closes on Sunday. Sometimes they catch the ferry to Ketchikan for more shopping.

The hotel where we are staying has been fun. Bill, the owner of the hotel and restaurant, has treated us like old friends. We said good-bye to him and his wife tonight with big hugs as well as the hotel staff who have been friendly and helpful. We do not have enough adjectives to describe the folks here as well as our fishing guide, AnAn Bear guide, and the locals. They could teach the world how to be a better place.

So Wednesday we will waddle down the boat ramp, (we have added about four inches to our girth from the great food) to board the ferry at 6AM one last time to head for Bellingham's arrival Friday 8AM. We can not say enough about the wonderful people and the beauty of Alaska. It's been a fantastic adventure but we look forward to heading home and taking off these jackets! We'll be revisiting some of our favorite places in Oregon, Wyoming -- especially Cheyenne -- and then on to Omaha to visit friends. The Shenandoah Valley will be a welcome sight and sitting in our sun room again drinking sweet tea and looking at the Blue Ridge Mountains will be even better.

Thank you Alaska, we love you!!!

Happy and safe travels....

Previous dispatches from Alaska:
- Alaska Marine Highway
- Note from Juneau
- Hello from Juneau
- Hello from Ketchikan
- Glacier photos from Alaska
- Hello from Wrangell

Hello from Wrangell ... dispatches from Alaska

In their continuing journey through Alaska by way of the ferry system, friends sent the latest dispatch from Wrangell....

Left Juneau yesterday, arrived Wrangell this evening. It has been a cloudy, misty, foggy, cold 2 days. We didn't sit out much to whale watch -- we just let the Captain tell us when they were in sight and went out then. We could have used some of the East Coast heat in the bone chilling temps. WE turned up the heat in the stateroom. It didn't bother the Alaskan crew -- they were out in shirt sleeves. Met a crew chief born in Abington, Virginia, and we had some good chats. He misses our tomatoes more than anything ... good tomato sandwiches.

We are off in the morning for another boat ride, AnAn Bear & Wildlife Tour, then up at five on Monday for a 10 hour fishing trip. I'll be back in touch before we head out of here for Bellingham. Our trip is winding down. We watched our ferry leave heading out to Ketchikan while we were eating dinner. It was our second trip on her and we felt like we were saying good-bye to a dear good friend and miss the crew already.

Previous dispatches from Alaska:
- Alaska Marine Highway
- Note from Juneau
- Hello from Juneau
- Hello from Ketchikan
- Glacier photos from Alaska

Alaska Marine Highway ... dispatches from Alaska

Ferry on the Alaska Marine Highway System.


They're wearing jackets while we're sweating in 100-degree heat.

As they travel the southern part of our beautiful 50th state, my friends have kept in touch with notes and photos. Here is what she wrote about the Alaska Marine Highway System:

Operating year round since 1963, the Marine Highway provides scheduled service of passengers, vehicles, and good to 30 communities in Alaska, starting in Bellingham, WA, and also serving Canada. It averages 400,000 passengers and 100,000 vehicles a year.

There are eleven vessels in the fleet ... Columbia is the largest and is the flagship. It is 418 feet in length and carries 600 passengers with a vehicle capacity of 2680 ft. There are seven decks, two for vehicles and five for passenger use. It has 100 staterooms, bar, dining room, snack bar, 2 lounges, solarium, and you have access to the side and aft deck.

The ferries are spotless and the crews are Alaskans, friendly and very helpful. To really see Alaska, this is a great way to travel. The ferries can travel to small towns and the narrow channels where the cruise ships can't go, giving you a very close up perspective of Alaska.

Note ... the Columbia is the only one out of Bellingham which we were on. We're traveling a smaller one from Ketchikan, Juneau, and Wrangell and then picking up the Columbia in Wrangell back to Bellingham.

Of all of our travels the past 50 years, this has got to be the best, next to Hawaii. Awesome.

Shhh ... don't want the secret to get out to too many people....

