Life on a REMOTE ALASKAN ISLAND in the North Pacific (Exploring

Unalaska Island (formerly known as Dutch Harbour) is about as far from big city America as you can get. Nestled in the heart of the Aleutian chain, this remote island in the North Pacific Ocean lies halfway between Alaska's largest city of Anchorage and Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. This isolated island is home the United States' largest fishing port, with millions of tonnes of fish exported from its bustling port annually. This was my second trip to this amazing town in the middle of the North Pacific, and I was eager to return to explore it in more depth. In collaboration with the amazing folks at the Unalaska Visitors Bureau and Ravn Alaska Airlines, I boarded the 3.5 hour flight from Anchorage and headed west to explore this breathtaking and fascinating island. The ancestral homeland of the Unangan (Aleut) people, Unalaska/Dutch Harbour is much more than just an isolated fishing port. It's a place that is rich in indigenous culture, and I was eager to learn more about the Aleut people during my three days on this stunning island.
My trip began with a tour of the islands's Unangax archeaological dig sites, followed by a visit to the Carl Moses Boat Harbour to tour the newest boat that will be featured on the coming 20th season of the Deadliest Catch (which is filmed here every fall!). After meeting Father Tim at the historic Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Ascension, we hiked up Mount Ballyhoo for some incredible views and to explore the abandoned WWII ruins at Fort Schwatka, followed by a bountiful seafood buffet courtesy of the Grand Aleutian Hotel. Next up was a visit to the Museum of the Aleutians and the WWII Visitor Center to learn more about Unangan culture and the island's sordid history as the only location in North America that saw active combat during the second world war. On my last day on the island, I was invited to give an interview on KUCB Alaska Public Radio and to give a series of short presentations at the local schools, before heading out onto the land to enjoy some of Unalaska's most stunning mountains and ocean vistas.
This island is like no other place in Alaska, nevermind America. Offering a bounty of natural beauty, cultural attractions, some of the friendliest and most open locals in the country, delicious seafood, Russian colonial architecture, and a Hollywood-meets-bluecollar fishing port, Unalaska/Dutch Harbour was truly one of my highlights of all of my travels, and I can't wait to return.
00:00 Intro
01:43 Ravn Alaska
02:30 Arriving on the island
05:12 Fishing Port / Archaelogical Site
08:23 Deadliest Catch Boats
09:51 Russian Orthodox Cathedral
11:48 Fort Schwatka Ruins
18:49 Seafood Buffet
21:11 Museum of the Aleutians
27:06 WWII Visitor Center
29:02 Mountain Drive
30:57 Norweigan Rat Saloon
33:22 Radio Interview (KUCB)
38:53 Summer Bay / Morris Cove
44:18 Sea lions
45:03 Leaving Dutch Harbour
Vlog Number 189 | #NorthAmerica #United States #Alaska | #Unalaska #DutchHarbour | Filmed October 2023
SUBSCRIBE to my KZbin Channel to stay up to date with my travels (click the bell for notifications!) and be sure to hit that LIKE button if you enjoyed this video!
Sincere thanks to the following sponsors for making this video possible:
Unalaska Visitors Bureau - www.unalaska.org
Ravn Alaska Airlines - www.ravnalaska.com
Grand Aleutian Hotel - www.grandaleutian.com
The Museum of the Aleutians - www.aleutians.org
KUCB Alaska Public Radio - www.kucb.org
Download the following music used in this episode with a free trial of Epidemic Sound! (www.epidemicsound.com/referra...)
1993 by They Dream By Day
Quiet Before the Tempest by Across the Great Valley
Not Blue (Instrumental Version) by Kylie Dailey
Skateboards and Sunsets by Rocket Jr
Stock footage by Adobe Stock Video & KZbin Creative Commons
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Thanks for Watching & Happy Drifting! 😎

[@nualaseamus]

I'm a teacher here in Unalaska and it was cool seeing this. Unalaska is an amazingly beautiful place.

[@DrifterDave]

Amazing! You're lucky to be able to live and work in such a beautiful part of the state. Thanks for having me in town!

[@aquaman461]

Wow what a flashback. I lived in "Dutch" in 97 and worked at the Grand Alutian. I still dram about my time there...its a magical place. Awesome video thanks...new sub

[@DrifterDave]

Thank you for the kind words! It's a beautiful island - one of my favourite places in the USA 👍 Glad that I could bring you back there!

[@NPIslander]

I am from Atka, Central Aleutians and my grandmother was from Unalasxix^ and my other grandmother was from Attu. The Attuans were prisoners of war in Japan where 40% of the population died

[@DrifterDave]

Such a sad story!

