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A formal picture of Frank, Nancy, their
granddaughter Dainean and Caroline, a Belgian exchange student.
Your hosts, Frank and Nancy, are as eclectic as most Alaskans. Nancy spent years in education becoming a school superintendent. She owns a bona fide Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. After that stint she was a police officer, a national park service backcountry ranger (on the Chilkoot Trail), and a guide for a rafting company. She spent a few years being an officer with the ambulance squad and a certified Alaskan firefighter. She makes wedding cakes and likes to garden as well.Frank was in the Air Force for 20 years, half of which was in special duty assignments to the Army, then was a bush pilot with more than 12,000 hours over Alaska, then ran an airline, and now maintains the trails (and other things) for the city of Skagway. He was also in the volunteer fire department as a Captain in the fire suppression unit and as an advanced EMT. His retirement toy is a 30 foot sloop on which he looks forward to spending more time hunting and fishing in the future.
Together, they have taken in over 24 children, including some from other countries and cultures. They have traveled the world, and stayed in many hostels. When they came to Skagway 15 years ago, they realized it was a community that needed a hostel. They bought an historic house which needed restoration, and worked to make it the kind of hostel in which they would like to stay.
Other current family members include a previously abused and recovering cat named "Sammi" and a small dog named "Misty". Both were adopted from the Mae Bachur shelter in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. Misty has learned a number of tricks and loves to show off her skills for guests. Provided, of course, that treats are involved.
We have hosted nearly 50,000 guests in the past 17 years. Some people wonder what it's like to share your home with so many others. Nancy thinks it's a way of life. She grew up in a large family and doesn't know that some people have something called peace and quiet (that's what winter is for, isn't it?)
