Pioneer Outfitters Archives

Using Indiegogo To Achieve Business Goals

05/02/2014 By Jayme Soulati

Pioneer Outfitters, Chisana, Alaska. Cubby burns.

This is a call for support for Stand For The Man in Black, an Indiegogo campaign being executed now by Pioneer Outfitters, the 90-year-old Alaska wilderness professional guides.

You may know Amber-Lee Dibble, aka “AL,” who is the voice of the blog for Pioneer Outfitters right here. If you follow her, you’ll see some #RockHot videography and photography from the confines of the Wrangell Mountains in the heart of the Alaska wilderness inaccessible by anything but air transport.

AL is a regular in these parts and everyone else’s too. I have watched her grow from baby sponge to bona fide digital marketer with a tremendous voice and passion to boot. [Read more…]

The Happy Friday Series: Alaska Chick

11/22/2013 By Jayme Soulati

She’s just about the most #RockHot person to write about because she’s so darn easy to tease; yet, she is always right there to volunteer, say yes, support you, send a hug, be happy, and share a good yarn or three from all the way up in the darn middle of Nowheresville, Alaska.

I kid you not; this single mom, I call AL because her name is too long to tweet, has a herd of kids (well, maybe three). She’s the face of Pioneer Outfitters in the heart of Alaska where there’s no road or airport. They have to fly their own little planes, until they blow up (not kidding). They have horse trails, and the mail gets dropped from a bi-plane like every two weeks (kidding)

Have you met Amber-Lee Dibble?

You may know her as Alaska Chick, Pioneer Outfitters’ blogger extraordinaire, or Girly Grizzly; I think she answers to all three with a guffaw every time. Ask her why she has so many brands, and she’ll tell you to ask me.

Well, all kidding aside, AL has written for The Happy Friday series none other than three times! Apparently, she’s really happy, or she keeps writing about it to tell herself she is!

Should I put all kidding aside for a sec? (Hard to do; that’s why I said a sec.)

Amber-Lee Dibble

She’s the most loyal friend you’ll ever meet. She will always help someone down and out. She will write a guest post for you whenever one is needed, and she never puts on airs suggesting she knows something when she doesn’t. She is so transparent and vulnerable which both make her the sweetest candy on Earth (because she lives in another part of the Milky Way, uhmm, maybe she’s a bit salty up and over there).

Why I love AL is because of all this and more.

The more is so astonishing because she’s a woman of the wilderness with a hot temper who wears pink all day long. Pink riding gear on horseback, pink galoshes and boots, probably pink panties, too. She sticks out like a sore thumb with all that snow up there, and I’m sure the grizzly bears are afraid of her, too.

No, seriously, she is kick ass in the wilderness communing with Mother Nature and the 30 below temperatures. She is a trainer of wilderness guides, a big game guide and a survivalist (I just made that up; AL, are you one of those, too?)

The really funny thing that makes me happy about this post today is that AL is like six hours behind me; so she’ll be in the middle of R.E.M. when we go live without her. So, anyone want to banter a bit in comments about AL before she wakes up and grabs some Joe?

Thanks, Amber-Lee Dibble, for being part of this #RockHot community and contributing so many times to this series. I certainly would not have gotten this off the ground without your help. Much love and warmth to you and your Alaska family.

Happy Thanksgiving; we have much to be thankful for. I am thankful I have such a good sport friend who allows me to poke a little at her; but who’s to know if that’s really true? We’ll see in about six hours!

The Happy Friday Series: Disasters And Blessings

09/20/2013 By Jayme Soulati

Happy Friday!

The Happy Friday series is the brainchild of one of the brainiest chick I know, the #RockHot Jayme Soulati. I have been here a time or two, as have many others and we all speak to you (and each other) through our writing about being happy. What it really means, why you can be, should be, how to do it, how to get it back and how to live everyday just plain happy.

Are you happy?

I am. Yes! Now, many people, those who know me best, might read this (yeah, like if I twisted their arms, shoved their faces in front of the screen and threatened to take away their birthdays….) and say, “Huh? Who? You?! Happy? Pshaw.”

But it is true. I am very happy. (Hey! It is the face I was born with, quit pickin’ on me!)

Let’s be very serious for a moment because I want to impress upon you how important this is to understand.

This is “Cubby”. It blew up sitting on the ground. Cubby has been an Icon in Alaska for almost 30 years. It is also thought to be the lifeblood of Pioneer Outfitters. It’s jobs and responsibilities were enormous. A hero, Cubby has saved lives, numerous times. It could (and did) land anywhere in the remote wilderness of Alaska. Many times, Cubby was called upon to find lost people, lost aircraft and even lost horses or dogs in Alaska’s mountains.

RIP, Cubby, September 16, 2013.

Back to happy.

You may wonder how all of this strengthens my thoughts on happiness. It is very simple, really. Cubby, as valued and treasured as it was, was still just an airplane. A very special, experimental aircraft, but an inanimate object, just the same. Master Guide Terry Overly, known as the youngest old-timer in Alaska, was Cubby’s heartbeat. Master Guide Terry Overly, one of the last old-timers and mountain men of a largely gone era. Terry Overly, the only Father I have ever known and my children’s beloved Papa, was not in Cubby when it exploded into the flames that devoured it.

That is and always will be enough to enforce and enhance my happy.

Some of you may know me as the Manager at Pioneer Outfitters. Some of you may know of me through Social Media and all the different channels that I have frequented over the last few years, dealing with my own identity crisis, through Alaska Chick’s Blog and my first book titled, ironically, My Identity Crisis (Which by the way, the #RockHot Jayme Soulati actually named and helped me cure!).

