My husband and I recently returned from a two-week trip to Alaska and had a truly wonderful time. The many stunning sights didn’t disappoint, as you can imagine. We took several wildlife tours, spotting whales at sea and moose, caribou, dall sheep, and eagles on land. We soaked up as much history and culture as we could, along with plenty of excellent food that had us both returning home a few pounds heavier than when we left.
One thing we got a particular kick out of hearing about from tour guides and even locals was some of the more colorful tall tales and mythological legends particular to the area. I thought it might be fun to share a few with you here today.
Did you know that Alaska has its own version of Bigfoot and Sasquatch? It’s called the Alaskan Hairy Man. Much like their lower forty-eight cousins, these creatures roam the woods and mountain regions– which is literally freezing in the winter – are very elusive, stand considerably taller than a man, and emit odd, unsettling sounds. Stories of this creature are rooted in both Indigenous folklore and modern Alaskan cryptozoology (I had to look up this last word, it means the search for and study of unknown, legendary, or extinct animals whose existence is disputed or unsubstantiated by mainstream science). This creature is “supposedly” the reason the Nantiinaq fishing village of Port Chatham on the Kenai Peninsula was abandoned in the 1950s. They are also associated with the Alaskan Triangle, an area much like the Bermuda Triangle where there have been numerous unexplained disappearances and strange events.
There is another notorious creature by the name of Qalupalik that lives in the water and wears a traditional parka or amauti. It’s known for snatching children who wander away from their parents, then tucks them under the parka hood and carries them under the ice, never to be seen again. Yikes! I wonder if this tale wasn’t invented to purposely scare youngsters into behaving, kind of like the old European fairy tales such as Hanzel and Gretel.
One of the lesser known and malevolent mythological animals that also has its origins in Indigenous traditions across northern regions including Canada is called the Keelut. This oily, hairless, black animal resembles a dog and is reputed to travel between physical and spiritual worlds. Like the Alaskan Hairy Man and Qalupalik, the Keelut is solitary and stalks those who wander away from the beaten path. It is also said to be a symbol representing the harshness and perils of the northern wilderness, which sounds a whole lot better than harming people.
Well, if I scared you, I surely didn’t mean to. These mythical creatures and the stories of their unnerving habits are fascinating. I suppose they’re the result of early man or the first white explorers attempting to explain things that made no sense. I can certainly understand that in a place such as Alaska. If ever I visited somewhere filled with beauty and mystery and that defied logic it was there.
How about you? Have you ever visited our northern most state and if yes, what stood out to you the most?
Cathy McDavid has been penning Westerns for Harlequin since 2005. With over 55 titles in print and 1.6 million-plus books sold, Cathy is also a member of the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll. This “almost” Arizona native and mother of grown twins is married to her own real-life sweetheart. After leaving the corporate world seven years ago, she now spends her days penning stories about good looking cowboys riding the range, busting broncs, and sweeping gals off their feet — oops, no. Make that winning the hearts of feisty, independent women who give the cowboys a run for their money. It a tough job, but she’s willing to make the sacrifice.
Hey Cathy! I have never been. I’ve only been as far north as Michigan. Interesting article. Growing up we have heard of Bigfoot and the half goat man. I’m afraid I never believed in neither one or even had a reason! LOL I have a neighbor who is into the “Bigfoot” craze or whatever it is. She has steel plates of them on her buildings for show. *shrugs* As I say, whatever floats your boat! LOL
I’m glad you shred your trip with us today! Best wishes Cathy!
Jeeze….not shred…shared! And it tried to “shred”it again! Is that not crazy?! Heh.
Hi Tracy,
Like you, I don’t believe the stories. But I do find them interesting and the kind of stuff nightmares are made of 🙂
Never been there, although my mother,brother, and sister have been.
It’s a beautiful place, Kari Jean. Once in a lifetime for us 🙂
I’ve never been there but I would like to.
I highly recommend it. Although, it was cold. I can’t begin to imagine the winters – brrrr!
Fascinating lore. I have not visited Alaska.
The lore is fascinating. And I think it’s interesting that the stories bear some similarity to others from all around the world.
I have been to Alaska. I loved seeing all the different influences.
Yes, Debby, the place is definitely a mixture of many cultures thanks to its wild history. You can see different influences everywhere.
Yes, I have been to Alaska. My husband and I took a cruise a few years ago, and then this past summer we went with my sisters and their husbands for a rail trip from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Both trips were wonderful. In Fairbanks, we got to go panning for gold. What fun! We were also privileged to see Denali. Only about 30% of visitors get to see it, because it is usually covered with clouds. We had so much fun both times.
We did a day long railroad trip from Denali to Anchorage, and it was stunning. We were also fortunate to get great views of the mountain and were told it is rare. But I have the pictures to prove it 🙂
We were able to go to Alaska a few years ago with a couple of our friends. We drove from Alabama to Alaska, through Canada. Wonderful trip all 12, 000 miles of it. lol It is just an awe-inspiring place. The majesty of God’s creation surrounds you.
Wow, Sarah. That is an amazing road trip. I can’t begin to imagine it. You must have seen many awe-inspiring sights.
I’ve never been to Alaska, but it’s in my bucket list!
Well worth the trip, Julie. You’ll see things you never imagined.
No, I haven’t visited but it is on my bucket list.
Be sure and visit in the summer, Barbara. And we were told July and August are the rainy months.
My husband and I finally took our Alaskan cruise in August 2025. Although it was wonderful, our time on land, going sightseeing, was limited. One day, I hope we can return, taking our time sightseeing and learning more about the history of that beautiful state.
I’m so glad we didn’t run into any of these creatures! LOL!
Lynne, we did both a cruise and land tour, which really gave us more time to immerse ourselves in the land. I can only say amazing!
I have not yet visited Alaska, but it’s on my bucket list!!! I’ve wanted to go since I was about 6 or 7.
Don’t wait, Trudy! You will be so happy you went.
Hi, sounds like you and your husband had fun! No I have never been to Alaska, but it sounds like alot of fun. My mom got to go a couple of years before she passed away and she really loved it. Thank you for sharing some of the things you learned there. Have a great weekend.
My husband and I went to Alaska in 2019. We bought a used RV and drove from TN to Seattle, WA. We left our RV there and took the Cascade train to Vancouver, BC. From there we took a Princess cruise and land tour to Alaska. It was a great trip. We flew back to Seattle, picked up the RV and drove back to Alaska. We visited friends who live on the Kenai Peninsula for a few days, then spent another week plus exploring more of the state. We drove back through Canada part of the way, then dropped back into the States around Glacier National Park. We were gone for 2 1/2 months and it was wonderful. It is a spectacular state and we would really love to go back and see more of it.