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Narrator: THIS IS "BUYING ALASKA,"
WHERE ONE FRONTIER COUPLE WANTS LIFE ON A SECLUDED LAKE
FAR INTO THE WILD.
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE MAY BUMP INTO A BEAR,
BUT I'M PACKING HEAT.
Narrator: THERE'S NO WAY IN BUT THROUGH MUD.
OHH.
Narrator: OR LANDING ON WATER.
AND IT'S A BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL...
Connelly: THIS PROPERTY DOES NOT HAVE ITS OWN WATER SYSTEM.
Narrator: ...EVERYWHERE THEY TURN.
Brandon: IS THAT A BEAR?
Narrator: THIS IS ALASKA, THE LAST AMERICAN FRONTIER.
Woman: WOW.
Narrator: THESE ARE THE DREAMERS
WHO WANT TO LEAVE THE MANIC RUSH OF THE CITY BEHIND
AND OWN A PIECE OF THE UNTAMED NORTH.
FROM BOATHOUSES TO OUTHOUSES,
WHERE'S THE LIGHTS?
...TO JUST PLAIN BEARS.
THIS IS THE LAST AMERICAN OUTPOST OF WILDERNESS.
FOR THESE ADVENTUROUS HOMEBUYERS,
IT'S ALASKA OR BUST.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
THIS FRONTIER COUPLE IS MOVING WAY OUT INTO THE ALASKA WILD.
HANNA'S AN ALASKAN FRONTIER WOMAN,
BUT HER NEWLYWED HUSBAND, BRANDON, IS NOT.
HE MOVED UP FROM THE LOWER 48 SIX YEARS AGO.
Brandon: I GREW UP IN MINNESOTA,
AND I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
I FIGURED ALASKA WAS AS FAR AWAY FROM THAT AS I COULD GET.
Narrator: FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS,
THEY'VE RENTED A HOME TOGETHER IN THE WOODS
OUTSIDE THE SEAPORT TOWN OF HOMER ON THE KENAI PENINSULA.
HANNA'S TRIED HER BEST TO TEACH BRANDON
HOW TO ROUGH IT IN ALASKA.
Brandon: I'VE LEARNED HOW TO FIX MACHINES,
COLLECT RAIN WATER OFF THE ROOF.
Narrator: TOGETHER, THEY'VE EVEN HELPED BUILD A LOG CABIN
FROM THE GROUND UP FOR HANNA'S PARENTS.
THAT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO WITH HANNA.
Narrator: NOW THAT THEY'RE MARRIED,
THEY WANT TO FIND THEIR OWN HOUSE
OUT IN THE WILD RIGHT ON A LAKE.
Hanna: IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A WONDERFUL VIEW
OUT OF THE CABIN WITH THE LAKE CLOSE BY
AND NOT HAVING THE CONSTANT TRAFFIC
OR THE CONSTANT CARS GOING BY.
Brandon: AND WE LIKE TO GO FISHING
AND TRY TO GET AS MUCH FOOD AS WE CAN TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT.
I DON'T MIND BEING WITHOUT WATER OR ELECTRICITY
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE TO FIND A PLACE
THAT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO DO ON IT.
Brandon: I AM FINE WITHOUT HAVING A BATHROOM,
BUT IF IT HAD ONE, THAT'D BE PRETTY AWESOME.
IT'D DEFINITELY BE NICE
IF THE CABIN HAD ITS OWN SOURCE OF WATER.
Narrator: THEY'VE SET THEIR BUDGET AT $100,000.
THEY'VE HIRED REALTOR SCOTT CONNELLY.
GOOD TO MEET UP WITH YOU GUYS.
HOPE YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR TRIP HERE.
ALSO KNOWN AS THE LAND MAN,
HIS SPECIALTY IS HARD-TO-GET-TO PROPERTIES
DEEP IN THE WILDERNESS.
SCOTT THINKS ADVENTURE SEEKERS HANNA AND BRANDON
WILL LIKE A LITTLE-KNOWN AREA NAMED CARIBOU LAKE.
