Possible to move to Alaska? What's going on?

[iHunt20]

Been wanting to move up there for some time. Got a job offer. Looked into moving options (I have minimal possessions and a vehicle.)

The ferry from Bellingham doesn't go anywhere in March? Is it shut down?

Seems the only option is to sell my vehicle, have my firearms and ammo shipped to an FFL, and fly in? Is that right?

What's going on up there right now?

 

[Marbles]

The ferry is unreliable due to the current governor.

You can ship your vehicle and firearms via barge (Alaska Marine Lines or Lynden Transport) and pick them up at the dock (no need for an FFL to be involved). Then fly up.

You can also ship your firearms via barge and drive through Canada (if you are vaccinated for COVID).

The drive through Canada is nice, I made it heading south a few weeks ago. You will have to have snow rated tires (3 Peak Mountain Snowflake). Personally, I recommend a dedicated winter tire as 3PMS AT tires are not even close to as good.

There are plenty of places to get gas along the way (I carried 10 ga extra, but never needed it).

You could do the drive in a front wheel drive with good tires. Personally, an AWD or 4x4 would be better. I would not attempt it in a rear wheel drive. The roads are plowed, but not salted, so there is always a thin layer of snow/ice on them.

Be aware that you can see temps ranging from above freezing to -60 on that drive. Bring clothes accordingly and know the temps for your vehicle fluids.

Edit: Alaska is a sickness that gets in your blood. Nothing in the lower 48 can compare.

 

[iHunt20]

The ferry is unreliable due to the current governor.

You can ship your vehicle and firearms via barge (Alaska Marine Lines or Lynden Transport) and pick them up at the dock (no need for an FFL to be involved). Then fly up.

You can also ship your firearms via barge and drive through Canada (if you are vaccinated for COVID).

The drive through Canada is nice, I made it heading south a few weeks ago. You will have to have snow rated tires (3 Peak Mountain Snowflake). Personally, I recommend a dedicated winter tire as 3PMS AT tires are not even close to as good.

There are plenty of places to get gas along the way (I carried 10 ga extra, but never needed it).

You could do the drive in a front wheel drive with good tires. Personally, an AWD or 4x4 would be better. I would not attempt it in a rear wheel drive. The roads are plowed, but not salted, so there is always a thin layer of snow/ice on them.

Be aware that you can see temps ranging from above freezing to -60 on that drive. Bring clothes accordingly and know the temps for your vehicle fluids.

Edit: Alaska is a sickness that gets in your blood. Nothing in the lower 48 can compare.

I'm not vaccinated for covid and won't be. The lack of mandates up there is what made me finally take the leap and apply for open positions. So while I wish I could just drive, it looks like I'm not allowed in Canada.

I guess I could sell my vehicle and rent one (probably $$$) when I'm getting settled with work and housing, after flying in. Seems like that's my only option now. Good to know about the barge, but I had planned on a newer vehicle so maybe it would be easier to just fly.. Just kinda shocked that the ferries aren't running up there. I had been comparing prices for a while. What does that mean for shipping prices of foods and commodities?

It is kind of concerning if the state is having money problems, as the state would be my employer.

 

[handwerk]

If your focused on getting up there why not get the shot(s) so you and your goods can drive up and settle in.
It really is a wonderful drive up.

 

[iHunt20]

If your focused on getting up there why not get the shot(s) so you and your goods can drive up and settle in.
It really is a wonderful drive up.

Because I don't want to have blood clots, strokes, or heart attacks. The anti-mandate pushback by the state was one of the bigger deciding factors of going up there to begin with. I can be a subject in any state. I want to go to the most free place I can.

I bet the drive is beautiful, but it's not an option until the truckers up there get things changed.

 

[TreeWalking]

I'm not vaccinated for covid and won't be. The lack of mandates up there is what made me finally take the leap and apply for open positions. So while I wish I could just drive, it looks like I'm not allowed in Canada.

I guess I could sell my vehicle and rent one (probably $$$) when I'm getting settled with work and housing, after flying in. Seems like that's my only option now. Good to know about the barge, but I had planned on a newer vehicle so maybe it would be easier to just fly.. Just kinda shocked that the ferries aren't running up there. I had been comparing prices for a while. What does that mean for shipping prices of foods and commodities?

