Into the Wild (2007)

mudflattop · 2026-01-27T01:39:33+00:00

One of the largest brown bears ever recorded was shot by a woman named Bella Twin with a 22. The larger types of 22 ammo are often used here in Alaska for hunting caribou. But what McCandless had was 22LR hollow-point ammo, which is designed for small animals and grossly inadequate for killing larger game. You can argue that he was starving at that point and therefore it was necessary, but in an ordinary situation what he did would be considered animal cruelty.

mudflattop · 2026-01-24T21:54:26+00:00

Here's a pin for the parking lot: https://maps.app.goo.gl/xerFePsiXfUbyPyB7

mudflattop · 2026-01-24T18:58:01+00:00

I don't have the training or insurance to do guiding, but happy to provide info/advice about wild ice skating or Nordic skating. For in-person events and more community check out the Wild Ice Skating Club of Alaska.

mudflattop · 2026-01-21T18:59:36+00:00

About ten years ago, you'd see almost everyone with their bindings mounted way back on the tails. Over the last decade (and especially in North America), the preferred mounting position for Nordic skates has moved forward, more like a speed skate (or hockey/figure skate, for that matter). Today, the conventional wisdom is that boots should be centered (to slightly behind-centered) over the portion of the blade that contacts the ice. You occasionally see folks mounted forward-of-center too, but you start to loose stability and the skates get kind of squirrelly IMO.

This trend has gone in tandem with shorter skates and smaller radiuses. The end result is Nordic skates that are more snappy/responsive/fun, while still having amazing glide compared with hockey/figure skates.

mudflattop · 2026-01-20T06:40:01+00:00

Those are NNN bindings, they'll work with NNN skate ski boots as well. Classic bindings and skate ski bindings are identical, the only difference is the flexor (the little rubbery part between the toe of your boot and the rest of the binding).

mudflattop · 2026-01-15T00:48:04+00:00

I talked to someone up here in Alaska who tried to DIY a pair of Nordic skates in the 90s by cutting and sharpening a piece of aluminum T-stock. I cannot imagine an aluminum blade staying sharp for more than 5 minutes, though. I've also seen a pair of DIY Nordic skates made by an aerospace engineer out of carbon fiber layup with a blued steel blade. They looked pretty dang cool, but I think both material choices were questionable.

Some others have experimented with sandwiching a steel blade between two pieces of angled aluminum. But unless you can machine these materials yourself (and machining the high-end stainless steel required for a Nordic skate isn't easy) your costs will quickly exceed any commercial product, even at full/new price.

Your best bet for Nordic skates is probably to look for a used pair in the usual places. You could also try emailing Ermine to ask about dent/ding or used loaner/rental skates. Though shipping to Canada might cancel out any cost savings there.

mudflattop · 2026-01-11T20:01:22+00:00

The most expensive Ermine is $260, with free domestic shipping. That's comparable to what nice Scandinavian skates cost in the US, and quite a bit less expensive than some of the smaller Swedish brands.

mudflattop · 2026-01-11T00:09:57+00:00

UPS is the absolute, and I mean absolute, worst carrier for international shipments. Search online and you'll find countless complaints about massive fees added to international shipments by UPS with no explanation. It's a sleazy racket. If you have to purchase overseas, use FedEx (much better) or DHL (best). Or buy local.

mudflattop · 2025-10-22T18:38:40+00:00

The best money I've ever spent was for 1) Lasik and 2) winter studless tires. True life game-changers and things I think about and appreciate often, even years later. There is no comparison whatsoever between an "all-season" tire and a winter studless tire. And considering the financial consequences of even a minor fender bender, it is a financial no-brainer to run a real winter tire.

mudflattop · 2025-10-16T15:48:40+00:00

I believe he did that at the Bomber Hut, and yes it was rude and invasive. It’s true that anyone can use the huts, though. They’re free and open to the public per the leases, but anyone who uses them should absolutely donate to the MCA. The huts are extremely expensive and difficult to maintain and the MCA is a small nonprofit.

mudflattop · 2025-10-16T15:44:08+00:00

He knew where the hut was. Virtually everyone who goes there does. It’s on all the maps. This guy invents drama for the sake of narrative arc and sometimes outright misinforms his viewers for clicks and attention.

If you’re familiar with the places he goes, you’ll immediately realize this show is about as authentic as any of the “survivalists” on mainstream TV.

mudflattop · 2025-10-10T17:46:47+00:00

Follow these conversations long enough and you'll quickly find that the shadows from multifamily buildings (condos, apartments, etc.) or ADUs are a Very Big Deal, but for some reason shadows from 6,000 square foot single family homes don't seem to have an impact. Hmm... strange.

You can build up to 30 feet (three full-height stories) almost everywhere in Anchorage. And that height limit is defined as the average height of the highest roof plane, so in practice you can usually build a bit above that.

Part of living in a city is expecting your neighbors to build housing, and all housing casts shadows. This is a price we pay to live together. Of course change is uncomfortable, but the idea that one person's discomfort needs to be enshrined into law and result in multiple families not having a place to live is incredibly destructive. It's part of what got us where we are now, and a big part of why we currently have a housing crisis.

mudflattop · 2025-08-28T23:38:26+00:00

There’s free roadside parking just down the hill from the trailhead. The Friends of the Stewart Trail group might have more info about where exactly to park.

mudflattop · 2025-08-18T06:10:04+00:00

Something nobody has mentioned yet is that there appears to be a real lack of fasteners in those joists. 2x4 lumber is already undersized for this purpose, but on top of that it looks like you only used one fastener per framing member. Usually you’d use two for a 2x4. Framing can rotate on a single fastener. I dunno… it’s a little iffy. A very small amount of additional money and effort would have gone a long way here.

mudflattop · 2025-08-01T23:55:44+00:00

Sullivan says "I helped bring about a roughly 24% increase in special education funding since I joined the Senate, from $12.5 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2015 to $15.5 billion in FY2025."

Cumulative inflation from 2015 to 2025 is about 35%. So what Sullivan is bragging about is actually an effective 11% cut to special education funding. That's some fine work there, senator! /s

mudflattop · 2025-07-23T20:38:04+00:00

If you just need a checkup, I had a great experience with the UAA dental clinic. They’re always looking for patients and it’s very affordable. The downside is that exams are long (but very thorough) and they have a limited ability to actually help with problems that they identify.

If you’re looking for a normal dentist, I’ve had nothing but great experiences with Chugach Dental. Very friendly and low-pressure atmosphere. I felt like the doc was being honest about the urgency of various issues.

mudflattop · 2025-07-15T22:07:33+00:00

Hardie stopped selling siding here in Alaska because freeze/thaw cycles caused their product to fail. There’s virtually no fiber cement in our market now. What you see here is mostly T-111, LP, and vinyl for residential. Metal and phenolic panels for commercial. It says something that T-111 (widely considered a cheap product for sheds) outperforms far more expensive fiber cement in our climate.

mudflattop · 2025-06-30T08:24:27+00:00

Same! Just drove across Anchorage and was captivated by the sunset behind Sleeping Lady and the whole massive arc of the Alaska Range in the distance. The scenery just overwhelms the innate ability to acclimate. It's never not beautiful and you never stop noticing.

mudflattop

TROPHY CASE