Alaskan girls; some questions..

[junebug]

this is a very off topic thread, lol. and i think there are some of you that live there or have been there. Yesterday out of the blue, DH said we should move to Alaska. :blink: I know it will probably never happen, partly because where the heck would we get the money to pick up and move from Indiana to Alaska, and partly cause it would terrify me, lol. Plus, he has also said that we should move to California with his brother and I dont' see that happening either. I've always wanted to take an Alaskan cruise, but i was wondering what's it like living in Alaska? Do you like it? I know it probably depends on where exactly you live, but whats the highest and lowest temperatures? I have been researching and know that around Anchorage you do have times of no sunlight, but down in Juneau you don't have as much of that. I also know that there are no freaking roads in or out of Juneau and i don't think i could handle that kind of isolation, lol.

So, just curious. I 've seen pictures and it looks so beautiful there, but i'd only really like to visit, not move haha.

[ditzyscrap]

I don't know about Alaska, but my DH has lived in the Northwest Territories (in the same area, but further east, lol). He says that the sun is always up or always down (depending on the season). The cold he says sounds REALLY cold but it's a different type of cold than what we feel in other areas (similar to how in AZ, it's a "dry" heat, but in FL it's a more humid heat) so when you're out in it, it doesn't actually feel as cold as the thermometer says it is. Plus you learn to bundle up in the winter, I'd imagine...unlike us people here that are like "oh, I don't need a toque or mitts or scarf, because I want to not look like a total dweeb". And of course, he says it's beautiful. I would like to go visit one day, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to live there, either. He would love to go live up there again, though.

[jessica31876]

Well Ive never lived there but my mom did and I vividly recall her talking about how the cold didnt feel as cold up there. She lived in/around Anchorage. I would love to live there personally. It is so beautiful and still very natural/not settled from what I understand. I would like to go backpacking up there in the summer and just camp whereever we end up at the end of the day. Ooohh now that is a dream. All id really need is someone to go with me, my camera, a few changes of clothes, a good pair of hiking boots and a little money. Just live off of the land and eat what we can catch or hunt.

[mixedclawzz]

Just live off of the land and eat what we can catch or hunt.

I would die of starvation! Plus have really bad hair. I need my Chi iron!:p

[nesser1981]

I live in Anchorage, I've been here for 2 and a half years now and there are things I love and things I hate.

Anchorage is nice, its pretty much a regular city, we're finally getting a Target! That's big news. LOL!

It is beautiful here, but its cold. If you like hot summers, you'll midd out on that here. 65 is the average summer temp here. If it actually cracks 80, that's a heat wave. Now I think in Fairbanks it does get in the 90s, but the winters are colder.

Summer our daylight is something like 11:30pm is sunset, 4:30am is sunrise, its never really dark. In the winter sunrise is like 10:00 am sunset about 4:30 pm.

It can get to like 30 below, we had a huge snow storm the end of April this year.

The cruises are suppose to be awesome, they cover southern Alaska mainly, I think you can do the trips up to Anchorage.

Ask any questions you have, I'll try to answer them. My friend Amber also lives here and visits the boards, so I'm sure she can help too.

[nesser1981]

I think Juneau has the same light issues, but the further south you go, the less they are.

Don't let anyone fool you, it is cold here. I want to say the average temp in the winter is probably around zero, maybe a little warmer.

[lovely1m]

I spent 2.5 weeks in Achorage in March of 2001. I really enjoyed it and it was actually nicer weather wise then it was back home in ND during that time. It is quite isolated though, but very pretty. I could live there for a like a year or two, but not forever.

[nesser1981]

Anchorage is only isolated if you want to go to other states. Anchorage is actually the best place in Alaska to be as for as location and everything. Its once you get outside of Anchorage that you're isolated.

[amber76]

I think the only things I dont like about Alaska is the mild summers (this years was especially sucky) Id like it to be at least 70-75 that would be nice....although when it is that hot it feels like its 100 since we're not use to it being like that :) I also don't like that we dont get good concert/kid shows here...often. The lack of daylight in the winter really doesn't bother me...it makes me apperciate summer more :)

[clearskies]

We're in Anchorage as well (arrived just in time for that 17" of snow in April...). It's not bad. I, too, am so stoked about Target coming...I can walk there from my house! :p
The main thing I've noticed up here is that we are soooooo isolated. Sometimes I feel like we live in another country. On the upside, it's absolutely gorgeous and you can see/experience things here that you can't in any other state. (Ex. we have a moose that lives in our backyard...her name is Chewy.)

[mommy2aria06]

We're in Anchorage as well (arrived just in time for that 17" of snow in April...). It's not bad. I, too, am so stoked about Target coming...I can walk there from my house! :p
The main thing I've noticed up here is that we are soooooo isolated. Sometimes I feel like we live in another country. On the upside, it's absolutely gorgeous and you can see/experience things here that you can't in any other state. (Ex. we have a moose that lives in our backyard...her name is Chewy.)

Do you have any pics of Chewy?! That sounds awesome!! I've only seen moose on tv!

[nesser1981]

You see moose here almost everyday. LOL! I've seen 4 bears since I've bben here, porcupines, dall sheep. I'll totaaly miss the wildlife when I leave.

[clearskies]

DH has seen bears while fishing on the Russian, but none for me yet. Took me 2 months to see my first moose. (Became a joke actually). Anyway, here's page I did of Chewy (http://www.myscrapbookart.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61916&sort=4&ppuser=3824&sl=c). A couple weeks ago, Chewy showed up with a baby, so we named the baby Crunchy. I have to admit though, moose were a bit disappointing...not nearly as cute as cartoon moose. :p

[junebug]

thanks everyone! while i seriously doubt we'll ever move, a trip would be cool. i think i'd love the scenery; i'm a nature girl.

thanks again!

[Paula]

Interesting that you asked this because my DH just informed me that he is being considered for a transfer to Fairbanks.

[my4boys]

DH has seen bears while fishing on the Russian, but none for me yet. Took me 2 months to see my first moose. (Became a joke actually). Anyway, here's page I did of Chewy (http://www.myscrapbookart.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61916&sort=4&ppuser=3824&sl=c). A couple weeks ago, Chewy showed up with a baby, so we named the baby Crunchy. I have to admit though, moose were a bit disappointing...not nearly as cute as cartoon moose. :p

Cute layout....left ya some love!!!!

[clearskies]

Paula...run!!! Nah, I should bit my tongue I've never been to Fairbanks. I do know, however, there are no mountains there, it gets crazy cold (way worse than Anchorage), and most people who are stationed up there don't like it much...

[nesser1981]

Yeah its suppose to get super cold up there in the winter, but my stepdad lived there when he was a kid and loved it. Says its nicer than Anchorage.

One thing about there is, they do have summers. LOL! It gets warm, 80s and 90s.