alaska info

i've got a couple questions for residents or former residents. my wife daughter and i are looking to move to alaska in the spring of 2012 and wed like to get the ball rolling and set some plans and a budget up. we are a young family looking for a new start and adventure. we are looking in the wide range of big lake down to the entire Kenai peninsula. i will more than likely be getting transferred to Kenai or anchorage if we go that route and have the option. we are looking for firsthand advice on good family areas that are affordable. also there needs to be a veterinary clinic nearby where my wife could potentially work. do any of you have opinions on general areas? is the cost of living really that much higher? i've cross referenced info from cost of living charts and with the exception of anchorage it doesn't seem much different from where we live now. i've also been watching craigslist and others and there's been some big great looking houses going for cheap rent wise, is it a matter of just finding a good

...continued... deal or is there alot of renter competition? is the any good hunting with easy access around the areas we are looking into? how is the drive from washington to alaska wed probably go that route? thanks for any and all info!!!

Alaska can be more or less expensive than other places but it does cost more for travel to see family in the lower 48. We don't take the entire family outside very often due to the cost of plane tickets for 7.

There are lots of hunting and fishing opportunities from the Kenai, Anchorage, and the Matsu valley. Anchorage is the population center with approximately 270K people. Lots and lots of folks live in the Matsu and commute (40-50 miles one way) to Anchorage every day.

Access can take more planning than just jumping in your pickup and flyout trips can cost thousands for a short flight.

If you are willing to backpack there are still lots of places you can hunt on the cheap. I have done both ways.

After becoming a resident you can hunt Dall sheep, mountain goats, and brown bears w/o paying a guide. This will make all your current hunting buddies extremely jealous.

The drive from Washington can be beautiful in the summer or a white knuckle drive you think will never end in the winter.

thank you for all the info! i've got a couple other questions if you don't mind. how is the job market for truck drivers and veterinarians? is it pretty cutthroat like it is down here in 48? are these areas beautiful? i've seen many pictures but not sure if they were around towns or if they were out in the bush. do you see much wildlife in these towns? also is it legal to hunt from a boat on a lake? are there good hunting lakes for moose or cariBou around there? trying to decide whether or not to take our 17foot fiberglass with 115outboard or sell it to help with expenses. do you see many fiberglass boats with outboards there? thanks!!

LAST EDITED ON Dec-07-10 AT 02:56PM (MST)[p]I don't know how the job market is for truck drivers or vets. I will say that if you have good work experience you should not have a problem finding suitable employment. Maybe you will become the next star on Ice Roads Truckers. You may want to check with Carlile Transportation (#907 276-7797) or Weaver Brothers (#907) 278-4526) to see when they do their hiring.

Alaska is so big that there are lots of beautiful areas and lots of ugly areas. Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula, and the Matsu Valley are beautiful with the wilderness just a short distance away. For perspective the State of Washington is a large state but you could put 8 or 9 Washingtons inside the State of Alaska.

You won't find much moose hunting on Lakes you can take your fiberglass boat to. The bayliner boats I see are either used for recreation (waterskiing) on lakes or on the ocean. Most river boats and lots of ocean going boats are made of aluminum.

There are very few caribou in southcentral Alaska and most are found in the Kenai mountains.

thanks for all the info and im sure well have lots more questions to the closer it gets. ill probably end up selling the boat then to pay for half the moving trip. any other game that's readily available where a guy could get some meat and maby a blanket once he gets up there? ice road truckers would be pretty cool and make some good money and invite that one gal over for dinner ;-) hehe thanks!