Iron Dog Race 2019 | Snow Storm at the Cabin

[@klazyy641]

I respect your ;honest response to questions about snow plowing on your property. Valid points made respectfully---what a rarity these days! Good work, high marks to both of you!

[@ohanaorganic5189]

You guys are awesome and have a solid plan. Really enjoy watching your adventures and lessons learned. We built our current homestead (3rd year now) up in the Rockies in CO. Lots of lessons learned regarding altitude, cold weather and water management. We learned a tremendous amount with our bees...I would very strongly recommend a "bee barn". Just get a crappy old shed, insulate it, run PVC pipes from the bee landing board of each hive through the outside wall of the shed. They do not need light inside (only for you to service the hive boxes) and they will have the extra insulation for the cold weather. It also helps against predators tearing them up. I've heard others up in Alaska that use this as well. Who wants to buy new NUCs every year? That blows lol. Anyways, thank you for putting your personal experiences out there. Keep up the awesome motivation and efforts. You guys set an extremely positive example. It's inspiring as we are seriously looking into moving up your way as well.

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

Ohana Organic, thank you for the comment! We as well are learning how to live in this climate, glad we have our previous experience to bring with us here but it is an ever evolving journey. We have done lots of research into overwintering the bees and some folks do wrap them here but I have not heard about what you mentioned, we will have to look into that. I am definitely concerned with bears although our neighbors and other folks who have bees say it is not a problem, I would hate lose them all in one incident. Colorado from what I have seen looks amazing! Much higher than us :)

[@dorenenagy564]

I suggest getting some snow shoes. Really helps with walking in the snow. I have seen you all fighting deep snow on some of your video's when you all go out in the woods.

[@thebshumate]

Dude, if you look at the first couple of snow plowing videos and then watch this one...you guys have mastered the art for sure. You do a phenomenal job with the equip you have. As always, great video and im excited to get those chickies. I will be paying attention to that season of vids for sure. Thanks for sharing. Deuces 😉✌

[@sclivestock5943]

In a previous video your ATV was getting stuck plowing. I had that issue until I bought chains for my tires.Total game changer. Thanks for the video

[@minhhop3208]

The view looks so beautiful! Such a hard journey you guys picked! So much work!

[@howdygunslingers3496]

I LOVE SNOW !!!!

[@megamannn8527]

🤗🤗stay warm and safe today 🤗🤗

[@HodgePodgeGarage]

Ive really been enjoying your channel. Ive had your uploads on autoplay while I work for the past week or two an I am getting close to having them all watched.. Thanks for giving everyone a window into your life!

[@iscavengersam]

That's cool! Looks like a motorcycle rally...on snow!

[@4207skippy]

Great video! Always informative, I really enjoy what you do!

[@matthewronnie6874]

Thanks for taking us behind the scenes! What a fun event! We have never made it to it. We have to try to welcome them here in Fairbanks:)

[@AlmostHomestead]

Now that's looking like winter in Alaska. Haha! Sitting in about as much snow as we had. Man you guys have some big plans and projects. Hopefully the snow doesn't stick around too long and shorten your window of opportunity. So much to do here also and were going to get hit with more snow Friday. I like the pallet scraping the driveway idea. Pretty cool that you can track the riders. I'm going to check out that link.

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

We are dying over here with no produce, the store has very expensive and not very nigh quality produce (in our opinion). Eric and I agreed the garden has to be a priority or we may not make it another winter :)

[@AlmostHomestead]

@@SimpleLivingAlaska Yeah that's pretty rough when you can't get decent produce. One thing we face here is a short growing season. Last year we planted things a little late on top of it being a short growing season. We planted several things that didn't have time to mature like squash. This year we want to concentrate on vegetables with a shorter growing window. Our other issue was soil. We had about 8 inches of fresh wood chips in the garden and we made rows in the wood chips with store bought soil. Pretty sure that the wood chips were sucking up nitrogen from the good soil that we laid down which adversely effected the plants. I want to concentrate on a little micro greens setup sometime also.

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

Microgreens would be cool, have never used wood chips, some people swear by them. We are trying not to be too extravagant with gardening either and not trying to grow stuff just because I can.

[@AlmostHomestead]

@@SimpleLivingAlaska Sounds good. Keep it simple and grow what you need is a great plan. Our wood chips were mainly to try and repair the ground/soil and cover tons of broken glass and other tiny stuff that squatters had left on that property before we bought it. We cleaned up what we could and then laid down about 8 inches of wood chips. We get wood chips free in the town closest to us so we use them like beauty bark in some spots around the cabin once in awhile. I was putting them in the chicken run also which worked out good and it was free..with the exception of the gas to go get it. Alright, I'm blabbing on and on here. Have a good one!

