Cantwell, Alaska (summer 1999)

[nibot]

We were based out of Cantwell, Alaska, a tiny town of something like 117 residents. One hundred seventeen—that's what it said on the sign. When we moved in, it was news in town. All the kids from the house next door ran over and sat on our porch.

We were living in a log cabin. Actually, we didn't live in it--we set up tents in the woods surrounding the cabin. Inside the cabin was a fancy Sun workstation with a flatscreen display (this was before you'd ever seen a flatscreen display, I'll bet) with fancy data analysis software on it, and our other fancy equipment. And not-so-fancy equipment: picks and shovels and so forth. (One time we broke a pick--after one too many whacks at the permafrost, its nose bent forward, "gonzo'd". We drove 300 miles to buy a new one.)

We did our cooking on the porch, always grilled. Doug was a die-hard carnivore, refusing to eat anything except meat. Meat and baby carrots, which he loved so much as to exclaim, "These are so good, they are like an honorary meat!"





Life in Cantwell wasn't half bad.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Wow, this is strange. I google images something and was scrolling threw the results when I saw a cabin I recognized. I don't know if you remember me or not, but I am Julie Dowdy the girl from across the street. We lived in those brown appartments and me and my brothers would come over all the time. Actully that is my brother on your pourch and that is my dog Bigfoot in the second picture. My family still talks about you guys some times and when we are showing people around Cantwell we always point out the cabin and mention you guys. We all moved to Fairbanks except my dad now. I do not know if you will even read this since I see it has been three years since you have been on here. These pictures brought back some good memories. Hope all is well.
~Julie Dowdy~