Moving to Alaska

[ARK560]

Alaska is a modern state. You are moving to one of the more populated areas.

 

[Chumsnagger]

That's not true. First it's by province, much like it's by state in the US, and second every province he'd be in this time of year, they're legal.

My bad, I researched this during the last millennium when I drove up in February and I remember I could not have studded tires somewhere along the way.

 

[CHIEF CRNA]

We’re both medical. Loooots of jobs in Alaska if you’re a nurse/respiratory therapist/doctor etc

Moving from Colorado. Although I’ve lived just about everywhere since graduating as I’ve been a medical traveler the last 4 years.

My wife was pretty on board after watching a bunch of hunting and fishing videos lol. But we’ve also lived in the dakotas during winter time so that’s a pretty good comparison to winters in KP from my research and talking with the director that hired us.

I get a ton of advertising for Locum jobs up there as a CRNA. I am from Colorado and ready to move back there. Navy has had me for the last 35 years lol. Can't wait to be back in Colorado, but have considered taking a few week locum gigs up that way. Let me know how it goes! What field of Medical are you in. Anesthesia rocks for those kind of assignments.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Listen to people who ACTUALLY drove the Alcan during the winter months. It really isn't that big of a deal other than putting up with snow and potentially icy roads. You could see some cold so dress for it and carry sleeping bags just in case. Block heaters would be a + so install them if you have the chance.
I have about 4 winter drives under my belt. My most recent drive was June 24.

My advice is free to accept or ignore but here it is:
Have studded winter tires on each vehicle. NOT all season tires. STUDDED. There is a reason why most Alaskans with half a brain change over to studded tires come winter.
Fill up when you reach 1/2 tank.
Carry a bunch of snacks.
Do not pass up stopping at Tim Hortons
Carry a few cans of red HEET.
Don't push yourself. If you can drive 450 miles a day on the Alcan you are in great shape. There is to much darkness and big animals on the road to make this drive when you aren't in the best mental state.
If you want to discuss this more I'll be glad to discuss it on the phone.

No guns at the border makes life a lot easier. Do not voluntarily declare anything in your vehicles. Just answer the questions the guards ask you. The busier the border crossing is the less time you will be there. Don't cross when it is late or slow. Bored people can really take an interest to making you unpack.

If you and the wife are each driving a vehicle then invest in a inexpensive pair of walkie talkies. Plenty of areas do not have cell coverage and they proved to be extremely valuable on our journey.

 

[FAAFO]

Disagree about everything costing less in the lower 48. Some things yes, trailers and boats for certain.
Don't forget Alaska has no state sales tax. When I lived in TN I would of been required to pay 9.5% on a ATV.
As I mentioned before, Lowes pricing is the same for Alaska (not sure about lumber) as it is for the lower 48. And Costco has mostly similar pricing. When you factor in no sales tax the items actually cost less up here.
We paid an extra $100 shipping for a Costco 4 piece living room set ($4,500) to be delivered to Anchorage. If we still lived in the lower 48 sales tax would of been much higher than $100. That is just one example.
As far as Lowes go when we moved here I purchased 2 new tool chests, miter saw, compressor, etc. All cost me less in Alaska due to no sales tax.
Just do a little homework and decide for yourself and buy accordingly.
MSRP for new vehicles is the same in Alaska as it is in the lower 48, including the shipping charges.

ummm MSRP is always the same everywhere. They can’t change it due to region. . Don’t forget the shipping charges they have on the next line when you buy a new vehicle in AK.

 

[Snowwolfe]

ummm MSRP is always the same everywhere. They can’t change it due to region. . Don’t forget the shipping charges they have on the next line when you buy a new vehicle in AK.

Ford charges $1995 to ship a Super Duty from the plant in Kentucky to a dealer 50 miles away. They charge the same to ship a Super Duty to Alaska.
I am fairly certain most of the larger vehicle manufactures also use one price for all the states. Tesla might be an exception to this policy.
Add in no Alaska state sales tax for an additional benefit.

 

[Beef]

I get a ton of advertising for Locum jobs up there as a CRNA. I am from Colorado and ready to move back there. Navy has had me for the last 35 years lol. Can't wait to be back in Colorado, but have considered taking a few week locum gigs up that way. Let me know how it goes! What field of Medical are you in. Anesthesia rocks for those kind of assignments.

Feel free to pm me. We decided to push our start date sooner and will be going first of December.

I can’t stand Colorado, I met my wife while on contract here and that’s the only reason I moved here I swore I’d never move to this state. it’s turning into California (I grew up in Bakersfield). Cost of living is also astronomical. I’ll be making 25% more in Alaska with a lower cost of living and no state income tax.

