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Growing Up Wild #1
To the Wilds of Alaska: A New Life in the Alaskan Wilderness
They lived off-the-grid, long before there was a grid. And while they weren’t survivalists they survived, and even thrived, for months at a time in the subarctic wilderness without electricity, telephones, indoor plumbing or ready access to medical services.
Sylvia, an attractive, strong-minded 14-year-old who loved the outdoors, came to Alaska with her family in 1934, hoping to escape the despair and poverty of the Depression years in southern Oregon. Although their first winter on a forested 160-acre homestead was spent in a log cabin without windows or a floor, it was still better than back in Oregon where things were tough.
Three years later, while working at a fish cannery in Anchorage, Sylvia came to the notice of a good-looking, good-natured young man who had spent the previous two winters on the remote Yentna River with his older brother. Vernon was looking for a wife to move to the wilderness with him and immediately decided that she was the one.
Six weeks later they were married and ready to begin their life together in a world that no longer exists—a world of sled dogs, moose meat, fresh trout, snowshoes, outboard motors and wooden dories. They worked hard and faced many dangers, but enjoyed their life depending largely on their own resources and on each other.
While written for the general public, this book, as well as the other three in the series, is also suitable for older children who are interested in how families lived in earlier times and in far different circumstances than their own. The later books are written in part from the perspective of the children, as well as that of their parents.
Sylvia, an attractive, strong-minded 14-year-old who loved the outdoors, came to Alaska with her family in 1934, hoping to escape the despair and poverty of the Depression years in southern Oregon. Although their first winter on a forested 160-acre homestead was spent in a log cabin without windows or a floor, it was still better than back in Oregon where things were tough.
Three years later, while working at a fish cannery in Anchorage, Sylvia came to the notice of a good-looking, good-natured young man who had spent the previous two winters on the remote Yentna River with his older brother. Vernon was looking for a wife to move to the wilderness with him and immediately decided that she was the one.
Six weeks later they were married and ready to begin their life together in a world that no longer exists—a world of sled dogs, moose meat, fresh trout, snowshoes, outboard motors and wooden dories. They worked hard and faced many dangers, but enjoyed their life depending largely on their own resources and on each other.
While written for the general public, this book, as well as the other three in the series, is also suitable for older children who are interested in how families lived in earlier times and in far different circumstances than their own. The later books are written in part from the perspective of the children, as well as that of their parents.
136 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 22, 2016
206 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Janette Ross Riehle
7 books2 followersJanette Ross Riehle was born in Anchorage, Alaska, as the oldest of four children. For the first six years of her life she and her family lived in a log cabin, forty miles from Anchorage by air and a two-day trip across Cook Inlet and up Alexander Creek by boat. She learned to read when she was five years old and has been an avid reader ever since. In addition, writing, in one form or another, has held a lifelong fascination for her. Having spent most of her childhood living in and exploring the outdoors, she still enjoys hiking, fishing, and (occasionally) hunting. She also puts in a large garden each summer, growing both vegetables and lots of flowers.
After graduating from Anchorage High School (now West High) in 1956, she went on to Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR on a National Merit Scholarship. She married Wallace Riehle during her senior year of college. Five years later, Wallace's job with the US Department of Agriculture took the family, which now included two daughters and one son, back to Palmer, Alaska. By the time they left the state in 1980, they had also lived in Wrangell, Juneau, and Soldotna.
In 1982, with her children grown, Janette returned to college in Indiana and during the next several years earned two Master's degrees in counseling. In addition to being ordained, pastoring one church and later serving on staff at another, she was also credentialed with the American Association of Pastoral Counseling. Returning to Alaska in 1993, she and her husband pastored a church in Homer for several years and she continued to do private practice counseling until 2010. The couple moved back to Palmer in 2000 and now live on several acres of her grandparents' original homestead. Over the more than 50 years of their marriage, their family has grown to include eight grandchildren and three great granddaughters.
In 2005, fulfilling a lifelong dream of telling the story of her family's part in the history of Alaska, she published the paperback Tales of the Trapline. The sequel, Tales of the Fishing Beach, came out in 2010. She has recently re-edited the books and created the 4-book Growing up Wild series of e-books.
After graduating from Anchorage High School (now West High) in 1956, she went on to Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR on a National Merit Scholarship. She married Wallace Riehle during her senior year of college. Five years later, Wallace's job with the US Department of Agriculture took the family, which now included two daughters and one son, back to Palmer, Alaska. By the time they left the state in 1980, they had also lived in Wrangell, Juneau, and Soldotna.
In 1982, with her children grown, Janette returned to college in Indiana and during the next several years earned two Master's degrees in counseling. In addition to being ordained, pastoring one church and later serving on staff at another, she was also credentialed with the American Association of Pastoral Counseling. Returning to Alaska in 1993, she and her husband pastored a church in Homer for several years and she continued to do private practice counseling until 2010. The couple moved back to Palmer in 2000 and now live on several acres of her grandparents' original homestead. Over the more than 50 years of their marriage, their family has grown to include eight grandchildren and three great granddaughters.
In 2005, fulfilling a lifelong dream of telling the story of her family's part in the history of Alaska, she published the paperback Tales of the Trapline. The sequel, Tales of the Fishing Beach, came out in 2010. She has recently re-edited the books and created the 4-book Growing up Wild series of e-books.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 16, 2019
Well done story of a young couple getting started in the Alaskan wilderness trapping.
