I've lived below the equator for a while... just barely.

But (regrettably) I've never served in any armed force. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Thank you to all of you who have and currently do! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" />

Sourdough is slang for an experienced hunter or prospector in the Alaskan and Canadian bush. That's because experienced woodsmen treasured and used their sourdough bread starter. Many kept it in a pouch around their neck. The term is at least as old as the Klondike gold rush.

Technically you couldn’t be considered a sourdough until you'd survived the north for at least a year. But once upon a time a cheechako (tenderfoot) came into an Alaskan bar and asked "What does a fellow have to do to be considered a sourdough?"

The barkeep was willing to be amused. "Well, sir, there are three things. You have to drink a quart of rye whisky in one go. You have to make love to an Esquimaux woman. And you have to track down a Kodiak bear."

"Hey, I can do that!" says our hero. "Give me that bottle!" Soon he staggered out of the bar and Boniface forgot about the matter. A week later the cheechako dragged himself back. He was torn, bruised, bloody, and a generally horrible sight. "Whisky!" he croaked. After several drinks he asked the barkeep "Okay, tell me about this Esquimaux woman I'm supposed to track down."

I'm a Golden Shell back, WestPac 1997-98.

Its a rite-of-passage in the Navy. It shows the you earned your sea legs.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Generally speaking now, a sourdough is someone who has been north long enough to see the Yukon river freeze and then thaw.

Living just below the Arctic circle, we know that you have THAT covered!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I live in Iowa. Only sea legs I need or get is when the Mississippi floods!

Thanks, Chris. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

That makes sense. If he could survive the Yukon winter and see the spring, he could probably make it to fall.

I believe the French Canadian Voyager version is hivernant. If I am correctly informed, that means someone who has “wintered over” in the wild. Their version of a cheechako is a manguures de lard. Literally a “pork eater”. Someone who could not hunt and gather to live off the land, but depended on pork purchased at the nearest outpost of civilization.

surviving the yukon is impressive. deserve an award for that.

I don't live in the Great White North (Seattle gets more snow then Vancouver BC gets) but I do hunt, camp and fish up in the northern regions of BC.
Nothing like a nice Crown Royal while sitting around a hole in the ice while fishing

my wife said her dad was in the Navy...but he never talks about it.....i don't ask <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" />

Air Force retired here!

"There's an Air Force guy driving from McChord to Ft Lewis, and an Army guy driving from Ft Lewis to McChord. In the middle of the night with no other cars on the road they hit each other head on and both cars go flying off in different directions.

The Air Force guy manages to climb out of his car and surveys the damage. He looks at his twisted car and says,....."Man, I am really lucky to be alive!"

Likewise the Army guy scrambles out of his car and looks at his wreckage. He too says to himself, ..... "I can't believe I survived this wreck!"

The Army guy walks over to the Air Force guy and says,...... "Hey man, I think this is a sign from God that we should put away our petty differences and live as friends instead of archrivals"

The Air Force guy thinks for a moment and says, ...... "You know, you're absolutely right! We should be friends. Now I'm gonna see what else survived this wreck"

So the Air Force guy pops open his trunk and finds a full, unopened bottle of Jack Daniels.

He says to the Army guy, "I think this is another sign from God that we should toast to our new found understanding and friendship"

The Army guy replies, "You're [censored] right!" and he grabs the bottle and starts sucking down Jack Daniels. After putting away nearly half the bottle the Army guy hands it back to the Air Force guy and says, "Your turn!"

The Air Force guy twists the cap back on the bottle and says, "Nahh, I think I'll wait for the cops to show up." <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/loopy.gif" alt="" />