Hunting Moose, Finding Bear, Building Dogsled

The adventures of Norman and Sylvia Wilkins, carving a new life out of the Alaskan Wilderness after leaving Minnesota in 1979.**The Alaska Diaries: 10,000 Days — Episode 9**As summer fades and the first edge of winter creeps across the land, Episode 9 of *The Alaska Diaries* carries us deeper into the rhythm of a life lived off the grid.The hunt continues—but not everything worth finding comes with a clean shot.From distant moose and close encounters with a grizzly, to a strange discovery locked in stone from another age, the land reveals itself slowly… and on its own terms. Weather turns. Partners come and go. Miles stretch long and quiet across tundra and swamp.When plans fall apart, the journey doesn’t stop—it just changes direction.A 27-mile walk into darkness. Nights under canvas and stars. The things we carry… and the things we leave behind.And then, back home, the work begins again.Wood is cut. Steel is welded. Steam rises as a dogsled begins to take shape—runner by runner, bend by bend. Because in Alaska, survival isn’t just about today. It’s about preparing for what’s coming.As autumn deepens, new ground is explored. A future trapline is imagined. A cabin site is found—not built yet, but known. Because sometimes, the most important step is simply recognizing a place where something could begin.There are no easy wins here. No guaranteed success.Only the land… and the quiet understanding that comes from staying long enough to listen.**In this episode:*** Moose hunting in early September* A close-range grizzly encounter* A remarkable prehistoric track discovery* A 27-mile solo trek through remote wilderness* Building a traditional dogsled from raw materials* Scouting a future trapline and cabin site* Early snowfall, shifting seasons, and hard decisions**If you’ve been following the journey**, thank you for being here.And if you’re new—this is a story told one day at a time… over 10,000 **Subscribe for more episodes of *The Alaska Diaries***New chapters released regularly.**#AlaskaDiaries #OffGridLiving #MooseHunting #BushLife #Dogsled #WildernessLiving #AlaskaLife #SurvivalStory #FrontierLife #NatureDocumentary**Thanks for reading Nadia Giordana on Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersshowcase.substack.com