March 3, 2015 (Tuesday)
Normally I don’t watch “reality” shows, but one has captured my attention and I surely enjoy watching it, following the activities of some families in Alaska. The show is in its fourth season, and chronicles the experiences of the extended Kilcher family at their homestead, 11 miles from Homer, on the other side of huge Kachemack Bay. The two brothers, Atz and Ottie, moved to Alaska with their father when they were little boys. Now two more generations have been added, and the show covers the hunting, fishing, building, gardening, ranching, and you name it things that a family in their situation does. (I learned just today that the singer-songwriter, Jewel, who lives in Stephenville, Texas, is the daughter of Atz and was raised on the homestead in Alaska. She credits her rearing as the reason for her strong work ethic).
I watched the family drive their cattle 31 miles from their summer grazing areas back to the pastures and feeders at their homestead, readying for winter, which is most of the year. I followed them as they hunted bears and deer, strictly for food. I was overjoyed when the daughter-in-law hauled in a 50 lb. Halibut to provide meals for her family in the coming winter. I laughed with them as they moved their frozen outhouse to a new location. I sympathized with a pony that had an unfortunate meeting with a porcupine that required Otto to remove the quills, one by one. The events are varied and seemingly endless.
I never was much of an outdoors man, mainly because of my allergies. I know it sounds wimpy, but that’s the way it has been. But I really like seeing the majestic mountains, the pristine waters, and the untouched forests. I also enjoy the vicarious thrills of life in an Alaskan wilderness with the Kilcher clan. It’s on Discovery Channel. Try it, and you may like it. Maybe not–I guess it’s probably not for everyone. The folks up there use “colorful metaphors” (a la Mister Spock) now and then, but it’s all bleeped. There must be a camera crew somewhere but it’s all done so well we are completely unaware of it. I think it may be partially scripted and possibly rehearsed, and all that, but it doesn’t show and it’s still fun..for me, at least.