Chat Transcript - Alaska

From 12/22/08 -

Hey All - Sorry for the delay. We had a great chat about the state of Alaska back in December. It's such a wonderful place that leaves an impression whether you're there for a week, a summer or a lifetime. If you haven't been, it's well worth a summer of your life!

Here's the transcript from that chat:

6:02pmKari Quaas So it's 6pm / 9pm so let's get this officially started.
6:03pmKate:)
6:03pmKari Quaas Thanks for coming everyone!
6:03pmakscootrAmen!!! It might be many places for the summer, but not Anchorage. Maybe "spit-rat" again
6:03pmKari Quaas Everyone feel free to jump in at any time.
6:03pmAlaskaFoundThank you for having us
6:03pmKari Quaas Also, you can click on the Chat tab to see the chat bigger. :)
6:03pmAlaskaFoundI plan to be down south as well scott
6:04pmKatewhat are the Taxes like in Alaska? (how much do they take out of a seasonal paycheck)
6:04pmKari Quaas So, those living in Anchorage, please let Kate know how big Anchorage is.
6:04pmakscootrOtter Cove restaurant across the bay from Homer. Try it, awesome food @ akbound
6:04pmAlaskaFoundthere is no state tax here
6:04pmakscootrNot bad for a city and few taxes. No income tax
6:04pmKatevery cool, alaskafound
6:04pmAlaskaFoundAnchorage is about 300,000 pretty spread out...Not a "big city"
6:04pmKate@ Kari thanks :)
6:04pmKatesounds like it's not too huge lol
6:04pmRick Peterson I think Anchorage is a really nice city in terms of comfort just walking around
6:05pmKateeven better, Rick
6:05pmKari Quaas @Kate yw
6:05pmAlaskaFoundLarge homeless population
6:05pmTeddy Klees really?
6:05pmAlaskaFoundHUGE
6:05pmKari Quaas ANC has a really nice downtown.
6:05pmAlaskaFoundeven now in the winter
6:05pmKatehow do they even manage in the winter, alaska found?
6:05pmKatewhats it like Kari?
6:05pmakscootrsome refuse to enter inside to stay acclimated to the cold
6:05pmAlaskaFoundmonarch
6:06pmTeddy Klees scary thought
6:06pmKari Quaas Anchorage is a bunch of one way streets - good restaurants - you can see Mt. McKinley from downtown on a clear day.
6:06pmKari Quaas Beautiful.
6:06pmKate Sounds like a great place :)
6:06pmRick Peterson Museum is close by downtown as well
6:07pmakscootrAnd not far from Girdwood...
6:07pmKateand Museums, even better
6:07pmKate is Girdwood nice?
6:07pmKari Quaas Girdwood is awesome!
6:07pmAlaskaFound great public transportation
6:07pmTeddy Klees is there a music scene?
6:07pmAlaskaFound NO
6:07pmKate even more awesome, alaska found
6:07pmakscootr Awesome town for those who are thinking of working here
6:07pmKate I'd like to possibly move to Alaska permanently
6:07pmAlaskaFound lot's of jobs in winter
6:07pmAlaskaFound High cost of Living
6:07pmakscootr Alyeska ski resort offers housing now
6:08pmAlaskaFound Gas here is still 2.35
6:08pmKari Quaas @akscootr - That's nice.
6:08pmakscootr Busy in summer and winter with a Fall lull
6:08pmakscootr Totem Inn Valdez?
6:08pmAlaskaFound That is wild
6:08pmTeddy Klees sea level is an odd way to ski
6:08pmKari Quaas yep
6:09pmAlaskaFound yea@AK
6:09pmKate that sounds very wild Kari
6:09pmakscootr lotsa snow
6:09pmAlaskaFound why were they so good to work with?
6:09pmKateCan't pay me to hurtle down a mountain at deadly speeds with boards strapped to my feet...lol I like level skiing :)
6:10pmKateI haven't heard a thing
6:10pmKari Quaas @Rick - not yet
6:10pmakscootr Long story.. death in my family; "forgot" to charge rent, gave me free food, bought my truck, all to help me because I had no summer season that year
6:11pmKari Quaas @Kate - Don't get me wrong. I was skiing, but I’m not very good and actually switched to snowboarding. It's a much better thing for me to do.
6:11pmKatethat is wonderful, akscootr!!
6:11pmakscootr @ Teddy... also worked me 3 weeks straight went from 0 to + 3 grand
6:11pmKate @ Kari, you like having only one board to balance on better? Lol
6:11pmKari Quaas Exactly, only one thing to control. ;)
6:11pmTeddy Klees wow that's super cool
6:11pmjames webb Hey everyone..Jim here from Nor cal..soon to be an Alaskan
6:12pmAlaskaFound hi james
6:12pmKate @Kari lol
6:12pmRick Peterson Carnival Corporation announced their earnings last week and saw weak cruising numbers for 2009. Carnival corp encompasses Carnival, Holland America, and Princess, all of which cruise to Alaska. Not good news for all of us dealing with tourism in any form Kate hello Jim
6:12pmjames webb Moving to Skagway in February....found a great job
6:12pmKari Quaas Hi Jim.
