Alaskans are a hardy breed, and proud of it! We live in some of the coldest temperatures in the United States, and have fun while we do it. Alaskans can be a diverse crowd, but there are some things we all come together and agree on, and one of those is how to spot a cheechako a mile away. Here are eight different ways we can spot an imposter in Alaska- who hasn’t braved one of our winters and become a sourdough just yet!
- They don’t understand terminology like “Cheechako,” “Termination dust,” “Sourdough,” and “lower 48.”
Paxson Woelber / Flickr Imposters new to Alaska, Cheechakos to us Sourdoughs, wouldn’t know the signs of termination dust and what it might mean to someone from the lower 48.
- They don’t know what a block heater is.
Andrew Kaszowski / Flickr Most people fresh to Alaska don’t realize how truly cold it can get in the winter, or how it can affect your car and its engine. As the Anchorage municipality says: “Plug at 20!”
- They overdress for the mildest of cold temperatures.
Ryan Hyde / Flickr Alaska is cold, and we usually have the gear for it! But the imposters break out their down jackets in beautiful spring temperatures.
- Imposters call them snowmobiles.
Visit Lakeland / Flickr In Alaska, it’s called a snow machine. We don’t just use these for fun— they are a way of daily transportation for many Alaskans.
- They immediately get a chipped or cracked window fixed.
Joshua Ganderson / Flickr Any real Alaskan knows that its useless to fix that chip or crack right away, because within a day or two there will be a brand new one! Much better to wait it out as long as possible.
- They don’t know the difference between a caribou and a reindeer.
Sanjoy Ghosh / Flickr We know that reindeer are domesticated, and our caribou run free in the wild!
- They think snowy weather is a reason to stay home.
Kent Kanouse / Flickr Real Alaskans work, go to school, and play in the snow. With almost six months of winter, you have to love it to keep living here!
- They call Denali “Mount McKinley.”
Nic McPhee / Flickr You can spot an outsider immediately by how they reference the largest mountain in North America.
How do you spot an imposter in Alaska? For more obvious ways to spot an imposter, check out 20 Ways To Spot A Tourist in Alaska!
Paxson Woelber / Flickr
Imposters new to Alaska, Cheechakos to us Sourdoughs, wouldn’t know the signs of termination dust and what it might mean to someone from the lower 48.
Andrew Kaszowski / Flickr
Most people fresh to Alaska don’t realize how truly cold it can get in the winter, or how it can affect your car and its engine. As the Anchorage municipality says: “Plug at 20!”
Ryan Hyde / Flickr
Alaska is cold, and we usually have the gear for it! But the imposters break out their down jackets in beautiful spring temperatures.
Visit Lakeland / Flickr
In Alaska, it’s called a snow machine. We don’t just use these for fun— they are a way of daily transportation for many Alaskans.
Joshua Ganderson / Flickr
Any real Alaskan knows that its useless to fix that chip or crack right away, because within a day or two there will be a brand new one! Much better to wait it out as long as possible.
Sanjoy Ghosh / Flickr
We know that reindeer are domesticated, and our caribou run free in the wild!
Kent Kanouse / Flickr
Real Alaskans work, go to school, and play in the snow. With almost six months of winter, you have to love it to keep living here!
Nic McPhee / Flickr
You can spot an outsider immediately by how they reference the largest mountain in North America.
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