Video summary

We Were NOT Ready for This Side of Van Life in Alaska

Main summary

Key takeaways

Lifestyle

Summary of the video (Van Life in Alaska)

Van life in Alaska: the “two sides” of it

  • The couple starts the day at a beautiful boondocking spot, waking up near a river.
  • They also show how full-time van life can be messy, heavy, and high-maintenance.
  • Their day includes stacked travel, errands, and “van chores.”

Day plan: Wasilla → Valdez (with checklist mindset)

  • One item completed on their checklist: “Welcome to Wasilla.”
  • They’re headed toward Valdez, but first they stop at a Walmart for errands.

Grocery run items

  • Water
  • Soda
  • Eggs
  • Reindeer sausage (Alaskan sausage made with reindeer meat)

Food stop (no judgment)

  • They grab lunch at McDonald’s:
    • Bob tries a Denali Mac (Denali-themed burger/mac option)

Core van routine: dump tanks + chores before driving

They focus heavily on sanitation and maintenance—especially the unpleasant realities.

  • Dump/check systems:
    • Cassette toilet (indicator is red → must dump)
    • Gray tank
    • Garbage removal (smells better after)
  • Safety/cleanliness while handling waste:
    • They avoid touching anything without gloves
    • They wash hands thoroughly
    • They use a water rinse setup while dumping/cleaning
  • They recount a near-problem: lifting the cassette felt too difficult, and they didn’t want to spill on Bob’s shoe.

Fuel + water/electrical monitoring

  • Gas is described as “premium,” around $4.99–$5.59/gallon (they debate the exact number).
  • They estimate:
    • about $47 worth of gas (roughly 15 gallons)
  • They check van monitors:
    • Water tank percentage
    • Battery percentage (low for Bob, but they expect it will recharge while driving)

Travel highlight: scenic drive from Thompson Pass toward Valdez

As they approach Valdez, the landscape changes:

  • From tundra → alpine region → then toward rainforest-like conditions near Valdez

Notable stops/areas

  • Thompson Pass
    • Extremely snowy (they mention a record like 60 inches in one day)
    • They reach the viewpoint at 2,678 ft
  • Worthington Glacier
    • $5 parking at viewpoints (they suggest an annual pass may not work “here”)
    • They don’t go all the way to touch the glacier, but see hiking activity
  • Bridal Falls
    • Less dramatic on camera than in person, but described as stunning

Mosquito note

  • Mosquitoes were lower earlier (since Fairbanks), but they’re bad again in this area.

Boondocking strategy: always have a Plan B

  • They find an ideal boondocking area, but the preferred spot is taken.
  • They switch to a backup spot (Plan B) that’s still described as excellent and ready for the night.

Recipe: “Reindeer Vegetable Soup” (one-burner van cooking)

They make a one-pot meal in the van, cooking around the one-burner constraint using a small workaround.

Ingredients mentioned

  • Onion
  • Potatoes (boiled)
  • Mixed vegetables
  • Broth
  • Reindeer sausage
  • Evaporated milk
  • Chives (garnish)

Outcome

  • Surprisingly good for a one-pot van meal—called “next level” with the chives.

Morning routine + work while traveling

  • Next morning: pancakes by a waterfall.
  • Even while living on the road, they still have work:
    • she’s working on a video scheduled to go live Wednesday at 3 PM.
  • Pancake adjustments:
    • A syrup ratio issue leads to one burnt pancake, but they refine the method for a better batch.

Valdez highlights: mermaids + waterfront food

  • Lunch in downtown Valdez at Fat Mermaid(s):
    • Recommended as “best in town” (based on internet chatter)
    • Bob gets a burger and fries
    • Hillary gets a rockfish sandwich

Major attraction: fish hatchery + wildlife at Valdez

They visit a fish hatchery viewing area, watching salmon spawning.

How the system works (simple but informative)

  • A weir is installed because the upstream creek can’t support the fish volume.
  • The weir guides fish into the hatchery for:
    • fertilization
    • egg collection
    • harvest/management
  • Fish life cycle described:
    • Born/spawned in the system → spend time growing in the Sea of Alaska → return to spawn again.

They plan to return at high tide (~6ish) to see sea lions on rocks and islands.

Night boondocking: wildlife viewing bonus (sea lions / salmon / otters)

  • They boondock along a road near the hatchery area:
    • It’s a bit loud, but they love it.
  • Wildlife sightings:
    • Sea lions
    • Salmon (including lots of juvenile pink salmon)
    • Otter
  • They also mention scenic waterfalls along the drive-in.

Notable locations, products, and speakers

Locations

  • Wasilla, Valdez, Thompson Pass, Worthington Glacier, Bridal Falls
  • Downtown Valdez harbor
  • Fish hatchery viewing areas (fish hatchery/weir system)
  • Homer (referenced)

Stores/food

  • Walmart (groceries)
  • McDonald’s (Denali Mac)
  • Fat Mermaid(s) (lunch)

Sponsorship / gear / mentions

  • Etra (tools/gear sponsor)
    • Mentions include a tool set, a “tall boy” 6-ton jack, and an Airlift air compressor
  • Outdoorsy
    • $2,000 RV rental credit and $500 for gas
    • Giveaway ends August 30
  • Nuvo
    • They borrow a van for the Alaska adventures

Original video