6:12pmKari Quaas Bummer, Rick.
6:12pmAlaskaFound @Rick Peterson....Have you heard any rumors about a new Cruise Line coming Online this summer?
6:12pmKate well, here is hoping that the fear dissipates and at least the Europeans book
6:13pmakscootr Even Juneau cruises?@Jim - What job did you get?
6:13pmjames webb I am the new Brewmaster at Goldrush brewery
6:13pmAlaskaFoundNice!
6:13pmakscootr I a person moves up here permanently He can do a lot to slow the cost of living
6:13pmAlaskaFound That sounded like a great time!
6:13pmRick Peterson@Alaska Found -- not sure what you mean. Disney is doing tours in Alaska this year, but not cruises
6:13pmTeddy Klees OH MAN JIM THAT IS SWEET
6:14pmKateIlike what akscootr?
6:14pmKari Quaas@Jim - That's awesome. I helped them post that job!
6:14pmRick Peterson@AK Scooter -- what do you mean by Juneau cruises?
6:14pmjames webb Im way excited...
6:14pmakscootr Barter... When I fished most of our maintenance costs were covered by trading fish
6:14pmakscootrHunting also.
6:14pmTeddy Klees has anyone been on the rivers in AK?
6:14pmjames webb the owners are flying me there in january to meet them, look at the facility etc.
6:14pmKateah ha! I do like the idea of the barter system
6:15pmakscootrMany out here eat from the sea and even gardening
6:15pmAlaskaFoundI lived on the Kenai, and about a mile from the Russian
6:15pmKatethough I'd have to learn how to fish and hunt Rick Peterson@Teddy -- I've done the floating and jet boating on the Chulitna and Susitna
6:15pmakscootrNo need for rent in summer
6:15pmKategreat, akscootr
6:15pmjames webb anyone have any insight on Skagway?
6:15pmTeddy Klees how was it rick?
6:15pmakscootrfishing is not hard
6:15pmakscootrfishing is not hard
6:15pmKari Quaas Skagway is a tiny little town, tight knit community - fun place to live, hike, etc.
6:15pmakscootrand is fun
6:16pmKateanyone ever worked for Coldfoot Camp?
6:16pmKari Quaas@Teddy - I've fished on the Kenai River
6:16pmakscootrget salmon (reds) trade for crab, halibut, oysters, moose etc....
6:17pmKari Quaas The population is only 800.
6:17pmKate@akscootr sounds neat!
6:17pmKateonly 800 that's great
6:17pmakscootrvery helpful people
6:17pmAlaskaFoundindeed
6:17pmKateI definitely thrive in smaller groups
6:17pmAlaskaFoundAlaska is Huge, but it's really very small.
6:17pmKateand really want to get involved in things
6:17pmAlaskaFoundThere are only 3 highways
6:17pmKari Quaas On cruise days, there are about 4000-5000 people in town for 8-12 hours. It's crazy.
6:17pmakscootrDouglad by Juneau is another awesome small town
6:18pmBrett Swofford great sense of community in Skagway during the summer, everybody knows everybody kinda thing
6:18pmKatethat's cool, AlaskaFound
6:18pmakscootrDouglas
6:18pmKateIsounds like a "Geyser Rush" in Yellowstone retail, Kari
6:18pmKate lol
6:18pmAlaskaFoundHomer is great
6:19pmakscootrHomer is interesting
6:19pmAlaskaFoundAs is Seward
6:19pmKate@everyone sounds like there are a lot of great places to be
6:19pmAlaskaFoundAnywhere in Alaska is Grand
6:19pmakscootrAlaska is my favorite place on Earth. I found home when I came back
6:19pmBrett Swofford you really can't miss, hard to make a decision :)
6:19pmKateso the stereotype of crazy hermits going nutty in the "bush" aren't so true? ;)
6:19pmjames webb I lived, and worked in Yosemite for 6 years, so i know i will love Alaska
6:19pmKari Quaas
Alaska is awesome. Every part is a bit different and it is HUGE, but the community makes it small.
6:20pm Kate Everything I'm hearing about it sure sounds like it'll be my home, too
6:20pmakscootrActually some of those stereotypes are very interesting people
6:20pmAlaskaFoundYou can go anywhere in Alaska and you will run into someone you know
6:20pmjames webb And i get to brew beer!!!...how cool is that
6:20pmKatevery cool, akscootr
6:20pmKateI do need to open my mind even a bit further :)
6:21pmRick Peterson What does everyone think is the most important thing in terms of employee housing
6:21pmakscootr @ James... I roomed w/someone from AK brewery and they gave him free ingredients. We had much fun :)
6:21pmKateyou've been brewing long, jim?
6:21pmKatephysically or otherwise? @Rick
6:22pmjames webbwell, i was a home brewer in nor cal. won some awards here
6:22pmAlaskaFound affordability
6:22pmakscootrMatching roommates...