As Alaska Chick, of Pioneer Outfitters Blog, I have most recently been sharing the trials, tribulations, wonders, blessings and dramas of the 7-week long 2013 International Horseback Adventure. I have also begun sharing the effects of that Adventure has had on Pioneer Outfitters 2013 Fall Big Game Hunting Season, and as the weeks to follow will come to show ~ it aint all been rainbows and unicorns here in the wilderness of Alaska.

Through it all however, one thing remains constant and prevalent: the blessings that surround us all, if we care to see them. The kindness in people, everywhere, towards strangers and friends alike and their own willingness to help as they can, anyone at all, because that is what people do. The beautiful world we live in and the moments that leave us in awe to witness are a blessing that surrounds us all.

What Cubby reminded us all at Pioneer Outfitters of, on the morning of September 16th, was that no matter how valuable, how needed something is or was, was that it was just a thing, a tool and something that could be replaced. Master Guide Terry Overly, a son, a brother, a Father and a Grandfather was so much more to us than a thing, a tool and something that could never be replaced.

As so many people have lost loved ones, and so many times our hearts break for ourselves and others for their loss, I wanted to share my own joy and yes, happiness, with each of you here, for the reminder of how simple happiness is. When everything else is taken away we all, each other and each of us, are what matters.

I wanted to share my happy with you all and I hope you have happy in your life today too.

About The Author (by Jayme)

Amber-Lee Dibble is one tough cookie and one of the most genuine wilderness women I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting. Reading her stories, listening to her free think in her blog posts, and her love of pink (my least fave color), make you want to squeeze her in a Midwest bear hug. Knowing that her excursions are more real than any of us can imagine makes me want to escape the continental U.S. and move to the outer reaches of Alaska where danger lies in frost bite and mosquito bites. Thanks, Amber-Lee for writing here a third time; you are welcome always. RIP Cubby and so sorry about your loss.

The Happy Friday Series: Smiles From Alaska

02/22/2013 By Jayme Soulati

Our The Happy Friday Series continues with a steady stream of guest authors I am so delighted to welcome and appreciate (I hope you do, too). Today, we’re happy to warmly greet Ms. Amber-Lee Dibble aka Alaska Chick aka Pioneer Outfitters (got any more brands I missed, Amber-Lee? Heh, that’s a years-long joke between us smilers.) Amber-Lee is the voice and face of Chisana, Alaska. She lures wild-westers to the remote Alaska expanse of these 50 states with images of wild-game hunting, frozen tundras navigable only by snow machines, and cozy fires with all the kids and hot chocolate. She’s one of the most admirable bloggers I know, and she can spin a yarn…see what she has to say today about happy!

Amber-Lee Dibble

Amber-Lee Dibble Says:

I was invited to Jayme’s #RockHot Happy Friday Series to share a little of the happiness I have found in Alaska.

Now, Jayme really is pretty wiley because she is well aware how much I actually dislike Friday’s in general, but I must admit, this series has given me a few smiles too, so I’ll pay my dues this week.

Happy, happiness, happily.

Despite what stories and fairy tales may lead one to believe, happiness isn’t sprinkled over your aura by magic. It isn’t something that happens to you. YOU, are the magic, YOU are the only one who can create it.

Do you know what makes you happy? Aside from the big deal, the win, the things you’ve worked so hard for, do you know what so many people have forgotten or don’t realize?

The Little Things

It’s the little things. They are called “Little things” because they are so easy, and we tend to take them for granted.

A smile, from a complete stranger, has the power (almost like magic!) to pull a smile from you in return, from a busy and preoccupied mind, worried about the sick children, worried about the bills and if you are going to be late for that meeting you are headed to; that is the power of a smile.

We are taught that we have to work hard, even struggle for what is important in life. A smile is so easy, it’s like breathing, so it must not be important, right? Wrong. A smile is the most powerful piece of magic we have to call our own.

I read an interesting statistic as I was fiddling around the other day, online. It is estimated that we, as humans, have about 60,000 thoughts a day. How many of those, I wonder, are happy thoughts?

There are endless sources of advice on how to be happy and they all have one thing in common; they don’t cost a thing.

Pioneer Outfitters’ Amazing Amber-Lee Dibble

Look For the Bright Side

No matter how bad things can get, tomorrow always comes with another chance. Maybe not a complete “do-over” but with an entire day of opportunity, to do something, to meet someone, to see something, hear something…
Forgive.Yourself and others.

Forgiveness is a HUGE gift. To yourself and to others. Holding something dark inside yourself is like going out and asking for cancer. It eats at you, physically and emotionally. Forgive the pain, forgive the mistake, forgive the bad or evil done. Forgive it all, remember the lesson(s) it taught you and just let it go. Let. It. Go.

Be grateful.

Gratitude is a beautiful thing. Appreciate what you do have. Even if is only that you woke up this morning, remember the whole day could be a downpour of blessings. It is more than saying thank you to someone holding the door, it is a sense of appreciation and wonder to the life that offers you this kindness.

Take care of you.

Yes, I am going to say it. Exercise. People who get outside, breathe, move around, go for a walk, take a ride or work out are happier. Why? Because they feel good. They are healthier. Eating right, resting and exercising makes you feel that wonderful thing called happiness. Your body deserves to be happy too!

Smile!
There are studies that insist that smiling (the movement caused by the muscles in your face) elevates your mood. It is absolutely contagious and smiles cause (yes, causes) happiness and happiness creates more smiles!

And lastly, remember that you are not alone in this thing we call life. There are people just waiting to meet you, waiting for the day to change your life, waiting for the day that you will change theirs.

Be happy. It’s Friday.

P.S. Did you know that there is a small town in Alaska named Happy Valley? There is!

Soulati-'TUDE!

Amber-Lee Dibble

Are you happy?

RIP, Cubby, September 16, 2013.

About The Author (by Jayme)

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