CARIBOU LAKE IS LOCATED ABOUT SEVEN MILES
OFF THE END OF THE ROAD SYSTEM EAST OF HOMER, ALASKA.
Narrator: CARIBOU LAKE IS ONE OF ONLY A COUPLE OF LAKES
ON THE LOWER KENAI PENINSULA.
IT'S JUST TWO MILES LONG, HIDDEN IN THE WOODS.
THE NEAREST GROCERY STORE IS 20 MILES AWAY,
BUT IT'S EASY TO CATCH YOUR OWN DINNER.
THE WATERS ARE FILLED WITH KONKANI,
A TYPE OF SALMON,
AND ON LAND, THERE ARE PLENTY OF ANIMALS TO HUNT...
EXCEPT ONE.
I HAVEN'T SEEN CARIBOU AROUND CARIBOU LAKE
FOR PROBABLY 20 YEARS.
[ CARIBOU BELLOWS ]
Narrator: ONLY A FEW BRAVE ALASKAN ADVENTURERS
LIVE YEAR-ROUND ON CARIBOU LAKE
BECAUSE IT'S SO TOUGH TO GET THERE.
REALLY, THE ONLY PRACTICAL WAY TO GET OUT HERE
IS BY SNOW MACHINE IN THE WINTER TIME
OR FOUR-WHEELERS OR A FLOAT PLANE DURING THE SUMMER.
Narrator: LAST YEAR, ONE VISITOR SET OUT ON HIS FOUR-WHEELER
ON A RAINY NIGHT AND RAN OUT OF GAS.
SEARCHERS FOUND HIM COMPLETELY LOST, WANDERING THE TRAILS.
HE WAS LUCKY.
IN THESE ISOLATED AREAS,
YOU CAN COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH A HUNGRY ANIMAL AT ANY MOMENT.
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE MAY BUMP INTO A BEAR,
BUT I'M PACKING HEAT.
HOPEFULLY, WE WON'T HAVE TO USE IT.
JUST KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED AND FOLLOW ME.
Narrator: THE TREK TO CARIBOU LAKE FROM HOMER
TAKES 45 MINUTES BY ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE
IN THE SUMMER WHEN THE GROUND IS SOFT,
BUT ONLY 15 MINUTES BY SNOW MACHINE IN THE WINTER
WHEN THE TRAIL IS FIRMLY PACKED WITH SNOW.
BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DEEP HOLES
THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO POWER THROUGH.
SOUNDS GOOD.
Narrator: AND THAT'S FINE WITH BRANDON AND HANNA.
IT'S STILL CLOSE ENOUGH TO WHERE THEY WORK IN HOMER.
VOLUNTEERS MAINTAIN THESE TRAILS.
THEY PLACE WOODEN BOARDS OVER TROUBLE SPOTS
THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE IMPASSABLE.
Hanna: IT'S A LOT OF BUMPS
AND SOME HAIRY SPOTS -- IT WAS REALLY MUDDY.
Brandon: WHOA! LOOK AT THAT.
THAT IS UGLY.
[ CHUCKLES ] WE GONNA MAKE IT?
I DON'T KNOW.
WITH THIS RAIN,
THE SOFT SPOTS GET REAL SOFT REAL QUICK.
IS THIS PRETTY COMMON OUT HERE?
THERE'S PROBABLY A DOZEN SPOTS LIKE THIS ALONG THE WAY.
IF YOU STOP AND YOU START SPINNING YOUR TIRES,
CUT OFF ON THE GAS -- YOU'LL JUST DIG A HOLE.
YOU'RE BETTER OFF TRYING TO BACK OUT
OR PULL YOU OUT WITH A WINCH.
WELL, THIS IS IT.
AND WHAT WAS THAT?
THAT WAS ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF RIDE.
SEEMED LIKE IT.
WHEN THINGS DRY OUT A LITTLE,
YOU CAN DO IT IN 45 MINUTES, COMFORTABLY.
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS LOCATION?
I LIKE THAT IT'S RIGHT ON THE WATER.
[ LAUGHS ] DO THE SWANS COME WITH THE HOUSE, SCOTT?
THESE ARE THE CARIBOU LAKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SWANS.