 

[Beef]

Listen to people who ACTUALLY drove the Alcan during the winter months. It really isn't that big of a deal other than putting up with snow and potentially icy roads. You could see some cold so dress for it and carry sleeping bags just in case. Block heaters would be a + so install them if you have the chance.
I have about 4 winter drives under my belt. My most recent drive was June 24.

My advice is free to accept or ignore but here it is:
Have studded winter tires on each vehicle. NOT all season tires. STUDDED. There is a reason why most Alaskans with half a brain change over to studded tires come winter.
Fill up when you reach 1/2 tank.
Carry a bunch of snacks.
Do not pass up stopping at Tim Hortons
Carry a few cans of red HEET.
Don't push yourself. If you can drive 450 miles a day on the Alcan you are in great shape. There is to much darkness and big animals on the road to make this drive when you aren't in the best mental state.
If you want to discuss this more I'll be glad to discuss it on the phone.

No guns at the border makes life a lot easier. Do not voluntarily declare anything in your vehicles. Just answer the questions the guards ask you. The busier the border crossing is the less time you will be there. Don't cross when it is late or slow. Bored people can really take an interest to making you unpack.

If you and the wife are each driving a vehicle then invest in an inexpensive pair of walkie talkies. Plenty of areas do not have cell coverage and they proved to be extremely valuable on our journey.

What’s your opinion on Blizzaks? I’ve read mixed reviews on studded tires. I planned on getting the blizzaks for the drive up.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Some like them. They seem to be pretty good for traction in snow. They are known to wear down pretty fast, especially if you leave them on all summer. Any good brand name studded tire would be a better choice IMO. If you decide to go with the Blizzaks you should still remove them when summer comes,
The advantage of studs is on ice and packed snow. Not only is the traction much better but so is the stopping. And the heavier your vehicle it the harder it is to stop on ice due to the momentum. The disadvantage is studs are not as good on dry or wet roads.
No one really wants to spend the money or time for studded tires but in the end they are well worth it. The two brands I am personally familiar with are Hankooks and Nokians. Nokians cost more but they also have more studs.

I bit the bullet last month and installed 4 Nokians on both our Camry and the wife's Expedition. Buy once cry once. Opinions vary but I never met a driver who installed studs that regretted it up here.

 

[Beef]

Some like them. They seem to be pretty good for traction in snow. They are known to wear down pretty fast, especially if you leave them on all summer. Any good brand name studded tire would be a better choice IMO. If you decide to go with the Blizzaks you should still remove them when summer comes,
The advantage of studs is on ice and packed snow. Not only is the traction much better but so is the stopping. And the heavier your vehicle it the harder it is to stop on ice due to the momentum. The disadvantage is studs are not as good on dry or wet roads.
No one really wants to spend the money or time for studded tires but in the end they are well worth it. The two brands I am personally familiar with are Hankooks and Nokians. Nokians cost more but they also have more studs.

I bit the bullet last month and installed 4 Nokians on both our Camry and the wife's Expedition. Buy once cry once. Opinions vary but I never met a driver who installed studs that regretted it up here.

the only thing I’m trying to figure out is we may be leaving from my parents in California (visiting for thanksgiving, my dad is wanting to drive with me and my wife will be flying out several days later). Not sure if I can use studded tires there and if they’d wear too fast before hitting snow on the drive north.

 

[Dexter Grayson]

the only thing I’m trying to figure out is we may be leaving from my parents in California (visiting for thanksgiving, my dad is wanting to drive with me and my wife will be flying out several days later). Not sure if I can use studded tires there and if they’d wear too fast before hitting snow on the drive north.

Throw the studs in the trailer and swap them in Canada.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Throw the studs in the trailer and swap them in Canada.

Excellent suggestion.
Dawson Creek is a really big town so it would be easy to find a tire shop. Maybe do some research and call Canadian Tire and price tires and buy them there if it makes good financial sense.
Couple other suggestions. Call your credit card company to find out if they tack on a foreign exchange fee. Make sure you pick up some Canadian money for your short stops for food, snacks, etc.
If you can, carry plenty of USA cash just in case you either lose a credit card or if yours gets hacked and it is canceled.
You and your dad will have a blast. The scenery around Muncho Lake and Kluane Lake is spectacular.
You will see caribou, moose, buffalo, stone sheep, and dall sheep. If you’re lucky a lynx or wolf as well. I envy you. The first time you drive the Alcan is simply wonderful. I am still impressed every time I drive it and I have about 20-25 trips on that road.

 

[450Dakota]

I have driven it 3 times but never in winter. Would have a block heater installed and an extension cord, jump box for battery and a 1-2 5 gallon gas cans. Last trip we were getting low on gas and had a place in mind. When we got there they were bulldozing it over for a remodel. Luckily we had a gas can and got us to the next pumps.