Author Topic: Alaska Master Thread  (Read 189372 times)

Offline yehuda S

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #200 on: June 14, 2013, 11:02:48 AM »
Anyone know if there is a close glacier to Anchorage that people go hiking on? I'm going to be in ANC on Monday but don't want to drive 2 1/2 hours to do hike a glacier.
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #201 on: June 14, 2013, 11:07:45 AM »
Anyone know if there is a close glacier to Anchorage that people go hiking on? I'm going to be in ANC on Monday but don't want to drive 2 1/2 hours to do hike a glacier.

Matanuska Glacier is the closest at 2 1/2 hours. Byron Glacier in Portage Valley (on the way to Whittier) is a bit closer, but you can't really hike ON it, only TO it.
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Offline bem684

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #202 on: June 14, 2013, 11:22:52 AM »
+1, mostly.

All correct about driving, is not worth it. However, there are guided tours which will fly you there (from Fairbanks and possibly some points further north) and give you an official tour of the oil fields. You'll also be able to "dip your toes into the Arctic ocean" according to their website.

All in less then a day for quite a reasonable price IIRC.

Yeah I read about the tours.  They sound interesting.  The drive didn't sound too great unless maybe doing it in an RV?  Then you'd be much higher up so less likely to crack a windshield :)  I heard there's a decent amount of wildlife up there to see (moose, grizzlies, etc).  Not worth the time I guess.

I guess if you want to see the North it probably makes more sense to do Barrow.

Offline yehuda S

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #203 on: June 14, 2013, 11:33:41 AM »
(I was hiking in the Gates of the Arctic, that is why I drove it, till  just past coldfoot)

You hiked Gates of the Arctic?  :o Pics or it didn't happen!

(What was that like??)

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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #204 on: June 14, 2013, 11:35:14 AM »
Yeah I read about the tours.  They sound interesting.  The drive didn't sound too great unless maybe doing it in an RV?  Then you'd be much higher up so less likely to crack a windshield :)  I heard there's a decent amount of wildlife up there to see (moose, grizzlies, etc).  Not worth the time I guess.

I guess if you want to see the North it probably makes more sense to do Barrow.

RV companies are even stricter with giving on restricted roads.

And there are plenty of moose and grizzlies further south...
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Offline henche

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #205 on: June 14, 2013, 05:38:48 PM »
Yeah I read about the tours.  They sound interesting.  The drive didn't sound too great unless maybe doing it in an RV?  Then you'd be much higher up so less likely to crack a windshield :)  I heard there's a decent amount of wildlife up there to see (moose, grizzlies, etc).  Not worth the time I guess.

I guess if you want to see the North it probably makes more sense to do Barrow.

Actually, it is good you mention that.

There are no wildlife in the north. Of course, there are tons and tons of them, but you aren't going to see them, because they aren't used to humans. When I was in Gates of the Arctic, we saw fresh track everywhere of grizzly and deer, but not a single animal.

Offline henche

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #206 on: June 14, 2013, 05:39:47 PM »
You hiked Gates of the Arctic?  :o Pics or it didn't happen!

(What was that like??)

Ultimate wilderness experience.

Not nearly as majestic as most places I've hiked, but wild as all get out.

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #207 on: June 16, 2013, 02:57:06 PM »
Ultimate wilderness experience.

Not nearly as majestic as most places I've hiked, but wild as all get out.
Did you make it up to Barrow?

Offline henche

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #208 on: June 16, 2013, 03:03:20 PM »
Did you make it up to Barrow?

lol, not quite. We parked our car somewhere around here, and hiked into the wilderness, yutzed around, camped, etc, and then found our way back with a GPS (we had the GPS, but didn't have the topo maps, like real yeshiva guys).

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #209 on: June 18, 2013, 12:04:17 AM »
Ultimate wilderness experience.

Not nearly as majestic as most places I've hiked, but wild as all get out.

I just found this video - that place is simply amazing. Wish I could go.



(Kol isha warning at 6:30)
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Offline yehuda S

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #210 on: June 18, 2013, 12:51:57 AM »
I just found this video - that place is simply amazing. Wish I could go.

Dansdeals adventure?
Work is what you do between vacations.

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #211 on: June 18, 2013, 12:58:40 AM »
Dansdeals adventure?

LOL. My wife sure isn't coming on this one. ;D
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #212 on: June 18, 2013, 01:02:56 AM »
http://www.groupon.com/deals/alaska-backcountry-adventure-tours-2

Same price as with the Toursaver book, but 3x UR ;).

I would've gone with them if they'd had front-to-back 2 person ATVs. I spoke to them today and they confirmed that the only 2 person ones they have are Rhinos, which are side-by-side.
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Offline yehuda S

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #213 on: June 18, 2013, 01:39:21 AM »
Why did you want front to back?
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Offline yehuda S

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #214 on: June 18, 2013, 08:23:56 AM »
SF, can you share what you are planning to bring along in terms of clothing? I read that you are always supposed to be prepared for rain and cold.

Apparently, lots of mosquito spray and even head bug nets are needed in Denali, I'm not sure what that is like in and near Seward but you might want to look into it.
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #215 on: June 18, 2013, 08:40:29 AM »
Why did you want front to back?

The side by side is like a glorified golf cart. Sure it could go the same places as a regular ATV, but you sit in bucket seats with a seatbelt, you steer with a wheel and drive with regular pedals. It also has a roof and windshield, which is nice in lousy weather, but it doesn't have the whole ATV feeling to it.

It has far les power, since it has the same engine and wheels of an ATV but it's double the weight. It gets you far wetter when crossing rivers, since you can't stand up. Etc., etc...

The front to back is a standard ATV just with another seat in the back instead of a cargo bay.

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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #216 on: June 18, 2013, 08:52:36 AM »
SF, can you share what you are planning to bring along in terms of clothing? I read that you are always supposed to be prepared for rain and cold.

Apparently, lots of mosquito spray and even head bug nets are needed in Denali, I'm not sure what that is like in and near Seward but you might want to look into it.

I'll have specifics at the end of the week iy"h, but for now the plan is quite simple: regular clothing as the first layer (and no special underwear), a warmer layer (wool sweater or jacket (NOT cotton), and an even warmer layer (heavier wool jacket). I'll pick up rain gear in Walmart in ANC (coat, pants, and hat) and always keep those handy.

Also taking warm waterproof boots, gloves, warm hat, sun hat, and sunglass (vital on the water and glaciers).

As far a mosquitoes go, simple repellant should do the job, no need for nets where I'm going AFAIK. (Mind you, according to what I've read, the only place in Denali you might need a net is in the Wonder Lake area. But then again I didn't do too much Denali research.)
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Offline ual902

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #217 on: June 26, 2013, 05:55:06 PM »
Would like to travel NYC - ANC early july, is 25k aa or ual miles to much? Or I got a good deal? I have tons of UR, UA, AA, Amex MR and SW points, what's the best option? I'm planing:

NYC - ANC
ANC-LAX
LAX-NYC

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #218 on: June 28, 2013, 12:21:04 PM »
Would like to travel NYC - ANC early july, is 25k aa or ual miles to much? Or I got a good deal? I have tons of UR, UA, AA, Amex MR and SW points, what's the best option? I'm planing:

NYC - ANC
ANC-LAX
LAX-NYC
yeah sure go for it. Assuming 25k round trip.

Offline ual902

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #219 on: June 28, 2013, 01:09:58 PM »
yeah sure go for it. Assuming 25k round trip.

25K one way NYC-ANC  :-\