[@thefreestylefrEaK]

Absolutely beautiful remote destination with a rich history. Thank you to all the sponsors for helping make this documentary possible.

[@DrifterDave]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@AKvitanova]

I've been in a remote village in the Alaskan interior for about 7 months. In August, I'm going to one of the Aleutian Islands to teach. I am happy to have found this vlog. I think Alaska is my favorite state, too. 😊

[@DrifterDave]

I'm glad you stumbled upon this vlog and I hope you have the most amazing time out in the Aleutians! Such a lovely part of the world.

[@EnlistedBombin]

What Island I commercial fished yup there until 2022, crabs all gone im gone lol. Akutan is way more remote then Dutch/Unalaska thats why trident is building a Giant new plant over in near the pot yards in Dutch.

[@AKvitanova]

@@EnlistedBombin Umnak

[@nualaseamus]

Where in the interior - I was in Anvik before I came to Unalaska. You'll love the Aleutians.

[@DrifterDave]

I would love to visit Anvik!

[@therincrauthers3026]

Thanks for this!! I grew up in Dutch, great to see some of my hometown 😁

[@DrifterDave]

You're more than welcome! I wish more people had the chance to experience all that it has to offer. It's definitely off the beaten path when it comes to tourism.

[@richardnone5644]

not one tree wow this is not a place i would ever visit because of the cold weather and remoteness but it is very interesting part of the USA thank you for the video richard in the tropics

[@DrifterDave]

Thank you for the kind words! Check out my other video from the Aleutian Islands as well, where I take you to the abandoned military base of Adak Island. Watch it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hX-7p6OGlrl_jtk

[@Tuberuser187]

In geographical terms the Aleutian Islands remind me of places I have visited in the North Atlantic like the Faroe Islands and Iceland, for obvious reasons and is just as gorgeous.

[@DrifterDave]

I totally agree! I felt like I was right back in the Faroes 👍

[@user-fm5ni1yp9k]

In the year 91, a friend of mine entered Dach Harbor on Alexander's yacht... he came from Bering Island and was fascinated by these places...

[@DrifterDave]

They are fascinating places! Was your friend from Russia?

[@user-fm5ni1yp9k]

@@DrifterDave Yes Russia... Commander Islands...kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYSZf4BpmseJqdk

[@DrifterDave]

Amazing! I'll check out the video 👍😎

[@joshuachurch100]

Man the wife just stumbled onto you channel to your channel this evening and I've now been watching for 3 hours. Growing up in Alaska and traveling all over the state for recreation and work, these videos take me right back. I absolutely love your style of travel vlog. I have been to 87 countries myself for work and never really had the courage to put myself out in youtube videos like you have. Kudos to you. Keep it up, you definitely have a new life long follower ❤

[@joshuachurch100]

Side note. I have been to dijibouti and had a very similar experience when I was walking around by myself and I wasn't even making a youtube just taking some photos for my wife.

[@DrifterDave]

Thanks so much for the kind words, and welcome to the channel! I’ll have more Alaska content coming out over the next couple of years as it’s my favourite state in the union 👍 Glad that I was able to help bring back some memories for you!

[@DrifterDave]

PS - as for vlogging, if you think you’d like it - DO IT. It’s a lot less intimidating once you get started. It’s a lot of work, though, but if you maintain realistic expectations and only do is so much as you enjoy it, then it’s a lot of fun. And as for being camera shy - that fades quickly! Viewers on KZbin are by and large always friendly, as KZbin filters out the trolls quite quickly. Give it a shot! You might end up loving it 😎

[@DrifterDave]

@@joshuachurch100 It’s a horrible place! I don’t think I’ll ever go back. And as that video went viral, I’m sure they know me there and would make my life difficult if I ever did return. I regret not getting out of the city to see the Death Valley-like landscapes, though!

[@AngryBirdsFiddleMessery]

Just found your channel and loving the content. Keep it up! Glad to see a Canadian doing this and getting recognition.

[@DrifterDave]

Thank you for your kind words! I’m glad you’re enjoying the content. 🙏

[@kenmaxwell9435]

Brings back memories of being there

[@DrifterDave]

I’m glad! It’s a beautiful part of the world 👍

[@user-pi9my3lt9p]

What a beautiful place to go and get away from the world ...some peace and quiet ... Take some good books ... Nice walks in nature ... Im seriously of thinking of visiting...

[@DrifterDave]

Do it!! Beautiful place 👌

[@nicky914]

Awesome drifter Dave!

[@DrifterDave]

Thank you!!

[@frankflstf]

I totally admire and envy you what a beautiful life bro great show love all your content 💪🔥🐐

[@DrifterDave]

Thanks for the kind words 👍

[@stocktonca6586]

I hiked up Mt Ballyhoo and Bunker Hill I use to work at Westward Seafoods there

[@DrifterDave]

awesome!!

