Living & Working in Great Places

THE GIRLY GIRL'S FIRST TIME

I am so grateful for the opportunity to fullfill a lifetime dream of living and working in Denali, Alaska. I was hired as a server at the Denali Crow's Nest. After I was hired I discovered that our summer housing was wooden structured tents without heat. I was overjoyed when I discovered we had the greatest view because we are on the top of a bluff. However that means we are also the closest to the wild life lurking in the mountains.

Is it true that I should not use pretty smelling things? Perfume, lotion, shampoo, conditioner? I was told that stuff attracts bugs and bears. I hate to have my head eaten because I used blueberry shampoo. Do the women dress sexy there? Or would I look totally out of place if I dressed likewise? Should I wear mostly pants?

I am sorry if these sound like dumb questions. I am just a foolish woman who has never done ANYTHING like this before. I would appreciate any kind of advice you have to offer.

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Permalink Reply by Megan Geiger on January 23, 2009 at 10:40pm: UMMM pants, thermals and lots of warm blankets and an old trick to use to warm ur shoes is to take like a round sand stone is the best but rocks will do...put them in the fire for a couple of min then set aside for a min or two then let set in ur shoes ur feet will be nice and warm for a while.umm and the whole dressing sexy thing HA yeah umm yeah i mean u could but sexy that comes to mind....is cute short tops and tight jeans.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sky Ibarra on January 24, 2009 at 12:40am: Thanks for the Rock in Shoe idea!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by mike on January 24, 2009 at 12:09am: in my time in seasonal work, i've noticed that the way a woman carries herself is more sexy than what she wears. i think you will see pretty quick that wearing clothes which leave you more exposed is kind of impractical in mosquito infested denali. take a trip out to kantishna in a halter top, mini skirt, and no bug net and tell me if it's worth it.

and as for the wildlife, i wouldn't be going out into the woods by myself at night wearing aromatic scents. they attract some men, so why not bears? although i've never heard of that kind of thing happening first hand, but only from rumors, i still think you will adapt to your environment and start to get smellier along with your co workers. trust me, in alaska the standards are MUCH lower, but in a very good way. you will see what i mean.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sky Ibarra on January 24, 2009 at 12:42am: I am very excited to expereince the new standard Denali will afford me! Anything else? I have never done this before.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by mike on January 24, 2009 at 1:13am: well, i would give your new experience a chance before you make any decisions about it. i've ended up in strange places wondering what i was doing there before. it usually takes me about 2 weeks to get used to my new surroundings. each experience is completely different, with different people around in different years. one year can be wet, then the next can be dry. it will affect you on a level you might not have previously known before. always see the best in people, because you are going to be closer to those people in those few months, than you have been to anyone, except maybe family. and i would take lots of pictures, because otherwise a lot of stories you have might just end up being nothing but drunken bar stories.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sky Ibarra on January 30, 2009 at 2:58pm: Wow that is what I am looking for. I am looking for a profound change that is so vast that it is on a level I have not expereinced before. Thank you for the tips!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brenda on January 24, 2009 at 1:58am: It's really not practicle to be wearing girly girly things to the woods or the mountains. Yes bring some nice things, but remember your out in nature, not heading out to the movies or a mall. This is nature where high heels and dresses are really just out of place. Most of the time anyway you will be in a uniform. You can bring light stuff and when your off of work its fine but do u really want to walk around smelling like a purfume store? Also remember your there to serve the guest and make them happy, a lot of folks have extreme high sensitivity to heavy scents and it affects them in various ways. I would limit and tone down what you normally would wear. Of course you can use shampoo and conditioner even hair spray but tone it all way down. As for the bears, yep they can smell much greater then a human but just use common sence and you'll be fine. weather you are in Alaska or Yellowstone a big rule of thumb is do not travel alone. Always have at leat someone around. Always let people know wear your at.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sky Ibarra on January 30, 2009 at 3:01pm: Wow what a paradigm shift! I am so excited for the expereinces I am going to witness! And no I donnot like to smell like a perfume store! Just Hollister So. Cal! HEHE; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andrea on January 24, 2009 at 6:20am: I've always been a firm believer that insects are attracted to scents (i.e. hair sprays, deodorants, etc.), but some bug spray will help with that. Bug spray will not guarantee absolutely no bug bites, but it will greatly reduce your chances of getting those pesky mosquito bites.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sky Ibarra on January 30, 2009 at 3:02pm: Cute cat! I hope the scents donnot clash!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by akscootr on January 24, 2009 at 10:26am: I would say one or two sexy outfits at most for those nights @ the Bake. The rest of the time jeans and a regular shirt will do. Remember, you will be working a lot. The standards here reflect practicality and simplicity over looks; Besides a hottie in jeans is still a hottie. When I go into the woods I get a light long-sleeved shirt because it does wonders to prevent bug bites especially when used in conjunction with bug spray. The shoe trick Megan speaks of is also well-used in a sleeping bag with a towel wrapped around it. However, river rock can explode, so use rocks away from the river if possible.
Use the KISS principle in the wilderness "Keep It Simple" The more you know, the less stuff you have to lug around. You will have a chance to educate yourself on wilderness skills and I urge you to do so...
peace :0); ▶ Reply to This