As far as Norma was concerned it was a God thing founded in her dreams for her family! The Cobb’s ages were young for five kids adventuring into the bush country–Sid 9 years old, Sean 6, Tom 3, and the twin girls-Cara & Cora 1 1/2.
Moving to Alaska in November, 1973 preparing to start homesteading our land in the spring of 1974 created a lot of unexpected adventure and heartache in our lives–bad roads, spring breakup not complete, a child shot, unfriendly locals, valley not able to be accessed without big issues, unforeseen nature problems, and worst of all, just not knowing what we were to do next in order to develop our valley paradise in the isolated backwoods and deepest wilderness that Alaska offered for the Cobb clan.
Our minds just had no idea when we started this chapter of our lives. Learning as we went along and meeting other homesteaders or miners for helpful suggestions, hints, advice about this bewildering but intriguing land that lay ahead of us to develop and conquer. Definitely, no substitute for experience and trial-n-error in God’s country. Mother nature was always the upper hand in it all!
I would say homesteading the interior Alaskan back country was the most challenging experience that each of the Cobb clan had accomplished in their lives. Who can put a value on the lessons learned in life or challenges met full bore in order to accomplish ones final goals and dreams? Knowing in the final count down, it will shape everything you do and are or fail in the process leaving you wanting and confused. Wondering if you ever could have made a success of your endeavors or even followed that dream to its final hour.
Will power and survival are the names of the game. Sometimes you just don’t know what your truly made of til you try something in life that challenges every fiber of your body, heart, mind, and soul. I pray my children will always go for the gusto of life knowing that they have given it their all!!!!