The Reality of Alaska on Reality TV

Michael Verdirame

 

On any given day, a casual television watcher flipping through the channels is bombarded by assorted programming in the reality genre, ranging from contests where cast members compete for cash prizes to shows where just being what you are or doing what you do is considered fascinating enough to warrant following you around with cameras, recording your everyday routine, and broadcasting it to the world.  Of this latter type, there is one specific subset that has emerged—a variety of programs centered on life in one particular place, a place that is apparently unique and mysterious enough to capture the attention of those that are not from there and keep it. 

 

Alaska, the place in question, is considered the last frontier by many—a vast, empty land with majestic scenery and an extremely sparse population density.  New reality television shows featuring Alaska are numbered in the dozens and still increasing, with “Alaska State Troopers,” “Buying Alaska,” and “Life Below Zero” being among the most popular.  Does the real Alaska, however, live up to the wondrous Alaska that has served as the inspiration for so much so-called reality? 

 

A typical trip to Alaska that does not involve arriving by cruise ship usually starts off in Anchorage, the largest city in the largest state.  The airport here is the busiest in the state, receiving the most number of flights including some from international destinations.  Despite not being the capital, Anchorage benefits from its location in the southern part of Alaska, serving as an ideal jumping off point for exploration with a climate which, although extreme by some standards, is more moderate than other parts of the state.  Here, fans of “Alaska State Troopers” will find the Alaska State Trooper Museum, though they are likely to be disappointed as it lacks the drama and excitement of the show.  There are also a few memorable hiking and biking trails, but aside from the fact that Anchorage is the most urban part of a place known for its vast wilderness, there is not much to set it apart from any other typical American city.

 

While it is not uncommon to encounter the traffic jams and crowds of people usually associated with urban settings, it is easy to forget that Anchorage does in fact sit on the edge of the natural beauty that most think of when they think of Alaska.  Only a short drive outside of the city is the famed Seward Highway, a stretch of road about 120 miles long ,which takes drivers south through the Kenai Peninsula to the seaport town of Seward.  Travelers are treated to stunning vistas that include snow-capped mountains, shimmering lakes, fast-flowing rivers and streams, and the occasional wildlife sighting. 

 

Additionally, any number of minor detours could lead to a possible glacier visit, as the Portage Glacier—as well as a few others—can be found in this part of the state.  Upon arrival in Seward, the first stop for many is the Alaska Sealife Center, the only cold water marine science facility in the Western Hemisphere, and funded by the settlement that was reached after the Exxon Valdez disaster.  Visitors can also find an especially scenic bay characterized by turquoise water sitting at the foot of a tree-covered mountain, giving Seward a small-town charm while still having a rugged feel, as there is also access to great hiking and kayaking.

 

Returning to reality television, one of the most important aspects of the shows that feature Alaska is its people, asking the question: what kind of person would want to live in such an extreme place?  Like all reality shows, the people profiled make for interesting television, like Sue Aikens, the owner of Kavik River Camp, located in extreme northern Alaska, and featured on the show “Life Below Zero.”  Aikens is shown facing the everyday challenges of living in such a harsh environment, nearly 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, spending the better part of the year isolated and alone, with the only assistance available to her a long plane ride away. 

 

On “Alaska State Troopers,” the law enforcement officers are shown dealing with the inevitable downsides of living in a place like Alaska: limited daylight in the winter leads to depression and an abundance of free time, which causes an upsurge in drug use and domestic violence.  Troopers are also tasked with enforcing Alaska’s unique hunting laws, as the diverse wildlife presents challenges for those looking to profit from it as well as those looking to protect it. 

 

“Buying Alaska” features one person or couple trying to find the perfect place to live in Alaska, with many homes outside of the big cities being “off the grid,” a term used to describe houses that lack city-supplied electricity and therefore must use a fuel-powered generator for power.  Additionally, many of these homes also are without indoor plumbing.

 

Continuing on the journey through Alaska, this time heading north out of Anchorage, travelers find themselves on the George Parks Highway, which leads through Denali National Park and all the way up to Fairbanks in the middle of the state.  Denali is a nature-lover’s dream, containing the mountain that Alaskans refer to as Denali ,but everyone else knows as Mt. McKinley, but also home to the wide-open wilderness that is perfect for hiking and camping.  A quick diversion off the highway (with quick being defined by the Alaskan perspective, meaning 20 miles out of the way) will bring travelers to the town of Talkeetna, which, although somewhat overrun by tourists, still maintains the charm of the quirky Alaskan town that many imagine exists but have yet to find having only been to Anchorage.  Here, a room for the night can be obtained by walking into the local bar or restaurant and asking the bartender or waitress if they have any available rooms for rent, either above the bar or out back behind the building.

 


 

Arriving in Fairbanks means arriving in the last big city before entering what can truly be called the last frontier.  Located only a short distance from the Arctic Circle, Fairbanks has built a reputation as a stopping ground for those adventurers preparing to embark on or return from the untamed north.  With that being said, Fairbanks itself has little that might interest such travelers, as it does not possess much to distinguish it from any other city of comparable size.  Home to the University of Alaska Fairbanks—which does manage to attract its fair share of students from all over the world, despite its remote location—and the army base Fort Wainwright, the most interesting parts of the city lie a short drive away.

 

 The town of North Pole, Alaska—approximately 15 miles outside of Fairbanks—treats visitors to a Christmas wonderland all year long, with streets such as Santa Claus Lane leading to a gift shop full of holiday merchandise.  For those who happen to visit at the right time of the year, Fairbanks hosts annual summer solstice celebrations, which include the Midnight Sun Baseball Game, where the first pitch is thrown at 10:30 pm and is still going strong well past midnight when the sun is still above the horizon.

Many visitors to Alaska choose to arrive by sea, usually via luxury cruise ship.  Most of the itineraries of these ships include stops in the rugged islands that dot Alaska’s southeast coast along the border with Canada.  Most of these ports are accessible only by boat or plane, giving them the illusion of remoteness that makes them attractive to cruise ship passengers. 

 

One of these destinations is Juneau, which also serves as the state capital.  On any one day, it is not uncommon to see four or five ships docked in the city’s enormous cruise port, depositing thousands of tourists onto Juneau’s main shopping artery, Franklin Street.  Visitors are bombarded by the conventional souvenir shops as well as the standard tax-free jewelry establishments that have become synonymous with cruising.  For a state capital, there is actually very little of interest for visitors to Juneau, aside from some scenic hiking at nearby Mendenhall Glacier (though things do get lievely at night when the cruise ship passengers are gone and the locals have the town back to themselves).

 

 

For a state that is the largest by land area—a full two-and-a-half times the size of Texas, a fact Alaskans are so proud of they put it on a t-shirt—it stands to reason that there would be enough interesting things to do in Alaska to inspire a large number of reality television shows.  The truth is, however, that visitors making quick trips this far north will be disappointed if they are not able to make it out of Alaska’s cities, into the wilderness that seems to be the main catalyst for any conflict that is featured on these shows. 

 

The true beauty of Alaska stems from the fact that in addition to being large, it is also the least densely populated state, leaving vast stretches of land still untouched by the destructive human hand.  For the few who choose to live in such a unique and challenging place—some would call them fortunate while others would say crazy—there is no question they would make for compelling television.  It must be noted, however, that the main character on all of these shows is Alaska itself, and deservedly so.  Without the combination of beauty and danger of this final frontier, we might be left with no choice but to watch the Kardashians. 

 

Author Bio:

Michael Verdirame is a contributing writer at Highbrow Magazine.

 

For Highbrow Magazine

 

Photo credits: Pxfuel (Creative Commons).

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