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RE: Northern Lights
Reality is that both the DW and I have to work in Los Anchorage...me only part of the time and the rest in Los Ewestun.
Outside of that requirement, Palmer would be a great place to live and is high on the list of retirement locations
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PA12DRVR
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03/22/12 03:09pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Northern Lights
This gave me a chuckle ("...would like to move to Palmer"). There are many reasons not to move to Palmer, cold and dark days are far down the list. :)
This is strictly tongue-in-cheek...it's fashionable to bash the Valley sometimes, but Palmer has many sterling attributes.
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PA12DRVR
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03/21/12 07:24am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Denali flightseeing best time of day
For land based viewing, I think the road into Talkeetna provides the best view outside of the park and there's been a couple of times when the view from the Talkeetna spur was better than in the park due to local conditions and the relative perspective.
For aerial viewing, early a.m. is probably best, but it is a bit of a crapshoot and I've made several trips (departing from Los Anchorage) when the mountain was standing out crystal clear as soon as there was light enough to see, but it was obscured by the time I got there....of course the ol -12 is not a speed demon in the air.
FWIW, last week, the mountain was clear every day from about 9:00 a.m. to at least 5:00 p.m. (based strictly on looking out my kitchen window)
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PA12DRVR
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03/20/12 09:27am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Mr. Lemonis, please clarify Affinity's “picture policy”
Not legal advice, but perhaps a somewhat educated view of the rules ("Rules") as posted above and solely as posted above (e.g., I've not read any other part of the Rules)
- The Rules state that the Content may be owned by Affinity or by others
- The Rules state that the Content is copyrighted
- The Rules state that the users of the site, by reason of using/visiting the site, do not gain any copyright or other rights to use of the Content except for the right to download one copy for personal use as long as copyright and "OTHER PROPRIETARY NOTICES" are observed. (CAPs added for emphasis, don't know how to bold)
If posted pictures are: a) owned by the poster; and b) contain a notice that the posted pictures may not be reproduced, then such reproductions would be in violation of the posters rights and would be in violation of the site Rules since such reproduction would be a violation of "OTHER PROPRIETARY NOTICES".
If i) a poster posts pictures in which he has a copyright interest (or other interest) and ii) states that interest in such a way that it is on the pictures; and iii) has not made "other arrangements" with Affinity ("other arrangements" are mentioned in the posted Rules, but not defined), then in my opinion, there is nothing in the posted langauge which operates to nullify the poster's rights in the pictures.
The poster may very well lose control because people don't follow the rules and make copies, but the cited langauge doesn't operate to strip ownership.
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PA12DRVR
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03/15/12 08:04am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: new truck
I had two 2006 F350's with the 6.0 (first one was stolen) and had no problem with either one towing a 15,500# fifth wheel. For something of the size you're looking at, I'd get a dually.
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PA12DRVR
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03/14/12 08:56am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Following Iditarod
So....I'll hop on my soapbox and throw out a few personal pet peeves about the Iditarod.
- When Rick Swenson, then a relative newcomer to the race, stated back in the late '70's that "This will become a national and international event with television coverage and everything!" (or words to that effect), everyone just laughed at him. and while it may have been Susan Butcher, Libby Riddles, and some of the more recent mushers that put the Iditarod on the "map", it was Rick Swenson who correctly predicted it's eventual success
- No less than the late Dorothy Page (former Mayor of Wasilla and a key figure in the early days) stated that the original intent was to model the race after the All Alaska Classic race(s) of the '20's and not after the Serum run...this original intent has, of course, long since been swallowed up by the marketing buzz surrounding the duplication of hte Serum run...not that that is necessarily a bad thing
- .22 short: How is that related to the Iditarod? Not so much an Iditarod thing, but a leftover from the early days of both long distance and sprint racing when there were still working dog teams and there weren't enough wannabe or new racers to absorb the extra dogs from breeding operations (i.e. dogs that weren't good enough to either work or run races). .22 short was used to solve that problem. Can't say for certain if any of that still goes on, but (based on knowing how widespread it still was in the late '80's/early '90's) I suspect there's still some culling being done on the QT
- The racers and the teams are both athletes and are tougher than I'll ever be, but I kind of miss the old days where there was some real risk in the race and there was not the support infrastructure (and accompanying hoopla) along the trail.
The Iditarod is still a great race and great sporting event, but it has changed over the past 40 years.
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PA12DRVR
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03/09/12 11:57am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Daylight Saving Time begins March 11, why
I grew up in AK and am glad I don't live in Barrow for a variety of reasons...daylight or lack thereof being pretty far down the list.
My 3 weeks working stint in Barrow was enough to convince me that some of the city trappings of Anchorage weren't that bad after all.
That being said, if Los Anchorage could somehow enjoy the 24/7 sunlight without the corresponding weeks of darkness, that would be great as far as I'm concerned. When I was young enough to enjoy it, I really enjoyed the June/early July days in Los Anchorage when there were only a couple hours of murky twilight before it started getting light again.
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PA12DRVR
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03/09/12 11:41am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Daylight Saving Time begins March 11, why
I enjoy daylight savings time for the extra hour of light it brings in the (relatively) early spring up here.
Don't particularly care about energy savings or not nor do I find it terribly burdensome to change the clocks twice a year.
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PA12DRVR
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03/08/12 02:46pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: traveling from haines to anchorage in march
Just a quick note FWIW...not yet mid-March, but it can still get a bit cold around Los Anchorage....when I went for my afternoon walk, it was 15f near Ted Stevens. When my son went for his morning run near Palmer, it was 2f (circa 0800).
Severe cold is behind us but in relative terms, it is still getting a bit chilly.
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PA12DRVR
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03/06/12 07:07am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: an really dumb question about horse and moose
Someone is pulling her leg.
Assuming she is in an area remote enough where a moose would be present, what she will need to worry about is:
- as previously mentioned, wolves and cougars, but it would be a very rare situation for wolves or even cougar to attack a human on a horse
- Bull moose in rut (not because of an interest in breeding the horse) or cow moose with calves: both of these situations stress the moose out and they are angry and short-tempered.
- Grizzly bears if present in Wyoming: Bears are attracted by smell and a mare/moose cow/elk cow will be more attractive than not.
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PA12DRVR
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02/28/12 12:55pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Alaskan Mosquitos
As others have stated, it really, really depends on where you are.
If one gets off the road system in Alaska and/or into an area without breeze, they can be pretty bad.....and while "mosquitoes" is the common designation, it's really "bugs" that can be bad; mosquitoes, gnats, black sox, etc.
I thought I had a picture, but can't find it, of the ole PA-12 from last summer after taking off from a strip alongside a swamp near Talkeetna. My beloved blue leading edges were substantially gunked up with dead, black bugs and the prop had nasty yellow and green streaks.
Bugs do seem to vary from year-to-year, but (based on a few decades of living in AK), I'd be prepared for bugs if you plan on going outside of the developed areas.
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PA12DRVR
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02/22/12 09:59am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: fishing charter AK
I've done both (as well as been out in private vessels from both).....and can't really recommend/differentiate between the two. That being said, one might go to Homer just for a fishing charter, but IMNSHO, there's lots of reasons to go to Valdez.
I guess I'd say it's a push, but I'd lean towards making the halibut trip the highlight of your Homer leg and enjoying the scenery (either road or on a sightseeing vessel) in Valdez.
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PA12DRVR
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02/18/12 01:22pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Trip to Alaska
Can't speak to the Taylor, but I wouldn't take a big MH on either of the other two roads. Just wouldn't be any fun at all and (as mentioned above) size/weight/practicality limits will keep the MH off the Edgerton.
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PA12DRVR
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02/03/12 07:26am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: to Alaska, to carry or not to carry
Are you going to need your TV? Your microwave? Some other high draw appliance? If not, you shouldn't need a generator.....but there's no reason not to take one if you have room for it.
Those of us who live up here don't get out as often as we should and I will readily admit that I've only "camped" in an RV for about 20 days in Alaska, but the lack of a generator has never been a reason not to enjoy the multitude of 5-20 day camping trips that I've taken over much of the state in the 40+ years I've lived here...camping out of a pickup, the PA-12, or a backpack.
A power connection or a generator was an absolute necessity for camping during my late, unlamented sojourn through Texas.
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PA12DRVR
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02/03/12 07:16am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: States names
When I was living in Texas, I eventually came to have some sense of how town names were pronounced (see Mexia above) and it did make some sense.....
