The Alaska Diaries

Nadia Giordana Content Creator/Producer
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This is a true Alaskan memoir—told in first person— adapted and dramatized from the original journals of Norman Wilkins. writersshowcase.substack.com

  1. A Break in the Trail: Accident at Old Man Lake

    Jun 6

    A Break in the Trail: Accident at Old Man Lake

    The adventures of Norman and Sylvia Wilkins, carving a new life out of the Alaskan Wilderness after leaving Minnesota in 1979.**The Alaska Diaries: 10,000 Days**Episode 11 — The Accident at Old Man LakeIn the Alaskan wilderness, life can change in a single moment.What begins as another day shaped by routine, hard work, and the quiet rhythm of survival quickly turns into something far more dangerous. A split-second mistake. A misjudged step. And suddenly, the wilderness reminds Norman just how unforgiving it can be.This episode dives deep into the reality of remote survival—where injury isn’t just pain, it’s a problem that must be solved. Alone, far from help, Norman must rely on skill, experience, and sheer determination to stabilize the situation and find a way forward. Episode 11 becomes more than just a story of survival—it becomes a story of recovery. Of endurance. Of adapting when plans fall apart. Because in Alaska, resilience isn’t optional. It’s everything.As the days unfold, what follows is not just healing of the body, but a quiet reckoning with how fragile life can be—and how quickly everything can change.**In this episode:*** A sudden accident in the wilderness* Survival response and injury management* The physical and mental challenges of recovery* The role of companionship, memory, and resilienceIf you enjoy slow, immersive storytelling rooted in real survival experience, you’re in the right place.**Subscribe for more episodes of The Alaska Diaries.**New chapters are released regularly. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersshowcase.substack.com

    40 min
  2. Building Trap Cabin, Running Dogsled, Visiting Family

    May 30

    Building Trap Cabin, Running Dogsled, Visiting Family

    The Alaska Diaries: 10,000 DaysEpisode 10 The land doesn’t care how long you’ve been there.It doesn’t remember your struggles, your small victories, or the days you nearly turned back. It simply continues—quiet, vast, and unyielding. In Episode 10, the rhythm of the wilderness deepens. What began as survival has become something more deliberate… more personal. The work carries weight now—every cut of wood, every mile traveled, every decision made against the coming cold. There is a sense that time is no longer passing unnoticed, but settling in, shaping both the land and the man living within it. Norman reflects more in this chapter—on isolation, on purpose, and on what it really means to endure. The quiet moments grow longer. The silences say more. And the wilderness, as always, listens without answering. You’ll find:• Building of the trap cabin near a fly-in location• Hard-earned lessons from the land• The steady approach of another season and running a dogsled• Atrip outside to the lower 48, then back This is not a story of conquering the wild.It is a story of learning how to live inside it. Settle in. Let the fire burn low.And step back into the stillness of Alaska. #AlaskaDiaries #WildernessLiving #OffGridLife #FrontierLife #SurvivalStories #SlowLiving #NatureNarrative Thanks for reading Nadia Giordana on Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersshowcase.substack.com

    18 min
  3. Hunting Moose, Finding Bear, Building Dogsled

    May 23

    Hunting Moose, Finding Bear, Building Dogsled

    The adventures of Norman and Sylvia Wilkins, carving a new life out of the Alaskan Wilderness after leaving Minnesota in 1979.**The Alaska Diaries: 10,000 Days — Episode 9**As summer fades and the first edge of winter creeps across the land, Episode 9 of *The Alaska Diaries* carries us deeper into the rhythm of a life lived off the grid.The hunt continues—but not everything worth finding comes with a clean shot.From distant moose and close encounters with a grizzly, to a strange discovery locked in stone from another age, the land reveals itself slowly… and on its own terms. Weather turns. Partners come and go. Miles stretch long and quiet across tundra and swamp.When plans fall apart, the journey doesn’t stop—it just changes direction.A 27-mile walk into darkness. Nights under canvas and stars. The things we carry… and the things we leave behind.And then, back home, the work begins again.Wood is cut. Steel is welded. Steam rises as a dogsled begins to take shape—runner by runner, bend by bend. Because in Alaska, survival isn’t just about today. It’s about preparing for what’s coming.As autumn deepens, new ground is explored. A future trapline is imagined. A cabin site is found—not built yet, but known. Because sometimes, the most important step is simply recognizing a place where something could begin.There are no easy wins here. No guaranteed success.Only the land… and the quiet understanding that comes from staying long enough to listen.**In this episode:*** Moose hunting in early September* A close-range grizzly encounter* A remarkable prehistoric track discovery* A 27-mile solo trek through remote wilderness* Building a traditional dogsled from raw materials* Scouting a future trapline and cabin site* Early snowfall, shifting seasons, and hard decisions**If you’ve been following the journey**, thank you for being here.And if you’re new—this is a story told one day at a time… over 10,000 **Subscribe for more episodes of *The Alaska Diaries***New chapters released regularly.**#AlaskaDiaries #OffGridLiving #MooseHunting #BushLife #Dogsled #WildernessLiving #AlaskaLife #SurvivalStory #FrontierLife #NatureDocumentary** Thanks for reading Nadia Giordana on Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersshowcase.substack.com

