Alaska Answers

Here are some articles about cruise ships and Alaska.
Choose the one you’d like to read and then click the R button to read it.

Q. I will be taking a cruise in May. Can you tell me what the weather conditions will be like? -Anonymous

A. It varies from year to year, but generally speaking. probably a bit chllly. We always tell visitors to bring clothing they can ‘layer’. And be sure and bring a lightweight rain jacket, as along the coastal route you’ll probably get a bit of rain also. I can tell you what is normal for May around the Juneau area, which you’ll be cruisin’ by. You can expect days of around 55 degrees and nights of maybe 40 degrees. For May they usually have about 17 days of rain. It stays light over 17 hours a day.

In spite of the possibly chilly drizzle, it will all be worth it as you pass by majestic mountains, misty bays, islands covered with towering spruce, and watch the antics of bears, whales, and eagles. Yes, indeed, you’ll be happy you came. Bon Voyage! -Bonnie

Q. Is a cruise the best way to see Alaska? What if I don’t like boats? -Robin

A. I wouldn’t necessarily say that a cruise is the best way to see Alaska, because Alaska is so very big and a lot of its
wonders lie inland. Cruising is a very popular way, however, because it is sort of like ‘roughing it in style’, I think. The coast of Alaska is indeed prime scenery country and the cruise ships do stop here and there, usually, and you can go ashore for a brief time.

Beside the regular cruise lines, you could come on the ferries of the Alaska Marine Highway. Those are nice. We’ve traveled that way a couple times. They also have a naturalist on board who gives talks about the scenery and wildlife you are seeing, so it is quite educational.

I know what you mean about not liking boats. I’m not too fond of them myself, although my fear is mostly of the small bobbing types. I feel fairly secure on something as large a ferry or a cruise ship!

Actually, I think a good way is a combination of the two. Maybe come up the coast on a cruise ship, or ferry; then get off in Anchorage and rent a car or small motor home and roam the state for a couple or three weeks. In each community, we have very good visitor’s bureaus who will direct you as to what is worthwhile seeing in each area. Then you can fly home, or maybe to the Seattle area where you have left your car.

To put your mind a bit at rest, please know that we’ve lived up here for 35 years and have never heard of a cruise ship, or ferry going down….or even coming near to that! Hope you’ll put on your ‘brave suit’ and come on up! Take care, BJ

Q. Elaina and Tara both asked similar questions: I would like to know about the state’s landscape; and what are Alaska’s characteristics?

A. Alaska is very mountainous. One time I saw a 3-D topographical map in a book store and I stood and stared in amazement! I found myself asking, aloud, “But where is there anyplace for the people to live?” Shrunk down to about a 3 ft. x 2 ft. map, it looked to be all mountains. Truth is, the population centers are there, in the valleys between the mountain ranges, and in the case of Anchorage, in the bit of land between the mountain foothills and the inlet to the ocean. The city of Fairbanks lies in the Tanana River Valley.

We do have highways of course, but if you look at a map of the highway system, you will see that they all lie on the right hand half of the state. The rest is all fly in country. Even our capital, Juneau, is fly in, or by way of the ferry system. There are roads and cars in Juneau, of course, but you can only drive them within the city, as there are no roads leading out of the city, going anywhere. To put it into perspective, compare it with the country of Austria, which is 1/18th the size of Alaska…and yet Austria has twice as many highways!

Alaska has more per capita private airplanes than anywhere else in the world. In the winter we put skiis on our planes, and in the summer, floats. Lake Hood, in Anchorage, is a popular float plane base. It has more than 600 take offs and landings on a nice summer day.

Alaska comprises more than 570,000 square miles. That’s about 365 million acres, or 9/10 of a square mile per person. The state is divided into regions as follows: The Northern Arctic, Interior, Western Bering Sea Coast, South Western Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands, South Central Gulf Coast, and Southeast Alaska. Fairbanks is located in the Interior; Anchorage in the South Central Gulf Coast, and Juneau is in Southeast.

About 29,000 square miles, or 5% of the state is covered by glaciers.

From east to west, our state is about 2400 miles. and from north to south about 1420 miles. We’re BIG! We have 33,904 miles of shoreline, and we border onto 4 seas or oceans. They are the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea and the Arctic Ocean.

We have lots of rivers, 3,000 in total. The Yukon is the longest, with over 1875 miles in Alaska. It ranks 3rd in the U. S. for length, coming behind the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. Alaska has over 2 million lakes which are larger than 20 acres in size and many, many ones smaller than that.

I guess you could describe us as mountains and water! And friendly people. I’ve heard it said that Alaska won’t be what you expect; it will be even better! -Bonnie J.

