Alaska/Yukon Withdrawal

First off...go see the east coast of Canada at least once, at least. If nothing else, you will then be able to say...'did it, now lets go to Alaska again.'

And just for kicks...how about flying up to Anchorage for a week or 10 days during winter. Rent a whatever and go hang-out. Down to Homer, even. Go, play Alaskan.


Gary Haupt

And just for kicks...how about flying up to Anchorage for a week or 10 days during winter. Rent a whatever and go hang-out. Down to Homer, even. Go, play Alaskan.

What Gary said above......Lots of folks miss a real neat time in Alaska by assuming that the summer season is the only season. Fly up in the spring; rent an RV or just do the motel / B&B thing, take a sno-go trip, go winter fishing if so inclined (and somewhat tough); although not a favorite of mine, flyout somewhere (Willow, Skwentna, etc) and watch the Idio/Iditarod.

If you want a regular Alaska fix (can't speak for the Yukon), send an inquiry to the Alaska Convention and Visitors Bureau or the State Div of Tourism. You'll get all you could want...and more.

Please, please, please DO NOT assume that the "Alaska" TV shows represent Alaska. There's one that is about folks on the far end of the KP that is at least transparent (although some of the participants still can't believe that they get paid for what they do); there's another that isn't about Alaska per se but is instead about mountains and has a featured Alaskan...relatively accurate. The law enforcement shows are real enough, but not always real time and not un-edited.

The shows about "....people" or ".....monsters", IMNSHO, compete with each other for being the absolutely stupidest shows on television.

Yukon imagery from throughout the year here
http://yukonsights.ca/2014Main.html

In March 2014 I drove from Whitehorse to Anchorage, those images here
http://yukonsights.ca/20140322_Anchorage.html

Here near Eureka Summit on the Glenn Hwy in Alaska

hr0082 wrote:
What I would like to get from this group are suggestions for forums, discussion groups, videos, etc. Where do you go for your information and your fix?

Two of the most frequently updated web sites about Yukon/Alaska travel (and 2 of the very few that do it year-round) are the ones that Sue and I run:

http://yukonsights.ca/

and http://explorenorthblog.com/ (although the last 3 weeks are about Hawaii, I'm back in the snow now).

Murray

We have been to parts of Eastern Canada, just not to Nova Scotia and PEI. I imagine we will make that trip this year and if we continue with relatively good health, we will return to Yukon and Alaska again. BTW, I am well aware that those TV shows are not very accurate, but I really do like the scenery.

We went up for the "Trip of a Lifetime" in 2006. Spent the whole summer and just loved it. Then went back in 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2013. We'll be back in 2015. Oh yeah, we flew up in 2011 to see the Iditerod and all the places we love in the summer. Two weeks were just super. Of course we had a bit of a problem explaining to family and friends why we left Delaware for the southwest (snowbird) and then flew to Alaska in the winter. LOL.

We fish and bring it down (17 cu ft chest freezer and 3 1/2 cu ft basement freezer) each year so it takes us 2 years to eat it. Each year we try and do at least one new thing or see one new place. We won't run out of things to do for quite some time. Last was Prudhoe Bay.

We did take a bus tour with Tauck Tours of Nova Scotia and have RV'd New England, but Alaska has it beat hands down. The Tauck tour was great, but the location and things to do just don't compare with Alaska.

Some people never do get over their withdrawal. After my first trip to the Yukon, NWT and Alaska in 1985 (by small plane), I was hooked. I moved to Whitehorse 5 years later, and may never leave again except for some winter vacations.

In a couple of weeks, I will be 70 years old and I think I may be a bit late in thinking about a move. It's like my love for hiking the Grand Canyon, the mind is willing but the body is not so sure. I have done 8 or so rim to rim hikes, the most recent being 3 years ago. Recently, due to a knee issue, I had to pass on a service project. I can run 25 miles a week, but the up and down of the canyon is questionable. I do plan to get back to Alaska/Yukon for another extended visits, but I think I am past the age or ability to make a move. I love it when I hear from people who have made the move and are happy with it.