AllyKat - off topic question....

armypiglet · 05-25-2005, 03:18 PM

i noticed in another post that you mentioned you live in alaska - my husband and i are currently going through an obsessed with alaska phase LOL we watch "dangerous catch" on tv every tuesday night (about the crab fisherman and that fishing in the bering sea is the most dangerous job in the world) - my brother in law was stationed in alaska years ago and my husband still talks about it, and we're planning to have our big trip (first ever) be to go to alaska

we just have this thing about it, we're so fascinated with it, weird i know! we will certainly pay homage to the fisherman in dutch harbor when we go! you're so lucky!

~jackie~

AllyKat · 05-25-2005, 03:34 PM

Um, was there a question in there? LOL your title says question but I don't see any. I live in Juneau, which is in SE Alaska. Dutch Harbor is farther North, in the Aleutian Chain. When are you planning on visiting? And where will you be going?

armypiglet · 05-26-2005, 10:00 AM

LOL i don't even know what my question was HAHA

we are planning on making a trip possibly next summer, i suppose my question to you (there's that question again

) is what is the best time for weather? i mean we're not looking for tropical beaches or anything, but not exactly wanting blizzards either... i like the cold weather, i much prefer it to hot. we both LOVE snow and mountains and wilderness... the one thing he keeps raving about is the wildlife. we want to go kayaking and whale-watching, and darn it i want to see a moose! i love their big huge heads i think they're cute! there is also a house some guy built in the middle of nowhere and lived there alone for like 40 years, making his own way with no electricity or running water. he died and left the house to the town or something like that and people can go on tours. ever heard of that? we'd like to check that out too. chris (hubby) said it was 80 degrees when he went and they went tubing on a lake. although it was warm out the water was like 50 degrees! nobody wanted to fall in! LOL!
~jackie~

AllyKat · 05-27-2005, 12:04 PM

That depends on where you're going - Alaska is so big, and we have so many different climates. Here in Southeast, with the water nearby, we have pretty moderate weather. It doesn't get too hot in the summer (80's are high) and not too cold in the winter (teens are about as low as it gets regularly) but once you get up north a bit, that all changes. Anchorage has some nice summers, but they also sometimes get feet of snow at a time. Fairbanks is even further north, and they often get in the 100's during the summer and in the -30's in the winter.

I of course, can't predict the weather, so I would recommend planning your trip around your activities. If you're interested in fishing, Southeast would be your best bet, and I would recommend coming in mid to late August to catch the Silver Salmon (Coho) run. They aren't huge fish like the Kings (a big Coho is about 15 lbs - which is a small King Salmon) but there are many more of them and they're really fun to catch. Also, if you're looking for Halibut, that's a good time for them too. Unfortunately, non-residents can't harvest Crab, so you'll have to pay grocery-store or restaurant prices to have some fresh King Crab, but it's well worth it, and probably about half as expensive here (notwithstanding even the COL difference.) Southeast is also your best bet for whale watching, and anytime is good, but after July you have a better chance of seeing them "bubble feeding" if you know what that is. It is truly spectacular, but not incredibly common. I would highly suggest a tour into either Glacier Bay or Tracy Arm while you're in Southeast, since the glaciers are amazing and beautiful.

If you're going farther north and plan on doing camping or hiking or the like, you'll want to consider the bug situation. I hear that late spring/ early summer is much better than late summer as far as the mosquitos and other biting bugs are concerned, which you will want to consider. If you're interested in wildlife viewing (bears in particular) you will want to come later tho, after the salmon runs have begun since the bears will be much more active once the streams are full of spawning salmon. There are big brown bears on Admiralty Island (here near Juneau) and also in the Keani (near Anchorage) There aren't any moose here in Juneau, but you'd be likely to see some up in the interior, such as if you decide to visit Denali. Or even Haines or Skagway (just 80 miles north of here) has more moose than we do.

If your adventurous you could fly to Juneau, rent a car, ferry to Haines (there are no roads that lead out of Juneau, we're totally land (and water) locked) and drive through Canada up to Denali and to Fairbanks or Anchorage. That would be my personal recommendation. If you not so adventurous, there are plenty of different cruise packages to choose from. Just expect to not be able to do as much - these days the ships are spending less and less time in every port.