Q. Five people wanted to know similar things, such as what is the weather like in August? What is your weather like, in general, in Alaska? How often does it snow? What is your weather like in June? I’m cruising the Inside Passage the first of September and am wondering what weather to expect.(these were asked by Jordan, Anonymous, Mateotron, Karen and Eleanor.)

A. This is a little bit hard to answer. Our state is so big that it really varies from place to place.

Fairbanks, which is about 360 miles north of me gets hotter in the summer and colder in the winter than it does here. They have summer days in the 80’s and 90’s sometimes, although most of them are upper 50’s to maybe 70; however, it always cools off at night, so you need a blanket.That is nice. I think folks can stand hot days pretty well if they can sleep cool, don’t you? It is not unusual for them to have -40 and -50 in the winter. Sometimes it will be 40 or 50 below for days at a time! It got 72 below one winter when we lived at Copper Center.

The Anchorage area, which I tease my Fairbanks area kids as being the ‘banana belt’, is more moderate. Our summer days are mostly in the upper 50’s to upper 70’s, and our winters are more like mostly zero to 20 above, or maybe 10 below, just to give you an idea.

Down in lower Alaska, for instance around Juneau, it rains a lot, and doesn’t get near as severe in winter, nor as hot in summer. Summer in Juneau will find it mostly in the 50’s. Winter is typically in the mid 20’s to the mid 30’s.

The secret for an enjoyable stay in Alaska is to bring clothing that you can ‘layer’, adding to or taking off to suit yourself.

Jordan, I believe you wanted to know specifically about August. Are you perhaps coming up in August? Well, since I don’t know exactly which part you are coming to, I’ll just give you a few examples: In August, average temperature in Fairbanks is upper 50’s and rainfall 1.82 inches. Anchorage area is about the same on temps – upper 50’s, but rainfall is 2.31 inches. In lower Alaska, upper temps will again be mid 50’s, but rainfall is 5.10″ on average, for August. See? I told you it rains more there. That’s why they have the beautiful tall evergreens; whereas our area has the more stunted black spruce. To compare an annual average figure – Juneau gets 53.86 inches of rain a year and Fairbanks only gets 10.37 inches a year. Big difference.

Now, how much does it snow? Well, again, depends. Anchorage and Fairbanks have about the same…69 and 68 inches. Juneau gets 100 inches; but listen to this: Valdez gets an average of 320 inches! That’s over 26 feet of snow.

The good thing about our supposed over 5 feet of snow is that there is never that much on the ground at once. We’ll get maybe a foot or two of standing snow, (if that) and then one winter day we’ll awaken to a Chinook blowing. It is a soft feeling, unseasonably warm wind, It will blow for 3 or 4 days sometimes, and it will greatly reduce the depth of the snow.

Now, down in Valdez (say it to rhyme with ‘cheese’. You can fool us into thinking you are an old timer if you say it correctly. Anytime we hear it said as Vahl-days, we know you are a newcomer.) Okay. Down there, the over 26 feet of snow basically stays on the ground. No kidding, before winter is over, the roads of the town are like open-topped tunnels thruout the town. We have friends who live there. They stand on their roof to keep the snow shoveled off (everyone there does) and guess what? They pitch the shovels full of snow UP onto the snowpile, instead of down onto the ground. There isn’t any ground! Kids swings sets get completely buried. This happens in Whittier, Alaska also. We had friends there too, years ago, and would visit them and you would swear you were in what you think of as Siberia.

For your inside passage cruise the first of September, Eleanor, you will find temps in the mid 50’s most likely. It is bound to rain some of the time so bring a rain jacket and rain hat. But you will be so amazed at the beauty, you won’t even mind, I promise!

Karen, you find June temps pretty close to those I quoted above for August. Maybe just a couple degrees cooler. Really depends on the year.

Take care, you all, and write me again. -Bonnie J.

Q. We are planning a trip to Alaska. One member of our group is confined to a wheelchair. Are most of the sites handicapped equipped? What should we expect as far as she is concerned? -Kermit

A. I think you, and your friend, will be pleasantly surprised, Kermit. The Americans With Disabilities Act and economic competition here have really sped up the process of retro-fitting those hotels, B&B’s, etc. who lacked handicapped accessible properties. The newer places all have accessible premises for wheelchairs, etc.

I am a handicapped person myself these days, using an electric scooter and/or a wheelchair. People are so very helpful wherever I go.

I’m going to give you the names and numbers for a couple of organizations who may have helpful information for you:

There is an organization called Challenge Alaska, who believes that everyone should have an equal opportunity to enjoy Alaska regardless of their disability. There website is www.challengealaska.org You can e-mail them at info@challengealaska.org or reach them toll free at
1-888-430-2738.

Then there is one called Alaska Welcomes You, Inc. Their website is www.accessiblealaska.com and you can reach them at 1-800-349-6301.
I hope this helps in planning your trip. Have fun! -BJ

Q. Is there a black fly season in Alaska, and when is it? I have heard that when the thaw starts in the spring they are awful. -Mary

A. Good news, Mary! I have lived up here since 1971 and I’ve never seen a black fly. So I got to wondering, where did this vicious rumor start? I both ‘googled’ it and called the Department of Fish and Game (because I didn’t know who else to call!) Talked to a nice man named Nick, who was quite informative.

There are black flies here but they are certainly no problem and not widespread. Mostly you would find them along the rivers or coastal areas of S. E. Alaska and he has lived there and says they are not a bad problem. It really varies a lot from year to year depending on environmental conditions. One day they might be bothersome, and the next day there is not a one to be found. In S. E. Alaska they are called ‘white socks’ which are a sub-species of black flies found in other parts of the U. S. Minnesota is a hotbed of black flies for instance. They have them off and on all summer long.

We are well known for our mosquitoes, of course, but I don’t consider them any reason to put off visiting our state. A friend, Dean Wilson, who lives on the edge of the wilderness, where some years they are bad, says: “Mosquitoes are just a question of mind over matter, anyway. If you don’t mind, they don’t matter!” We would do well to apply that thinking to lots of life’s troubles, eh?

When we used to live out in the Copper River Basin, I remember one other insect. After mosquito season, there seemed to be what we called ‘No-See-Ums’. They were little bitty, hard to see, mean devils, who seemed to bite wrists and ankles mostly, but they didn’t last long.

We have found the good far outweighs the bad here in Alaska. And while we’re on the subject of creepy crawlies, just remember we have no snakes up here! I consider that in itself a good reason to move here! -Bonnie J.

Q. What do you consider to be the best train ride to see the beauty of Alaska? -Bren

A. Well, we don’t have much to choose from in ‘routes’, but what we do have will warm your heart with nice memories far into the future.

Alaska Railroad operates on 470 miles of track, thru fantastic wilderness areas between the ports at Seward and Whittier, picking up cruise ship guests, and transporting them north, thru Anchorage, Cook Inlet, Talkeetna, Denali Park and on to Fairbanks. It is the northernmost railroad in the U. S. For a lot of years it was actually owned by the Federal government, but has since been given to the state.

You will ride in fully domed vintage railcars. You’ll feel like you have taken a trip back in time to the golden age of rail travel. It is that great! I love seeing the tourist cars go thru Wasilla in the summer. I always wave madly at them. So if you take the trip and see someone waving madly passing thru Wasilla, it might be me!

As far as I know they still hold to the schedule of going up to Fairbanks one day and then back down the next day; but there are wonderful accomodation at Denali and in Fairbanks and so that gives you a bit of time to sightsee.

The first so many cars on the train belong to Alaska Railroad itself, these are followed by however many cars owned by different tour companies. The cars range from rather plain, but still clean and nice – to very luxurious. I’m going to give you the info for contacting Alaska Railroad and also one of the rail tour companies. Most cars have dining facilities on them.

Alaska Railroad can be reached at 1-800-544-0552 and their website is www.alaskarailroad.com

Alaska Rail Tours can be reached at 1-800-544-2206 and their website is www.alaskarailtours.com

Bon Voyage, Bren! -BJ

Q. I have a penpal from Alaska. Sometimes she uses words whose meaning I don’t know. I hate to always be asking her what she means. Don’t you guys speak English up there? (just kidding) -Chloe

A. C’mon Chloe…surely you jest. Of course we speak English up here. But so you won’t sound like such a cheechako (newcomer) to your friend and so that you can sound like a sourdough (old timer here), I’ll clue you in on a few words that might help. By the way, would you like to hear how you become a sourdough? I was told on first arriving that you have to do 3 things. You must kill a bear, pee in the Yukon and sleep with a native! Well, I’ve done one of the three. I’ll leave you to figure out which one. =;o)

Break Up – It marks the end of winter and beginning of spring. It is usually very messy with mud everywhere and ice breaking
apart on the rivers and creeks and floating off downstream. Generally speaking, Alaskans automatically take off
their shoes in your entry way. We get used to doing that during breakup to save the floors from mud and it just sort
of goes on all year. First time I visited outside after being up here for years, I slid my shoes off at a friends door and
she looked at me like I was crazy and said,” WHAT are you doing?!”

Outside – Since I used that word in the definition above, I’ll explain. It means any state other than Alaska. You might hear the
phrase, “He’s from Outside” So anyplace in the lower 48 is ‘outside’.

Denali – It’s what most Alaskans call Mt. McKinley. The word means ‘the Great One’ in Alaska Native language.

Fireweed – The magenta colored perennial herb which blooms in late summer. It grows along most roadsides, and quickly
springs up anywhere there has ever been a fire. Maybe God’s way of bringing beauty from ashes? When the fireweed
blooms it begins a countdown to winter. In fact, it blooms from the bottom up, and when the bloom reaches the
top of the flower spike, the natives say that it will be 6 weeks until snow is on the ground to stay. Surprisingly, it
seems to work out that way most years.

