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.

[thackney]

Buy a copy of Milepost magazine

This is the best advice you will read on this thread. Do not skip it.

You HAVE to go thru Canada to catch the ferry

Not true, the ferry does go to Belinham, Washington.

Alaska Marine Highway System Schedules for Fall 2006

[thackney]

ping for input on your recent drive up

[PghBaldy]

Ugh. What a horrible story.

[Brad C.]

I would imagine in another month or two the term "hot" won't be applying to the area, other than economically.

As for crazy insane, I would tend to think of the pipeline days and I am pretty sure it is nothing like that now. Still, the reports my lovely wife brought back reflected an enormous amount of growth and development in the two years since we left. I am sorry we missed it, because I always thought Fairbanks was just waiting to blossom out. I do hope that the boom cycles are over with up there though I tend to doubt it.

Are those anti-Bush protesters still hanging out on College & University?

[RightWhale]

This is way beyond the pipeline years. At least double. The boom is possibly over if the military pulls out, the gas pipeline dies under Knowles, and they move the Univ to Anchorage like they were going to do two decades ago. But, right now very few houses are for sale. Rental units are booked 100%. New housing is mostly fairly nice rental cabins and deluxe houses. They are building on massive gravel pads on permafrost because that is the nature of all the raw land. Still no tear-down/rebuild. The parade of dump trucks everywhere is non-stop except Sunday, even now, midway through October. I don't know why they don't run Sunday, everything else is running Sunday.

[DaiHuy]

Alaska Ferry from Bellingham

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

I think there are places in Alaska that don't have a zip code.

[Beagle8U]

"Ugh. What a horrible story."

Yes it is, its also true.

[Bear_Slayer]

Thanks for the info.

[Bear_Slayer]

Buy a copy of Milepost

Got it . . . and the DeLorme mpa book for the state.

[Bear_Slayer]

Buy a copy of Milepost

Got it . . . and the DeLorme mpa book for the state.

[Bear_Slayer]

Thanks for the info.

[Bear_Slayer]

It looks like I might have to.

[snowtigger]

I've been in Alaska for forty-nine years, most of it in Fairbanks.

I've built several houses around Fairbanks, and have yet to build one on permafrost.There is some here, but the wise ones avoid it.

As for this mini-boom we have going on here, I think it is in anticipation of the gas line,which may or may not come, as well as some military build-up.

The housing bubble is starting to deflate here just like it is elsewhere. There are some new "zero lot line homes", (read duplexes) going unsold, even after the prices were lowered.

This land will either grab you and hold you like a bear trap, or it will send you scampering for the safety? of the lower 48 States.

It is harsh, cold in the winter, hot in the summer, and the Good Lord only knows in the short Spring and Fall seasons.

We have to be thankful for the long winters, as the interior would be a desert without them. We get only about 20 inches of water anually.

The winters are not to be trifled with. the cold will kill you quick and not even notice.

If I were going to take a driving trip to Alaska, I would come in June and July. You might get lucky and come during one of our hot summers. Just figure what it would cost to do the same outside, and add fifty percent. Some things will be a LOT higher than you are used to, and some will cost about the same.

The fishing is great here for Arctic Grayling and Northern Pike, if you know where to go. I have never encountered a bear on the riverbanks, but if I ever do, he can have my fish!! For bear protection, I carry a 44mag with heavy, hard-cast bullets. I don't feel under-gunned. You would be well served with this, or a short-barreled shotgun, or a large bore rifle. If you are aware of what's going on around you, neither will be necessary.

As far as people go, you will find none finer in this world. If you have car trouble in the boonies, someone will stop to see if you need help. Granted there are some who will steal you blind, but you find those everywhere.

Let me be the first to welcome you to our great State. Come on up and give us a look-see. I can't promise you good fishing, but i can promise you a good time trying.

PS We fight the liberals on every frontSure, we lose some, but lately, we have been winning more than we lose. Losing that supposed institute of "highrer learning" would be the best thing to happen to Fairbanks in a long time. Most of our liberals either work there, or work in the service industry around there.

[SoldierDad]

This is no joke. Get lots of "OFF" or something similar. Use it liberally. And make no mistake, you will die of blood loss if you get "ON" by mistake.

I had the same experience when living in North Dakota. We called the mossquitos F106 Delta Darts for their dive bombing nature.

[proud_yank]

Hi bear_slayer

If you are considering taking a ferry here, the Milepost (www.themilepost.com) should offer you some excellent advice.

Regarding your pistols, you can take them to a gun shop and have them shipped. I don't think that a record of your firearms is kept if you do that, but you can ask.

I would highly recommend driving here, as it is quite an experience. I moved to Alaska about a month ago, and drove here from Edmonton, AB, where I lived for the last 3 years. It was 2000 miles, which took me slightly over 3 days. The colors were amazing, and the landscape changes over the entire drive.

The highway is in pretty good shape, but gets kind of bumpy West of Whitehorse from frost heaves. I crashed in my tent each night, and only got below a half-tank of gas once.

If you do drive up in late fall, or during the winter, bring extra gas cans with you since many stops along the highway will be closed for the winter. Keep an 'emergency kit' handy just in case too. You may want to invest in a block heater, or an external booster/power pack to start your car when the temp drops.

If you have any questions about driving here, let me know and I'll help you out as best as I can.

I really love it here, and as far as I'm concerned the AlCan was a 1-way highway.

[MayflowerMadam]

Don't think a ferry from Washington goes to Homer. Haines, I think -- then drive for a couple of days through Tok, etc. You have a LOT more research to do. Check Milepost Magazine. It's mostly for Alaska Hwy. road travelers, but used to have a lot of other good info.

[proud_yank]

Several rounds in the head and chest

Perhaps I am wrong and rightwhale can correct me, but the last place I would want to hit a grizzly is in the head. If you have to, you aim for the hump, no?

[Wycowboy]

If you're good enough, shoot him in the eye.

[OregonRancher]

Alaska is one of the few foreign countries left that still welcomes American tourists, especially when you drive the road from Whitehorse to Tok and have to get repairs....last trip cost me over $10k.