Olivia Jones lives in the remote town of Eagle, Alaska, with her husband and four children, a situation that has drawn attention from her 177,000 TikTok followers.
At a Glance
- Olivia Jones and family settled in Eagle after the pandemic, moving from St. Louis.
- They face daily hazards from the Yukon River, grizzly bears, and limited medical access.
- Emergency response relies on local volunteers, a health aide, and a medevac service.
- Why it matters: Their story illustrates the challenges of off-grid living in extreme environments.
Olivia Jones’s move to Eagle, Alaska, was driven by a desire to escape the confines of the “lower 48” after COVID-19 forced her husband’s job to become remote. The couple, originally from St. Louis, Missouri, chose a location that had personal family ties-her grandfather had mined gold there in the 1970s. Since the pandemic began in 2020, they have resided near a town of fewer than 100 people, documenting their experiences on TikTok under the handle Beyond the Mile Markers.
Living in the Last Mile
The name Beyond the Mile Markers comes from the fact that State Highway 5 ends at the point where Olivia lives. She explains to News Of Los Angeles that “you take one road in Alaska, and it ends here, which is where we got ‘Beyond the Mile Markers’ because the mile markers end and you have to just keep going to get to us.”
Eagle’s isolation means the family must manage many everyday tasks on their own. The limited population and remote location create a unique set of challenges that Olivia discusses in detail with News Of Los Angeles.
River and Bear Dangers
One of the most dangerous aspects of their life is the Yukon River. Olivia points out the fast-moving water from her window during a video call with News Of Los Angeles. She notes that the river is “extremely fast” and that it can flood rapidly. She recalls a flood in 2009 that “took out the whole town.” During that event, boats were docked along the railing near their house.
Safety rules for the family are strict: if a child is near the river, a life jacket is mandatory regardless of distance. Olivia admits that she has let her children swim in the river while tethered to a boat to demonstrate the current’s speed.
Grizzly bears also pose a threat. Olivia recounts a fall when the family was walking by the boat ramp and found bear tracks. Neighbors warned them to leave the area. She says they believe the bears hibernated near their home, and that during spring, they caution children not to be outside alone until the bears wake up.
Emergency Preparedness
Living in Eagle means there is no 911 line. Olivia explains that the nearest health clinic is in the native village, staffed by a health aide trained to handle emergencies until a medevac arrives. Most residents, including Olivia’s family, carry medevac insurance.
In an emergency, the protocol is:
- Call the specific volunteer or health aide in town.
- If a car ride to the clinic is possible, take it.
- For life-threatening situations, the aide will arrange a medevac.
The nearest hospital is in Fairbanks, almost 400 miles away. Olivia notes that it takes an hour for a plane to arrive in Eagle and another hour to return, making rapid response crucial.
Key Takeaways
- Olivia Jones’s family lives beyond the last mile marker on State Highway 5, a decision rooted in family history and pandemic circumstances.
- The Yukon River and grizzly bears present daily risks, mitigated by strict safety protocols.
- Emergency services rely on a local health aide, volunteers, and a medevac system, with the nearest hospital 400 miles away.
- Their experience highlights the resilience required for off-grid living in extreme environments.
The story of Olivia and her family offers insight into the realities of remote life, where nature’s power and limited infrastructure demand constant vigilance and ingenuity.