6:22pmKateI think decent conditions physically
6:22pmRick Peterson In terms of what employees want or need
6:22pmKateand reasonable compatibility w a roommie
6:22pmakscootrdon't charge me 350 for a tent
6:22pmRick Peterson Roommates are really hard because you are matching people who have never met before
6:22pmAlaskaFoundno sh#$%&&
6:22pmKateand the understanding that being loud real late at night isn't so good when you're trying to sleep
6:23pmakscootrage groups and work hours are good considerations
6:23pmKateTrue, Rick.... But after four seasons in Yellowstone, I can say the HR there somehow seemed to always put me with good people
6:23pmAlaskaFound Why do most places not offer pictures in the included material they offer to the public?
6:23pmKari Quaas @AKfound - What types of pictures?
6:24pmAlaskaFoundPictures of the Housing
6:24pmjames webb Kate, what company did you work for in yellowstone?
6:24pmKari Quaas Ah
6:24pmKateXanterra, Jim
6:24pmAlaskaFound Current, Actual pictures.
6:24pmjames webb Oh
6:24pmakscootr @ Kate Canyon by chance?
6:24pmjames webb I worked for Delaware north in Yosemite
6:24pmKate @akscootr no, at Old faithful
6:24pmKate how were they, jim?
6:24pmRick Peterson One challenge we have is that there are 4 distinct types of housing rooms that employees might get and we don't have large enough recruiting budgets to make a pamphlet for everyone
6:25pmKate what types of rooms do you have there, Rick?
6:25pmjames webb good, expect the last year..new boss, and I did not see eye to eye
6:25pmKateas long as I know the pool of types I can prepare for whatever I get assigned
6:25pmAlaskaFound but you could take 4 photos and slap them on the internet site.
6:25pmKate I can relate to that Jim
6:25pmKari Quaas @AKfound - I agree.
6:26pmjames webb I loved it there.was home from the day i moved in
6:26pmakscootr yep.. that is how most of us research... internet
6:26pmKate @Jim I felt the same way about Yellowstone
6:26pmRick Peterson Most of our rooms share bathrooms with 1 other room, so there are 4 people to a bathroom. But we have some rooms with private bath rooms. We also have some rooms with bunk beds and some with side by side beds and some with a king bed
6:26pmKate and hope to dive right in in Alaska
6:26pmAlaskaFound People 9 out of 10 times have to submit photos, pay hundreds of dollars on a leap of faith. And yet most places don't show you a picture of where you will live.
6:26pmjames webb but now i have a new adventure in another beautiful place
6:27pmjames webb looking forward to it
6:27pmKate@ Rick, good to know
6:27pmjames webb
Kate, where will you be in Alaska?
6:27pmakscootr @ Kate.. I met people last summer from missouri 20 years ago to teton from 4 years ago. I'm willing to bet you know people here and don't even know it
6:27pmRick Peterson Who has to submit pictures? You cannot base hiring on what someone looks like. If someone sends me a picture I delete it without looking at it.
6:27pmKari Quaas @Rick @Brett - I can add photos to your profiles, if you want.
6:27pmKate Dn't know yet, Jim, I am hoping to go work at McKinley Princess Lodge
6:27pmjames webbcool
6:27pmRick Peterson Yeah McKinley Princess
6:28pmKate @akscootr that would rock!
6:28pmKari Quaas...photos of housing, that is.
6:28pmAlaskaFound I said "most" if you look through the ads most of them do ask to submit a photo.
6:28pmBrett Swofford @kari - we don't supply housing in Anchorage
6:28pmakscootr Time Bandit in homer also
6:28pmKari Quaas @Brett - do your ANC staff just get apartments?
6:28pmRick Peterson I think we should get the word out to people that they don't have to submit pictures. I am surprised companies HR departments let them do that.
6:28pmjames webb I'm looking to find a small apartment in Skagway, the owners are going to help find me one
6:29pmKate@Jim that sounds really helpful
6:29pmjames webb Yeah, I will know more when i visit in january.
6:29pmBrett Swofford@kari - yes, we help with some advice and a contact list so they can find roomies but really they are "on their own"
6:29pmAlaskaFoundMost of the places that do that Rick....don’t have HR depts.
6:30pmakscootr@ James Never been to Skagway. Can you keep an eye on the restaurants there and give me your impression?
6:30pmKate so, Rick, if business hours are down (Hopefully not too much and hopefully up (Yellowstone ended up having a gangbuster summer after starting out dead), does the room and board get prorated or do employees end up with negative paychecks?
6:30pmKari Quaas@Brett - yep - We could add a blurb about that to your profile if it's not there already. The job seekers love any info that they can get.
6:30pmjames webb they have been great....they have had the another business in Skagway for 10 years.
6:31pmjames webb I will keep my ears open on the restaurants
6:31pmakscootr Thanks :0) I live here but have not decided which town yet
6:32pmjames webb we are opening a restaurant along with the brewery, they are looking for help now too
6:32pmakscootr:)
6:32pmKari Quaas How many of you have worked in Alaska? And for how long?
6:32pmRick Peterson @Kate -- you won't end up with negative pay checks. We will just be hiring fewer employees so that the ones we do hire have steady hours
6:32pmKate Any good bookstores in Anchorage?
6:32pmakscootr Hmmm name of restaurant. I will apply
:32pmAlaskaFound TitleWave
6:32pmKate @Rick Thanks :) Good to know
6:32pmakscootr Worked in Alaska since 2005. Born here
6:32pmjames webb Its on coolworks here...look under the ad for the brewmaster in Skagway
6:33pmKate Nature fuels me :)
6:33pmjames webb Me too Kate...
6:33pmRick Peterson Worked in Alaska first in 1999, then off in 2000, seasonally 2001 to 2003, and full time living in the state since 2004
6:33pmakscootr Kate bring a good camera because it will be used a lot
6:33pmKate I can't wait to get there and just start getting involved!
6:33pmakscootr Nature is life here
6:33pmjames webb and a fishing pole, or 3
6:34pmKate @akscootr as it should be, imo
6:34pmakscootr one for salmon, one for halibut
6:34pmKari Quaas I've never lived in Alaska, but have been up there on 15-20 + trips all over the place. First trip in January 1999.
6:34pmKatesounds like I can definitely look for fishing tutors ;)
6:34pmKateup there
6:34pmjames webb one for trout in the lakes too
6:34pmRick Peterson touchdown Packers
6:34pmKate @Kari so what's your favorite experience in AK?
6:34pmAlaskaFound people don’t fish here, the FISH! here
6:34pmjames webb Damn it...bears fan here
6:34pmKate @Rick you rooting for Packers or the other guys?
6:35pmRick Peterson Packers all the way
6:35pmKate Yay AlaskaFound
6:35pmakscootr people here will help, no prob. At end on Spit by Lands End Resort you can catch a lot of other lesser known fish also
6:35pmKari Quaas LOL Rick
6:35pmKateI don't know enough about football so I normally root for whoever is losing lol
6:35pmAlaskaFoundLing Cod is really good
6:35pmakscootrNorthern Pike also. You have to keep them and some weigh 40 lbs or more
6:35pmKari Quaas@Kate - tough one.
6:35pmKatefreshy fish.....expertly cooked....sounds heavenly
6:36pmAlaskaFoundThe Muni is trying to poison Jewel Lake in order to remove the N. Pike
6:36pmKate@Kari lol, I know.... j
6:36pmjames webb Oh, it has to be great...fished a lot of the high country lakes in Yosemite area
6:36pmKatenever mind the j
6:36pmColy Hope Didn't think I would make it tonight.
6:36pmKate hi coly
6:36pmRick Peterson glad you did
6:36pmjames webb Hi Coly
6:36pmakscootrho Coly
6:36pmKate @AlaskaFound, is N Pike a nonnative species?
6:36pmakscootrhi
6:37pmAlaskaFound correct
6:37pmColy Hope Hi everyone
6:37pmjames webb so, how long has this group been meeting?
6:37pmakscootrYes... wiping out salmon breeding grounds
6:37pmKari Quaas Highlights - -55 below in FAI in January to 95+ in June.
6:37pmAlaskaFoundBut people have been dumping them in the waters
6:37pmKate@jim 37 minutes by my watch lol
6:37pmjames webb its nice to meet others with similar interests
6:37pmakscootr That is why they HAVE to be kept
6:37pmjames webb LOL
6:37pmjames webb funny
6:37pmKatethe lake trout are doing the same thing to the cutthroat in Ystone
6:38pmKateI agree jim
6:38pmakscootr good eating still and helping environment. can't get better
6:38pmKate @Kari big range of temps lol
6:38pmKate I agree akscootr
6:38pmRick Peterson2008 was a really rainy summer
6:38pmKari Quaas More highlights - crazy snow in Juneau while trying to teach folks how to drive motorcoach
6:38pmAlaskaFoundIt rained every day in July
6:38pmKari Quaas Fishing the Kenai River
6:38pmakscootryes... we had 11 days of sum in Homer. I counted
6:39pmKari Quaas Helicopter flight in Skagway
6:39pmjames webb everyone I have said i am going to LOVE Alaska
6:39pmjames webb oops
6:39pmKari Quaas Whale watching between Juneau and Skagway
6:39pmKate@Kari very nice
6:39pmKari Quaas Totems in Ketchikan
6:39pmRick Peterson Flight seeing tours are really great around Mt McKinley
6:39pmjames webb everyone i have talked to
6:39pmKari Quaas Views of Mt. McKinley from Mt. McKinley Princess Lodge
6:39pmKari Quaas The train from Anchorage to Denali.
6:39pmKate @Rick are the flightseeing tours real expensive for employees?
6:39pmKari Quaas I could go on forever!
6:39pmAlaskaFoundCamping across the bay in a yurt last summer was one of my highlights
6:40pmRick Peterson for employees the tours are free when there are seats open on the plane
6:40pmKate @Kari sounds like a subject for a whole new Post ;)
6:40pmRick Peterson You just need to tip the pilots to keep the system greased
6:40pmKate@ Rick, ok, sounds familiar...and not knowing forsure if you're on till time to go (which is understandable ;))
6:40pmKate @Rick good tip!
6:40pmKari Quaas I could write a blog post about AK.
6:41pmKate @Kari I think you ought to
6:41pmRick Peterson What we do is go in to K2 aviation in the morning and ask, and they can usually tell you if a spot will open up and when
6:41pmjames webb Me too
6:41pmKate@Rick, sounds great :)
6:41pmAlaskaFoundtide pooling in Homer is always fun, or Clamming in Ninilchik
6:41pmakscootrsounds good. Kari:)
6:42pmakscootrHiking across the bay also
6:42pmKari Quaas K2 will post their jobs on Cool Works
6:42pmKatetide pooling sounds fun
6:42pmAlaskaFoundit is great
6:42pmKateand hiking, too
6:42pmKari Quaas My post - post Alaska cruise in 2007 - http://my.coolworks.com/profiles/blogs/561627:BlogPost:4921
6:42pmakscootr lotsa berries every where
6:42pmAlaskaFound Alaska has some of the greatest tides
6:42pmKateI also really like photography
6:42pmKari Quaas You'll go nuts in AK @ Kate
6:42pmjames webb Me too Kate, you should see my Yosemite pics
6:43pmakscootrPhotography is my passion
6:43pmKate@akscootr are you allowed to pick berries up there?
6:43pmakscootrI believe Kari can say that too
6:43pmAlaskaFoundheck yeah, you can even sell them
6:43pmKate@ Kari GREAT :)
6:43pmKateYou ought to post them Jim or have you?
6:43pmakscootrYes... Girdwood has a LOT of blueberries
6:43pmKatereally, alaska???
6:43pmjames webb I will, can I do it on here?
6:43pmKateIs girdwood a place I could work in the winter?
6:44pmKateYes, jim...
6:44pmakscootrSalmonberries and raspberries also
6:44pmjames webb I will do that...
6:44pmjames webb tonight
6:44pmKatewhat do salmonberries taste like
6:44pmAlaskaFoundyeah @ Aleyeska
6:44pmRick Peterson I think everyone who goes to Alaska should do a bear viewing tour out of Homer to Brooks Falls
6:44pmKate@Jim cool
6:44pmakscootrYES... Girdwood rocks both summer and winter
6:44pmKate@Rick is that one where you get to see lots of bears fishing?
6:44pmKari Quaas @Rick - I want to see the bears!
6:44pmKate@akscootr thanks
6:44pmakscootrrasperries.. look like them also, but bigger
6:44pmKate@Kari and Rick me too
6:45pmAlaskaFoundthats the typical Alaska photo of the bear catching a salmon, thats Brooks Falls
6:45pmRick Peterson Yes, lots of brown bears
6:45pmKate@akscootr sounds delish
6:45pmKatesounds wonderful! That's going to be on my list for sure
6:45pmAlaskaFound TONS of Bears in Cooper Landing this past summer. Lots of Bears everywhere really.
6:45pmakscootr they are :) I have stopped hikes just to munch my day away
6:45pmjames webb the pic I have next to my name on here now is from Yosemite
6:46pmKate Are the bears in the Denali area less habituated, or more so?
6:46pmjames webb My front yard was looking at half dome
6:46pmKate@ akscootr lol
6:46pmakscootr run around with bacon.. you'll see a bear or two :)
6:46pmKate @jim cool
6:46pmjames webb Bacon??
6:46pmKari Quaas lol
6:46pmKate @akscootr lol I don't want to have a "Meat"ing like that :P
6:46pmRick Peterson The bears of Denali are not accustomed to people at all. If you see them it is usually from a good distance away
6:46pmColy Hope There are plenty of bears in Denali, believe me.
6:46pmakscootrthey love the smell of bacon, st least according to a couple of old timers I know
6:47pmKate@Rick that's the best way to see them. and have a major zoom lens
6:47pmjames webb how about in the skagway area?
6:47pmjames webb bears?
6:47pmKari Quaas My husband just said he used to see bears at the dump in Skagway and on the Chilkoot Trail
6:47pmakscootr go south to Admiralty Island. Largest concentration of Brown Bears in the world. Not too far from Skagway
6:48pmKate I've seen an episode of Tougher In Alaska that showed the problems of keeping bears away from towns people's garbage...some folks don't keep their trash locked up right?
6:49pmjames webb Chilkoot trail, now that will be a hike
6:49pmKate How close is the Visitor's Center to the MPL?
6:49pmakscootr not just trash, but if you homestead they will come after your animals also
6:49pmjames webb 33 miles, supposed to take a few days
6:49pmKate I am just such a fan of the NP
6:49pmKari Quaas 3 1/2 days to do the Chilkoot
6:49pmKate@akscootr wow
6:49pmRick Peterson The Denali National Park visitor center is about 2 hours away, but there is a great visitor center in Talkeetna where all climbers have to register
6:49pmKate anyone ever seen/done any part of the Iditarod?
