Uploads from Holdfast Alaska

Currently Playing: We Finished the Barn in Sub-Zero Temps | One Step Closer to Pack Horses

We finally finished the barn — and we did it in sub-zero Alaska temps. The last walls went up with frozen fingers and a whole lot of determination, but seeing this old barn buttoned up at last feels like a real milestone for our homestead. With pack horses on the horizon, it’s one step closer to the life we’ve been working toward out here. Dennis was trapping for beaver and got a river otter instead. Regardless of intentional or not, we honor every catch and use every bit. We will be making a soup tomorrow with it, and brain tanning the pelt (which is prized for waterproof warmth). We also got our hay delivery in the middle of the cold snap, which somehow made the whole day feel even more real… like the start of a new chapter taking shape. And after pushing through the cold, we ended the day the best way we know how: warm homemade sourdough buns and salmon patties from the fish wheel we ran on the Copper River this summer. A simple dinner, but it tasted like Alaska and accomplishment. Thanks for being here with us, and for following along on this wild little journey in the Wrangell Mountains! 'Til next week, -Dennis, Amy & Lena End Music By: @HawkenHorse, who wrote us "Holdfast". Frontier music and history. Become a Channel Member for exclusive videos, sneak peaks, and behind the scenes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdYB30EoOdp-syCtLF_mTgw/join Get in Touch with Us: Westerlind Family P.O Box 906, Slana, AK 99586 We are also on Instagram @holdfastalaska Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/holdfastalaska Support the Homestead if you wish | https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6B2249KCY6STE