Previous dispatches from Alaska:
- Glacier photos from Alaska
- Note from Juneau
- Hello from Juneau
- Hello from Ketchikan

Notes from Juneau ... dispatches from Alaska

As friends continue their journey through Alaska, the latest dispatch arrived in my in-box about their travels in and about Juneau, the state's capital....

We got here last Friday and spotted a McDonald's right away. We hadn't had any sweet tea for 2 weeks -- HOT DANG, sweet tea in Juneau. I drank about half before taking a breath. Also hit the super WalMart for food supplies and incidentals -- thank you Juneau!

Juneau is a beautiful area, town of 30,000. With the state government, it's a working town with fishing and there is still a gold mine. We walked by the Capitol which was open for tours so we walked in -- no one at the security station -- so we found a lady in an office to inquire and she handed us a guided map to explore the building on our own. I asked about security. They are only on duty when legislature is in session. Every one up here is open door. Can't see that happening in our world. The Coast Guard have brought in a few boats this week for a big buoy competition and blood drive.

We rented a car for two days as there is a road that goes 40 miles out of town. It was so quiet and peaceful. We found a boat ramp -- we always have to check those out -- and saw four guys getting out of their boat, each carrying a big King crab, their dinner for the night. We drove up to the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau and saw many salmon making their beds after the long swim up stream. Also drove to the first Alaska road and took a 3 mile walk on a hiking path through old gold mines. We walked a lot of trails, all rain forest with many water falls from the snow melt. I wore my old worn-out sneakers as the trails are muddy and didn't want to ruin my good ones but now have shin splints so those old shoes will be left in Juneau.

We took a boat tour out to Sawyer Glacier and the captain let us sit for almost two hours watching the calving. You would hear a sound like a mortar going off and chunks bigger than a semi would crash into the water. It was awesome, crystal blue chunks. Lots of icebergs on the trip out.

We've had great weather here and love the area. We've been here so long we feel like natives -- we love Juneau. Now have to do laundry, repack and board the ferry tomorrow and head to Wrangell, so we'll see you there. Stay cool. WE ARE!!!

"Hello from Juneau" ... dispatches from Alaska

From that great expanse of land to our north, SWAC area friends continue their trip across Alaska, sending dispatches with exciting news about the places they've visited. After driving cross-country to Washington, they boarded a ferry that took them to Ketchikan and, after a few days there, they are now in Juneau.

I don't think they would mind if I shared a bit of the latest news that was in my email this morning:

Thirty minutes out of Ketchikan yesterday we had to turn back because one of the crew had a minor medical emergency. The ambulance was waiting for us, so we had 1 1/2 hr. delay but still got to Juneau early. Those diesels engines made up good time. This ferry was smaller but still had all that the bigger one offers. We liked it better -- less people and decks to get lost on.

Ketchikan is a small town nestled between the water and mountains. Industry is tourism and fishing, and 3 trillion boats and sea planes are here, I believe! We had 3 delightful warm sunny days which they tell us is not normal.

We hiked in the rain forest, walked 3 miles out to the Totem Center, caught bus back, did the fjords tour that we already had planned. We stayed in the historic district along a white water creek, watched salmon making their way up stream to spawn, 4 harbor seals trying to catch them. It runs through town so we walked a lot beside it.

Our hotel was old but quaint, period furnishings, nice linens and clean, nestled up against a big hill and had 2 small court yards. We enjoyed it a lot. Our front windows overlooked the harbor. We watched guys catching those salmon and we could lie in bed and watch the fish jump, schools of them -- fun to watch. Also had 2 eagles that came every evening. Around the corner from our hotel, Creek Street, was a street of brothels from the early 1900's until the fifties. Hey, there weren't any women up here. A guy's got to have some fun, for 2 bits, high price since they only made 53 cents an hour. LOL.

Tomorrow we start our Juneau walkabout to see what's here. Looks nice so far. Having a great experience learning about our 50th state or is the 57th, like O, tired -- can't remember.

God speed as they continue their journey.

Alaska's Iron Dog race features Todd Palin

The NASCAR of Alaska is the annual Iron Dog race. Fellow home school mom Tracey, who lives in Wasilla, has all the details with photos because she was there.

