Adak
FUN (Billy & Nancy)
Your Dad must have never gone to the Adak National Forest. There were
thousands of trees there, many over a hundred years old. I have a picture of
me standing in front of the sign for the forest. Unfortunately, the sign was
taller than any of the trees and the sign wasn't much over 5 feet tall! The
high volcanic ash content of the soil didn't provide a fertile environment
for growing trees.
When we left in 1969, I remember flying into Seattle and taking a cab from
the airport. Two of my brothers kept getting excited at seeing these 50 and
60 foot trees. The cab driver turned to my mom and said "What's wrong with
these kids, haven't they ever seen a tree before?" When she said "no", he
didn't ask anymore questions. For many years after that, I felt obligated to
climb as many trees as I could.
Adak was called "Birthplace of the Winds." I can remember riding sleds while
using a snow disk (about a 3 foot diameter disk designed for you to sit in
and slide down slopes) as a sail and having contests to see how far you
could lean back against the wind without falling over.
Billy
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thousands of trees there, many over a hundred years old. I have a picture of
me standing in front of the sign for the forest. Unfortunately, the sign was
taller than any of the trees and the sign wasn't much over 5 feet tall! The
high volcanic ash content of the soil didn't provide a fertile environment
for growing trees.
When we left in 1969, I remember flying into Seattle and taking a cab from
the airport. Two of my brothers kept getting excited at seeing these 50 and
60 foot trees. The cab driver turned to my mom and said "What's wrong with
these kids, haven't they ever seen a tree before?" When she said "no", he
didn't ask anymore questions. For many years after that, I felt obligated to
climb as many trees as I could.
Adak was called "Birthplace of the Winds." I can remember riding sleds while
using a snow disk (about a 3 foot diameter disk designed for you to sit in
and slide down slopes) as a sail and having contests to see how far you
could lean back against the wind without falling over.
Billy
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F.U.N. News - FUN Books
Visit our web sites!
http://www.FUN-Books.com/
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Subscribe to the FUN News on-line
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>-----Original Message-----
>From: Lyn Goodnight [mailto:butterflye@...]
>My dad was stationed there in 1951. He said the big joke was to
>tell new guys
>going there that in Adak there was a girl behind every tree. Too
>bad there were
>no trees!
Tea Lover Denise
Ah, Billy, you've stirred up some great memories for me about Adak!
We were there in the mid-80's with our three children; at the time one
was was in preschool and the other two were in elementary school. It was
a great place to live! Families were very close, little tv watching
(that 5-hour time difference really ruins prime time television
viewing!), and lots of social/neighborly functions.
We always enjoyed the PhilAm Society functions, hosted by the Filipino
community. Great food (remember lumpia?), and we learned so many neat
things about their culture.
My son and husband remember salmon fishing in the stream near Finger
Bay. The salmon were so thick the water was black. My son's first
"catch" was actually a salmon which had jumped out of the stream,
landing on his foot! We'll never let him live THAT fish story down! He
also remembers as a little boy being afraid of the swooping eagles when
he went fishing with his dad. Remember the numerous bald eagle
population? My son used to call immature eagles, "minature" eagles,
confusing his words!
We saw some great sites while living there. Otters, Emperor Geese, sea
lions, halibut the size of small automobiles! Once, a couple of Beluga
whales beached themselves over at Kuluk Bay. We saw puffins and
ptarmigan and caribou. When dining at a Denali Park restaurant on an
off-island trip, we ate booburgers, not hamburgers.
The kids fondly remember having to wear earplugs while flying on C-130's
or C-147's, and the flight crew allowing them in the cockpit to view the
great expanse of blue sky out those cabin windows.
I guess our most exciting memory of Adak was the 7.7 earthquake we
experienced about five weeks after we moved there! My husband happened
to be in Anchorage then doing some Army Reserve stuff. He was in the
post exchange when they announced over the loudspeaker that Adak had
just experienced the quake. Talk about frantic! The telephone lines were
down for some time and he as really worried. Everything was ok, though;
just slight damage to some dishes and such. Everyone "evactuated" to
Bering Hill and waited for the tsunami which never arrived! It was scary
at the time, though, I must admit. T-shirts were printed up afterwards
boasting, "I survived a 7.7!"
One thing that always left me humbled was the beautiful, tiny, delicate
violets, anenomes, and other wildflowers which would shoot up out of
that nasty old tundra every spring. It seemed impossible to me that
something so delicate could blanket what had only weeks earlier been
frozen over with snow and ice.
I was lucky enough once to fly out to Attu on a trip to Anchorage;
usually, the planes would only go as far west as Shemya to pick up
passengers, and then head to Anchorage. To this day, I love to remind my
husband that I'VE been to Attu, and he hasn't! Once in a blue moon,
"Attu" will be a Jeopardy! answer, and I always have to say something
like, "Do you remember that...oh, I'm sorry Jimmy, you've never been
there." LOL
We made some great friends while living there (we were civilians), some
of whom we still keep in touch. Island living forces strong bonds.
Thanks for the memories, Billy!
Denise in South Carolina. Who has been to Attu.