I chose 5 stars because the book had a good balance of the difficulties and joys of living a hard a hard life in 1930's Alaska. Would recommend the book to anyone who likes to read of real life way off the grid. A solid sense of truthfulness is present about a way of life that is gone, in some ways, even for "off griders" in the 21st century.
I chose 5 stars because the book had a good balance of the difficulties and joys of living a hard a hard life in 1930's Alaska. Would recommend the book to anyone who likes to read of real life way off the grid. A solid sense of truthfulness is present about a way of life that is gone, in some ways, even for "off griders" in the 21st century.
September 30, 2018
A Step Back in Time
I really enjoyed this book, it is easy to read, descriptive of a way of life that is probably now gone. When survival was your number one option and your problems were real ones to which you had to deal with yourself and had no support mechanisms to fall back on. I recommend.
I really enjoyed this book, it is easy to read, descriptive of a way of life that is probably now gone. When survival was your number one option and your problems were real ones to which you had to deal with yourself and had no support mechanisms to fall back on. I recommend.
July 3, 2020
A real-life story about life in the Alaskan wilderness
An excellent book about the hard but satisfying life of homesteading, trapping, and fishing on the Alaskan wilderness. Five stars well deserved, now on to the next book in the series.
An excellent book about the hard but satisfying life of homesteading, trapping, and fishing on the Alaskan wilderness. Five stars well deserved, now on to the next book in the series.
November 5, 2023
Great Story Telling
These are the kind of memoirs I really enjoy. The writer has done a great job of bringing the reader into the details of her life in the wilderness. I can’t wait to start reading the next book in the series.
These are the kind of memoirs I really enjoy. The writer has done a great job of bringing the reader into the details of her life in the wilderness. I can’t wait to start reading the next book in the series.
June 10, 2017
Not a great work of literature rather like someone's diary. Quite interesting however and worth reading. Don't think I will read the following sections.
November 23, 2017
Good reading
. Should have been a lot longer . Just getting into the book when it ended. Will read the other books
. Should have been a lot longer . Just getting into the book when it ended. Will read the other books
April 7, 2018
Great!
Really enjoyed this . It's short, but continues in the next book of the series. I'm about to start that one now..
Really enjoyed this . It's short, but continues in the next book of the series. I'm about to start that one now..
April 19, 2018
Good book
May 25, 2019
Memoir of the author's family's life in Alaska in the 1930s.
November 18, 2019
This is fiction based on fact. I enjoyed reading about the life of these people who homesteaded Alaska during the depression. I will be reading the rest of the series.
May 18, 2020
Fun book of the old days
First hand knowledge of a life that isn't lived now a days. I haven't spent much time in Alaska but I am eager.
First hand knowledge of a life that isn't lived now a days. I haven't spent much time in Alaska but I am eager.
November 16, 2020
Interesting read. True story of living in the aAlaskan wilderness.
February 1, 2021
Wilds of.alaska
Excellent read!! I will read the next three books in the series for sure!! Hopefully they will be as good as this one!!
Excellent read!! I will read the next three books in the series for sure!! Hopefully they will be as good as this one!!
February 3, 2022
Fast and interesting narrative
This Account of a young couple starting remote trapping is an engaging story with the twists and turns of frontier life.
This Account of a young couple starting remote trapping is an engaging story with the twists and turns of frontier life.
June 9, 2016
This was a good description of Alaska in the 30s, but it is a 4 part series and I wish it had been perhaps only 2 books. I may go look up the rest of them, but I haven't decided yet. I have several other books on Alaska that seem slightly more compelling.
August 30, 2016
Interesting read. The author did a good job of keeping me reading.
Enjoyed the story telling ability of the author. I'm looking forward to reading the next book of the series. Nice to read a book about Alaska settlement in the early years.
Enjoyed the story telling ability of the author. I'm looking forward to reading the next book of the series. Nice to read a book about Alaska settlement in the early years.
October 4, 2016
Ross family adventure
A great story of a young couple meeting and joining together and setting up a family in early Alaska. A very enjoyable read and I'm looking for the next one in the series.
A great story of a young couple meeting and joining together and setting up a family in early Alaska. A very enjoyable read and I'm looking for the next one in the series.
November 8, 2016
A great read!
Having read another book by Janette about growing up between set netting and trapping, I was pleasantly surprised to come upon this "prequel". I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Steve Peterson, Soldotna, Alaska
Having read another book by Janette about growing up between set netting and trapping, I was pleasantly surprised to come upon this "prequel". I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Steve Peterson, Soldotna, Alaska
August 3, 2016
Summer read
Easy delightful summer read. Loved Sylvia and Vernon, their families and friends. I have been reading books based in Alaska, ahead of my trip in September.
Easy delightful summer read. Loved Sylvia and Vernon, their families and friends. I have been reading books based in Alaska, ahead of my trip in September.
September 9, 2016
Educational and entertaining.this is real real life.
This is a very good non-fiction book, describes daily struggles of life in the wilderness.
Hope others enjoy it as much as I did
This is a very good non-fiction book, describes daily struggles of life in the wilderness.
Hope others enjoy it as much as I did
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews