Extreme Alaska photos set to "Stand Around the Fire," used courtesy of Fairbanks' own Will Putman.
Starvation Gulch
When University of Alaska President Charles E. Bunnell founded the event in 1923, he envisioned fires surrounding an historic gold camp setting symbolizing passing the torch of knowledge. Students took a less reverent approach, calling it "Starvation Gulch," passing torches and bottles to keep warm, they annually seize the excuse to mingle and howl, basking in the allure of man-kindled natural "neon" light.