[@graceldaalfaro1128]

Wow,,awesome and amazing place..Enjoy and have fun your adventure,Thanks for sharing it..Keep safe always..God bless.

[@DrifterDave]

Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed the video 😎

[@vrenerlh.3496]

Ohhh wow ❤ i have booked next year. I m traveling alone. Have you some tips for me? 😊

[@DrifterDave]

@@vrenerlh.3496 Definitely hit up the visitor centre for as much information as you can! Katherine is a great resource and she would love to meet you! Such a beautiful island and I’m sure you’ll enjoy every minute of it 👍

[@adimeter]

I learn so much on your videos. And I get to enjoy the beauty. Now I'm off to try and find you in Djibouti! Thank you.

[@DrifterDave]

Thank you for the kind words!! I hope you continue to enjoy the content 😎

[@adimeter]

@@DrifterDave Oh yesss I will😊💯

[@darylkik6204]

A WW2 buff who was clueless about this history. A proud veteran who is ashamed of the treatment to these people and the US Japanese Internment Camps. Lets not forget to offer the help they were denied so long ago. Let us (US) not forget or repeat. New subscriber and video two so far.❤

[@DrifterDave]

Thank you for checking out my channel! I appreciate your kind words. And if it makes you feel any better, I am a Social Studies / History teacher and even I was ignorant about the war in the Aleutians. I knew of the battle for the Pacific in the generalist sense - Pearl Harbour, Okinama, Guadalcanal - but only learned about the Aleutian campaign through my visit to this beautiful region. So much history there...

[@EnlistedBombin]

GCI and NON-Prepaid ATT work in dutch when I left in 22 it was still a wooping 2G speeds lol There not 6x6 silly lady they vary 7x7 and I used all 8x8 on the FV Pavlof. I swear to god me and my buddy Ty used to get drunk in that bomb crater our boat would offload right there :D. I did ship yard on the American Lady and fished on its sister the Aluetian Lady. That buffet is one of the best, so is the sushi place at the harbor. The rat has really good cheese burgers and they USED TO have a shack out back with a bunch Male genitals drawn on the inside.

[@DrifterDave]

Interesting! There was no cell signal on my Canadian SIM, which works literally everywhere else on the planet 🤷‍♂️

[@nancybethkimble641]

Fr Timothy and Matushka Elisabeth Kolb (the priest who gave the tour of the Orthodox cathedral) are beloved by many here in Pennsylvania. Enjoyed being able to get a tour of their island home with your video! Unrelated to Fr Timothy . . . I didn't see any trees in your film. Are there any? If not, I wonder what the island's primary heat source is. Do you know?

[@DrifterDave]

Father Timothy is a really nice person, and I was happy to meet him. It's such a small world! No, there are no trees on Unalaska Island, but due to it being an ice-free port, they have year-round fuel delivery and I believe most homes are heated with heating oil. It's actually much further south than you might realize (I sure didn't!) - it's at the same latitude as Edmonton in Canada or just a bit further north than London England, much farther south than the rest of the state!

[@nancybethkimble641]

@@DrifterDave I'm happy you were able to meet Fr Timothy too 🥰Because I didn't see any trees, I assumed there weren't any but thank you for the confirmation. And I didn't know Unalaska was an ice-free port. Fuel oil makes sense then. You've satisfied my curiosity!

[@DrifterDave]

@@nancybethkimble641 It’s definitely a fascinating place! 😃

[@thefreestylefrEaK]

@@nancybethkimble641 Trees are not native to the Aleutian islands due to it's biome being tundra (not hospitable for tree growth).

[@donmarsh819]

Rock On / # 1 USA Fishing Location ; WW 11 History ; scenic. & current interviews & Deadliest Catch series sourced . Definitely mix of Cultures & via Aleutians & U-Tube in October @ Unalaska Island

[@DrifterDave]

Amazing place! 👍

[@JettingChen]

How is internet speed there?

[@DrifterDave]

Passable, but I had no cell service the entire time I was there. Unless you have a local phone, or are an AT&T customer and can roam with the regional provider, you’re out of luck up there.

[@hrsmrt9292]

65 dollar for seafood buffet like that, is really not that bad...

[@DrifterDave]

Agreed - it is a huge spread of seafood and I honestly don’t know how they turn a profit 🤷‍♂️

[@hrsmrt9292]

@@DrifterDave Alaska doesn't have a shortage of seafood like that, sparsely populated, also a source of such fishing spot, makes demand low and the supply abundant.

[@DrifterDave]

@@hrsmrt9292 That’s fair - I wish I lived there 👍