Once again the Talkeetna Bachelors Auction and Wilderness Woman Competition is approaching — and once again, Linda B. and I have rented the entire top floor of the Latitude 62 hotel and restaurant.
We’re lining up some other wild wimmen to accompany us, but there’s always room for a few more. Why not make this the year that you throw caution (and possibly good sense) to the winds and join us?
The actual event is Saturday, Dec. 6, but we always go up on Friday afternoon. This year the bachelors of Talkeetna have an actual theme for the party, along the lines of the Roaring ’20s/Great Gatsby/Talkeetna Speakeasy. “We haven’t settled on a title, but you get the idea,” said my e-mailed invitation.
“Dress the part if you’d like, or come as you are. We will take your donation no matter what you’re wearing.”
Why should you go? Three reasons:
- It’s the weirdest winter weekend you’ll ever spend. Don’t believe me? See the articles under “Related Reading,” below. You’ll dine out on these stories for years.
- You will never feel as desirable again in your life. Seriously. Even the most ordinary-looking of female visitors will achieve goddess status.
- You get to hang out with us! And we know how to have a good time. Our motto is, “We’ve been thrown out of better places than this.”
Organize some friends for a lark. Come up by yourself for a what-the-hell weekend. It may be warmer there than where you currently live. sometimes Talkeetna has warm spells: I’ve seen temps in the 20s and 30s. Above zero.
And if it’s cold? Just bring some layers and wool socks. You can always duck indoors to warm up, or stand near the burn barrel and let the guys get a good look at your fabulousity. (Hint: Red noses, hats that squash down your ‘do and big puffy coats are not considered unattractive.)
But isn’t it expensive?
Maybe, maybe not. Alaska Dispatch News travel writer Scott McMurren recently noted round-trip fares like these: Salt Lake City, $326; Houston, $334; Las Vegas, $339; Los Angeles, $350; Palm Springs, $370; San Diego, $380; Santa Barbara, $380; Boston, $480; Ft. Lauderdale, $490; Orlando, $490.
And for $356 RT, you can get to Anchorage from Atlanta, Phoenix, Denver, Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. I haven’t seen fares this low for ages.
It all has to do with airline wars, of course; learn more in this article by McMurren. These prices are subject to change. But you might find some really skookum deals if you act soon.
Note: Traveling to Alaska is one of those bucket-list things, because there’s so much to see here. You’ll get bonus points if you visit in the winter. Anybody can ride a cruise ship.
Once you’re in Anchorage you still have to get to Talkeetna, which is about 110 miles north. Renting a car is a little cheaper in the winter; if you’re coming up with friends you can split the cost.
If you’re flush, take the Alaska Railroad up on Saturday morning; it’s $67 one-way for a gorgeous ride, and the bachelors will meet you at the train with love and longing in their eyes. You might not have to take the train home, i.e., you could meet someone from Anchorage who’s got room in the car for you on Sunday.
Taking the train means renting a hotel room in Anchorage on Friday, but again: Split the cost with a friend. Since the return train doesn’t leave until almost 5 p.m. Sunday, it would likely mean spending the night in Anchorage — unless, of course, you have the redeye going home. You won’t need a car in Talkeetna — everything’s within walking distance.
The top floor of the Latitude will be available starting Friday, if you decide to fly in that day and get a rental car. The cost of the lodging depends on how many women end up sleeping there. Right now we’ve got four confirmed and I was just told about two other women who want to go (but haven’t committed to doing so). Or you could rent your own hotel room, in the Latitude or elsewhere.
Hope we see you there. After all, you’ve probably been thrown out of better places than this, too.
Related reading:
- Tweets from Talkeetna
- Tweets from Talkeetna: The sequel
- Live from Alaska: Frozen pipes, bachelors on credit and suggestive pizza
*sigh* Sorry, Donna, once again I must decline the invitation. That’s the week before finals. Besides, I’m not working right now, so money’s really tight. Maybe next year!
We’ll leave the light on for you! And I know what you mean about finals: During my last couple of years of schooling I really wanted to come back up for this shindig but final exams were always looming.
I will have *just* moved from Chicago to my new home on the west coast. I’ll have to miss it this year, BUT I really hope to make it next year!
I hope so, too.
That sounds like so much fun!!
That sounds like fun! I have a neighbor who should come, but I doubt she has the finances. I think it would do her worlds of good to feel desirable even if for just a weekend.
That just sounds like a hoot well worth going to enjoy just as an observer! What with not being available and all.
Hope you fill up that top floor with the like-minded and have all the fun!
Hey, I’m not available either. I just go for the fun.
I love reading your Alaska posts and hope to visit sooner than someday.
Looking forward to your posts on this, they’re among my favourites!
I can’t make it this year (saving up for my February trip to the Caribbean)but Talkeetna is definitely on my bucket list! I think you and I would have a lot to talk about—Philly and the Inky, among other things, though I am from the Annenberg era and I suspect that you are from the Knight-Ridder era. Ah, maybe next year!
Yep, Knight-Ridder: I worked there from 1979 through early 1984. Glory years. A few years back I had a bite with a former co-worker who toured me through what was left of the newsroom and I was startled to see how small an area was needed for both writers and copy editors.
When I worked there space was at such a premium that KR bought the property next door and had an underground tunnel connecting the two areas. Recently the entire operation was moved from the Tower of Truth to a single floor in a downtown office building.
If you haven’t seen the photo essay referenced below, prepare to sigh:
http://willsteacy.com/projects/deadline/#PHOTO_107
Thanks so much for the photo essay! Yep, I did sigh, especially when I got to the photo of the grocery ad from 1968, the year we moved to Philly, so my now ex could take a job on the city desk. I don’t REMEMBER the prices being so low, but then again the pay was not that much either. I think he started at around $300 a week. And he was batting out the stories on an old typewriter—and Frank Rizzo was mayor of the city! Such a walk down memory lane. Thanks again.
Curses!! I have been saving Airmiles to make this trip but I’m 200 points short for a Calgary-Anchorage flight. I’ve checked into paying for a flight but it’s between $600-$800, which just isn’t in the cards this year. I even checked Greyhound, but no luck (they don’t travel to Alaska). Please tell me you will be doing this again next year? I think this would be a great trip!
We do it every year. Those international flights are a bear. Hope to see you in 2015!