Jamie Loan, 36, moved to Whittier, a tiny city with just 270 residents, with her husband Kyle, 37, seven years ago
A woman lives in an Alaskan city so small that 75% of residents all dwell in one building. Jamie Loan, 36, relocated to Whittier, a minuscule city with just 270 inhabitants, alongside her husband Kyle, 37, seven years ago after purchasing a waterfront flat for merely £15,000.
The majority of locals reside in the town's 14-storey tower block, which houses 150 flats and a small corner shop. The remainder - including Jamie - occupy a smaller residential block and above the town's café.
Whittier becomes deserted between October and May and Jamie must undertake a perilous trip to collect shopping or see the GP in the neighbouring town an hour's drive away. Jamie, who was born in Florida but relocated to Alaska aged four, explains that winters in Whittier can witness temperatures plummeting to -20C and the sun fails to rise properly between November and March.
Jamie, who operates a walking tour and a heritage tour during summer and works as a supply teacher in winter, explained: "We decided to move to Whittier because it was a nice middle ground between the coastal area that I grew up in and the harsh winters and large mountains that Kyle was used to. Plus, homes in Whittier are pretty cheap and we were able to buy a waterfront condo for the price of a used car."
Jamie has debunked the common myth that everyone in Whittier resides in the same building. In reality, 75% of the town's population live in the Begich Towers Condominium (BTI), a 14-storey structure originally constructed to accommodate the US military back in 1957.
The BTI also houses a small convenience store and serves as the postal address for all residents, since no one in the town has a specific street address. The tower is connected to the local school, which caters to 60 students aged five to 18, via a tunnel, ensuring easy access during the harsh winter months.
Despite the school's small size, it offers its pupils multi-day kayaking and camping trips, and provides equipment such as skis, roller skates, snowshoes and kick sledges for use during lunch breaks. An additional 25% of the population, including Jamie, reside in the Whittier Manor, a block of flats located by the water.
A handful of people, around six or seven, have their homes above the town diner, the only public place that remains open from October through May, where meals can be purchased for as little as £7.50. During the summer months, the city comes alive with various shops and restaurants opening their doors to tourists who arrive on cruise ships to witness the abundant wildlife, including bears and whales, or to partake in adventure sports like jet skiing and kayaking.
However, during the winter months, the only available shopping options are the corner shop in the BTI or a similar store in the Anchor diner. Therefore, if locals need to do their grocery shopping or see a doctor, they have to make an hour's drive to Anchorage.
While this might not seem too inconvenient, Jamie disclosed that the tunnel leading out of the town is shut at night and only open at specific times during the day. This means that for a morning doctor's appointment, you'd have to travel the previous day and stay overnight. She also warned that the journey can be perilous.
"We lost three more community members two weeks ago in a wreck on the road, so using it is a gamble," she revealed. Due to these hazardous conditions, Jamie only does her food shopping once or twice a month, ensuring her chest freezer is always well-stocked. Despite Whittier's small size, its residents form a close-knit community, which Jamie adores.
"I think that we have something really special that's lacking in a lot of places today," she said. "You really get to know people, like a family, especially in the winter, when we're all here by ourselves.
"We spend all of our holidays together. We all do either a big potluck or go to the diner and everybody's all together, eating and laughing, and the kids are playing and singing karaoke, it's heartwarming."
Even though Whittier may appear isolated to many, it is connected by a road, unlike 82% of Alaskan communities, which can only be accessed by plane.
"Some people in Alaska would say Whittier is not remote because there is a road," Jamie said. "But if you are looking at a map, everything around it is just mountains and glaciers and forests for hundreds and hundreds of miles and in every direction. I think what draws those of us who live here to Whittier is that we do have a road, but you have space to roam and adventure."
Despite the town's modest size, there are plenty of employment opportunities for all residents, courtesy of the thriving summer tourism sector. With affordable flats available, many locals can manage to work during the warmer months before taking winter breaks, creating what Jamie describes as a "really fun lifestyle".
"We have a lot of time to travel and experience stuff that people who work year-round aren't able to", she said. Winter temperatures can plummet to -20C, while the settlement often finds itself buried beneath 40 feet of snow, trapping inhabitants within their own properties. Nevertheless, the freezing conditions create ideal circumstances for ice skating as the roads turn solid.
"We also do lots of skiing and sledding and sometimes my husband drives the snowmobile to work instead of driving", Jamie said. Throughout winter months, the sun remains hidden behind the towering mountain overlooking the community, meaning proper daylight won't return until March.
Yet while this might seem bleak, Jamie insists she doesn't object, as she frequently witnesses the spectacular northern lights.