Sarah Palin's husband, Todd, who has won the race throughout the years, was in the lineup of participants for this rugged Alaskan sport:

Today’s Iron Dog course length 1,971 miles, starting in Big Lake to Nome and finishing in Fairbanks, making it the World’s longest snowmobile race. Participants must traverse in some of Alaska’s the most remote and rugged terrain while confronting some the harshest winter conditions. Survival skills are essential, making it the World’s toughest snowmobile race.

The race is nearing its end ... follow results here.

Annual Christmas dinner in Wasilla, AK, with the Palins and local families

Home school mom Tracey in Alaska fills us in with commentary and photos on the 18th anniversary of the annual Wasilla, AK, Christmas dinner that was held Christmas Eve. Yes, Sarah and Todd Palin were there as they are each year helping to serve those going through the line for food. Tracey writes:

I sit here in amazement at what a wonderful event it was that just took place. The Christmas Friendship Dinner held in Wasilla, Alaska is truly unique. I've never seen an event of this size headed up by a group of caring citizens, and not a major organization. They all know what needs to happen, and they get it done. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with members of this group that have been doing this for years. I want to say this to them, and to anyone reading this so you all will know, that this is what makes our community so wonderfully special.

Read the entire post including an article from the local newspaper. Merry Christmas to Tracey and all the good folks in Wasilla!

An award for Sarah Palin ... a strong, independent leader

As Virginians who thrive on the words of Commonwealth native Patrick Henry to "give me liberty or give me death," Sarah Palin embodies the individuality and spiritedness that we have coarsing through our veins.

Bob at The Journey has come up with "The Dr. June McCarroll Award" to celebrate brilliance and persistance ... and he has decided who the first recipient should be.

Who is Dr. June McCarroll? As Bob writes:

After she was run off the road by a truck, [Dr. June McCarroll] came up with the idea for a dividing line to be painted down the center of roads. When she took the idea to the government, they politely ignored her. She made her point, however, by painting a center line on one mile of US 99 in Indio, California. Her invention was then impossible to ignore and became part of highway history.

So who does Bob think deserves the first-ever "Dr. June McCarroll" award?

This year's award goes to a young mother who sought to make her own community better.

In 1992 she ran for city council of Wasilla, AK, and served there until 1996 when she became mayor.

She was appointed to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and served as Ethics Commissioner from 2003 to 2004. She resigned and exposed corruption in the commission, fingering prominent members of her own party. Her credentials as a reformer clearly established, she ran for Governor in 2006 and defeated incumbent Republican Governor Murkowski in the primary. She went on to win the general election and became, at 42, Alaska's youngest Governor in history.
...
People are unnerved by her appeal to the common man and she is now routinely villified by media and entertainment 'elites.'

Bob goes on to cite Gov. Palin's current favorable opinion of 76% in a Rasmussen poll. He concludes:

Sarah Palin represents a rebirth of that Jeffersonian ideal where people from ordinary life go up to Washington to represent us and then come home! She's no Washington insider in a grey suit. She got involved in the first place because she cares.

It is with great pleasure that I nominate her to receive the first ever Dr. June McCarroll Award, given here this day, July 9, 2009.

Hear, hear!

Go to The Journey to read the entire post.

The verbal suicide bombers on the left must stop savaging Sarah Palin

"The lynching of conservatives must stop. The verbal suicide bombers on the left must stop. The ideological bigotry must stop.

If it does not, payback against the liberals will be bloody, as they reap what they sowed. --The Tigyrrrr Express blog

Sarah Palin, savaged by liberals as well as some in her own Party, has said enough is enough and is stepping aside as Governor of Alaska.

That's sad.

Gov. Palin is a strong, intelligent, hard-working conservative woman who is not an inside-the-beltway insider. In other words, she's a person ... not a politician.

Guess what. Most of us are not inside-the-beltway insiders. We're everyday people who believe in hard work, paying our own way, standing up for what we believe in, and being civil about it. That is why we identify with Sarah Palin. She loves her God, country, husband and children, raises her kids, has a son in Iraq fighting for our freedoms, hunts and fishes ... she's one of us.