I PAY EXTRA MONEY TO HAVE THEM SWIM BY
WHEN I'M SHOWING PROPERTY OUT HERE.
Narrator: THERE'S NO CITY POWER, NO CITY WATER,
BUT THIS PROPERTY IS TOTALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT.
IT HAS A GENERATOR SHED, A BATH HOUSE, AND AN OUTHOUSE,
ALONG WITH THE MAIN CABIN.
Connelly: ALL RIGHT, YOU READY TO TAKE A LOOK?
Brandon: YEAH.
OKAY, WATCH YOUR STEP.
SO, THIS IS YOUR GENERATOR SHACK.
THEY DON'T HAVE A BIG, FANCY GENERATOR HERE,
BUT THEY DO HAVE A BATTERY BANK AND AN INVERTER,
SO YOU RUN YOUR GENERATOR OFF OF THAT FOR A WHILE.
Hanna: LOOKS WELL-BUILT.
I BELIEVE IT IS.
YEAH, THAT'D BE NICE IN THE WINTER, HUH?
JUST TURN IT ON FROM THE HOUSE.
Narrator: YOU DON'T HAVE TO VENTURE OUT
INTO THE FREEZING WINTER COLD TO START THE GENERATOR.
YOU JUST PUSH A BUTTON IN THE HOUSE.
THAT'S A BIG BONUS.
Brandon: WHAT ARE THESE?
Connelly: THOSE ARE SOLAR PANELS.
YEAH.
Hanna: THEY HAVE A BATTERY BANK AND STORE UP THE SUNLIGHT
AND USE THAT AS ENERGY.
THAT'S A PRETTY AWESOME FEATURE.
I LIKE THE BOARDWALK.
PROBABLY MAKES IT EASIER IN THE WINTER.
Narrator: MOST HOMES OUT HERE DON'T HAVE INDOOR PLUMBING.
INSTEAD, YOU USUALLY FIND AN OUTHOUSE.
KIND OF BUILDS YOU UP, MAKES YOU A LITTLE MORE TOUGH.
WOW.
OOH, IT'S GOT A LID.
NOT TOO SMELLY.
I LIKE THE RED HEAT LAMP.
IT'LL KEEP YOU WARM WHILE YOU'RE IN THERE.
I WOULD SAY THAT THIS OUTHOUSE HAS A REALLY ALASKAN FEEL.
IT'S RUSTIC, AND IT LOOKS REALLY COMFY.
Connelly: WELL, LET'S MOVE ON HERE.
I GOT SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL I WANT TO SHOW YOU
THAT I THINK YOU'RE GONNA LIKE.
ALL RIGHT.
OOH, HOO, HOO!
OOH!
OH, WOW.
THAT'S AMAZING.
YOU GOT A FULL BATH, SHOWER.
THE BATH HOUSE IS INCREDIBLE.
IT'S GOT EVERYTHING FINISHED.
IT HAS A SHOWER, A TUB, A SINK.
Narrator: NOT WHAT YOU'D NORMALLY FIND OUT IN THE WILDERNESS,
AND BEHIND THIS SHOWER CURTAIN
IS ONE MORE FEATURE THEY'D NEVER EXPECT.
Narrator: NEWLYWEDS BRANDON AND HANNA
WANT A REMOTE CABIN ON AN ISOLATED LAKE, CARIBOU LAKE.
HERE, DIE-HARD ALASKANS LIVE OFF THE GRID.
THERE'S NO CITY POWER OR WATER,
EVEN WHEN THERE'S A LUXURY LIKE A BATH HOUSE.
Brandon: HOLDING TANK? IS THAT WHAT THAT IS?
Connelly: YES, THIS PROPERTY DOES NOT HAVE ITS OWN WATER SYSTEM OR WELL.
Brandon: THE BATH HOUSE AND THE SHOWER SEEMS GREAT,
BUT NO RUNNING WATER.
Narrator: YOU HAVE TO BRING WATER FROM THE LAKE
ON THE PROPERTY
OR FROM THE CLOSEST FRESHWATER SPRING TWO MILES AWAY.