Good luck and feel free to ask any other questions. lol or non-questions as the case may be...

stephanie34 · 05-27-2005, 02:23 PM

Hi there I travel a part of Alaska and it was so much fun. I will tell you a little about it. We flew into Anchorage. and stay at a hotel the first night on the water and went to a cool bar called Chilcookt Charlie. we drove up to talketna where all the hikers go to hike Mt Mckinely. we flew a little plane to 13,000 feet on the snow. he drove through Denali Mt range which is so spectaculor we drove along the Alaska pipeline to Valteez(SP) we ferries across to the Seword where we had to drive our car on to a flat bed of a train it was so cool. oh we also stoped in Fairbanks and hung out in bar till 2am which it never got dark. it was a GREATGREATGREAT trip we went this time of year where it stayed light all day. it was still a little chilly but sunny. Good luck it is so worth it. I love trees and snows and mountains and that pretty much filled me up.

armypiglet · 05-31-2005, 09:02 AM

thank you both so much for all your advice! i can't wait to go... we're saving now! is it very expensive to stay for say a week? i don't even care so much, just for budgeting purposes. we are pretty adventerous

i definately want to see as much wildlife as possible. the only wildlife we get in philly is pretty much squirrels and the occasional woodchuck lol thanks again both of you so much!
~jackie~

05-25-2005, 03:18 PM	#1
armypiglet Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: SE Pennsylvania Posts: 98 Gallery: armypiglet Stats: Atkins switcheroo to SB / WW WOE: South Beach (little WW) Start Date: 2/5/05	AllyKat - off topic question.... i noticed in another post that you mentioned you live in alaska - my husband and i are currently going through an obsessed with alaska phase LOL we watch "dangerous catch" on tv every tuesday night (about the crab fisherman and that fishing in the bering sea is the most dangerous job in the world) - my brother in law was stationed in alaska years ago and my husband still talks about it, and we're planning to have our big trip (first ever) be to go to alaska we just have this thing about it, we're so fascinated with it, weird i know! we will certainly pay homage to the fisherman in dutch harbor when we go! you're so lucky! ~jackie~ __________________ "I AM MY OWN HERO!"

05-27-2005, 02:23 PM	#5
stephanie34 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Marcos, CA Posts: 2,608 Gallery: stephanie34 Stats: 230/188/148 WOE: glycemic load Start Date: 10-13-08	Hi there I travel a part of Alaska and it was so much fun. I will tell you a little about it. We flew into Anchorage. and stay at a hotel the first night on the water and went to a cool bar called Chilcookt Charlie. we drove up to talketna where all the hikers go to hike Mt Mckinely. we flew a little plane to 13,000 feet on the snow. he drove through Denali Mt range which is so spectaculor we drove along the Alaska pipeline to Valteez(SP) we ferries across to the Seword where we had to drive our car on to a flat bed of a train it was so cool. oh we also stoped in Fairbanks and hung out in bar till 2am which it never got dark. it was a GREATGREATGREAT trip we went this time of year where it stayed light all day. it was still a little chilly but sunny. Good luck it is so worth it. I love trees and snows and mountains and that pretty much filled me up. __________________ Exercise is a must. Drink that water. Run Forest Run. Dream: 100 mile ultra, 24 hour, ultra trail run. Upcoming marathons. Carlsbad Jan 25th, 09 the picture of my kids are great but they are 13 and 10 now. The picture is WAY old.. and I am not computer savy. LOL

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05-25-2005, 03:34 PM	#2
AllyKat Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 271 Gallery: AllyKat Stats: clueless/trying/healthy WOE: South Beach Start Date: 20 March 04 (Atkins) 11 Feb 05(SB)	Um, was there a question in there? LOL your title says question but I don't see any. I live in Juneau, which is in SE Alaska. Dutch Harbor is farther North, in the Aleutian Chain. When are you planning on visiting? And where will you be going?