Perhaps every person in the Lower 48 should visit Alaska. It's a different land ... residents are survivalists and individuals who do not depend on the government or anyone else because, after all, in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness there is no one else to turn to but yourself. They are independent and unencumbered by the narrow thinking of most in the Lower 48.

Why do those who are intimidated by Gov. Palin and others like her feel they must sink to the politics of personal destruction? Being accused of frivilous, false charges is time-consuming, a waste of time and expensive as she defended herself over and over, causing a financial drain on herself and her state.

Read this excellent post by Eric at The Tigyrrrr Express. It says what many are thinking.

TX Gov. Perry defends AK Gov. Palin on national radio

Texas Gov. Rick Perry was on Glenn Beck's national radio show today defending Gov. Sarah Palin and her decision to step down as governor of Alaska.

Gov. Perry also talked about his state's defense of the 10th Amendment, their low unemployment rate hovering around 6% at a time when the national unemployment rate is 9.5%, highest since 1983 (and some believe it is actually at 20%), and the multi-million dollar surplus his state enjoys, even with no state income tax, at a time when California is broke and other states are floundering.

Gov. Palin endorsed Gov. Perry earlier this year and will be campaigning for him leading up to his 2010 reelection. It seems appropriate that the Republican governors from the two states with probably the most independent-thinking constituents would support one another.

Republicans supporting Republicans....

Gov. Palin stumps for Gov. Perry ... more popular than ever

After endorsing Gov. Rick Perry in February, Gov. Sarah Palin will continue to work with him in his reelection campaign against Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Trailblazers speculated about the possibility of a Palin-Perry 2012 ticket in our future. Who knows? The LA Times reported:

It could make sense. Republican national tickets typically do much better with governors than legislators. Texas is a rich source of conservative political donors. And it would get the GOP back with a genuine Southerner on the ticket, historically a strong suit and one that would help counter Barack Obama's likely choice of current Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, the new head of the Democratic National Committee, to replace the aging Joe Biden, who'll be 70 by then.

Gov. Palin pulls huge crowds when she speaks.

She inspired a local businessman, Tom Sheets, to put his own money behind "I Am Voting For The Chick" signs to distribute throughout the area. They were so overwhelmingly popular that they ended up going nationwide.

When appearing in Richmond last fall to a capacity crowd, she was inspirational enough for my 80-something parents to stand in line with their "I Am Voting For The Chick" signs to hear her address the enthusiastic crowd.

Everywhere she appeared throughout the country on behalf of the McCain-Palin ticket, record-breaking crowds of thousands eagerly lined up to hear her inspirational, "I'm-a-conservative-and-I'm-proud-of-it" remarks.

At the Republican National Convention in Saint Paul in September 2008, the night that Sarah addressed the packed convention center (there was not an empty seat to be found), the place was electrified! Roars of approval and cheers almost brought down the roof.

Her popularity continues.

The latest Rasmussen poll shows 76% of Republicans are more behind her even after her resignation announcement.

In June her appearance in a small New York town brought thousands -- the crowd was estimated at 20,000 -- out to line the streets and cheer for Sarah, many holding signs urging her to run for president in 2012. When she prepared to address the crowd, they began chanting, "Run, Sarah, Run."

In June, comedian David Letterman's crude remarks on national TV about Gov. Palin's 14-year-old daughter brought millions to her defense resulting in an apology by Mr. Letterman.

Gov. Palin continues to appear before sold out events throughout the country and remains popular in her own state of Alaska. Will she prevail?

My bets are on Sarah.

"Into the Wild"

Bob at The Journey discusses reading the Chris McCandless story about a young man who in 1992 wanted to live with nature in Alaska. The book, "Into the Wild," by Jon Krakauer, tells the sad story of how brutal nature can be when those unprepared ventured into the wilds especially in the wilderness of Alaska.

Sarah! Happy Birthday to Alaska's governor

Born February 11, 1964, conservative leader and Alaska's Governor Sarah Palin turns 45 today. Over at Team Sarah, birthday wishes are being posted for this incredible conservative woman leader.

