A Cabin in the Wilderness: Raising a Family in Old Alaska

Growing Up Wild #2

by Janette Ross Riehle, Vernon Ross (Narrator), Sylvia Ross (Narrator)

Vernon and Sylvia were still living off-the-grid, in a rundown old cabin on the banks of a stream in the remote wilderness of Alaska. But now they began living there the year round, going to town only two or three times a year to buy groceries and other supplies, or when Sylvia was due to have another baby.
For the next six years, the two of them were kept busy trapping in the winters, catching salmon in the summers, raising ranch mink, building a new cabin and caring for four small children with two of them in diapers a good share of the time. On top of that, they had to constantly watch the kids to keep them from getting lost in the woods, falling into the creek or accidentally getting hurt.
While their life was peaceful, America was rapidly becoming involved in World War II. Then in 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Six months later Dutch Harbor was bombed and the islands of Atta and Atka, far out on the Aleutian Chain, were captured. There were rumors that Anchorage might also be attacked, and all of Alaska was immediately classified as a war zone. Vernon had already signed up for the draft and no one knew what the future might hold.
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 books are written in part from the perspective of the children, as well as that of their parents.

122 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 28, 2016

About the author

Janette 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.

Reviews

[Lindabundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alaska Adventure

I love reading about families and folks who pursue the alaska dream of living in their own. This book reminds me of my childhood because of when it was written. It also shared a great deal about how to live in the Bush. It was very entertaining and informative. If you like Alaska it's a good one to read.

[Sharon Snider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the way the author has such great descriptive ability.

I enjoyed the second book of the series as much as the first. Nice to read a book about Alaska that is well written and interesting. Going to read the third book soon.

[Myra L Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilderness Life

Very interesting life in the wilderness of Alaska! Vernon and Sylvia work very energetically to build a homestead and trap and fish! I have read the first two books and look forward to the third!

[Ray York · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

I very much enjoyed this second book and look forward to the next book in the series. These books are a great family read.

[Shelley Sands · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

I have now read book 1, book 2 and purchased book 3. Very happy with this series. True pioneers of Alaska and reads along nicely with no dry spells. Highly recommend!

[Laurel Mwakanandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story telling!

I read the first book and this second one and really enjoyed the story of Vernon and Sylvia and the growing families trials and tribulations with life in the wilderness! Excellent read!

[lynn stilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life in 1940s Wilderness Alaska

A couple goes to make a home in Alaska, ends up several years later with 4 kids and a homestead. The description of their labors, however, seems unlikely, given the extremely hard work.

[glenn tarpley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read

Entertaining and easy read. A glimpse into the old days through the eyes of someone who who lived it everyday.

[Pam Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Wonderful story of the life of many homesteaders. Looking forward to many more stories of this family as time goes on.

[Bill Kinman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read!

If you enjoyed the first book of this series you're sure to enjoy this one as well. Follow the lives of this young couple in the wilds of Alaska.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoying the series

[mary m miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read. I felt like I was making their journey with them as they founded a home, raised a family and made a living in the Alaska frontier. Looking forward to reading Book #3.

[Shelly Hern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read.


This would be a good read to any one interested in Alaska. Fun to learn what is needed to live like this.

[Sammie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing the story of Vernon and Silvia as they survive on the Alaskan Frontier.

[todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Book In The Series

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about the family and all the challenges they faced. Looking forward to starting the next book.

[Ronald Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest account of simple living

The story of a family struggling to survive and their eventual triumph. If you like simple living and hard work it makes for a good read.

[Paige Lounsberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting to hear about how WW2 affected Alaska

[charles rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It gives you a real look at what living off grid and raising a young family was like.

[Missy LeBlanc Ivey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This memoir had the potential of being a really good story, but I don't think was well written. The author didn't draw me in emotionally. I couldn't connect with the characters, though I do admire the hardships she and her family perservered through in the hard Alaskan winters.

[Richard Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rugged life has pretty much vanished. This account of following your intuition into wilderness living reminds me of the strength of character that self-reliance develops. Salt of the earth people I call them. But I would venture that Sylvia and her husband Vernon did not consider it rugged, just the way things are. And that's because they followed where their heart led them.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific read...interesting how people manage in certain circumstances with practically nothing!