Alaska Answers

Q. If I drive to Alaska, can I put myself and my vehicle on a boat to return to the lower 48? – Mike

A. Great news, Mike. Yes you can. It is a wonderful trip. We have done it a couple times and it is even better than when we went. When we went you had to drive to Haines, AK, board the ferry and then get off in Prince Rupert, BC. When you drive to Haines (I think about 20 or so hours of driving from Anchorage) you actually go thru a part of Canada before you get back into Alaska. I guess you need to look on a map to see what I mean.

Now, the Alaska Marine Highway has expanded their route and you can actually board the ferry in Whittier, AK, south of Anchorage and ride clear to Bellingham, Wa and vice versa. That’s the good news. The bad news is that they have a much reduced schedule in the winter. Of course, the benefit is winter rates.

Here is a number for you to try and a couple websites. Good luck and we’ll see you up here sometime!

Alaska Marine Highway 1-800-382-9229 Their website is: www.akmhs.com As to costs, depends on your size of vehicle. Our Ford F250 could come for $920. and the driver is free in the winter. That might sound like a lot, but if you figure in gas saved, and motel costs, it puts it in a different light. And you have to think of the wonderful adventure you will have; all the seals, dolphins, whales, eagles, and glaciers you will see! It is really a wonderful way to go.

Q. I would like to know when Alaska became a state? -Greg

A. The United States got a real bargain when they purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 for 7.2 million. They acquired land area of 571,951 square miles; making it larger than the next 4 largest states combined. Yowser! That is big.

We became a state on January 3, 1959, becoming the 49th state.

We are only 3 miles from Russia, believe it or not. That is the distance between Big Diomede Island and Little Diomede Island – one of them owned by us and one by Russia.

Q. What is the population of various cities around the state? Thanks, Debbie.

A. Compared to ‘outside’ or the lower 48, our cities are amusingly small, but every year sees more population as people discover the last frontier! I think my figures are about a year or so old, but it will give you an idea. Anchorage – 275,000; Fairbanks – 34,000; Juneau – 32,000; Ketchikan – 7,500; Sitka – 8,900. I live in a lovely little town called Wasilla about 42 miles from Anchorage. Within the city limits we only have about 7,000; however, what is considered the greater Wasilla area is home to about 37,000.

Back in about 1978 my sister, brother in law and father came up for a visit. We were living in the Copper River Basin at the time. I drove the approx 250 miles in to Anchorage to pick them up at the plane. Then we drove straight up to Fairbanks to a family reunion. That is about 300 plus miles. On the way, they were looking out the window, all agog at the beauty everywhere. About halfway into the trip, brother in law Johnny said, “Well, it certainly is beautiful, but WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE?! I have never driven so far for so long before, and not seen any people!” Johnny would find it a bit different today, but we still have less people per square acre than any other state. Plenty of breathing room up here!

Q. Chris & Denise asked almost the same question: Why are the winters dark and why does the sun stay up all summer?

A. The reason for each is the same. It is because of the tilt the earth takes in its passage around the sun. The tilt makes for an interesting sky. For instance, in the summer we have sunlit for long hours, but the sky never gets up overhead in the sky. When we lived in the lower 48 (or ‘outside’ as we call it up here) I could tell it was noon and time to eat by the position of the sun overhead. (come to think of it I think I would instinctively know when lunch is! ha.) Anyway, here it never climbs high into the sky in the summer. It arises several hours before breakfast and then just sort of skirts across the bottom 1/3 of the sky, finally dipping back down below the horizon for a brief period close to midnight. I love the light time of the year. I tolerate the darkness because of all the other wonders in this land.

Q. Tell me about the book of Tisha, the wonderful true love story of a young teacher in the alaskan wilderness. -Joann

A. Ah…..a fellow reader! I have read Tisha several times. It is by Robert Specht and is about a young teacher in the ‘bush’ named Tisha Purdy. I believe ’tisha’ was the native children’s way of saying ‘teacher’ so she must have had another first name, but I can’t think of it right now. Sorry. Anyway, with the author’s name you should be able to find it at your local booksellers. There is a sequel, also, which was just published a very few years ago (two?). It was published by one of Tisha’s daughters. It is called Dark Boundary and is by Anne Purdy.

How many books do you read a year? I read at least a hundred fifty or more since I average about 3.5 books a week. I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t read! My eyes are getting rather ‘iffy’. The thought has actually occured to me that maybe I should start learning Braille! I know I’d find some way to read!

If you want to let me know how you like Tisha….you can tell me at bonnie@alaskaanswers.com Maybe I should be doing a book review blog! ha

Q. When are the summer months for Alaska? When is it all day? What are the best and worst months to cruise? -Tina

A. Hi Tina: Boy, that was a lot of questions packed into a tiny space, but I’m happy to answer them. I’m always happy to talk about Alaska. In fact I think the state should hire me to be a good will ambassador, because I have nothing but good will towards my lovely state.

I, personally, consider summer to be May, June, July and at least half of August.

As to how the light and dark breaks down, it really is not 6 months of light and 6 of dark as some people think. It is more like this: May June and July are extremely light. August, Sept, and October are easing out of the light and into the dark time, so that they are more or less ‘normal’. November, December and January are extremely dark. Then February, March and April are doing that old ‘easing’ again, ony this time from dark to light. For instance, by end of January we can notice the days are lengthening. At first it is a slow, few minutes a day, but if you stop and think, at only a 5 minute a day increase….in 10 days time you have almost an hour more of light or dark.

It is now mid September and our leaves are turning golden rapidly, but they are still hanging on for the most part. A night or two of good old Jack Frost will hurry them along though, and that can’t be far off.
This year, at least, I got all my rhubarb in before freeze up. There was one year when I kept procrastinating until one morning I woke to everything white with frost. Darn!! I couldn’t stand losing all that lovely rhubarb so I ran out in my nightgown, with my trusty butcher knife and harvested it….oh,boy were my hands frozen when I finished! Since it was going into the freezer anyway, I only had to let it thaw enough to slice. I decided I would never do that again though. And I haven’t.

I think the crusing season is from early May to September. Any of those months are good cruising, but bring some layers of clothing!

At the lightest time of year, you can read a fine print book outside at any time of the night (although who would want to?) And you could drive without headlights (although we don’t). In mid December, it doesn’t even get light until about 9:30 and isn’t full light til about 10 a.m. And the sun sets about 3:30 or 4:00 it rapidly gets dark. It might not be as dark as you imagine though because snow cover makes it seem lighter, especially when a full moon is shining down, making the snow sparkle like a million diamonds…..or when the aurora borealis is filling the sky. Then you just plain don’t care that you live in a land of darkness.

Q. I need to know what I need to consider if I moved to Alaska from New Jersey? If I was 30 I’d do it without question. I couldn’t do it then. I had parents to care for. -Georgia

A. First of all, Georgia, let me praise you for caring for your parents. I am assuming they have now passed on. You will never regret that care you gave them. They were fortunate people to have you! Not all parents are so lucky. Many are forgotten in their golden years. Good for you!

You didn’t say how old you are now, but I’m sure you are not too old to move to Alaska. Can you walk? Can you talk? Can you remember what to pack in a suitcase? Well, then you aren’t too old. Even if you couldn’t walk you aren’t actually too old. I have a friend up here, in her upper 80’s and she is wheelchair bound and yet she takes trips all over the world. Decided she wanted to go see Holland. Couldn’t find anyone who wanted to go too, so she went by herself and had a fine time! I love that kind of spirit, don’t you?

Things to consider? Well, I don’t know your occupation, but if you are still needing to work, you might want to look at the website for jobs in Alaska. That is www.jobs.state.ak.us Or you could log on to www.adn.com to see the Anchorage Daily News. That will give you an idea of rent, jobs, grocery prices, etc. You would need to consider if you like winter months; but since you live in New Jersey, that probably isn’t a problem! Unless it would be the length of our winter. Probably mid October to end of March.

Other things to consider. . .Do you like friendly people? Outrageous scenery? Wildlife? A feeling of being East of the Sun and West of the Moon? A spirit of adventure? Well, then you’ll love Alaska.

If I can be of any help to you, further, you can e mail me. bonnie@alaskaanswers.com

Q. Arlen would like to know: If I drive the Alcan Highway from the U. S. to its northern extreme can I ferry my vehicle back to Seattle?

A. Yes, you can. Many people do that very thing. The Alcan Highway is an adventure to be sure, but it is also very long and maybe not something you want to do twice in a row. I believe you can take the ferry all the way to Bellingham, Washington, just north of Seattle now, although a lot of people opt to get off in Prince Rupert, B. C.; thereby having a bit of a scenic drive thru that part of Canada. You can put your car on at Whittier, just south of Anchorage. The cost depends on what kind of car you are driving of course. They figure it by length. I know, however, that winter rates for a minivan are $1,407.00. In the winter the driver rides the ferry free; but additional passengers are $529.00. Winter rates start October 1st. The trip can be anywhere from 3 days to a week depending on whether you are leaving from Whittier or Haines, AK. and depending on how many days they lay over in Juneau.

You can talk directly to the Alaska Marine Highway by calling 1-800-382-9229.

The Alcan Highway is passable all year round and is very well maintained. Daylight hours are limited in the winter, however, so it is hard to get in a good long day if you don’t like driving in the dark.

Q. What is the best time of year to cruise; as far as weather and daylight hours go? -Cherry

A. I would personally opt for June or July. June is our lightest month. Actually it never gets truly dark; just a sort of twilight between just before midnight and til about 3:30 when the sun is back up! I love that time of year! By end of May we have leaves on our trees. June thru August you will see overflowing flowering baskets and flower beds everywhere. Alaskans are famous for getting flowers out as quickly as they can; I think because of our color deprivation during the long winter. I said I would opt for June or July….but cruising season is considered to be anytime beween May and into September I believe. You’re in for a treat, Cherry.

Q. My 16 year old son and I are planning a trip to Alaska. We’re planning about 7 days there. What is a must to do or see in Alaska? -Jeffrey

A. Everywhere you look, Jeffrey, there will be something to see. You’ll plain wear your eyes out! You might even see a moose or a bear in downtown Anchorage or Fairbanks! No kidding. Sometimes you do. In the Anchorage area are things like the Alaska Experience Theater on 6th Avenue, the Museum between 6th and 7th, Earthquake Park, Alaska Wild Berry Products (better known as the Chocolate Factory!), and the Alaska Native Heritage Center, as well as other delights. South of Anchorage is Alyeska Ski Resort, where you can ride the lift up to look over God’s creation, even in the summer. In the Matanuska Valley you will find the Musk Ox Farm, a Reindeer Farm, Museum of Transportation and Industry and the Iditarod Headquarters, where you can even enjoy a dog sled ride! In the Fairbanks area, be sure and go on the Riverboat Discovery and to Pioneer Park. At al the hotels, public transportation sites, etc. you will find tourist brochures and literature to guide you. Have fun!