First Weeks at Home in Alaska

"Crazy Frank" demonstrating how to fell this large tree. He was using what he called a 'fancy bread slicer' (garden saw) versus Pete's larger Stihl chainsaw. It was fun to watch Frank teach Pete. After this tree, they dropped many more that morning without error.

Pete rented a Kubota mini excavator for the past week to clear about 6,000 square feet on the property. We now have a large stack of logs ready to dry about 7-8ft tall. Logs are birch and spruce that was killed by the spruce beetles.

Once we start milling up the spruce beetle kill, it will reveal beautiful blue streaks in the wood. Pete also used the excavator to clear brush on our neighbor's property for one of her future builds. She was over the moon!

We met "Crazy Frank" this week. He is a friend of our neighbors and helps with her property. He has worked 39 years logging in Washington state. He said they would scale large trees to install zip lines to zip the large logs from point A to B. He lost count how many men died out there. Frank came over and taught Pete how to fell trees like the pros! They were dropping large trees accurately and safely. I was very impressed with Pete's new skills!

Using our new pickup, we towed the RV into town for our first septic dump. It was a very smooth process and there were no hiccups! Pete did an excellent job towing the 30' RV with his over sized pickup. Hoping it will be our last time doing this after we get the septic installed. Then we can dump right here on the property! It's the little things that get us excited and we love it!
This week we have a couple of things lined up: full septic, gravel pad for the well driller's large trucks, brush & stump removal from the property, back fill for the structure/garage, and a level gravel pad. The pad will be used to put the structure on as well as the RV. We will run a septic and water line to it after each are installed. We will also look into putting a house number out at the front of the driveway so the fire department knows we are here (very important in the thick wooded areas!). Also need to widen the driveway and culvert.

​This coming week is the Wasilla Farmers Market on Wednesday which we are looking forward to finding some good local foods!

Took the dogs to the boat launch at our lake we live on. They enjoyed cooling off and following their noses.

Ladies and gentlemen, do NOT try this at home. Pete dug up a large stump and hauled it away with the mini excavator. It was a bit dangerous considering the stump's size and the excavator's size! Talk about blind driving.

Going to need some back fill from all the brush clearing.

The logs are piling up as Pete continues to clear brush and trees to make space for the house and structure/garage.