Connelly: SO, WHAT THEY DO IS,
THEY'VE GOT LARGE WATER TANKS THAT THEY PUT ON A TRAILER,
FILL 'EM UP AT THE SPRING, BRING IT BACK HERE,
PUMP IT INTO THE HOLDING TANK,
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT WATER FOR YOUR HOT-WATER HEATER.
THE 50-GALLON TANK HOLDS ENOUGH FOR 10 SHORT SHOWERS
BEFORE THE WATER RUNS OUT.
AND IN THE DEAD OF WINTER,
YOU HAVE TO TRUDGE THROUGH FOUR FEET OF SNOW
IN SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES TO GET TO THE BATH HOUSE.
AND THAT MIGHT JUST BE TOO MUCH WORK FOR A SHOWER.
Narrator: ACROSS THE LAWN IS THE MAIN CABIN.
WOW.
SEEING THE BATH HOUSE AND HOW NICE IT WAS,
I WAS EXPECTING TO SEE A LITTLE MORE FINISHED WORK
INSIDE THE HOUSE.
BUT IT LOOKS STURDY.
NO SINK?
Connelly: NO SINK, NO RUNNING WATER.
THERE'S NO SINK.
WHY?
YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET OUR DISHES DONE.
Narrator: IN ALASKA, MANY DRY CABINS DON'T HAVE A SINK.
INSTEAD, YOU WASH YOUR DISHES IN A DISH PAN.
UPSTAIRS IS THE BEDROOM.
Hanna: OOH.
YOU COULD FIT A LOT OF PEOPLE UP HERE.
Brandon: THAT'S AN INTERESTING SPOT TO HAVE TOILET PAPER.
Connelly: I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THEY HAD A SMALL TOILET OF SOME SORT
JUST TO AVOID HAVING TO GO OUTSIDE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN THE WINTER.
I'D BE OPEN TO HAVING A HONEY BUCKET UP HERE,
I GUESS, IN THE WINTERS.
Narrator: HONEY BUCKETS ARE ALASKA'S VERSION OF A BEDPAN.
WHEN INDOOR PLUMBING ISN'T AN OPTION,
IT'S ANOTHER CHOICE.
THEY'RE NOT COMMON IN THE LOWER 48,
BUT YOU STILL FIND A LOT OF THEM IN ALASKA.
Connelly: HERE YOU GO.
YEAH.
Narrator: THERE MAY NOT BE INDOOR PLUMBING,
BUT THE VIEW MAKES UP FOR IT.
Hanna: THE LAKE, THERE'S THE MOUNTAINS.
IT'S JUST AN AMAZING VIEW.
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PROPERTY?
ONE OF MY FAVORITE FEATURES IS THE BATH HOUSE.
THAT'S REALLY NICE.
SOLAR PANELS ARE GREAT.
CHARGING ALL THE TIME. YEP.
I HAVE TO ASK, HOW MUCH?
WELL...
...THEY'RE ASKING $110,000.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT --
OVER!
BUT IT HAS EVERYTHING YOU SAID YOU WERE LOOKING FOR.
IT'S READY TO BE LIVED IN.
YEAH.
WELL, WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE TO SEE.
SHOULD WE HOP ON THE WHEELERS AND GET GOING?
YEAH, LET'S GO.
Narrator: THE NEXT HOME ON CARIBOU LAKE IS CLOSER TO HOMER.
IT'S A SHORTER TRIP TO TOWN,
BUT THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE LIVING THERE.
IT HAD MORE OF AN IN-TOWN FEEL TO IT,
WHICH CAN BE GOOD.
I WAS HOPING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE REMOTE,
AND THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF CABINS CLOSE BY.
HUH.
WOW.
I KNOW, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON HERE, ISN'T THERE?
Narrator: THIS PROPERTY IS SURROUNDED BY STATE LAND.
IT FEATURES A MAIN CABIN, A GENERATOR SHACK,
A BARN, AND PARKING FOR MORE THAN JUST OFF-ROAD VEHICLES.
WHAT'S THIS DOWN HERE?