It is kind of concerning if the state is having money problems, as the state would be my employer.

Seems you have a smaller set of choices as a consequence of another choice and are fine with that. Good luck with the move and your health. Think of Alaska as an island in your case and can go by boat or plane.

 

[iHunt20]

Seems you have a smaller set of choices as a consequence of another choice and are fine with that. Good luck with the move and your health. Think of Alaska as an island in your case and can go by boat or plane.

Since the ferry won't be running, is there a way to hitch a ride on a barge with my vehicle? Never been at sea before so I don't know how that all works.

 

[Kronos]

I'm not vaccinated for covid and won't be. The lack of mandates up there is what made me finally take the leap and apply for open positions. So while I wish I could just drive, it looks like I'm not allowed in Canada.

I guess I could sell my vehicle and rent one (probably $$$) when I'm getting settled with work and housing, after flying in. Seems like that's my only option now. Good to know about the barge, but I had planned on a newer vehicle so maybe it would be easier to just fly.. Just kinda shocked that the ferries aren't running up there. I had been comparing prices for a while. What does that mean for shipping prices of foods and commodities?

It is kind of concerning if the state is having money problems, as the state would be my employer.

You can get through Canada without a vaccine. Get a letter from your employer stating you need to travel to AK for work. You’ll need a negative covid test before crossing the border.

Just follow their rules and don’t screw around doing any sight seeing. You’ll get a nice $100,000 fine if they catch you doing that.

 

[kwackkillncrew]

i dont think you can hitch a ride on a shipping barge. i moved up 11 years ago on the ferry in may. My buddy who just moved up drove to seattle threw their truck on a barge and it arrived 5 days or so after they flew up. they packed all their crap in one of them pods and shipped it to where they were going to live.

 

[iHunt20]

You can get through Canada without a vaccine. Get a letter from your employer stating you need to travel to AK for work. You’ll need a negative covid test before crossing the border.

Just follow their rules and don’t screw around doing any sight seeing. You’ll get a nice $100,000 fine if they catch you doing that.

I appreciate the advice but that country seems like very hostile territory. And at 15mpg with any hotel stays, expensive fuel etc, I think I'm better off flying. Finding tickets around $200. Then whatever renting a car costs.

Would have been nice to keep this vehicle for a little longer while getting situated but looks like options are very limited. If anybody knows more about the ferry situation, please let me know.

 

[kwackkillncrew]

i am sure you know but if your thinking of a new vehicle up here your going to pay out the @ss for it if you can even find what you want. Used vehicles are just as bad. mark up is quite a bit higher up here on that stuff compared to America

 

[iHunt20]

i am sure you know but if your thinking of a new vehicle up here your going to pay out the @ss for it if you can even find what you want. Used vehicles are just as bad. mark up is quite a bit higher up here on that stuff compared to America

Good to know. It's the same in the lower 48 right now but probably moreso there. Unless I can get a good price shipping mine on a barge, or if the ferries start running again, I may have no choice.

Love how you refer to the 48 as America. Like Alaska is it's own country. Lol love it

 

[Kronos]

I appreciate the advice but that country seems like very hostile territory. And at 15mpg with any hotel stays, expensive fuel etc, I think I'm better off flying. Finding tickets around $200. Then whatever renting a car costs.

Would have been nice to keep this vehicle for a little longer while getting situated but looks like options are very limited. If anybody knows more about the ferry situation, please let me know.

It’s not that bad. I moved to AK during the pandemic. I packed a cooler full of food and beverages and drove the 3000 miles in three days while sleeping in the vehicle.

In a couple weeks I’m flying back to Iowa to pick up a new truck and driving it back to AK. I’m not vaxed.
If all your doing is flying up with a couple suitcases, that might be a better fit as flights are cheap right now. Used vehicles are not cheap tho. My new 2022 F150 Lariat from Iowa is cheaper than a truck a couple years old up here.

 

[Marbles]

I guess I could sell my vehicle and rent one (probably $$$) when I'm getting settled with work and housing, after flying in. Seems like that's my only option now. Good to know about the barge, but I had planned on a newer vehicle so maybe it would be easier to just fly.. Just kinda shocked that the ferries aren't running up there. I had been comparing prices for a while. What does that mean for shipping prices of foods and commodities?

Over the Summer rentals were several hundred per day, and impossible to find. I would not put yourself in that situation. Enterprise is $47/day currently in Anchorage. A month and a half of rental costs will easily pay for shipping a vehicle by barge. No extra cost to shep whatever you stuff in the vehicle, which makes the cost effectively less.

The barge is comparable to the ferry for cost.

The ferry not operating has no real effect on goods as those are barged, trained, trucked, and flown in.

Depends on what you want, but the Anchorage Toyota dealership is putting a $7k market adjustment on Tacomas. I flew to Idaho to buy my truck and drove it back.

 

[iHunt20]

Over the Summer rentals were several hundred per day, and impossible to find. I would not put yourself in that situation. Enterprise is $47/day currently in Anchorage. A month and a half of rental costs will easily pay for shipping a vehicle by barge. No extra cost to shep whatever you stuff in the vehicle, which makes the cost effectively less.

The barge is comparable to the ferry for cost.

The ferry not operating has no real effect on goods as those are barged, trained, trucked, and flown in.

Depends on what you want, but the Anchorage Toyota dealership is putting a $7k market adjustment on Tacomas. I flew to Idaho to buy my truck and drove it back.

Right now everything I own fits in my vehicle so that's definitely an option. Ship it out of WA and fly from seattle. Guns and ammo are safe to keep in there too? Assuming I can get through WA with standard capacity semi autos

 

[Marbles]

Right now everything I own fits in my vehicle so that's definitely an option. Ship it out of WA and fly from seattle. Guns and ammo are safe to keep in there too? Assuming I can get through WA with standard capacity semi autos

They ask that guns and ammo be in locked containers, otherwise they are no issue. If you have semiauto rifles or any hand guns you should let them know so they can avoid shipping to Haines, AK, then to Anchorage via train. Barges also to go Whittier, AK, so it is not an issue to keep them from passing through Canada.

Leave your stuff locked and drive directly to the port to drop your truck off. Federal Law protects travel with firearms a state prohibits if you are only passing through the state. I had no issues with an AR and M1A and several 20 and 30 round mags.

Barge Service to Alaska and Hawaii | Alaska Marine Lines

We provide barge service from Seattle to Hawaii, Central and Southeast Alaska, and seasonal service to Western Alaska and Arctic locations.

www.lynden.com

Lynden and AML are sister companies. One of the two ships vehicles (I don't remember which), but if you call the wrong one they can still get you to the correct place.

I was quoted $2300 to ship my new Tacoma from Seattle to Anchorage in September. It should still be close to that now. You will have to call them for a quote.

 

[Marbles]

On a side note, if anyone reads this and wants to do the drive through Canada, if you barge your guns up and have the bill of landing with you, it makes crossing the boarder easier. When Canadian Customs asks if you own any guns (what they ask if you are moving, tend to just ask if you have any with you when not moving), say 'yes and I shipped them all by barge' and hand them the bill of landing. At that point questions like that tend to stop. Though sometimes you get curiosity question about hunting with handguns and such.

 

[SWOHTR]

If you’ve never been to sea don’t try to go on a barge. F that!!! Ship all of your stuff and fly.

 

[Antares]

I'm not vaccinated for covid and won't be. The lack of mandates up there is what made me finally take the leap and apply for open positions. So while I wish I could just drive, it looks like I'm not allowed in Canada.

I guess I could sell my vehicle and rent one (probably $$$) when I'm getting settled with work and housing, after flying in. Seems like that's my only option now. Good to know about the barge, but I had planned on a newer vehicle so maybe it would be easier to just fly.. Just kinda shocked that the ferries aren't running up there. I had been comparing prices for a while. What does that mean for shipping prices of foods and commodities?

It is kind of concerning if the state is having money problems, as the state would be my employer.

I can't believe you're discussing all these details out in the open. What happen to OPSEC?

https://www.rokslide.com/forums/threads/want-to-hunt-and-camp-in-alaska.224208/

 

[iHunt20]

I can't believe you're discussing all these details out in the open. What happen to OPSEC?

https://www.rokslide.com/forums/threads/want-to-hunt-and-camp-in-alaska.224208/

Sarcasm died about a decade after chivalry, though sometimes still wielded as a throwback. Please try to keep up.