<Your Dad must have never gone to the Adak National Forest. There were
thousands of trees there, many over a hundred years old. I have a
picture of me standing in front of the sign for the forest.
Unfortunately, the sign was taller than any of the trees and the sign
wasn't much over 5 feet tall! The high volcanic ash content of the soil
didn't provide a fertile environment for growing trees. When we left in
1969, I remember flying into Seattle and taking a cab from the airport.
Two of my brothers kept getting excited at seeing these 50 and 60 foot
trees. The cab driver turned to my mom and said "What's wrong with these
kids, haven't they ever seen a tree before?" When she said "no", he
didn't ask anymore questions. For many years after that, I felt
obligated to climb as many trees as I could. Adak was called "Birthplace
of the Winds." I can remember riding sleds while using a snow disk
(about a 3 foot diameter disk designed for you to sit in and slide down
slopes) as a sail and having contests to see how far you could lean back
against the wind without falling over. -Billy>
We were there in the mid-80's with our three children; at the time one
was was in preschool and the other two were in elementary school. It was
a great place to live! Families were very close, little tv watching
(that 5-hour time difference really ruins prime time television
viewing!), and lots of social/neighborly functions.
We always enjoyed the PhilAm Society functions, hosted by the Filipino
community. Great food (remember lumpia?), and we learned so many neat
things about their culture.
My son and husband remember salmon fishing in the stream near Finger
Bay. The salmon were so thick the water was black. My son's first
"catch" was actually a salmon which had jumped out of the stream,
landing on his foot! We'll never let him live THAT fish story down! He
also remembers as a little boy being afraid of the swooping eagles when
he went fishing with his dad. Remember the numerous bald eagle
population? My son used to call immature eagles, "minature" eagles,
confusing his words!
We saw some great sites while living there. Otters, Emperor Geese, sea
lions, halibut the size of small automobiles! Once, a couple of Beluga
whales beached themselves over at Kuluk Bay. We saw puffins and
ptarmigan and caribou. When dining at a Denali Park restaurant on an
off-island trip, we ate booburgers, not hamburgers.
The kids fondly remember having to wear earplugs while flying on C-130's
or C-147's, and the flight crew allowing them in the cockpit to view the
great expanse of blue sky out those cabin windows.
I guess our most exciting memory of Adak was the 7.7 earthquake we
experienced about five weeks after we moved there! My husband happened
to be in Anchorage then doing some Army Reserve stuff. He was in the
post exchange when they announced over the loudspeaker that Adak had
just experienced the quake. Talk about frantic! The telephone lines were
down for some time and he as really worried. Everything was ok, though;
just slight damage to some dishes and such. Everyone "evactuated" to
Bering Hill and waited for the tsunami which never arrived! It was scary
at the time, though, I must admit. T-shirts were printed up afterwards
boasting, "I survived a 7.7!"
One thing that always left me humbled was the beautiful, tiny, delicate
violets, anenomes, and other wildflowers which would shoot up out of
that nasty old tundra every spring. It seemed impossible to me that
something so delicate could blanket what had only weeks earlier been
frozen over with snow and ice.
I was lucky enough once to fly out to Attu on a trip to Anchorage;
usually, the planes would only go as far west as Shemya to pick up
passengers, and then head to Anchorage. To this day, I love to remind my
husband that I'VE been to Attu, and he hasn't! Once in a blue moon,
"Attu" will be a Jeopardy! answer, and I always have to say something
like, "Do you remember that...oh, I'm sorry Jimmy, you've never been
there." LOL
We made some great friends while living there (we were civilians), some
of whom we still keep in touch. Island living forces strong bonds.
Thanks for the memories, Billy!
Denise in South Carolina. Who has been to Attu.
<Your Dad must have never gone to the Adak National Forest. There were
thousands of trees there, many over a hundred years old. I have a
picture of me standing in front of the sign for the forest.
Unfortunately, the sign was taller than any of the trees and the sign
wasn't much over 5 feet tall! The high volcanic ash content of the soil
didn't provide a fertile environment for growing trees. When we left in
1969, I remember flying into Seattle and taking a cab from the airport.
Two of my brothers kept getting excited at seeing these 50 and 60 foot
trees. The cab driver turned to my mom and said "What's wrong with these
kids, haven't they ever seen a tree before?" When she said "no", he
didn't ask anymore questions. For many years after that, I felt
obligated to climb as many trees as I could. Adak was called "Birthplace
of the Winds." I can remember riding sleds while using a snow disk
(about a 3 foot diameter disk designed for you to sit in and slide down
slopes) as a sail and having contests to see how far you could lean back
against the wind without falling over. -Billy>
A.Y.
Ah, Denise, what wonderful adventures.
Maybe we'll take a trip there some day.......
Ann
Maybe we'll take a trip there some day.......