The PAC – Refers to the Performing Arts Center in Anchorage which is host to all kinds of cultural events such as Opera, Ballet,
Plays and other dress up events. They have a wonderful display of the northern lights in the summertime too, so
visitors to our state can enjoy them even though it it too light outside to see them,

Termination Dust – If you are around in early fall you might see it. It is the light dusting of new snow along our mountain tops
signaling the termination of summer!

Southeast – The area of Alaska between the Gulf of Alaska and the Alaska Range. Included are Anchorage, Mat-Su Valley,
Kodiak, Valdez and all of the Kenai Peninsula.

Sleeping Lady – That’s what we call Mt. Susitna, which is visible across Cook Inlet from Anchorage, There is a native story about
it. I think something about an Indian maiden lying down to sleep when her lover went hunting. He was killed, never
coming back (of course. Duuhhhh!) and so she still lies there sleeping and waiting. The shape of it is indeed like a lovely
maiden lying down.

Bunny Boots – Those big oafy white rubber (usually) boots that have a layer of air surrounding your foot. They are big and
clunky looking, but warm enough to keep your toes toasty at even 50 below zero. No kidding. I have even seen them
worn with a suit and tie, which looked downright odd to say the least. But I knew that the guy had warm toes!

Down in America – Sometimes you will hear someone say they took a vacation to “America”. They just mean “outside” or to the
lower 48. Sometimes it really does feel like we live east of the sun and west of the moon.

I’ll try to think of some more words and phrases unique to Alaska for later down the trail. -BJ

Q. I have 2 weeks to spend, what are the top 10 places to go and see? What is there to do at Denali besides the bus tour for kids? What special clothing/items do we need to bring? -Christy

A. I don’t know the date of your trip, Christy, so not sure but what the info is too late for you. If so, I’m really sorry! I’ll go ahead and answer anyway, hoping it is in time, and if not, it will perhaps help others who plan to come.

We’ve been attracting visitor’s for a hundred years. People come for the scenic beauty, the trophy fish, abundant wildlife and interesting history. Tourism is our #1 industry. It’ s a really fun time as you meet nice people from all over the world.

There is a lot to do at Denali besides the bus tour for kids. In fact, guess what? I didn’t even know there was a bus tour for ‘kids’. Far as I know, the bus tour is for everyone. Shuttle buses continually travel from the hotel back into the park and it is a wonderful ride. The drivers stop periodically for getting out and taking pictures, and you see lots of wildlife. We once saw a mama grizzly and twin cubs and they were all standing up on hind legs ‘looking at the lookers’! A favorite sight when I went was a cute red fox running down the road with a rabbit dangling from his mouth. Taking, supper home to wife and babies I thought.

There is a 90 mile long well maintained gravel road running from the entrance back into the park. Regular vehicles are limited on the road however. A certain # of permits are issued, each season, for people wanting to drive back to Wonder Lake, the farthest in campground. If you are just wanting to see the sights, the shuttle bus is the way to go. The 8 hour round trip bus ride is about $23.75 I believe, with discounts for kids and seniors. You would carry a sack lunch and a bottle of water along.

The park covers 6 million acres. Think about it. That’s the size of the entire state of Massachusetts. It has 39 species of mammals and 167 species of birds, 10 species of fish and one amphibian creature – the lowly wood frog.

Here are some things you can do at Denali National Park, where if you are lucky and it isn’t socked in with clouds, you can see the mighty Mt. Mc Kinley, the highest on the North American continent, at 20,320 feet.

Black Diamond Golf Course www.blackdiamondgolf.com
Covered Wagon Tours and ATV Tours www.denalihorsetours.com
Denali Park Resorts offers white water rafting gold panning and a dinner theatre. www.denaliparkresorts.com
Denali Saddle Safaris has 1, 2, and 4 hour rides with lunch furnished on the longer rides. www.denalisaddlesafaris.com
Denali Air will take you flightseeing over the area. Check them out at www.DenaliAir.com
You can even visit a champion sled dog racers kennels. Contact them at www.huskyhomestead.com

There are tremendous hiking possibilities in Denali Park also. Whatever you do you’ll have a good time.

As for what to wear, you probably should bring a rain jacket, hat, and clothes that you can layer, taking off or adding items as needed. It will be chilly in the evenings even if it warm during the day. Long sleeves shirts are good for mosquito reasons. Some years they are not too bad…other years you’ll want both long sleeves and insect repellent applied liberally.

As for what to do in other areas of the state, Christy, please check the question next door to yours – from Laurence. He had similar questions. Hope this helps. Have fun. -Bonnie J.