Alaska 2013

**1stimestar** · 11-15-2013, 02:58 AM

We just had a major storm blow though here. Ice, wind (which we never get). School closed for 3 days (hasn't ever happened that I know of). Here's a good article with pictures.

http://www.newsminer.com/news/local_...=image&photo=1

I took yesterday off and stayed home. I had to go in today because my ladies had been without power and I wanted to check on them. My one day employee couldn't make it in. We had 8,000 without power. 3,000 are still without power. No electric for many of us means no heat. Luckily, it has been fairly warm (hence the ice rain). Even the grocery store had to pull all their ice cream because their generators couldn't keep up.

**AH64TI** · 11-15-2013, 04:09 AM

I was hoping for snow where I live in Germany but so far no luck, not even a flurry. But as for the storm y'all just got hit with that is harsh. Hope they get the power fixed for y'all sooner rather then later.

**crashdive123** · 11-15-2013, 08:07 AM

Hope everything is back up and running soon for you. I would think that on the plus side so many people can heat with wood or oil that the impact on residential areas wouldn't be too bad?

**Rick** · 11-15-2013, 08:21 AM

The aftermath is the pits. I hope they get everything back in service for you.

I've worked ice storms and it's pretty crappy. I've taken a line hammer and walked down span after span and knocked the ice off the wires to raise them back up. They had stretched from the weight of the ice until they were about 5 feet off the ground. Knocking the ice off removed the weight and the lines went back in the air. They weren't all that easy, however.

**1stimestar** · 11-15-2013, 02:46 PM

I'm fine. Power here only went out a few times due to wind, not trees taking the whole line out.

Yes you would think that more of us had wood stoves or oil drip stoves but this close to town, and in town, furnaces, hot water baseboard heat, and Toyos are popular. I have a Toyo which requires electricity. They opened up the high school gym as a warming station (specifically not called a shelter). But most of my friends without heat are just hanging at home since it is actually pretty warm compared to what it normally is.

Here's what a Toyo looks like. They are just little heaters that burn fuel oil. Very efficient and safe.

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**1stimestar** · 11-15-2013, 02:52 PM

Oh, here is a better picture of it.

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**Rivershot** · 11-16-2013, 05:16 AM

Nice heater. Now can you explain the stairs?

**crashdive123** · 11-16-2013, 08:38 AM

They're used to go up and down. Some of the bigger cabins have a set for up only and another for down only, but these see double duty.

**1stimestar** · 11-16-2013, 04:59 PM

Well, uhm, yea, what Crash said. What would you like to know about them? They are stairs. They go up to the second floor. Most cabins up here only have a loft, which normally uses more of a ladder then actual stairs. But I have a full second story. Originally we had a wooden landing but then the landlord changed it out to a metal one for safety, since it is right over the heat source.

Here's a picture I took before we moved in.

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Here's how it looks upstairs.
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**Rick** · 11-16-2013, 05:02 PM

My guess is he's asking about the brackets for the steps instead of using stringers. I've never seen the stair brackets used before but I like the look. I would think there would be a little more strength in those than using stringers.

**1stimestar** · 11-16-2013, 05:12 PM

Ahhh. Well since I didn't build this cabin, I don't know much about it. The stairs are very sturdy and secure though. They'd have to be with a 15 year old giant man child stomping up and down them.

**LowKey** · 11-16-2013, 05:46 PM

I think he's more asking because in the first two photos it looks like the stairs end just above the heater. The 90° turn is hard to spot.
LOL.

**1stimestar** · 11-16-2013, 06:13 PM

Lol that's why I posted both of them.

**crashdive123** · 11-16-2013, 09:00 PM

It could always be.......

**Rivershot** · 11-17-2013, 05:44 AM

Originally Posted by LowKey

I think he's more asking because in the first two photos it looks like the stairs end just above the heater. The 90° turn is hard to spot.
LOL.

Yeah, it looks like 3' wide steps ending on 12'' deep landing

**1stimestar** · 11-17-2013, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by Rivershot

Yeah, it looks like 3' wide steps ending on 12'' deep landing

I get it Rivershot. Hope you don't mind some miner teasing.

**1stimestar** · 11-17-2013, 10:24 PM

Ugh, kitchen drain already froze shut. This doesn't normally happen so early in the season. Here's how I resolve the issue. My daughter video tapped it.