Bunny Boots- Heavy rubber boots to keep your feet warm and dry.
Breakup- When the ice begins to melt and the rivers start to flow; the end of winter!
The Bush- Any part of Alaska inaccessible by road.
Bush Pilot- A pilot who flies small airplanes (usually equipped with floats or skis) to places inaccessible by road!
Cache- Small structure built on stilts to protect food from animals.
Cheechako- A newbie to Alaska. Opposite of a Sourdough.
Chum- Another name for a dog salmon.
Iditarod- Held annually in March, the Iditarod is a 1000-mile dog sled race from Anchorage to Nome.
Lower 48- Local reference to the continental U.S.
Midnight Sun- It's for real! (Only in the summer, of course!)
Mukluks- Seal-skin or reindeer-skin boots.
Outside- Somewhere not in Alaska. Commonly used when talking about vacation plans: "I'm going outside!"
Quiviut- Wool from the Alaskan musk ox.
Sourdough- Anyone who has endured an Alaskan winter, or an old-time resident who is 'sour on the country, but without enough dough to get out.'
Ulu- A fan shaped knife. |