Uploads from Holdfast Alaska

Currently Playing: Winter Hot Tent Camping with Horses in Alaska

This week, we loaded the horses with a tent and gear, and set off into the backcountry to make a winter camp. The weather was calling for a little more warmth than is usual for this time of year, and we figured it was a fine opportunity to spend a night beneath the stars in the northern boreal forest we call home. With a few winter hunts on the horizon, we wanted to put a lighter, more packable hot tent to the test before venturing farther into remote country, where a warm shelter can mean all the difference. So we made our first trial close to home, in the snow-covered wilderness beyond the cabin. Sanford and Drum, our trusty Haflinger brothers, carried the burden—a 50-pound tent, wood stove, and the provisions we'd need for a night in the woods. Ike is still green, with only four months under saddle, and Lena is learning her way around horses herself. Rather than have Dennis ride double with her, we decided to make the journey on foot, leading the boys the miles out to camp. The woods had grown quiet with the coming of winter. Snow lay across the ground, and there was little sound beyond the horses moving through the timber. By nightfall, the skies had cleared, and the stars shone brighter than words can rightly describe. We built a fire and settled in for supper: smoked grizzly backstrap with butter, rosemary, and garlic, alongside homemade macaroni and cheese baked inside a pumpkin. That last bit was Lena's idea, and a good one at that! There is a certain kind of contentment that comes from a night spent in the woods. A warm fire, a good meal earned after a day's travel, faithful animals, and family gathered together beneath a wide northern sky. It was a simple night, but these are the days we find ourselves most thankful for. The freedom to wander this country, the animals entrusted to our care, and the chance to raise a family close to the land. A good life, and one we don't take for granted! Thank you for following our life on the last frontier, -Dennis, Amy & Lena End Music By: @HawkenHorse, who wrote us "Holdfast". Frontier music and history. Get in Touch with Us: Westerlind Family P.O Box 906, Slana, AK 99586 We are also on Instagram @holdfastalaska Donate to the homestead if you wish: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6B2249KCY6STE