Monticello mountain guy: Living a lifestyle of journey

Rick Patrick
ECB Publishing, Inc.

“Who is aware what Romance, what Adventure, what Like, is lurking about the next transform of the road, prepared to leap out on us if we will only vacation that much?” – Jack London

When Travis Sander, formerly of Monticello, Fla., observed the 1972 Robert Redford film “Jeremiah Johnson,” as a child, the film planted a dream in his head and in his heart. That was to one working day go away the “easy” lifestyle of North Florida and embark on a life of experience, residing in the “bush.”

When Sander’s daughter finished substantial school, he bought his possessions, packed up and moved from North Florida to the wilds of Alaska. That was in Might of 2019. Now Sander lives in a camper trailer about 20 miles from the small city of Talkeetna. Talkeetna, nestled in the shadow of Mt. Denali (sometimes termed Mt. McKinley, it is the greatest peak in North The united states) and about 120 street miles northeast of Anchorage, Alaska, sits near the confluence of a few rivers, the Susitna, the Chulitna and the Talkeetna. The town has an estimated inhabitants of 965 and features of possessing one particular retail store and one post office environment.

A lot like the title character in the movie that encouraged Sander, he had to learn tough lessons about residing in normally very harsh disorders. “During that first yr, I built just about every single slip-up you can make.” stated Sander. “I experienced hypothermia, obtained trampled by a moose when I acquired caught concerning a mom and her calves and then there was the time I experienced two toes of water in my camper when the river flooded.”

Likely the most harrowing of these ordeals was when the frozen Susitna River flooded its banks and into Sander’s trailer. Fortunately, Sander’s truck was parked about a mile away. This saved his truck, but that also meant he experienced an arduous trek by way of waistline deep drinking water, then waistline deep snow in buy to achieve his truck. Sander posted a video clip of his journey to his truck and doable security. Sander could feel hypothermia creeping into his legs as he struggled to make his way to his truck. He even expressed a unpleasant “farewell” to his daughter as he manufactured his way by the snow. “I do not regret any of this,” claimed a breathless Sander. “This has nonetheless been the ideal practical experience of my lifestyle.”

By surviving these and other ordeals, Sander has discovered substantially about residing in Alaska. “It’s not simpler, but I have realized how to be greater organized,” added Sander. When he can, Sander spends his times foraging and hunting for food. He has uncovered the artwork of canning rabbit, duck, geese, salmon and any other meat he can lure or hunt.
Trapping has also turn out to be a main way of obtaining meat that can be preserved and eaten through severe wintertime months. Sander has also uncovered a excellent offer about the art of tanning hides. So far, he has tanned hides of beaver, lynx, ermine (a member of the weasel loved ones), mink and others. Tanning is of course a worthwhile ability to have in conditions of supplying heat garments, blankets, etc for one’s self and other folks.

Summertime is the prime time for fishing and amassing veggies with its extended hours of daylight. In mid-summer, it will get dusk dim all around 3 a.m. and the sun will be brightly shining a pair of several hours later on. Sander stated 2 a.m. is his most loved time of day in the course of the summer time. In the winter months, the opposite holds legitimate. “Winters are a psychological game,” stated Sander. In the course of the winter season, the solar barely rises at all and Sander says one wears a head lamp quite a lot all the time.

The solitude of Alaska was a single of the points that drew Sander to the location. “I usually never like persons,” suggests Sander with a chuckle. Sander has manufactured pals and he has identified that he does like and admire the men and women of Alaska. “The people today listed here are rough folks. They are not judgmental at all. All that matters to them are, ‘Can you hunt, fish or entice?’” Sander is not absolutely alone in his adventures. He moved to Alaska with his pet dog “Whiskey” and a cat named “Miss Kitty.” Regrettably, he shed “Whiskey” in an accident, so for a even though it was Sander and “Miss Kitty.” Now, Sander has a new companion to continue to keep him and “Miss Kitty” business a retired, 10-yr-previous sled pet dog named “Sissy.” Sissy has turned out to be a pleasant addition to the house. “It’s been about a 12 months and a fifty percent considering that I dropped “Whiskey,” claimed Sander. “It’s not extremely hard to survive up in this article with out [companion] animals, but it is harder devoid of them. I have Skip Kitty, but that’s not the same. But I can not take her outside. It truly is been terrific having Sissy. I have spent time with her and I knew she was about to retire and I imagined about adopting her, but I desired her to opt for me. I am happy she did.”

Pet dog sled racing is huge sport in Alaska. Several persons are acquainted with the most well-known doggy sled race, the 1,100 mile-long Iditarod race, which is held every March from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. Nevertheless, there are numerous other races held throughout the condition. Sander’s new companion, Sissy, has competed in a lot of races, together with the Goose Bay 150, the Chugiak 20 and the Willow 300.
Sander plans to operate towards offering information service in the in close proximity to long run. He also has set a goal for himself to make a a person-place log cabin for himself, Miss out on Kitty and now, Sissy.

Sander is a indigenous of Monticello, Fla. He graduated from Aucilla Christian Academy as a member of the Class of ‘93. He attended North Florida Group Higher education and Florida Point out College, where by he examined recreational and leisure administration. He is the son of Alice Sander of Monticello. His daughter, India, is at the University of Florida studying wildlife conservation and ecology.

There is an outdated adage that says “Whatever does not kill you, can make you more robust.” Alaska has still to claim the life of Sander, and it has undoubtedly produced him stronger. “This is what I have generally needed to do with my life,” says Sander. Ever considering the fact that I was 10-yrs old and noticed ‘Jeremiah Johnson’ for the to start with time, I’ve desired to be a mountain male. I won’t say I’m a mountain guy but, but I am undoubtedly living my dream. This is what I would convey to any person, ‘If you have a desire, just go for it!’”

You can comply with Sander’s Alaska adventures by subscribing to his YouTube channel, “Surviving Alaska with Whisky and Skip Kitty.”