WELL, THIS IS FOR PARKING A FLOAT PLANE OR A BOAT.
Narrator: YOU CAN GET TO THIS HOME BY LAND OR SEA.
THE HARBOR IS A PRETTY NEAT IDEA.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET A FLOAT PLANE IN HERE
IF WE WANTED TO HAUL IN A BUNCH OF SUPPLIES.
Narrator: FLYING SUPPLIES IN FROM HOMER
WILL COST ABOUT $500 A TRIP,
BUT IT'S EASIER THAN HAULING ITEMS IN BY ATV
OR SNOW MACHINE.
[ LAUGHS ]
WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?
THE FIRST THING I SEE IS THIS POST THAT'S MISSING.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HOLDING UP THE ROOF,
SO I'M NOT SURE HOW SAFE IT IS TO BE IN HERE.
Connelly: THE OWNER BACKED HIS BULLDOZER INTO THAT.
HE IS PLANNING ON REPAIRING IT JUST 'CAUSE IT LOOKS BAD,
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN THAT WAY FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
THAT'S A LITTLE CONCERNING THAT IT WASN'T NEVER FIXED.
THE LOG SPLITTER'S INCLUDED IN THE SALE.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE A LOG SPLITTER.
IT MAKES IT EASY. [ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator: THERE'S NO CITY GAS OR ELECTRIC HERE,
SO YOU NEED WOOD TO STAY WARM,
BUT THE PROPERTY IS NEXT TO STATE LAND,
WHERE IT'S FAIR GAME TO CHOP DOWN ALL THE FIREWOOD YOU NEED.
THIS IS THE GENERATOR SHACK/WORKSHOP.
YOU GOT TWO GENERATORS.
A SMALL CABIN CAN USUALLY RUN ON ONE SMALL 7-KILOWATT GENERATOR,
BUT THIS HOME HAS DOUBLE THE GENERATOR POWER.
IT SEEMS LIKE OVERKILL, HAVING THE TWO HUGE GENERATORS,
BUT I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT'S INSIDE TO USE THIS MUCH POWER.
LET'S GO TAKE A LOOK AT THE HOUSE.
I LOOK OVER AT THE DECK AND GO, "WHAT?"
BRANDON, LOOK AT THAT ONE.
IT'S HOLDING ON BY JUST A THREAD.
PROBABLY SHOULDN'T STAND UNDERNEATH IT.
I MEAN -- [ LAUGHS ] I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING ANYWHERE,
BUT IT NEEDS TO BE STRAIGHTENED OUT,
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'LL HOLD FOR A LITTLE BIT
UNTIL IT GETS FIXED.
MAYBE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? STURDY?
WOW.
SO, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE OUR KITCHEN HERE.
IT'S VERY WELL SET UP. GOT AN ELECTRIC REFRIGERATOR.
MICROWAVE. THAT'S ALWAYS HANDY.
I CAN DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND WHY THEY NEED THOSE BIG GENERATORS.
DOUBLE SINK. YOU GOT THAT SPRING-FED WATER.
Narrator: WATER FROM AN UNDERGROUND SPRING
ON THE PROPERTY GETS PUMPED INTO THE HOUSE.
HAVING SPRING WATER IN THE HOUSE IS A GREAT FEATURE TO HAVE.
IT MEANS NO HAULING WATER,
AND YOU JUST TURN ON THE FAUCET, AND YOU GOT YOUR WATER.
I LIKE THE STOVE. THAT'D BE NICE. THAT'S GREAT.
SO, WITH A PROPANE STOVE,
OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE TO GET THE PROPANE HERE.
100-POUND TANK AND A SLED AND TOW IT BEHIND THE SNOW MACHINE.
OKAY.
THAT WOULD LAST YOU FOR YEARS.
I MAY HAVE JUDGED THIS HOUSE A LITTLE SOON.
NOW IT'S GETTING TO BE A LITTLE EXCITING.
I GOT SOMETHING HERE I WANT TO SHOW YOU
THAT I DON'T THINK YOU'RE EXPECTING TO SEE.
Brandon: YEAH?
Narrator: IN A REMOTE REGION OF ALASKA LIES CARIBOU LAKE.
