Ask an Alaskan...

I'm headed to Elmendorf next January, looking to buy a house there and leaning towards the Palmer/Wasilla area despite the commute. Anchorage and Eagle River are too expensive and crowded. I wish I was already up there since I have seen some really good properties for sale right now.

I'm going to drive through Canada from Michigan next January, should I have a block heater for that trip?

BTW what is the Nenana Ice Classic?

 

I'd consider the block heater for that trip. One or two cold soaks overnight won't kill you, but successive cold soaks without any thorough thaws (in garage) might lead to problems IMHO. I'm thinking of putting one in my truck in case we get a wild hair and decide to take a road trip up north (Fairbanks area) in the winter.

Nenana Ice Classic is basically the closest thing we have to a Lottery; the basic idea is to pick the date/time the tripod will fall signaling the break up of the ice on the Tanana River adjacent to Nenana, AK. Read all about it here: http://www.nenanaakiceclassic.com/

 

Are you saying you're not aliens?

 

Is there any good Army bases in AK? I heard there's an airborne group in AK but I can't remember what the base name was.

I'm asking because I'm joining the Army very soon and want to go Airborne and living in Alaska sounds sick.

 

Got one for you! My wife really wants to go to Alaksa on vacation. Best time of year to go and where is the best place to go to see the beauty and do other interesting things? Thanks in advance!

 

For Kodiak, I would say between end of July and mid September. It all depends on the things you wanna do..you can get cruise ship tours that go to a lot of the coastal area's of Alaska. Or of you just wanna come and go fishing, bear sight seeing etc, I'd say come here to Kodiak, get a charter boat, go fishing, then get a aerial bear tour on a float plane. Thats just for Kodiak, others on the mainland may have better ideas for you!

 

its a hit or miss, south central (anchorage area) is mostly rainy during summer months, last summer was crappy for sunny days. although the best time to visit is obviously in the summer so always bring warm clothing and light rain attire. as far as places to go, start off by getting into anchorage, you can take train or bus to denali national park > lots of stuff to see. fishing trips are common for tourist as you get a sight seeing tour and doing something you like at the same time (thats if you fish) most places can ship your catch home for a additional cost. You can catch a boat tour for whale, sea lions, glaciers etc..... You can rent a vehicle and drive down to south central the kenai river in soldotna and Kenai are great places to fish and the other rivers and creeks, Homer is great place to visit also. i suggest you carefully plan for what ever it is you want to do. you can take a alaska cruise and come up along the inside passage ( breath taking views and plenty of sea life, not to mention seeing some of alaska historic towns like ketchikan, juneau, skagway, sitka and come up to seward then take a trip to denai. lots of stuff to do.

 

I am making the drive out of Anchorage in two days. I got orders to NorCal. I would say to get a block heater. I used it regularly in the winter here. Helps out a lot for those cold starts. They are super easy to install and they do help.

 

Myh aunt Jeddy is a native of Anchorage .

 

Yes. there are airborne units in Ft. Richardson. I'm headed to one in June.

 

Awesome. What are the chances I'll be able to be stationed there after basic? I'm going to Benning on May 16th.

 

....hmmmm...nope...not gonna answer this one.

 

that would all depend on your MOS and what is in demand at the time. Rich has some units getting ready for deployment so they are filling in the ranks. Still there is little way of knowing. Most likely after BAS you will head to Bragg, Rich, possibly Campbell or even Germany.

 

lol I'd be happy as a clam with any of the ones you listed there.

 

I'm at Bragg right now and have been for 3 years. It's not too bad but i'm definately sick of Fayette'nam

 

are Alaskans aware she never said she can see Russia from her house? (it was an SNL skit)

 

General Alaskan feelings towards chris mccandless?

 

I heard is so cold up there that when you pee it freezes before hitting the ground. Is this true?

 

I'm sure it does get that cold in some spots but not here where I am. Alaska isn't quite what people think. It gets colder in the winter in Colorado then it does on Kodiak Island (mainland Alaska is a different story). The southern regions of AK are along the lines of rain forest climate.

During the winter not all of AK is dark...lol!! Someone actually mentioned the movie 30 Days of Night when I was moving here and I couldn't tell if they were genuinely concerned about that!