6:50pmKari Quaas You can see the start in Anchorage.
6:50pmakscootr Talkeetna...another awesome funky town
6:50pmRick PetersonTalkeetna is 50 minutes away from MPL and we have free shuttles for employees each day
6:50pmjames webb anyone know of a ski area in the whitehorse area?
6:50pmKate @Rick, I've heard much about Talkeetna. and since I am an armchair climbing groupie, lol, that'd be great
6:50pmBrett Swofford @kate - I try to watch the start every year
6:50pmjames webb I heard there was one
6:50pmKari Quaas @jim - maybe xc skiing
6:50pmKate@Brett, that would be so fun! Quite adventurous for the participants I bet
6:50pmjames webbI NEED dowhill
6:51pmKateXC skiing would be fun to try.
6:51pmBrett Swofford@kate - just watching the start can be pretty adventurous :)
6:51pmKate I run screaming from downhill lol
6:51pmjames webb I will miss that part of Yosemite, we had our own ski area
6:51pmKate @Brett really? do tell. How so?
6:51pmakscootr Alyeska is best for Downhill. Valdez for the radical stuff... helo skiing
6:51pmKari Quaas Juneau also has a downhill ski area.
6:52pmjames webb I will check that out..about how far from skagway?, do you know?
6:52pmakscootrYes...across in Douglas. Very nice spot
6:52pmKari Quaas 2 hour boat ride to JNU
6:52pmBrett Swofford @kate - the official start has been in a town called Willow on a frozen lake. It can get a bit chilly after a couple of hours :)
6:52pmKate @Brett, Brrr, sounds like it could....
6:52pmakscootr Willow is an awesome town also
6:53pmakscootrgood people there
6:53pmKari Quaas Any areas that people are really curious about in Alaska?
6:53pmKate@akscootr sounds like you've been to lots of Alaska
6:53pmColy Hope Anyone been to Barrow
6:53pmjames webb The cost of living?
6:53pmKate I am really curious about the Arctic Circle, Kari
6:53pmKate and the Aurora Borealis
6:53pmKari Quaas I've been over it. :)
6:53pmakscootrI like to travel...been on most of the road system and now I'll have to do western Alaska
6:53pmKatewhat was that like, Kari?
6:54pmjames webb I know they have no state tax
6:54pmKate @akscootr sounds great :)
6:54pmKari Quaas You can take a plane from Fairbanks to Fort Yukon on the Yukon River. Awesome.
6:54pmKate No state tax is awesome :)
6:54pmKari Quaas The Northern Lights - Aurora Borealis - is amazing.
6:54pmjames webb and some kind of gas rebate at the end of the year for all residents?
6:54pmKate I've wanted to see the Aurora Borealis all my life
6:54pmKari Quaas You need to go up now to really see them, but summer it is possible too, just not as easy with all of the light.
6:54pmakscootrChena Hot springs resort north of Fairbanks is a great place for the Northern Lights
6:54pmakscootrgas rebate was one-time thing
6:55pmjames webb Oh
6:55pmKate@ Kari if I decide to find a winter job up there perhaps I'll get to see them in the winter
6:55pmBrett Swofford stupid packers
6:55pmjames webb Go Bears!!!
6:55pmRick PetersonStupid like a fox
6:55pmColy Hope I have seen the Aurora Borealis in late August up there.
6:55pmKate LOL
6:55pmKari Quaas@Coly - never been to Barrow
6:55pmKatedid you just love it coly?
6:55pmColy Hope Yes
6:55pmRick Peterson Farthest north I have gotten is Gates of the Arctic National Monument
6:55pmKate Go-Underdogs! :)
6:56pmakscootrThe lights stop all in their tracks. Just awesome to behold
6:56pmKate @Kari are there Polar Bears up there?
6:56pmKari Quaas @Kate - very likely
6:56pmRick Peterson You have to go very far north to get Polar Bears
6:56pmKateIs it true that Polar Bears hunt people?
6:56pmKari Quaas At the Fairbanks Princess Hotel, you can have them wake you up when the Northern Lights are out.
6:56pmjames webb well, everyone, I need to run..Thanks so much for all of your input, stay in touch. I will keep you posted on my Skagway adventure. my email is golfbum23@yahoo.com
6:56pmKatebye Jim
6:56pm Kate wow, Kari
6:57pmjames webb Bye Kate, thanks
6:57pmakscootr cheers Jim
6:57pmColy Hope Polar bears are along the Arctic Ocean
6:57pmjames webb Cheers!!!
6:57pmakscootr They will attack
6:57pmakscootr but to be so close that they will is foolhardy
6:57pmKate I heard once that they will stalk humans. Just curious
6:57pmKate Of course, akscootr, I agree
6:58pmKari Quaas Thanks, Jim!