05-26-2005, 10:00 AM	#3
armypiglet Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: SE Pennsylvania Posts: 98 Gallery: armypiglet Stats: Atkins switcheroo to SB / WW WOE: South Beach (little WW) Start Date: 2/5/05	LOL i don't even know what my question was HAHA we are planning on making a trip possibly next summer, i suppose my question to you (there's that question again ) is what is the best time for weather? i mean we're not looking for tropical beaches or anything, but not exactly wanting blizzards either... i like the cold weather, i much prefer it to hot. we both LOVE snow and mountains and wilderness... the one thing he keeps raving about is the wildlife. we want to go kayaking and whale-watching, and darn it i want to see a moose! i love their big huge heads i think they're cute! there is also a house some guy built in the middle of nowhere and lived there alone for like 40 years, making his own way with no electricity or running water. he died and left the house to the town or something like that and people can go on tours. ever heard of that? we'd like to check that out too. chris (hubby) said it was 80 degrees when he went and they went tubing on a lake. although it was warm out the water was like 50 degrees! nobody wanted to fall in! LOL! ~jackie~

05-27-2005, 12:04 PM	#4
AllyKat Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 271 Gallery: AllyKat Stats: clueless/trying/healthy WOE: South Beach Start Date: 20 March 04 (Atkins) 11 Feb 05(SB)	That depends on where you're going - Alaska is so big, and we have so many different climates. Here in Southeast, with the water nearby, we have pretty moderate weather. It doesn't get too hot in the summer (80's are high) and not too cold in the winter (teens are about as low as it gets regularly) but once you get up north a bit, that all changes. Anchorage has some nice summers, but they also sometimes get feet of snow at a time. Fairbanks is even further north, and they often get in the 100's during the summer and in the -30's in the winter. I of course, can't predict the weather, so I would recommend planning your trip around your activities. If you're interested in fishing, Southeast would be your best bet, and I would recommend coming in mid to late August to catch the Silver Salmon (Coho) run. They aren't huge fish like the Kings (a big Coho is about 15 lbs - which is a small King Salmon) but there are many more of them and they're really fun to catch. Also, if you're looking for Halibut, that's a good time for them too. Unfortunately, non-residents can't harvest Crab, so you'll have to pay grocery-store or restaurant prices to have some fresh King Crab, but it's well worth it, and probably about half as expensive here (notwithstanding even the COL difference.) Southeast is also your best bet for whale watching, and anytime is good, but after July you have a better chance of seeing them "bubble feeding" if you know what that is. It is truly spectacular, but not incredibly common. I would highly suggest a tour into either Glacier Bay or Tracy Arm while you're in Southeast, since the glaciers are amazing and beautiful. If you're going farther north and plan on doing camping or hiking or the like, you'll want to consider the bug situation. I hear that late spring/ early summer is much better than late summer as far as the mosquitos and other biting bugs are concerned, which you will want to consider. If you're interested in wildlife viewing (bears in particular) you will want to come later tho, after the salmon runs have begun since the bears will be much more active once the streams are full of spawning salmon. There are big brown bears on Admiralty Island (here near Juneau) and also in the Keani (near Anchorage) There aren't any moose here in Juneau, but you'd be likely to see some up in the interior, such as if you decide to visit Denali. Or even Haines or Skagway (just 80 miles north of here) has more moose than we do. If your adventurous you could fly to Juneau, rent a car, ferry to Haines (there are no roads that lead out of Juneau, we're totally land (and water) locked) and drive through Canada up to Denali and to Fairbanks or Anchorage. That would be my personal recommendation. If you not so adventurous, there are plenty of different cruise packages to choose from. Just expect to not be able to do as much - these days the ships are spending less and less time in every port. Good luck and feel free to ask any other questions. lol or non-questions as the case may be...

05-31-2005, 09:02 AM	#6
armypiglet Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: SE Pennsylvania Posts: 98 Gallery: armypiglet Stats: Atkins switcheroo to SB / WW WOE: South Beach (little WW) Start Date: 2/5/05	thank you both so much for all your advice! i can't wait to go... we're saving now! is it very expensive to stay for say a week? i don't even care so much, just for budgeting purposes. we are pretty adventerous i definately want to see as much wildlife as possible. the only wildlife we get in philly is pretty much squirrels and the occasional woodchuck lol thanks again both of you so much! ~jackie~