Rick Patrick
ECB Publishing, Inc.
“Who knows what Romance, what Adventure, what Love, is lurking around the next turn of the road, ready to leap out on us if we'll only travel that far?” - Jack London
When Travis Sander, formerly of Monticello, Fla., saw the 1972 Robert Redford movie “Jeremiah Johnson,” as a kid, the movie planted a dream in his mind and in his heart. That was to one day leave the “easy” life of North Florida and embark on a life of adventure, living in the “bush.”
When Sander's daughter finished high school, he sold his belongings, packed up and moved from North Florida to the wilds of Alaska. That was in May of 2019. Now Sander lives in a camper trailer about 20 miles from the small town of Talkeetna. Talkeetna, nestled in the shadow of Mt. Denali (sometimes called Mt. McKinley, it is the highest peak in North America) and about 120 road miles northeast of Anchorage, Alaska, sits near the confluence of three rivers, the Susitna, the Chulitna and the Talkeetna. The town has an estimated population of 965 and boasts of having one store and one post office.
Much like the title character in the movie that inspired Sander, he had to learn hard lessons about living in often very harsh conditions. “During that first year, I made just about every mistake you can make.” said Sander. “I had hypothermia, got trampled by a moose when I got caught between a mother and her calves and then there was the time I had two feet of water in my camper when the river flooded.”
Probably the most harrowing of these ordeals was when the frozen Susitna River flooded its banks and into Sander's trailer. Fortunately, Sander's truck was parked about a mile away. This saved his truck, but that also meant he had an arduous trek through waist deep water, then waist deep snow in order to reach his truck. Sander posted a video of his journey to his truck and possible safety. Sander could feel hypothermia creeping into his legs as he struggled to make his way to his truck. He even expressed a painful “farewell” to his daughter as he made his way through the snow. “I don't regret any of this,” said a breathless Sander. “This has still been the best experience of my life.”
By surviving these and other ordeals, Sander has learned much about living in Alaska. “It's not easier, but I have learned how to be better prepared,” added Sander. When he can, Sander spends his days foraging and hunting for food. He has learned the art of canning rabbit, duck, geese, salmon and any other meat he can trap or hunt.
Trapping has also become a major way of obtaining meat that can be preserved and consumed during harsh winter months. Sander has also learned a great deal about the art of tanning hides. So far, he has tanned hides of beaver, lynx, ermine (a member of the weasel family), mink and others. Tanning is obviously a valuable skill to have in terms of providing warm clothing, blankets, etc for one's self and others.
Summertime is the prime time for fishing and collecting vegetables with its extended hours of daylight. In mid-summer, it will get dusk dark around 3 a.m. and the sun will be brightly shining a couple of hours later. Sander said 2 a.m. is his favorite time of day during the summer. In the winter months, the opposite holds true. “Winters are a mental game,” said Sander. During the winter, the sun barely rises at all and Sander says one wears a head lamp pretty much all the time.
The solitude of Alaska was one of the things that drew Sander to the area. “I generally don't like people,” says Sander with a laugh. Sander has made friends and he has found that he does like and admire the people of Alaska. “The people here are tough people. They are not judgmental at all. All that matters to them are, 'Can you hunt, fish or trap?'” Sander is not completely alone in his adventures. He moved to Alaska with his dog “Whiskey” and a cat named “Miss Kitty.” Unfortunately, he lost “Whiskey” in an accident, so for a while it was Sander and “Miss Kitty.” Now, Sander has a new companion to keep him and “Miss Kitty” company; a retired, 10-year-old sled dog named “Sissy.” Sissy has turned out to be a nice addition to the household. “It's been about a year and a half since I lost “Whiskey,” said Sander. “It's not impossible to survive up here without [companion] animals, but it is harder without them. I have Miss Kitty, but that's not the same. But I can't take her outside. It's been great having Sissy. I've spent time with her and I knew she was about to retire and I thought about adopting her, but I wanted her to choose me. I'm glad she did.”
Dog sled racing is huge sport in Alaska. Many people are familiar with the most famous dog sled race, the 1,100 mile-long Iditarod race, which is held each March from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. However, there are numerous other races held throughout the state. Sander's new companion, Sissy, has competed in numerous races, including the Goose Bay 150, the Chugiak 20 and the Willow 300.
Sander plans to work toward providing guide service in the near future. He also has set a goal for himself to build a one-room log cabin for himself, Miss Kitty and now, Sissy.
Sander is a native of Monticello, Fla. He graduated from Aucilla Christian Academy as a member of the Class of ‘93. He attended North Florida Community College and Florida State University, where he studied recreational and leisure administration. He is the son of Alice Sander of Monticello. His daughter, India, is at the University of Florida studying wildlife conservation and ecology.
There is an old adage that says “Whatever does not kill you, makes you stronger.” Alaska has yet to claim the life of Sander, and it has certainly made him stronger. “This is what I've always wanted to do with my life,” says Sander. Ever since I was 10-years old and saw 'Jeremiah Johnson' for the first time, I've wanted to be a mountain man. I won't say I'm a mountain man yet, but I am definitely living my dream. This is what I would tell anyone, 'If you have a dream, just go for it!'”
You can follow Sander's Alaska adventures by subscribing to his YouTube channel, “Surviving Alaska with Whisky and Miss Kitty.”
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