My own wishes for a woman who has come under attack not only from the left but from Republicans ... may she persevere and find the strength to continue as the leader she is.

Dear Sarah,

What birthday wishes can be sent to such an incredibly strong conservative woman in leadership? May God bless you and your family and help you find the strength to carry on in the face of adversity, a hostile media, and misguided liberals as well as Republicans who go for the politics of personal destruction. Our prayers are with you as you continue to lead at a time when many Republican leaders have lost their way.

With best regards and happy birthday wishes,

~~Lynn Mitchell
Staunton, Virginia

Happy Birthday, Sarah Palin!

Alaskan bush pilot/guide writes, "Who is Sarah Palin?"

My mom received an email that asked "Who is Sarah Palin? by Alaskan Bush Pilot and Guide." Not one to take it at face value, she researched before sending it on to her list of Republican friends and family. She wrote:

I received from a friend the email below "Who is Sarah Palin?" written by Alaskan Bush Pilot and Guide, Butch King. Before forwarding emails like this, I check them out to see if they are true. Instead of checking this one through Truth or Fiction, or Snopes (which is liberal-leaning), I decided to check the internet and see if I could find a Wildman Lake Lodge in
Alaska. I did, indeed, find it! It is - where else but on Wildman Lake - on the Alaska Peninsula. If any of you are thinking about having a great vacation, go to the internet and take a look at this place!!! Alaska is beautiful and the Wildman Lake Lodge is in the middle of that beauty. The Kings also have Cinder River Lodge, also on the Alaskan Peninsula, which seems to fit the
desire by anyone who wants to do BIG hunting and fishing.

I decided to email Wildman Lake Lodge, and ask if the email sent by Butch King was factual. Butch responded that it is the real thing! He and his wife, Kathy, were born and raised in Alaska. He is a Bush Pilot and Guide in Alaska and he says he has been flying the bush since 1969 and that he and Kathy have "thousands of memories" and "thousands of friends". They spend their summers in Alaska and their winters in Texas.

After learning that one of the first things Sarah Palin did, upon becoming Governor, was to dismiss the contingent of State Troopers that had always protected the Governors of Alaska, it is easy to understand what the "Troopergate" fiasco is all about! I'll bet that act produced a bunch of unhappy and/or angry people who saw their salaries and perks going down in
flames. Add to that the sale of the State plane that the former Governor had bought, and on which the State's Legislatures could fly free, it is any wonder there are people who want to bring Sarah down in flames?

Enjoy this email - and start planning your next vacation on Wildman Lake in Alaska. I wish I had known about it when I was in Alaska, thanks to daughter Gail. Here's to Sarah Palin, Queen of the New Frontier!

Who says the internet is only for young folks? My mom is 81 years young!

"Who is Sarah Palin?" by an Alaskan Bush Pilot and Guide - Butch King

Fishing is good here at Wildman and I rarely have time for politics, but many of our friends are asking us "Who is Sarah Palin?" Of course, as Alaskans, Kathy and I are extremely proud of her. We just want to let you know that Sarah "Barracuda" Palin is a straightshooting, hard charging, get it done gal. She knows when to listen, how to analyze the facts and how to make a decision, then implement the plan. She doesn't do a poll before jumping in with both feet like too many of the Washington types. She has little legislative experience because she has always held the EXECUTIVE position; in private life, as mayor of Anchorage's largest bedroom community or more recently as Governor of our State. She is a smart, attractive, home
grown Alaska girl with excellent moral and family values. She can see what needs to be done and does not hesitate to get it done.

One of our State's major problems is that its Capital is in Juneau, 500 miles from the nearest road and 800 air miles from the population base which is Anchorage, Wasilla and Fairbanks. Our legislature and most of the State government is in Juneau and they ALL behave like a bunch of freshmen in a college town. It has been this way since Statehood in 1959. When Sarah
moved to Juneau, so did accountability and responsibility.

