Hardships, Peculiarities and Dangers of the Bush Lifestyle
Episode 71
Raised in the Alaska Bush

“Hard work, low pay.” So read a classified ad that Phil’s dad handed him years ago. Phil somehow passed the interview process and found himself employed as a packer on the Alaska Peninsula. There he met our guest, Tia Shoemaker for the first time. Tia joins us to talk about growing up in Bush Alaska, twice-yearly trips to the grocery store, jammed rifles, smoking airplane engines, thoughts on pink camo and three clean jokes.
Tia and her brother spent an inordinate amount of time with adults. Her parents operated a hunting lodge so during the season, guides and packers (people hired to lug heavy items over uneven terrain, not football players) served as tutors and mentors. The clients, often very successful in their fields of expertise but out of their element in the Bush, provided a different set of lessons.
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