Ann
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/14/99 11:07:29 AM, you wrote:
<<Denise in South Carolina. Who has been to Attu.>>
I've never been to Attu (and after that glorious description, I feel like I
should pack my bags and run right there...) but am in SC. Denise where are
you? Are you with a support group? I'm in Mt. Pleasant.... three girls --
7,5 and 1 (who never, ever sleeps, not even one tiny bit... -- sounds like
Alexander and the terrible, NG,VB H day.. .:-)
Kathie
<<Denise in South Carolina. Who has been to Attu.>>
I've never been to Attu (and after that glorious description, I feel like I
should pack my bags and run right there...) but am in SC. Denise where are
you? Are you with a support group? I'm in Mt. Pleasant.... three girls --
7,5 and 1 (who never, ever sleeps, not even one tiny bit... -- sounds like
Alexander and the terrible, NG,VB H day.. .:-)
Kathie
Helen Hegener
Billy and Denise, you're making me homesick. Not for those Aleutian Islands
- that's No Man's Land out there, but for the more moderate, temperate
climes farther north (Matanuska Valley). Reading your posts about *any*
part of Alaska put a big grin on my face this morning.
Best part: I'll be headed back next month!
<BWG>
Helen
- that's No Man's Land out there, but for the more moderate, temperate
climes farther north (Matanuska Valley). Reading your posts about *any*
part of Alaska put a big grin on my face this morning.
Best part: I'll be headed back next month!
<BWG>
Helen
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/14/99 8:40:20 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
FUNLists@... writes:
<< Your Dad must have never gone to the Adak National Forest. There were
thousands of trees there, many over a hundred years old. I have a picture of
me standing in front of the sign for the forest. Unfortunately, the sign was
taller than any of the trees and the sign wasn't much over 5 feet tall! The
high volcanic ash content of the soil didn't provide a fertile environment
for growing trees. >>
Actually, if her dad was military it might have been Shemya (sp) that he was
on. There is a or, was, a small military base there and that was the saying
used, there were no trees. <g>
In the late 1970's early 80's a congressman visited Shemya, Alaska, where the
Military Intelligence base was. He stepped off the plane and there was a
marching band. Lots of fanfare.... He commented to the Sargeant that was
assigned to escort him along with a few officers that he'd never had such a
welcoming. The Sgt. said Oh, sir I'm sorry, the band isn't for you. On this
plane was the first female to be assigned to the island.
Military men do have their priorities.....
Charlotte
FUNLists@... writes:
<< Your Dad must have never gone to the Adak National Forest. There were
thousands of trees there, many over a hundred years old. I have a picture of
me standing in front of the sign for the forest. Unfortunately, the sign was
taller than any of the trees and the sign wasn't much over 5 feet tall! The
high volcanic ash content of the soil didn't provide a fertile environment
for growing trees. >>
Actually, if her dad was military it might have been Shemya (sp) that he was
on. There is a or, was, a small military base there and that was the saying
used, there were no trees. <g>
In the late 1970's early 80's a congressman visited Shemya, Alaska, where the
Military Intelligence base was. He stepped off the plane and there was a
marching band. Lots of fanfare.... He commented to the Sargeant that was
assigned to escort him along with a few officers that he'd never had such a
welcoming. The Sgt. said Oh, sir I'm sorry, the band isn't for you. On this
plane was the first female to be assigned to the island.
Military men do have their priorities.....
Charlotte
Lyn Goodnight
Rhiahl@... wrote:
installation there in the 50's -- he was there during the first halff of the
Korean War, and said he much prefered freezing his butt off than having it shot
off in Korea. Dad was a real hero in Adak -- he was a steamfitter, in charge of
keeping the heat on for everyone! I don't think there are still Navy facilities
in Adak, as I heard they were closing down.
~~Butterflye~~
> Actually, if her dad was military it might have been Shemya (sp) that he wasNope, Dad was on Adak -- I've heard the stories a million times. There was a Navy
> on. There is a or, was, a small military base there and that was the saying
> used, there were no trees. <g>
installation there in the 50's -- he was there during the first halff of the
Korean War, and said he much prefered freezing his butt off than having it shot
off in Korea. Dad was a real hero in Adak -- he was a steamfitter, in charge of
keeping the heat on for everyone! I don't think there are still Navy facilities
in Adak, as I heard they were closing down.
~~Butterflye~~
Larry and Susan Burgess
Helen,
what part are you headed back to? I live in the Matanuska Valley, in
Wasilla, or rather, just outside of Wasilla. You wouldn't believe the summer
here, we've actually been hot, longing for cool, rainy days:))
Susan
-----Original Message-----
From: Helen Hegener <HEM-Editor@...>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Wednesday, July 14, 1999 9:51 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Adak
what part are you headed back to? I live in the Matanuska Valley, in
Wasilla, or rather, just outside of Wasilla. You wouldn't believe the summer
here, we've actually been hot, longing for cool, rainy days:))
Susan
-----Original Message-----
From: Helen Hegener <HEM-Editor@...>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Wednesday, July 14, 1999 9:51 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Adak
>From: Helen Hegener <HEM-Editor@...>
>
>Billy and Denise, you're making me homesick. Not for those Aleutian Islands
>- that's No Man's Land out there, but for the more moderate, temperate
>climes farther north (Matanuska Valley). Reading your posts about *any*
>part of Alaska put a big grin on my face this morning.
>
>Best part: I'll be headed back next month!
>
><BWG>
>Helen
>
>
>
>
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