    16 min
  4. Fossils, Fireworks, Fishwheels, and a Wolf with a White-tipped Tail

    May 16

    Fossils, Fireworks, Fishwheels, and a Wolf with a White-tipped Tail

    The adventures of Norman and Sylvia Wilkins, carving a new life out of the Alaskan Wilderness after leaving Minnesota in 1979.The Alaska Diaries: 10,000 Days — Episode 8The Summer That Tested EverythingThe Alaskan summer of 1980 was supposed to be a season of progress—but out here, every gain is earned the hard way.In this episode, Norman takes you deep into life in the Nelchina country as long days turn into hard lessons. What begins with fossil hunting and a Fourth of July celebration under the midnight sun quickly shifts into something more demanding.~A swamp buggy rolls into the muskeg… nearly trapping two men.~Prospecting trips stretch across remote country with little to show but experience.~Salmon runs bring abundance—and the long nights of canning that prepare for winter.~Sylvia teaches the practical, often forgotten skill of butchering chickens.And deep in the mountains, a three-week hunt tests endurance, judgment, and nerve.Along the way, a gray wolf with a white-tipped tail appears—silent, watchful, and unforgettable—a reminder that survival in Alaska follows its own rules.This is a story of risk, resilience, and the quiet understanding that the wilderness doesn’t give you what you want… only what you earn.In this episode:~Fourth of July in the Alaskan wilderness~Swamp buggy rollover and recovery~Gold prospecting near the Taylor Highway~Salmon fishing, fish wheels, and canning~Frontier skills: butchering chickens~A three-week hunting expedition~The white-tailed wolf of the high countrySubscribe to follow the full 10,000-day journey through Alaska’s wild interior and the lessons learned along the way.#AlaskaDiaries #AlaskanLife #Homesteading #SourdoughLife #WildernessLiving #FrontierSkills #GoldProspecting #SledDogs #OutdoorLife #Bushcraft #HuntingAlaska Thanks for reading Nadia Giordana on Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersshowcase.substack.com

    16 min
  5. Sylvia Returns to Alaska with Norman

    May 9

    Sylvia Returns to Alaska with Norman

    In this episode of The Alaska Diaries: 10,000 Days, Norman makes the long winter journey from the remote wilds of Alaska back to Minnesota—facing dangerous roads, close calls, and the quiet pull of two very different lives. But this journey is about more than miles. It is about a decision. As Norman reconnects with family and sits down with Sylvia, a question that has lingered between them finally comes into the open: will she return to Alaska—and to the life he is building there? What follows is not a grand declaration, but something quieter… and perhaps stronger. Together, they make the long road north once more. Back in Nelchina, the work of building a shared life begins. A small greenhouse rises from the ground as a promise of growth in a harsh land. A team of young sled dogs—full of energy and mischief—marks Norman’s deepening commitment to the Alaskan way of life. Through fishing trips, wildlife encounters, and long northern days, a rhythm begins to take shape. Not an easy life. But a chosen one. This is a story of resilience, partnership, and the quiet decisions that change everything. If you enjoy immersive storytelling, frontier life, and true accounts of living off the land, be sure to subscribe and follow along as the journey continues. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersshowcase.substack.com

    10 min

  6. May 2

    Snow Cave Camping - Nelchina Glacier Gold Rush

    The Alaska Diaries: 10,000 Days — Episode 6 Winter Camping, Snow Cave & Nelchina Glacier Gold Rush (February 1980) We continue the true-life Alaskan adventure of Norman and Sylvia Wilkins in one of the most demanding and unforgettable months of the journey. February arrives without warning—bringing relentless work, deep snow, shifting weather, and the kind of quiet responsibility that defines life off the road system. Days are measured not by calendars, but by wood piles, repaired trails, and the steady rhythm of survival in Interior Alaska. In this episode, the story unfolds across four powerful chapters: * Life at the Lodge — hauling wood, clearing heavy snowfall, and enduring the daily realities of remote winter living * The Northern Lights — a rare and silent display that brings everything to a standstill * Winter Camping in a Snow Cave — a multi-day backcountry trip from Eureka, carving shelter from deep drifts and enduring whiteout conditions * The Nelchina Glacier Gold Rush — a sudden and historic gold strike that transforms the quiet wilderness overnight From the warmth of a hand-built snow cave to the frenzy of staking claims on a frozen glacier, this episode captures both sides of Alaska life—the patience of survival and the urgency of opportunity. It’s a story of resilience, skill, and the kind of experiences that can only be earned the hard way. Watch if you enjoy: Alaska homesteading • Winter survival • Snow cave camping • Gold rush history • True frontier stories • Northern lights • Backcountry travel 📚 Based on the real-life journals of Norman WilkinsLearn more or find the books:👉 Ten Thousand Days in Alaska dot com 🎧 New episodes every SaturdayEpisode 7 premieres next Saturday at 7:00 a.m. Alaska time (10:00 a.m. CDT) If you’re enjoying the series, consider subscribing and sharing your favorite moments in the comments—especially if you’ve experienced winter camping, gold prospecting, or life off the grid. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersshowcase.substack.com

    12 min

  7. Apr 28

    Be a part of the Cryptid Creek Sensation

    Learn what cryptids are and why you should care. Do you just love board games? or do you just love cryptids? Either way, come to Cryptid Creek and be a part of it. Coming to Kickstarter in May. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersshowcase.substack.com

    20 min
  8. Frostbite, Freezing Weather, and a Good Yarn

    Apr 25

    Frostbite, Freezing Weather, and a Good Yarn

    Serialized Historical Memoir This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersshowcase.substack.com

    18 min
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About

This is a true Alaskan memoir—told in first person— adapted and dramatized from the original journals of Norman Wilkins. writersshowcase.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Nadia Giordana Content Creator/Producer
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Nadia Giordana
  • Show Website
    The Alaska Diaries