As their business grew, so did their deep respect and love for the natural world. They found themselves increasingly involved in Alaska's issues. When Celia Hunter and Ginny Wood first arrived in Alaska, it was a Territory with approximately 180,000 people. "Flying across bush Alaska, the entire landscape was a seamless whole, unmarred by man-made boundaries. Alaskans assumed it would always be like this, and they resisted strenuously the setting aside of particular lands to protect them." Alaska was changing rapidly before their eyes and they realized it was going to take a lot of work to protect the Alaskan wildlands they loved.