NO ROADS IN OR OUT.
NEWLYWEDS BRANDON AND HANNA WANT A PLACE ON THE LAKE.
WOW.
BUT THAT USUALLY MEANS ROUGHING IT.
I GOT SOMETHING HERE I WANT TO SHOW YOU
THAT I DON'T THINK YOU'RE EXPECTING TO SEE.
Brandon: YEAH?
Hanna: TOILETS!
HE OPENS THE DOOR, AND BOOM, THERE'S THE TOILET.
IT'S PRETTY ODD TO SEE PLUMBING WAY OUT HERE IN THIS WILDERNESS.
THIS WAS AN AMENITY THAT I THINK WE'D LOVE TO HAVE.
Narrator: THE BATHROOM MAY NOT LOOK LIKE MUCH,
BUT COMPARED TO AN OUTHOUSE, IT'S A LUXURY.
THERE IS A FULL-BLOWN SEPTIC SYSTEM ON THIS PROPERTY,
SO EVERYTHING GOES AWAY JUST LIKE IT DOES IN A REAL HOUSE.
OH. WOW.
Narrator: DURING ALASKAN WINTERS,
THE GROUND FREEZES TO FOUR FEET DOWN,
AND THE PIPES DO, TOO.
BUT THE PIPES INTO THIS HOUSE ARE BELOW THE FROST LINE,
SO THE WATER DOESN'T FREEZE
AND THE PLUMBING RUNS SMOOTHLY ALL YEAR-ROUND.
WOW.
ROOM TO SIT OUT HERE AND RELAX
AFTER A LONG DAY OF SNOW MACHINING.
Connelly: SO, THIS IS SORT OF THE MASTER SUITE HERE.
FANCY.
FULL-SIZED SHOWER.
WASHER AND DRYER.
Hanna: IT'S PRETTY EXCITING TO THINK
OF GOING SIX MILES OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
AND STILL BEING ABLE TO TAKE A SHOWER
AND WASH YOUR CLOTHES.
BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE, THOUGH.
YEAH.
Hanna: THE SPACE AND ALL THE AMENITIES
WITH THE WATER AND THE STOVE AND THE SEWER.
I'D SAY THERE'S A LITTLE EXTRA MAINTENANCE
TO BE DONE THAN I'D LIKE TO DO.
THE POLE BARN'S MISSING A BEAM.
THE PORCH NEEDS SOME WORK, SO --
BUT I DON'T THINK IT'D BE A LOT OF WORK.
SO, SCOTT, WHAT ARE THEY ASKING?
THEY'RE ASKING...
...$98,000.
HMM.
STEEP.
YEAH, THAT'S ABOUT THE TOP OF OUR RANGE,
BUT IT'S IN THE RANGE.
EVEN WITH ALL THE WORK,
WE ARE DEFINITELY GONNA CONSIDER IT.
OKAY. WELL, HAVE YOU SEEN ENOUGH HERE?
YEAH.
WELL, THIS IS IT.
ALL RIGHT!
IT LOOKS SMALL,
AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
Narrator: THIS PROPERTY HAS A SMALL CABIN,
AN OUT BUILDING FOR A GENERATOR, AND AN OUTHOUSE.
IT'S ALL ON 160 FEET OF PRIVATE SHORELINE ON CARIBOU LAKE.
BUT TO GET THERE, THEY HAVE TO CROSS OVER A RAVINE.
BUILD A BRIDGE.
CROSSING THIS RAVINE IS NOT SOMETHING
I WANT TO DEAL WITH EVERY DAY.
Narrator: A SMALL GENERATOR SHED POWERS THE CABIN.
YOU CAN SEE, YOU GOT A CABLE THAT RUNS INTO THE HOUSE,
AND THAT'S WIRED INTO A BREAKER BOX IN THERE,
AND THERE'S LIGHTS AND LIGHT SWITCHES AND EVERYTHING.
BUT THE GENERATOR SHED IS ONLY A SHED AND NOTHING ELSE.
DOES IT COME WITH A GENERATOR?
NOT PART OF THE DEAL.
