Back to Alaska

[A Johnson]

Well I went back to Anchorage, Palmer and Denali Park on company time. I have a few more observations if any one cares.



1- It's beautiful in the winter and although I didn't have to work in -24F at the Park, I did enjoy it for the short time I was out in it. Most of the time it was around +10F to -10F or so.



2- (Had to delete #2, some may have found it offensive)



3- There are idiot drivers anywhere you go up there, but eventually the conditions wipe them out and they will probably drive safer next year.



4- Sportmans Warehouse is a cookie cutter of the ones here in the states.



5- Driving was quite easy except the intersections get pretty icy.



6- If I knew what to do, I would take my vacations up there in the winter, alot less tourists.



7- Saw some caribou @ 40 miles South of the park, they were moving pretty slow so I just gave them all the time they needed. I heard somewhere that if you run them in the extreme cold they freeze thir lungs and die, not sure if that is true, but erred on the side of caution.



8- I didn't think prices up there were all that bad untill I stayed in Heeley and was charged $6. 50 for a meatloaf sandwich. Oh well a guy has to eat and it probly costs a bunch to get the sandwich up there in the winter. ( Besides thats what expense accounts are for. )



Lastly, it seems I may go there more and more. Do non-residents have to hire a guide to go hunting, or will an aquantince that is a permanent resident work to fulllfill the obligations to the regulations?



A Johnson

 

[WDaniels]

AJohnson,

Glad you enjoyed your visit to Alaska. In reference to your 3rd statement. All of the idiot drivers come from the lower 48 so the problem is an external one that is imported. And your 4th statement, you have to realize that Alaska has approx 650,000 people living in an area that just slightly larger than one fifth of the entire United States of which 360,000(more than one half of the entire state) live in an area that is so miniscule that it is ridiculous. Of course the Sportsman Warehouse is only a cookie cutter imitation to what you have in the lower 48 where the access to a particular store could easily be in the millions. Not many of you are going to drive up just to go to a sports store. I went into that particular store just 2 weeks ago when I was in Anchorage and it was so far and above in selection from what I'm used to that I never got past the knife/binocular department after 40 minutes of looking. So... ... ... ... ... . Cut us some slack.

WD