People who love what they do

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Permalink Reply by Ann Carr on February 25, 2008 at 7:41pm

I took a seasonal job in 2004 in Glacier and then tagged it with a permanent job in Big Bend and then onto the Delta/Mississippi Queen and then to a permanent job here at Jackson Lake Lodge. So, if the question is, can you do this for a career, the answer is yes.

Happy Trails!

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Permalink Reply by Laura on February 28, 2008 at 7:22am

Hi Ann

Glad to hear the news. I got an offer yesterday for the lodge in Tok. What concerns me is the money and paying rent there. I am not sure I want to take the full plunge yet. I have animals here and will have someone stay with them until I check things out. If I see that I can make it a career I will need a stable place.

Either way I will be up there this summer and am counting the minutes.

Enjoy today
Larua

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Permalink Reply by Angel on March 14, 2008 at 6:48pm

If this is your first time to Alaska, I would not recommend working in Tok. I would recommend Denali or the Kenai Pennisula, especially if you want to experience Alaska. There is not much in Tok only people passing through. I have been coming to Alaska for 6 seasons and now I live here year round.

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Permalink Reply by Juni on February 27, 2008 at 10:17pm

Hi Laura,

I am a newbe also, and have made a committment to work for Princess in Denali as a driver this summer. Have you decided where you are going to work? I haven't heard of anyone saying that they hated working in Alaska for the summer, so I figured what have I got to lose, right?haha At least we can say we gave it a try and wont have to wonder when we are older what it would have been like to work in Alaska for the summer! I just wanted to say good luck to you on your journey!!

A little nervous!!
Juni

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Permalink Reply by John-Paul Sullivan on February 28, 2008 at 7:12am

I remeber when I set forth on the great journey into the unknown of Alaska in 2001. I was nervous but really excited and it was the best choice I made for my life. I ended up coming back to school finishing up with that and then went right back to alaska and brought three friends with me. I ended up living there for three years and the experience was amazing. Alaska is heaven on earth in the summer. Enjoy and dont be surprised if your life is totally changed because of this experience.

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Permalink Reply by Laura on February 28, 2008 at 8:15am

Yeah, John Paul, I figure that is what will happen. I am counting the minutes.

I guess my decision was based on I have a coat that is too warm for TN, and I just got a new Minolta Camera. The coat will work in AK and I can film whales and polar bears.

Thanks
Enjoy today
Laura

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Permalink Reply by Juni on February 28, 2008 at 1:09pm

Thanks for the positive encouragement! Did you live in Alaska full time for 3 years? What did you do in the winter? What is your job up there in Alaska? Do you work in Denali? Will I be sorry if I dont bring a laptop? Thanks for all your information, and experience!
Sorry for all of the questions, but I'm sure you remember the butterflies and thoughts that went through your head like, "Am I crazy?!!"LOL Everyone here in CA thinks I have lost my mind, so to hear from someone who has had a life changing experience up there is VERY encouraging!
Juni

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Permalink Reply by John-Paul Sullivan on February 29, 2008 at 5:34am

I was originally hired as a prep cook at a resturant called Summit Lake Lodge on the Seward Highway and I spent my first summer there. Then I went back to school and finished up that and I went back to summit lake to bar tend the next summer. It was then that my other three friend were working at a place called Gwins Lodge (DO NOT WORK THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) which is located in Cooper Landing where the Kenia Princess Lodge is located. Cooper Landing is AWESOME!! the locals are great people and the summer people are fun to and everyone is there just enjoying the beauty that is that area of Alaska. So I stayed. I worked construction in the winter and I ended up river guideing in the summer for Alaska Rivers Company which was a great place to work. So again good luck out there and soak it all up because it is an amazing experience and you will be in my prayers for a great summer.

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Permalink Reply by Juni on February 29, 2008 at 11:29am

Dear John-Paul,
Thank you for your reply. Someday I would love to work as a river guide. How is the pay for that job? I thank you for your prayers, I will keep you in mine as well for another great summer!! I think the area of Cooper Landing would be great, maybe next summer!!Take care,and thank you again.

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Permalink Reply by noplacelikehere on February 29, 2008 at 7:15pm

I am looking for a job in that area right now. What was so bad about Gwins Lodge? I was thinking about sending an application to them. On the old coolworks forum, it has nothing but good comments about them.

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Permalink Reply by John-Paul Sullivan on March 2, 2008 at 9:05am

Gwins Lodge is not the best place to work in that area, the owner charges employes WAY to much to live in very sub par housing, I mean when you go there it looks like a refugee camp, the workers are always complaining about hours and working to much and not getting their end of the year bonus and the list goes on and on... I mean it will get you to Alaska but there are better places to work. If you have any resturant training I would say call the Sunrise cafe, you will work hard but the rent is WAY cheaper and the overall experience would be better. Just telling what I have seen there for three years and I would not ever even think about working there.

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Permalink Reply by John-Paul Sullivan on March 3, 2008 at 5:46am

I have not worked for Princess in Denali, but if it is anything like Princess Lodge in Kenia it should not be to bad. The employes at that princess lodge would usually drive somewhere to have parties but that could be because the employee housing is so close to the main lodge where the guests stay. So if the employee housing is close to the main lodge you should be alright, if it is not then you may be dealing with noise but princess seems to accomadate so you might just need to talk to a manager and they could move you to a quieter part. Have a great summer. You will have a blast that part of alaska is awesome but make sure to travel south to the Kenia penisula cause that is just as crazy!!.

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