...but I could never get my head around how Anahuac (sp? can't recall exactly) was pronounced Anwac instead of An-a-who-ack
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PA12DRVR
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01/30/12 01:28pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Dangers in the Alaska Waters
I'd second everything that Joe b. said. Key points are;
- Hypothermia will get you quicker and more likely than anything else. One cannot, IMNSHO, be prepared for the cold temps of Alaska freshwater in the summer, much less saltwater; stay dry, stay near shore, stay safe
- The wind (particularly if one is wet, see above) can cause safety issues. More frequently, it can cause difficulty in going to where you want to be in the water, particularly on lakes. As Joe said, stay off Skilak, or at least stay near shore.
- WRT to bears, I've lived up here most of my life (other than that unfortunate stint in Texas) and have never seen a bear that I didn't want to see; of course, there's probably a 12' brownie with a sore tooth just waiting to see me next spring. :) Keep a clean camp and use common sense and bears won't be a problem.
- There are multiple lakes all along the road system where one can paddle for a few hours for enjoyment and if you want to cover some distance, there are canoe/kayak trails scattered throughout southcentral (probably elsewhere too, I just haven't paddled much elsewhere)
- I agree that one should watch out for tides and for sealife, but that can be handled; if you want to go in the saltwater, I'd stick to sheltered waters and would not take a trip "overwater" without getting some local input first. I was in my buddy's boat one time and we had to pick up some kayakers who got worn out paddling from Homer to Seldovia. They were so tired that we literally had to lift them into the boat. They hadn't planned properly.
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PA12DRVR
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01/26/12 01:32pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Choices
Have to admit a lot of it "depends": was he flying 1st/business class...and therefore could he sleep on the plane?
Everything else being equal and truly equal, I'd rather spend the 19 hours in Tokyo...if I could sleep on the plane, which ain't happening unless it was business or better class.
If one has only 19 hours, one won't have time to get a good nights sleep and explore anything unique about Houston anyway.....and last, and least, strictly in my opinion, one has to go to the Hill country to get good Texas BBQ.
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PA12DRVR
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01/16/12 10:12am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: The Alcan hwy bumps, bears etc
I haven't driven the southern portion of the Alcan since '98. Given the improvements in the road between '76 and '98, I can only imagine how nice it would seem now compared to nearly 40 years ago.
That being said, I suspect that your statement regarding "nothing worse than the back roads..." is spot on. Just maintain some level of awareness for the road conditions (both Alcan and within Alaska) and you'll be OK.
FWIW, a month (or so) ago I made the trip Los Anchorage -Squarebanks-Glenallen-Anchorage with a pickup hauling a 20' trailer..admittedly not a camper, but I was able to go well over 50 mph for the better part of that entire trip, with a few slower spots where appropriate. Same story on my trip to Valdez in May of this year. Again, be aware of the road conditions and drive accordingly. It is a matter of what one is used to.
Nothing to do with the road conditions, but the leg Glenallen - Copper Center is spectacular when it is -35. Don't want a breakdown though. :)
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PA12DRVR
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01/03/12 07:11am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: weather in summer
Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth...in other words, when I was a kid growing up in Los Anchorage/Alaska, one could always tell when summer rolled around: it started raining.
In the past 20 years, at least in Southcentral, there's been a change where the weather is probably just as likely to be nice as it is to be rainy. As others have mentioned, it's a bit of a crapshoot, but in the July/August timeframe, in my view, if you're around Anchorage/Fairbanks or the railbelt (and not on the mountains), it may rain, but it won't be "cold". I prefer a cool/wet summer to a dry and smoky one; my son (who makes his living fighting forest fires) has a strange preference for dry and hot summers.
Cold of course is relative: several days ago it was "almost hot" for December in Anchorage when it was in the upper 30's: My Houston colleagues think that is terribly cold.
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PA12DRVR
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12/24/11 01:10pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Strange RV weather in Anchorage
It was pretty ugly windwise the last couple of nights (not so bad Sunday night). Will wander outside later (circa 10 a.m. ) when it gets light and see what damage the wind has wrought.
Fortunately, we have no big trees in the yard...several folks nearby lost fences and greenhouses (no house damage in our area yet) to blown-over trees.
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PA12DRVR
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12/19/11 07:50am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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