Whittier, a remote seaside town in southern Alaska, is home to just 272 residents, most of whom live in a single 14-storey building. The Begich Building, originally built for the US military in 1957, contains 150 apartments and houses the vast majority of the population.
Jamie Loan, 36, moved to Whittier seven years ago with her husband Kyle, 37. They purchased a waterfront condo for just £15,000, drawn by the town's extreme isolation and low cost of living. Winters are brutal, with temperatures as low as -20°C, winds up to 60mph, and up to 40ft of snow. From November to March, the sun remains hidden behind the surrounding mountains, leaving residents without sunlight for weeks.
Despite the harsh conditions, Jamie says the town has innovative solutions. A network of underground tunnels allows residents to travel between buildings without braving the snow. 'A lot of people think it's creepy, but it's innovative,' she said. The tunnels are also used by schoolchildren, who decorate them with positive messages.
The only road access to Whittier is via the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, a 2.5-mile single-lane tunnel that operates on a strict schedule, allowing cars through once per hour in each direction and closing at 11pm. Jamie described the road as 'treacherous', noting that three community members recently died in a crash. She limits grocery trips to once or twice a month and keeps her freezer well-stocked.
Despite the challenges, Jamie appreciates the winter activities, including skiing, sledding, and viewing the Northern Lights. The town sees up to 700,000 tourists in summer for sea kayaking and hiking, but in winter, the population hunkers down together.