[@pierrotgretillat9365]

Tank you vidéo magnifique super il reste à faire un couvert pour les machines

[@edwardseth1230]

A windscreen for the ATV.. Stay safe.. God bless

[@cinsidebackwardsnbacksideo5195]

So great you got that awesome snow blower thrown in with the snow machine. At first I was thinking it's gonna be junk.. So glad my thoughts were wrong. Snow removal probably makes you feel so good to be out getting some fresh air and exercise. Fun for your whole tribe, plus I imagine theres some snowmobile shenanigans going on. You got to keep a marriage 🌶 spicy. Thanks for sharing, I had never heard of that race before, hard core. Carry on you two

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

VCN, the man who we bought it from was awesome, I'm not sure why he cut such a deal on it for us, he was moving and needed to sell lots of stuff, but it is in great condition and we would not have purchased one so we are super appreciative!

[@kingrafa3938]

That's a lot of snow.

[@NBGUY]

I love it when it's upload day!! :) #simplelivingalaska #notificationsquad #likebeforewatching

[@traceyosborn6210]

Agree with your points on tractor ownership. Plus, you've weaned yourselves from the electrical grid and can now work toward less fossil fuel dependence.

[@ravenousjm]

I like seeing things get done, even if it is just snow removal lol.

[@MrJp1649]

Cool Vid! I'd forget the ladder and buy a Snow Removal Rake. They're fairly cheap. $50-$150 and 21ft.+ long....Then I'd build a Metal Roofed porch over the front door/deck area and a high covered walkway, (So you could still drive under it.), to the outhouse.....I just like a place outside to sit, drink beer and BBQ year round....LOL

[@bettinah.7429]

@Johnparker I had to re-read that a couple of times ....the first time I read it was along the lines of....."covered walkway....to the outhouse.....I just like a place to s..it ,drink beer etc" (obviously you can figure the latter my mind inserted into the word sit. 😂💩 Funny how the mind sometime just makes things up....

[@MrJp1649]

@@bettinah.7429 No pun intended....Butt, I get it! LMAO!

[@kimmurphy6864]

Clearing the snow gives y’all something to do in the winter when you’re not gardening.... no need for a tractor 🚜😃🌞

[@KrypticPatriot]

And next the Iditarod in March, it will be really close to you guys on willow lake. Been to the Irondog, but have to say the Iditarod is as much if not more fun...all the crazies come out. lol

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

KyrpticPatriot, We are planning and excited to attend, have you been to the start in Anchorage?

[@KrypticPatriot]

@@SimpleLivingAlaska Yes, its pretty fun but very crowded. But if you like to see all the shops on 4th street and get all the Iditarod paraphernalia it worth going. I think you both would enjoy it. I like hiking into the woods on the other side of willow lake during the actual start. You could scout out good spots before the race on your snowmachine also there are tons of spots that are not crowded.

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

Thank you, great idea!

[@TheAlaskaCajun]

oh you have about 2 more months of snow, we ride well into April and sometimes into June

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

TheAlaskaCajun, thanks for the heads up. We are learning :)

[@Washkeeton]

The yr I got pigs, it snowed to the middle of May. We were waiting on getting the fence up. (Planting out doors starts in end of May) We went to clear snow at my cabin out by you all... I'm guessing we got more snow than you did. Standing in my driveway was just over 24 inches from that last blast. Normally you all are more snow and 10 degrees colder than I am at the cabin. As I monitor temps we have been colder and or the same and we have been getting more snow than you all. LOL My son went to clean behind the outhouse and he was chest deep in snow (he is 6ft tall) Our weather patterns have changed since the 2 large quakes one in Shrilanka (sp) and the other in Japan. Fairbanks gets wind now which is totally not normal at all. Anyway a word of caution for the up and coming months.. I know you all like to let your dogs run loose. From now to maybe June... Mom moose are starting to abandon their 2 yr old babies because they are preparing to have new ones this spring... Those babies are very unpredictable (dogs=wolves in their eyes). Mom moose are very protective over their babies...I cant say it strong enough they are very very protective... In the Mat-Su Burough there is a leash law (kinda lax, but one all the same) that all dogs must be under the owners control at all times. It is not uncommon while we have the heavy snow and the moose have a hard time moving around in the deep stuff and move closer to the roads, for them to encounter dogs... In the eyes of the state if a moose stomps your unleashed dog it is considered as harassment of wildlife not you protecting your dogs from an angry mom moose or a frightened baby. When the bears come out in the spring, black bears will stalk your loose dogs as you run down the trails with them... and will double back to meet them as well. Why I was reminded of this is when we drove out to my cabin on Tuesday I saw maybe 20 to 30 moose along the HWY belly deep in the snow from Willow to Talkeetna and my son went out to feed my one dog I have left from my 26 dog sled dog team (all have aged over the years and been put down) anyway there were 2 yr old twins out behind my dog lot fence... mom has either abandoned or will abandon them very soon..

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

AK Washkeeton, appreciate the advice, I plan to have them close to us in the spring and summer, they are excellent with vocal control so I do not have to worry about them pursuing wildlife but yes you are correct we absolutely never know what we can run into and would like to avoid a situation. We are totally new to the weather here and are planning for gardening at the end of May, probably making other plans too soon but we know we will only be able to do what the weather lets us. We are planning to attend the Iditarod restart, love seeing the dog mushers and their dogs, I believe your said you cabin is near this area but you live in Fairbanks now?

