QUESTION - Alaska, your personal experience?

bear_slayer

[Bear_Slayer]

I am looking to do a road trip into and through as much of Alaska as possible, with the goal of exploring for relocation purposes.

I would like to ferry my truck/camper from Seattle to Homer then travel up through Glenallen, Tok, Fairbanks, and further north following the Pipeline Corridor.

I'm looking for information regarding the following:

Ferry boat resources to avoid Canada, entirely

What to expect for roads, stopping places (I want to avoid tourist places.)

Friendliness of various villages, and peoples along the way.

Opportunities for labor employment along the way.

Any other info you can offer that is helpful.

[Doc Savage]

Living in Alaska is decidely different than visiting Alaska. You had better be self-sufficient, no children, have at least 2 years of funds available as a backstop, be prepared to ostracized as an outsider, learn to live off the land, prepare to freeze to death in the winter, and forgo the civilized life you're used to.

I lived there for almost three years, some time in villages off the coast. Alcoholism and cabin fever claim a lot of people. Be prepared. An incredibly beautiful state, great wildlife. But tough as nails in the bush.

[seacapn]

Also, the road network is pretty limited. There's a lot of interesting stuff beyond the highways.

[RightWhale]

That is a common and sad story. The truth is that pipeline jobs ruined a lot of people when it should have set them up for life.

[RightWhale]

Average stay is about three years. Alaska is good to some, but not to all. As I was driving up to Alaska I met a family driving out. They wished me luck but they weren't happy at all.

[t_skoz]

as soon as he said he needed to avoid Canada, I knew it had something to do with taking pistols from one State to another... nothing against Canada!

[SevenofNine]

HEY Kathy help this freeper out

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Hey Ma!
Can you help Bear_slayer?
Ms.B

[Armedanddangerous]

I know a fellow that lives in Barrow. You can only get there by boat or airplane. Its COLD..

There is at least one Polar bear seen in town per day.

Starting the middle part of November, there will be nearly two months of 24-7 darkness...Even at noon, it will be dark.

Oh, did I mention it is a dry town?

[RightWhale]

Barrow is a gold mine. Black gold, that is.

[ASOC]

Where to start....
Buy a copy of Milepost magazine, it has all the roads and mile by mile data, ferry schedule, what gas stations are still in business and general info on travel in the Northland.

You HAVE to go thru Canada to catch the ferry - it leaves from Prince Rupert. So, NO GUNS (well almost) check with the local Canukastan embassy/email the Canadian Tourist Board for the latest rules. NO slack and they could seize your rig, and that would cut your trip short.

Bring lots of money/a couple of good credit cards. Budget gas at 3USD/gallon. Gas is $2.64 in Anchorage and that's about as cheap a place as you will find. Food is *expensive* as well. If you are self-contained with an RV, you can cook and save quite a bit on grub. It is less expensive now than back in the 70s or 80s.

Work in route? Better come in the summer, unemployment outside of the major population centers runs anywhere from 10% to 90% depending on local. It gets a lot worse in the winter. Don't be surprised if nobody will talk to you about work without a Alaska driver license, or some kind of sense that you have lived here for at least a couple of winters. Pick up work as as grunt labor is sketchy at best.

Folks are friendly enough. Just remember - Are Alaskans peculiar because they live in Alaska or, do they live in Alaska because *they* are peculiar? Whatever you do, DO NOT tell anyone you are from California (if you are)!

That said, if you can weld (certified union welder) they are currently paying $67/hr on the slope. You will have to have local certification to apply. IF you have your FAA A&P ticket, you can likely work in the major population centers. Or you can work the slime line (fish processing) at about $8/hr, helps if you speak Spanish, Tagalog or Chinese.

If nothing else, you will most certainly enjoy the scenery, the clean air and open spaces. YMMV

[umgud]

Living in Alaska is decidely different than visiting Alaska. You had better be self-sufficient,

I was impressed with the tanacity and self sufficiency of many who I met or encountered. The 73 year old man who took me on a 6 hour drift boat trip said he did 2 trrips per day during the peak season, guided hunts during hunting season, built drift boats and produced videos in his off season.

[Issaquahking]

Please don't spread mis-information. Welders are not getting $67 an hour!The billing rate maybe greater than $67, but ther is a lot of overhead As an electrician, I get $28 an hour. I lived in Alaska for over 40 years, and am calling BS on the big dollars mentioned. There's just as much, or more opportunity, in America.

[seacapn]

I was able to take a 12ga. shotgun through BC and the Yukon, including a ferry hop to the Queen Charlotte Islands of BC, without any trouble, since I had a permit that was issued at the border crossing north of Lynden, Washington.

More details are available at this link, including the required forms.

[Beagle8U]

I've never been to Alaska, but I used to run a custom fly tying shop and had lots of guys that were going on fishing trips want flies to take there.

Believe it or not, the hottest thing for dry fly fishing was the floating foam rubber spiders that we use for bluegills in the lower 48.

Spinning lures...take lots of casting spoons.

Didn't know if you planned on fishing, but I just threw that in case.

[Cowgirl]

I live outside Delta Junction. It is a very small farm town (it has just about the only substantial amount of hay in Alaska). My husband was born in Alaska so he is use to
the rigors of getting ready for winter and of course winter. I love and hate Alaska. The people in this
area are either very family oriented and Christian or
just the opposite. We have a lot of Russians now in
Delta, some good some bad. The bad ones steal which is
something we didn't have to deal with before. The mosquitos are very limited here due to the wind blowing
off the Tanana River. The mountains are beautiful and
there is a lot of hunting, fishing, etc. Prices are higher than the lower 48 but you get paid a little more.
We make it fine on one salary with three teens.

[Issaquahking]

Hi cowgirl! I worked at Pump nine most of the summer. I fully understand what you are saying about a love/hate relationship with the state. No place else in the world can be as great as Alaska is 120 days a year, the problem is the other 120 days of "the tough end" The others are seasonally dependent.

[MineralMan]

If you're taking the ferry to avoid Canada's firearms laws, forget it. All the ferries transit Canada, and you can't take handguns on them.

The option is to ship them to a FFL dealer in Alaska, and pick them up on arrival.

[ASOC]

Sorry my man, that is what is being reported in the local (Anchorage) news and in the papers. The pay may be high as it is a project job replacing feeder lines and requires hot cut experiance. Local (Anchorage) union welders pull down 30+/hr and fabrication shops may pay more.

And yes, Alaska IS part of America, a full up State, last I heard.

When did you leave? Lately or in the big crash of '86?

[conservative in nyc]

You HAVE to go thru Canada to catch the ferry - it leaves from Prince Rupert.

Depending on the time of year, you can take the ferry from Bellingham, Washington to Juneau and then get on a very infrequently run Cross-Gulf Ferry ride to Whittier (near Anchorage). Or you can take the ferry from Bellingham, Washington (at least once a week on Fridays) to Haines or Skagway and drive through B.C. and the Yukon to Alaska - of course, that doesn't avoid Canada.

The only other way to Alaska while avoiding Canada would be to fly.

[1066AD]

Here's the site for the Alaska Marine Highway System
Good luck, that's a trip I'd love to do.