When the oil revenue started to flow and a barrel of North Slope Crude hit $23.00, these people began spending money like drunken sailors. You can only imagine what was happening when oil hit $100.00 a barrel, about the time Sarah took command. My wife Kathy has first-hand experience with this fiasco, as her father and also her ex-husband were Alaska
Legislators who served in Juneau as Senators, Senate President, or members of the State House, for a combined period spanning nearly three decades.

About the time Sarah took the HELM as Governor of Alaska, about half of the State legislature was in the pocket of big oil companies or contractors doing big projects for Native Corporations around Alaska, all funded by State oil revenue. Alaska government was nothing but a good old boys club riding the perpetual wave of prosperity. This filtered down from the
legislature, through theDepartment of Natural Resources, Department of Labor and even spilled into the Department of Public Safety who are supposed to "preserve and protect".

When Sarah walked into the Governor's Mansion, she promptly dismissed the State Trooper detachment assigned to the Governor and had her and her husband's guncase brought in from Wasilla. Then, she got rid of the former Governor's STATE Jet and told legislators that there were no more free rides, they would have to fly Alaska Airlines, just like her and her family
if they wanted to travel. Next came the nut cutting (the Barracuda part) - the heads that rolled were too numerous to name, but when Sarah finished cleaning house, a number of our legislators ended up in jail on corruption charges, or tendered their resignations, along with numerous department heads and those who have been riding the gravy train for way too long,
AND THEN SHE HAD LUNCH. By the end of the day, Sarah Palin had saved the people of Alaska millions and has not yet slowed down.

She has truly brought CHANGE to Juneau. I personally know several persons in the private sector in Alaska, that hold her in high esteem. She surrounds herself with smart people, many from my hometown of Anchorage, she listens to them but makes her own decisions. Sarah Palin is not a B.S. politician. It is refreshing that there still is an honest politician. You want to talk about CHANGE? You should see A Before and After picture of the State government in Alaska. That's CHANGE!

Sarah will bring a number of things to the election and I'm sure she will appeal to many voters who were on the fence. We need what Sarah will bring: first to the election and second, what she will bring to Washington, D.C. McCain has chosen well. Let's just hope the American people get the straight scoop on her in the weeks ahead.

This is just the opinion of one Alaska Bush Pilot and Guide, who pays attention to national politics, watches the news and is deathly afraid of the direction our nation is headed. I guarantee that if Sarah gets a chance to dig her spurs into the flanks of the liberal Washington types, they will know that she is in the saddle.

Butch King
Pilot/Guide

Butch & Kathy King
Proprietors
Wildman Lake Lodge

DJ proves Bridge to Nowhere WAS axed by Sarah Palin

DJ McGuire has done a great job chasing down the Bridge to Nowhere timeline to prove that Sarah Palin's claims to have axed the project are true. Excellent research ... check it out at the Right Wing Liberal.

Alaska ... an independent land that brings us Sarah Palin

Anyone who has been to Alaska knows how it gets into your soul ... the independence of the people ... the vast spread of land ... wilderness, wild animals, frontier ... majestic Denali ... glaciers ... silt-filled rivers.

My sister lived in Alaska for a few years reporting for the Anchorage Daily News. I had the opportunity to visit and fall in love with a land that is very different from the Lower 48.

First and foremost, Alaskans are independent. Period. They personify the spirit of the Wild, Wild West ... they are self-reliant in a land where they do not depend on the government to care for them, where a false step could cause death in a heartbeat, where cabins are scattered miles apart in the vast wilderness ... where the Alaska Railroad still picks up and drops off folks who live so far out there are no roads, and they have no cars.

It is a rugged land with wide open skies, mountains, and run-ins with moose are common ... and dangerous. Almost every vehicle has gravel-pocks and cracks in their windshields because of the back roads. People pack an extra tire and gas on top of the car.

They are survivors ... and I see that independent spirit in Sarah Palin ... and it makes me proud. Her husband works the oil fields. They are hunters. They are involved in the community and with their kids.

Someone at Barticles made fun of her children's names. Hey -- it's Alaska! Folks there are free spirits. Besides, are we electing someone based on the name of their children?

The spirit of Alaska can be found in Sarah Palin ... and America, especially the Lower 48, can learn a thing or two from her.