How was winter? Oh, you know. cold.

Winter in Kenny Lake, Alaska: Life at -50°F ❄️

Winter in Kenny Lake, Alaska, isn’t just cold—it’s brutal. We’re talking deep subzero temperatures, frozen pipes, and vehicles that refuse to start. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to survive an Alaskan winter in a rural setting, the answer is simple: preparation, resilience, and a lot of layers. Life in off-grid Alaska doesn’t stop just because the temperature drops. If you have livestock, a homestead, or even just a woodstove to keep burning, you have to adapt.

Taking Care of Livestock at -50°F: No Such Thing as a Quick Chore 🐴🐓

If you’ve ever searched for how to take care of animals in extreme cold—welcome to the reality of rural Alaska. Water troughs freeze solid overnight, even with heaters running. That means hauling hot water for livestock every morning. Animals burn through hay and grain at twice the normal rate just to maintain their body heat. Horses grow thick winter coats, but even they tuck their tails tight against the cold. Goats? They glare at you as if you personally caused this weather.

Egg production slows to a crawl in winter chicken coops, even with heat lamps. And let’s not forget barn chores—shoveling paths, breaking ice out of buckets, and checking every animal for signs of frostbite. Homesteading in Alaska in the winter isn’t just about survival—it’s about keeping everything (and everyone) functioning through the coldest months of the year.

Stir-Crazy Dogs and Cabin Fever 🐶❄️

People picture Alaskan sled dogs thriving in the cold, but the reality? Not every dog is built for subzero temperatures. When it’s -50°F, even the toughest farm dogs hesitate at the door. They do their business at record speed and then bolt back inside, leaving behind tiny paw prints in the snow.

But just like people, dogs get restless. And when they get bored, they turn into destructive little hurricanes. If I don’t throw a ball across the living room at least fifty times, they start wrestling, knocking over furniture, or howling at nothing. Winter dog care in Alaska isn’t just about keeping them warm—it’s about keeping them sane.

Surviving the Alaskan Winter: The Everyday Struggle

Life in rural Alaska in the winter means constant maintenance. You plug in your vehicle’s block heater at night and hope it starts in the morning. You haul firewood to keep the woodstove burning 24/7. If the power goes out, you better have a backup heat source, because at -50°F, houses lose warmth fast.

Yet, despite the struggle, there’s beauty in it too. Northern lights swirl across the sky in green and violet ribbons. The snow sparkles under the full moon. The world slows down, forcing you to appreciate the small victories—like finally thawing out your fingers after a long day outside.

Spring is Coming—And Summer is Almost Here! 🌿☀️

Even the toughest Alaskans hit a breaking point with winter. But here’s the good news: longer daylight hours mean spring is creeping closer. I’m already flipping through seed catalogs, dreaming of gardening in Alaska and fresh vegetables growing under the midnight sun. The dogs can feel it too—they linger outside just a little longer, tails wagging, noses sniffing at the promise of something new.

🌿 Spring is coming. And after that? Alaska summer, when the snow melts, the salmon return, and everything explodes with life. Soon, the land will be green again, the rivers will run free, and the endless golden days will make winter feel like a distant memory. Almost there. Almost.