6:58pmKate I have no plans to become a Human Kebob
6:58pmKate lol
6:58pmakscootr I overheard a local native speak with fear about that... they carry rifles because of it. But those bears are way up North
6:59pmakscootr Not likely you will see them in a tourist spot
6:59pmKateYeah, I believe in being proactive in not doing anything to cause bear trouble, for me or the bear
6:59pmKari Quaas If you look at a map, most people only live up 1/2 way into the state of Alaksa.
6:59pmKateLots and lots of real wilderness, huh, Kari?
7:00pmKari Quaas Perma frost
7:00pmKari Quaas i.e. mostly frozen ground
7:00pmKateI've heard about the permafrost
7:00pmKari Quaas Hey Rick - Did you drive up to the Gates of the Arctic?
7:00pmKate never really thaws out, ever
7:00pmKate is it possible to drive that far?
7:00pmKari Quaas You can drive all the way to Prudhoe Bay.
7:01pmKate Now that road I have heard about.
7:01pmKari Quaas...all the way to the top on the Dalton Hwy
7:01pmakscootr Until you get to the oil facilities. Then after that.... ?
7:01pmKari Quaas water
7:01pmKari Quaas:)
7:01pmKate If I went and worked at Coldfoot Camp I'd be near there (winter)
7:01pmKari Quaas Those folks seem really nice.
7:01pmKari Quaas I help them with their advertising. Never been to their locations.
7:02pmKate Seems to me that it's easier to stay real when you don't have such easy city access to the whole plethora of "stuff"....
7:02pmKate just a thought :)
7:02pmakscootr Have you ever wondered about trying the slope operators, Kari?
7:02pmKate @akscooter do any of the ski resorts have retail jobs? Gift shops?
7:02pmakscootrNot exactly a 9-5 type of position
7:03pmKari Quaas @akscootr - Nope.
7:03pmKari Quaas @Kate - Girdwood has a great gift shop - The Kobuk Jade Co.
7:03pmakscootr Alyeska... they will get busier in about a month. Check them online...
7:03pmKari Quaas It's right near Alyeska.
7:03pmKari Quaas ;)
7:03pmKate @Kari thanks :)
7:03pmRick Peterson @Kari -- sorry, computer froze. I flew to Gates of the Arctic from Fairbanks
7:03pmKari Quaas Hey Rick
7:03pmKari Quaas Ah
7:03pmKari Quaas cool
7:03pmKari Quaas How long was the flight?
7:04pmKari Quaas Did you stay at Coldfoot Camp?
7:05pmRick Peterson The flight was a scenic flight, so not sure how long it took to get there straight through. The flight up we flew all around the park, and the flight back was a Northern Lights viewing flight, so the whole thing was pretty awesome
7:05pmKatenow that sounds really incredible
7:05pmKari Quaas Way cool.
7:05pmRick Peterson It wasn't an overnight, we just stopped at Bettles
7:05pmKari Quaas ok
7:06pmKari Quaas What's your favorite thing to do up there, Rick?
7:06pmRick Peterson My favorite one time event was the trip to Brooks Falls
7:06pmKari Quaas What about you, Coly?
7:06pmKari Quaas...for the bears?
7:07pmKari Quaas What about you, Scott?
7:07pmColy Hope What about me for the bears?
7:07pmRick Peterson My favorite repeatable thing is driving along the Cook Inlet and stopping for ice cream at The Ice Cream Shop outside of Girdwood. It was the first Alaskan date for me and my wife
7:07pmKate Kari and Rick, what is one thing I should know about Alaska that I don't? Living up there-wise
7:07pmakscootr I went for a two-hour hike behind Salmon Bake in Denali
7:07pmKateHow fun, Rick :)
7:07pmKari Quaas Coly - What's your favorite thing to do in Alaska? Or favorite memory?
7:07pmKatewhere did you meet your wife Rick?
7:07pmRick Peterson In college in Wisconsin
7:08pmKate@akscootr a salmon bakes sounds delish
7:08pmakscootrMet a group of internationals and it turned into an overnight hike..we got home @ 5:30 in the morning
7:08pmKari Quaas That's cool, Ricardo.
7:08pmColy Hope I got within 20 feet of a grizzly bear
7:08pmKate wow coly
7:09pmakscootrWe pitched Dall Sheep hair off of bushes and saw mountains that would take a years to hike
7:09pmKari Quaas holy cow
7:09pmRick Peterson I think the number one thing to know is that you have to go out to see Alaska, it won't necessarily just come to you. When you get time off, take advantage, even if that just means going to Talkeetna or for a 1 hour hike
7:09pmKari Quaas Very cool, Scott
7:09pmKate@Rick, I fully plan to do that :)
7:09pmRick Peterson Plan things out for your day off and do some trips because the summer is over before you know it
7:09pmKari Quaas Ditto what Rick said
7:09pmKateThe summers in yellowstone went by quickly, too
7:09pmRick Peterson And bring an umbrella
7:09pmKate@ Kari :)
7:10pmColy Hope I was walking along the Nenana River by Denali when I noticed a grizzly bear was walking toward me but about 15 - 20 feet to the let of me. The unny thing is he didn't notice me or he didn't care.
