The fact that Leafly lists two "Alaskan" Thunder Fucks makes me a little crazy. Alaskan Thunder Fuck (ATF) is listed as a Sativa and Matanuska Thunder Fuck (MTF) is listed as a hybrid. Matanuska Thunder Fuck is named after the Matanuska-Susitna Valley in Alaska, about 50 miles outside of Anchorage, which is revered for rich volcanic soil and it's intense summer growing season. I lived in the Mat-Su valley in the late 70s, early 80s when this strain was being fine tuned. The strain came out of a blend of a number of different landrace strains that were folded into the most popular strains in the area at the time. Emphases was placed on strains that didn't grow too high (for cramped quarters) and that had a short flowering cycle to optimize for the short summer. The best strain (in my opinion) to come out of this process, became known as Thunder Fuck or just Thunder to people in the valley and Matanuska Thunder Fuck to people in places in Alaska outside the Mat-Su valley. There were a couple of strains that had such similar genetics that they were collectively known as MTF and it was almost impossible to tell the difference. I know there were some MTF seeds and cuttings exported to the Pacific Northwest during that time because I spoke to a WA grower, visiting Alaska and he was growing out an MTF plant at that time. Cannabis was recriminalized in the mid 80s in Alaska and the strain went underground when the DEA stepped up enforcement and true (or even close) MTF is difficult to find now, even in Alaska. True MTF is a hybrid strain that leans slightly on the Indica side. The plants tend to grow short and thick, at least in Alaska and especially with good cropping. The flowers are a blend of dark and medium green with reddish brown hairs, and a structure similar to a Kush but with smaller buds. MTF doesn't normally turn purple hues unless it's finished outside toward the end of the summer in northern climates. The scent is a strong skunky piney smell, with mint undertones that most containers can't contain. The effects are pretty unique in that they start with a very strong Sativa type high, very spacey and euphoric, then migrates after a while into a very relaxed couch lock, Indica phase. There are often giggly and/or aroused phases to the experience as well. Beware of intense munchies with this strain. Sleep is usually easy with MTF but unless you use too much, it doesn't usually force sleep. It is a fantastic pain killer and muscle relaxer. MTF was developed by Alaskans to get through the long winter months but also to take advantage of epic summer days. True MTF is unquestionably my favorite strain of all time.
"Alaskan" Thunder Fuck (ATF) is NOT the same thing. I've sampled several examples of the Pacific Northwest ATF as well as a strain called Oregon TF that are all very similar to each other. They are all sativa dominant with classic sativa bud structure. They had none of the Indica effects that I enjoyed so much in MTF. This is also not the Tundra strain that Leafly refers to as an alternative name to MTF. Tundra is yet another type of strain, that in my experience is similar to NL#5 and now appears to be extinct in its original form.
Since I've become a medical user, I've only found two examples of MTF that I consider close to being genuine. Pure Oregon is the only place in Portland I've found MTF, that's close enough to satisfy my high standards for this strain. If you are looking for an intense but balanced hybrid this one is worth a try if you can find it.