[@Washkeeton]

@@SimpleLivingAlaska I'm more worried about the occasional mom moose with a new calf that will charge your dogs even if they are doing their own thing from a fair distance away... I live in the Mat-su valley near Sutton. I have the cabin out by you that we started building 4 summers ago now. I was up out of Fairbanks when I lived out in the bush back 23 yrs ago

[@just_krys4209]

Come breakup that drive way is gonna be fun lol do y’all have gravel there?

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

Krystle Cox, when we got here in Sept it was too late to put gravel down (or I guess we opted not to because there were a few muddy spots already). We may in the future but it seems like we may be able to get away with pit gravel. Spring breakup sounds no fun :(

[@kimmurphy6864]

I wish y’all would get some snow shoes lol 😝

[@viperbroncoalmasty]

Could put a post in ground with measure tape or feet inches clearly marked on it. Then could measure snow depth easier. I know am still playing catch up on your videos. Cheers

[@2007KB]

Would be nice to have a carport or lean to for your trailer and side by side to go under? I know you’re so busy though

[@ourselfreliantlife]

It sounds like you two have a lot of plans coming up for the year. Very exciting! Hopefully the snow clears up for you soon. Was that tshirt weather for you out there?😆👍

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

Green Dream Project, it actually was not but when I snowblow I get super hot...I put a jacket back on after I cooled down :)

[@coabirding6832]

Maybe a plow for the Tundra?

[@Tommasini9]

Note to Santa Clause: SNOW SHOES!

[@michaelkaylor6770]

For the tractor, plow issue, I can show you guys mine. Mine is a light weight, home owner version. The exact one I have has been problems due to the company I choose but man, plowing my driveway and parking area is physically easy though not tremendously faster. We can link up and you guys can by sometime to take a look or I could come by the place and push around a bit. I choose a standard 2 inch hitch receiver as the mounting option, allows great flexibility and modularity!

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

Michael Kaylor, that sounds nice! May have to check it out sometime, are you in the Wasilla area?

[@michaelkaylor6770]

@@SimpleLivingAlaska Sure Am, ill send you an email

[@breannab6202]

I live in Alaska

[@doggodoggo3000]

Ya'll should change your state sport to snowmobile racing. Dog sled racing is inhumane af. Iditarod's not the same race it was 40 years ago. Ive worked in dog sled racing a few years, now Im advocating against it. Even with out stuff like the whistler incident there is plenty wrong.

[@H2Dwoat]

Hi, another great video, thanks. A couple of questions if you don’t mind: do Alaskans have issues with vitamin D deficiency with extended periods of such short days? How will the bees survive the cold, do they hibernate?

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

H2Dwoat we have hives that are especially meant for extreme cold, we also make a few changes for winter, we will do an update on it. Overwintering is the most challenging part of beekeeping in Alaska. As far as vit D I imagine for some people they may need to take a supplement. Eric and I are fine with just going outside but we did have an adjustment period to the 3 hours of light.

[@rodin390]

👍🏻

[@robertboyd650]

Where are your snowshoes ?

[@margaret8056]

IN SOUTHERN IRELAND IF WE HAD 4 INCHES OF SNOW WE WOULD BE AT A COMPLETE SHUT DOWN

[@JD-fi1ll]

Do you plan on raising a "Thanksgiving" turkey with your chickens?

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

JD, Good question. At this point no although you never know in the future, we are getting laying hens that can be used for meat but aren't specifically meat birds.

[@donnaaylott2397]

can i suggest snowshoes?

[@AnAlaskaHomestead]

Can’t wait to see the plans come together this year. Might have to give you guys a call since you are seasoned gardeners. I’m am seriously debating buying a backhoe because we have a lot of projects coming up and it would make life a lot easier. Anyway cool video. Snow machines are fun to watch but more fun to ride.

[@michaelkaylor6770]

I have this image of you Opening a video at the dock explain how you tied the backhoe to your boat and are going to float it across!, I know you are way smarter but that was m first image!

[@Washkeeton]

@@michaelkaylor6770 People have floated tractors, back hoes, full pianos, pool tables... and many many other things to very remote areas that are only accessable by water. Just saying... Alaskan ingenuity at its finest... LOL

[@michaelkaylor6770]

AK Washkeeton No Doubt I have noticed that it is refreshing!

[@Washkeeton]

@@michaelkaylor6770 LOL

[@AnAlaskaHomestead]

Michael Kaylor ha I can see that😂 I’d just hire a landing craft to bring it over. That’d be the easiest way.

[@tiebear1]

Do you know the guy who you sponsored in the race ?

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

Big_A, unfortunately we didn't sponsor him but were there for support. The team is our neighbor and his Dad :)

[@tiebear1]

@@SimpleLivingAlaska that's cool hopefully he does well 👍

[@joemilbourne3151]

The sad fact is that flat roofs and gently sloping roofs + snow = never ending work in winter.... look to Europe A frame style roofs are the way to go steep even false ones will work !!

[@jeanneamato8278]

People actually asked you to buy an expensive tractor???

[@alavinaglenn1085]

It’s okkk stop talking 🙊

[@markebaby]

Apparently anybody hell bent on how bad global warming is doesn't live there....