What do Freepers know about Alaska? (Gov. Palin's home state)

9/20/2008 | syriacus

[syriacus]

Thanks, Dr. Ursus.

[Damifino]

[Phantom Lord]

What I know, the weather is cold and the governor is HOT!

[seoul62]

That is a mighty big bear, how big was it?/Just Asking - seoul62......

[Dr. Ursus]

Actually,we toured Alaska for two weeks about 9 years ago.
The scenery was great and the people were very nice.

[USMA 92]

My dad was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska in the mid-1970s and I thought it was awesome. Going out to the rivers we would go rafting and fishing. During the winter my older brothers would take advantage of the ski slopes. We did a lot of cross-country skiing.

It is an absolutely beautiful state in both the summer and winter times.

After joining the military, I went back up there for Northern Warfare School, learning how to live on a glacier, navigate through glacial and fresh water rivers, and rock climbing. After getting stationed at JRTC, I went up there again twice again to coordinate with the Stryker Brigade in preparation for their training exercise in Ft. Polk, LA.

Loved it each time.

[Federalist Society]

I spent two tours with the U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska. First tour in Ketchikan (Southeast AK) from 1986-1988, and my second tour was in Anchorage from 1992-1995. I absolutely love Alaska. It is unlike any other place I've been. I remember playing golf and having caribou run onto the fairway, or getting stuck in Coldbay, AK for a couple of days due to bad weather and staying at the only motel there, the Weathered Inn. I had to go check out a small spill in the northwestern part of the state and landed on a beach in a supercub plane and seeing a frozen Chukchi Sea in the middle of summer!

Alaska isn't something that can be described very well, you just have to experience it.

[Loud Mime]

(80% approval rating)

Proof that Democrats are idiots no matter what the issue

[madison10]

I know if I was younger I’d move there in a heartbeat. (might be easier now since husband is retired)Like the close to pioneering aspect of the region.

[madison10]

It is also absolutely stunningly beautiful.

[Fiji Hill]

The difference between Rome and Nome:
All roads lead to Rome; no roads lead to Nome.

[anniegetyourgun]

The word “Alaska” is derived from the Aleut word “Alyeska” meaning "Great Land".

[Fiji Hill]

“When it’s springtime in Alaska, it’s 40 below.” —Johnny Horton, 1958

[DeLaine]

Come here ping

[Turret Gunner A20]

Also from wikey: State Motto: North to the Future
Nicknames: "The Last Frontier" or "Land of the Midnight Sun"
State bird: Willow Ptarmigan, adopted by the Territorial Legislature in 1955. It is a small (15-17 inches) Arctic grouse that lives among willows and on open tundra and muskeg. Plumage is brown in summer, changing to white in winter. The Willow Ptarmigan is common in much of Alaska.
State fish: King Salmon, adopted 1962.
State flower: wild/native Forget-Me-Not, adopted by the Territorial Legislature in 1917. It is a perennial that is found throughout Alaska, from Hyder to the Arctic Coast, and west to the Aleutians.
State fossil: Woolly Mammoth, adopted 1986.
State gem: Jade, adopted 1968.
State insect: Four-spot skimmer dragonfly, adopted 1995. State land mammal: Moose, adopted 1998.
State marine mammal: Bowhead Whale, adopted 1983.
State mineral: Gold, adopted 1968.
State song: "Alaska's Flag"
State sport: Dog Mushing, adopted 1972.
State tree: Sitka Spruce, adopted 1962.
State soil: Estelle, adopted unknown.

[66-442hot]

“Alaska isn't something that can be described very well, you just have to experience it.”

How true!!

Also in the Coast Guard in Ketchikan 1971 - 1973. It was a long time ago - but this city boy got to experience so many wonderful things up there.

I was on the USCGC Bittersweet, WLB 389, and got to sail the from Panhandle up to Kodiak Island. Sailed on the Gulf during a typhoon in 72. It was pretty rough but in no way could I have ever seen or experienced any of it w/o the time serving in the USCG!

[Leo Farnsworth]

Juneau is the only state capital that cannot be reached by car. Boat or plane access only.

[syriacus]

Thanks for the info, Leo Farnsworth!

[syriacus]

Thanks for posting the info here, Turret Gunner A20.

[Argus]

I lived on Kodiak Island for a while back in the 70’s. It was the last frontier. And there’s nothing like frying up fresh halibut right out of the water.