Hanna: WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A GENERATOR
TO BE ABLE TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START WITH THAT.
Narrator: HANNA AND BRANDON WILL HAVE TO HAUL A GENERATOR
BY ATV OR SNOW MACHINE,
AND LARGER ONES WEIGH A COUPLE HUNDRED POUNDS.
OKAY, SHOULD WE GO TAKE A LOOK AT THE OUTHOUSE?
OKAY.
OKAY, YOU READY? YOU WANT TO SMELL IT FIRST?
DOES IT SMELL TOO BAD IN THERE?
NOPE, DOESN'T LOOK TOO FULL, EITHER.
WELL, GOOD.
Narrator: THE OUTHOUSE HASN'T BEEN USED TOO OFTEN,
SO IT WON'T NEED MAINTENANCE FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR.
YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY, OUTHOUSES FILL UP.
YEAH.
AND YOU GOT TO DIG ANOTHER HOLE.
HEY, LOOK OVER THERE.
IS THAT A BEAR?
OOH, YEAH, I SEE IT.
A BROWN BEAR, BLACK BEAR, MOOSE.
PRETTY COMMON TO SEE.
Hanna: SEEING THIS BROWN BEAR RIGHT IN THE FRONT YARD
MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS.
AFTER YOU.
WOW.
RUSTIC.
I LIKE THE TABLE.
I LIKE THIS SIZE.
PROBABLY FIT A FEW MORE IN HERE.
GOT TO BE GOOD FRIENDS IF YOU'RE GONNA FIT SOME MORE IN.
Hanna: IT LOOKS VERY COZY AND WARM AND SMALL
AND SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE EASY TO LIVE IN, I THINK.
ARE THOSE OUR COORDINATES?
THOSE ARE THE ACTUAL COORDINATES.
GOOD IN EMERGENCY, CAN BE A LIFESAVER.
SEEING THE COORDINATES KIND OF HIT HOME FOR US.
YOU CAN'T CALL AND SAY,
"HEY, COME PICK ME UP ON CARIBOU LAKE."
YOU HAVE TO GIVE 'EM YOUR COORDINATES.
OF COURSE, CELLPHONES DON'T WORK OUT HERE.
ALL COMMUNICATION IS BY RADIO.
Narrator: THE NEAREST PLACE WHERE CELLPHONES WILL WORK
IS ON TOP OF A HILL THREE MILES AWAY.
IT'S GOT JUST A LITTLE GRAY WATER SINK.
NO ACTUAL RUNNING WATER.
THIS KITCHEN IS PRETTY SIMPLE.
ALL IT HAS IS A SINK AND A BUCKET.
THERE'S NO HOLDING TANK.
Narrator: RESIDENTS CAN USE LAKE WATER TO WASH DISHES,
OR THEY CAN DIG A WELL.
BUT THE EASIEST PLACE TO GET DRINKING WATER
IS THE SPRING ABOUT TEN MINUTES AWAY.
Hanna: WE'D HAVE TO BE HAULING IT IN FIVE GALLONS,
WHICH IS KIND OF A PAIN.
A STOVE WOULD BE NICE, TOO,
OTHERWISE WE'RE GONNA BE HAULING PROPANE.
THAT'S TRUE.
Narrator: A STOVE IS TOO HEAVY TO HAUL IN ON A SMALL ATV.
THEY'LL HAVE TO GET A LARGER TRAILER
AND ALSO WAIT UNTIL THE GROUND ISN'T SO MUDDY.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S STARTING TO ADD UP,
THE THINGS WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIX OR CHANGE ABOUT IT.
WANT TO TAKE A LOOK OUT BACK?
YEAH, LET'S CHECK IT OUT.
WELL, IT'S NOT FINISHED, BUT --
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE ORIGINAL CABIN, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
AND THEN HE PUT THE BIG PART ON AS AN ADDITION.
Hanna: ONE THING I'VE NOTICED SO FAR
IS THAT THERE'S REALLY NO PLACE TO TAKE A SHOWER OR BATH
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THAT'S A REALLY BIG NEGATIVE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.
