Working in the Arctic Circle

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Permalink Reply by Sarah A on March 16, 2008 at 5:03pm

I had an interview with them. I like you knew it was remote but then I was told it was eight hours from Fairbanks. I have worked in remote places before (Yellowstone and Grand Tetons), But eight hours. Plus some of the housing isn't even in a building. They are huge tents with no electricity. Hey if thats your thing then have fun. You might want to keep your options open.

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Permalink Reply by akscootr on March 17, 2008 at 12:35pm

I have a niece named September... trippy. :0) If you do end up in Coldfoot, I would be interested in finding out what it is like (the restaurant/bar + busy? good $$$to be made?) Cheers... Akscootr

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mellott on March 18, 2008 at 3:37pm

Well I got paid hourly wage at Alaska min. which was $7.15 last season plus tips. I generally worked 40-50 hrs a week. If you are looking to make money for the season Coldfoot has a general rule which was passed down from the owner himself. If you are going to do something for the camp, then clock in. Whether it is cleaning a staff common area or picking up trash there is always extra work to be done and if you want the hours clock in and do some of it. I made an average of $80 a day in tips with some better and some worse. I can give some tips on how to make money up there if your interested!

Enjoy!

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mellott on March 18, 2008 at 3:29pm

Hey I worked at Coldfoot last season as a server. What position are you applying for? I know all the ins and outs of the operation and I would love to pass on the knowledge that I have specifically for what you are looking for. In general I had an overall great experience with Coldfoot. It may be remote but it is still very accessible Northern Alaska Tour Company which is a sister company of Coldfoot runs daily flights and van tours from Fairbanks to Coldfoot and coworkers are always allowed to hop on either on a space available basis. So even though your on the edge of the Gates of the Arctic it is just a short hour and fifteen min. flight back to civilization.
During the summer months co workers are in large cabin tents on platforms and they even have doors and metal frame beds inside. There is no electricity but then again that far north you don't need any lights because it will stay light 24 hrs a day from May to early August. There are places to hook up whatever electronic devices you may have in a number of places throughout the camp.
There is some phenomenal hiking throughout the area though gorgeous mountains and rivers to explore and they people that you will work for I personally have not worked for anyone better.
The only downsides I ran into with them were internet access which can sometimes be very sketchy out there as well as some of the staff. There was an influx of staff throughout the season like there is everywhere because people didn't know what they were getting themselves into. But most of the staff were very outgoing and we all meshed into a family quite quickly even for short-timers there like Jim!

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Permalink Reply by August Lambers on March 18, 2008 at 11:27pm

Kevin, thanks for the tips man. I hoping to do some cooking or serving up at the deadhorse camp, but coldfoot seems nice because there would be more people working there and you are right outside of Gates of the Arctic National Park, what was the coolest thing you were able to do with your time off? And of course any tips for making money would be much appreciated.
-August

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mellott on March 19, 2008 at 11:04am

Don't know much about the Deadhorse site, they were just acquiring it last year while i was there, however I have been to Deadhorse......I would rather live in the middle of nowhere, lol. Not the most attractive town I have been to but you do get cell service up there.
The coolest thing with my time-off? Well, through NATC you can hop on with whatever they are doing if there is space available, one of those trips are flights to Anaktuvak Pass which is a small native village in the middle of Gates of the Arctic. The flight is an amazing 40 min through the park and you fly right through what they consider are the two mountain peaks considered the Gates. The village is a great experience and a once in a lifetime trip and you can only get there by plane, why not go for free, right? Also if you are a National Parks Passport Collector there is a stmap you can get there that I can guarantee that few people have.

You make a lot more money as a server than as anything else, besides maybe a guide. During the high season you cater to a large amount of cruise bus traffic that will come in and eat off a buffet set up in the restaurant. If you have never worked a buffet before it can be hard to make good tips. Here is how I made at least $100/ day. You need to spend time with your tables, give every table you help a story about Alaska, 98% of these people it is there first time up there and they want to hear everything about it. Tell them something that has happened to you or to someone else in camp and maybe embellish just a little bit. I have such stories if you need them, lol. This will raise your tip by at least 50%. Second, take care of the truckers first, believe it or not these guys will be your best friends up there, if you need something from town or maybe want a ride into town at 1am after your shift these are the guys that can help and they are more than willing to do so if you treat them right. If you are working with a female, the trucker table is always theirs, always! Works out better for you in the long run. Lastly, when we ran credit cards up there the machine does not print out a tip line, but remind them that they can write a tip in and you can adjust it. Hopefully the pretty sign I made last season is still in the window at the front desk.

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Permalink Reply by August Lambers on April 28, 2008 at 12:52am

Well, I decided to take the job. Do you know of anyone else that is headed back up there this summer?

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mellott on April 28, 2008 at 6:22pm

yea sure do, I know some people that haven't left as well, i think you should still find Luke and Kasey up there, Chad of course and the last time I talked to some of them there are a bunch of others returning as well. When is your start date?

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Permalink Reply by Misty on March 20, 2008 at 3:26pm

I made the sign kevin...gosh :)

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mellott on March 20, 2008 at 6:37pm

You're right! I made the first one and it wasn't good enough for you girls! lol.

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