Chicken, AK It’s hard to live here. On the good side, NO TAXES! 2013

Chicken, AK in unincorporated and has no taxes, in fact the people are paid by the state government to live there!   They each get about $1,000/year from the states oil revenues.  Of course that means that the 3 folks who call this home get no services.  Gold mining is one way to supplement your income.. Virtually all of the creek and river beds are already claimed and have been worked already.  You can lease and rework one, they always will give more gold up.  It is very hard work!  The large company that worked this dredge n the 1980’s sold this property to the mining family that now owns the campground.  They live here for about 9 months a year and winter n Arizona.  I’d say they  do ok, consider they both work 24/7!

Because we are in top of 600 feet of perma-frost, all water and waste must be trucked in and out.  They run a diesel generator 24/7 when they are here, he will use a tank truck of fuel in 2 years!  Supplies for the small restaurant are ordered form Tok, AK and someone makes 160 trip to get them.  Law & Order, there are no policing agencies, a State Trooper in not a common site.  Maybe 1 a month to get a cinnamon bun.

 

 

 

 

That’s all the news I have to report from Chicken folks.  Our friend R.W.B. Brad Ross sent me a photo (below) about identical to this one that he took in 2002.

Thanks Brad!

 

We drove to Tok on Thursday, a very easy 80 mile run through the woods.  We were as pleased as Punch when we left the dirt about 2 miles from Chicken!

 

 

 

300 miles of dusty roads leave a lasting memory of the cars and campers.  it was nice to be back to $4.25 fuel too!

 

 

 

Today is Friday, we are on to Fairbanks where our landing gear replacements are waiting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later news, we have arrived in Fairbanks with no issues as it was a short (200 mile) drive on good road.  I’ve recovered my new legs, they are correct parts!  We got a large box of mail for Anne-Marie to sort thru.  We have tours scheduled for next 2 days, than we have 2 days of which is when  will repair my legs.