7:10pmakscootr Also... save a week or two After the season. It will be quiter and you can still do a lot of extended hiking, etc
7:10pmKari Quaaswow
7:10pmColy Hope"left of me"
7:10pmKari Quaas Yep. It's an amazing place.
7:10pmKate@ Rick is there a good rainsuit or something to buy? I found In Yellowstone that carrying an umbrella was inconvenient for photography etc
7:10pmKari Quaas The closest I've been to a bear was on the bike trails at Whistler (B.C.)
7:11pmRick Peterson you can definitely go the rain suit route, I was specifically thinking of the daily walk to work in terms of the umbrella
7:11pmKate@ akscootr sounds great @ Rick, can the r/t plane ticket be made to reflect an extra week or do I need to leave right after the company shuts down
7:11pmakscootrGrundens... we fishermen swear by them. But not too convenient for hiking
7:11pmKateI can definitely use an umbrella for walking to work, and have before :)
7:11pmRick Peterson You can make your flights for whatever dates you want, but you cannot live on property after your work contract is up
7:12pmKate@Rick, Understood :)
7:12pmKateI don't think I'd have much problem making/finding friends to stay with
7:12pmakscootrno need to. Hike and camp... it will be warm enough if you layer
7:12pmKari Quaas Typically the employers in AK will try to help with airfare, maybe not paying for it, but letting you pay for it out of your check.
7:12pmKate@akscootr I do not yet have sufficient back country/survival experience to want to do that alone :)
7:13pmakscootralso...the hostels will have cheaper rates then
7:13pmKate@Kari that is what I need right now
7:13pmKatehostels might be a good route to go
7:13pmKari Quaas Yep, they're pretty helpful.
7:13pmRick Peterson Time to jet, gotta say goodnight to my niece
7:13pmakscootr I live in a winter community now... 280.00 a month all-inclusive for a semi-private room
7:14pmKate bye Rick thanks for coming :)
7:14pmRick Peterson Talk to everyone later
7:14pmKate sounds great akscootr
7:14pmKari Quaas Thanks, Rick. Have fun with the family and Merry Christmas!
7:14pmakscootr cheers, rick\
7:14pmKate Merry Christmas Rick
7:14pmakscootr cheers
7:14pmKate Merry Christmas Kari and akscootr and coly
7:14pmKari Quaas Well, I guess it's already been an hour!
7:14pmKate Yes it has! :)
7:14pmKari Quaas We'll do this again after the new year!
7:14pmKateand a VERY informative chat
7:14pmKate Mele Kalikimaka everyone :)
7:15pmKari Quaas Thanks for coming and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!
7:15pmKatebye
7:15pmakscootrMerry Xmas, have a nice one
7:15pmKari Quaas Ah, Hawaii.
7:15pmKari Quaas Cheers
7:15pmColy Hope Thanks Kari
7:15pmKateyes Kari lol7:15pmakscootrYou just love the snow Kari. I can tell :)
7:15pmKari Quaas It's been fun down here.
7:15pmKateSnow has its advantages
7:15pmKari Quaas We haven't had this much snow since 1996.
7:15pmKatehow much have you got now, Kari?
7:16pmKari Quaas I was responsible for driving back then, not now.
7:16pmKari Quaas Probably 10 inches!
7:16pmKari Quaas We've been sledding on the streets!
7:16pmKateand you are where? :)
7:16pmKari Quaas Seattle
7:16pmKatelol, sledding in streets
7:16pmKateah yeah
7:16pmKari Quaas All the neighbor kids were out yesterday.
7:16pmKari Quaas Today they were building igloos on our street.
7:16pmKateI used to have family in Seattle area and we visited em a number of times, so yeah 10 inches is a lot
7:16pmKari Quaas;)
7:16pmKatelol Kari
7:17pmKari Quaas It's crazy.
7:17pmKari Quaas I'm very happy I don't have to drive downtown anymore.
7:17pmKatedo they even have snowplows there? ;)
7:17pmKari Quaas We do, but they are used so infrequently, they don't have a ton of them.
7:17pmKari Quaas1 for every 55 miles.
7:17pmKari Quaas Yikes.
7:17pmKateI'd imagine not. wow that is only a few!
7:18pmKari Quaas You have to be patient.
7:18pmakscootrWell, gotta go. Take care all... @ Kate.. come on up; everything ends up taking care of itself. @ Kari.. Enjoy Hawaii.. Kauai I presume? Cheers Coly...
:18pmKateThanks, akscootr :)
7:18pmKateyou're going to Hawaii, Kari?
7:18pmColy Hope Bye akscootrColy HopeBye akscootr
7:19pmKateMerry Christmas/Happy Holidays, akscootr
7:19pmKateI probably ought to go, too ;)
7:19pmKatebye coly, bye Kari
7:19pmKari Quaas Love Hawaii. Not going soon enough.
7:20pmKari Quaas Have a good one Coly!
7:20pmColy Hope See you Kari and Kate