WELL, IT SEEMS PRETTY SIMPLE, BUT THAT'S GOOD FOR US.
NO, COMFORTABLE.
KEEP YOU WARM.
WHAT ARE THEY ASKING FOR?
THEY'RE ASKING...
$59,000.
YEAH.
A LITTLE BIT OF WORK TO DO,
BUT WE COULD MOVE IN
AND PROBABLY BE COMFORTABLE
FOR A YEAR OR TWO AND THEN START WORKING.
YEAH, THAT'D BE NICE.
THE PRICE SEEMS GREAT.
WE'D HAVE SOME EXTRA MONEY LEFT OVER
TO MAYBE HIRE SOMEONE TO COME OUT HERE
AND HELP BUILD A BATH HOUSE.
OVERALL, I REALLY LIKE IT.
LIVABLE, FOR SURE, BUT IT'S NOT SUPER COMFORTABLE JUST YET.
Narrator: THREE REMOTE CABINS IN THE ALASKAN WILDERNESS.
WHICH ONE WILL THEY CHOOSE?
Narrator: BRANDON AND HANNA HAVE TRAVELED
THROUGH THE RUGGED BACKWOODS OF ALASKA
TO TOUR THREE RUSTIC CABINS,
BUT WHICH ONE WILL BE THE BEST FIT
FOR THEIR FRONTIER LIFESTYLE?
WELL, WE SAW SOME GOOD PROPERTIES.
WHAT'D YOU THINK OF THE CABIN WITH THE BATH HOUSE?
THE BATH HOUSE WAS AMAZING.
ONE DOWNSIDE WOULD BE THAT WE HAVE TO HAUL ALL OUR WATER
OUT THERE FOR THE BATH HOUSE.
THAT WOULD BE A LOT OF EXTRA WORK.
WHAT'D YOU THINK OF THE ONE WITH THE INDOOR PLUMBING?
I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY UNIQUE THAT, YOU KNOW,
WE COME ALL THE WAY OUT HERE ON THE TRAIL FOR SIX MILES,
AND WE HAVE A TOILET, A SHOWER, TWO BATHROOMS.
BUT I ALSO THINK WE'RE PAYING FOR IT.
OUR RANGE IS UP TO 100 GRAND, BUT THAT'S RIGHT AT THE TOP.
SO, WHAT'D YOU THINK OF THE SIMPLE CABIN RIGHT ON THE WATER?
I LIKED IT. IT WAS QUAINT.
IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS READY TO MOVE INTO.
IT DIDN'T HAVE A STOVE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THOUGH.
NEED A LITTLE BIT OF WORK TO MOVE THE STOVE IN
AND HAUL A FEW SUPPLIES,
BUT ONE NICE BONUS WOULD BE,
IT'S ON THE LOWER END OF OUR RANGE.
WE COULD USE THAT MONEY AND MAYBE PUT ON A LITTLE ADDITION.
IT'S GONNA BE A TOUGH DECISION.
IT IS.
Narrator: AFTER A FEW WEEKS,
BRANDON AND HANNA DITCH THE CITY LIFE OF HOMER
AND MOVE INTO THEIR REMOTE HOME ON CARIBOU LAKE.
SO, THIS IS IT. I THINK WE MADE A GOOD DECISION.
YEAH, I'M EXCITED.
THIS HOME IS A GOOD MIX OF CONVENIENCES
LIKE THE BATH HOUSE, AND A BIT OF ROUGHING IT.
Brandon: WE DID SOME NEGOTIATING WITH THEM,
AND IT'S A GREAT PRICE.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST SELLING POINTS
WAS THAT WE COULD JUST MOVE IN AND WE'D BE READY TO GO.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO GET ANYTHING FIXED UP.
I WIN!
ALL RIGHT.
Brandon: IT ONLY TAKES ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO GET OUT
AND HEAD INTO TOWN TO GET OUR SUPPLIES,
BUT WE TRY TO STOCK UP AND NOT MAKE TOO MANY TRIPS.
BRANDON AND I ARE REALLY EXCITED
TO START THE REST OF OUR LIFE TOGETHER HERE.