Moving up before Thanksgiving from Alabama

[iammarkjones]

Hi everyone! The wife and I have spent a few years researching and getting ready to make the move to Fairbanks. Now the house has sold and we are in the process of packing and gathering the things we need to safely make the trip. Our current plan is to drive to Bellingham WA and ferry to Whittier. Then make the drive to Fairbanks from there. We are both excited, yet maintaining a healthy respect for the scope of our goal. We plan to camp our way up across the lower 48 not really due to money but to get acclimated before we spend 7 days in a tent duct taped to the deck of a ferry. This should be an epic journey if there ever was one.

[4merguide]

A little something to look forward to......

[akiceman25]

Congrats on the move. Its....different here. You'll love it.

Just a little advice after you get here. Get outside and explore every chance you get. Make the most of the daylight in the winter.

If its still possible for you to get a cabin on the ferry you might consider it. Besides the weather you'll have, those decks are just plain loud with engine noise.

Feel free to pm me if you have any questions(you will lol). I'll do my best to help out.

[AK Ray]

In the fall you may end up spending most your time in the main "lounge" area on the big chairs, than out on the deck in freezing rain.

So whats your plan? Looks like there was not much returned to you back in 2008 on your various posts.

[iammarkjones]

Hey,
In 08 we were just starting to save and plan. I have become much better informed and have a MUCH larger nest egg now than then. We have lived here in what amounts to a dry cabin for a couple of years, let me tell ya nothing like Alabama heat and humidity with no power. We are currently packing the car and trailer and finishing the last little details before we head out. Both of us are prepared for 7+ days of misery on the ferry deck so if it's anything less than terrible hey pleasant surprise! Honestly the only thing I am really worried about are the Mat-Su's land tax rates. They seem to want about 4 quarts of blood a year. We may alter our plans about living there and buy a more northern piece of land. Our intent is to be out of town but not so remote that its air only. Something on a river would be great, but there are other issues with that. I have no desire to get out by a village unless they are willing to accept us being there. I understand how important neighbors can be there. However since there is no real rush when we get there I know we will find what were looking for.

[ADUKHNT]

Are you moving to Fairbanks or Mat-Su? You may want to double check the ferry sched, I don't think you can get to Whittier this time of year. Haines may be your only option.

[kingfisherktn]

Hi everyone! The wife and I have spent a few years researching and getting ready to make the move to Fairbanks. Now the house has sold and we are in the process of packing and gathering the things we need to safely make the trip. Our current plan is to drive to Bellingham WA and ferry to Whittier. Then make the drive to Fairbanks from there. We are both excited, yet maintaining a healthy respect for the scope of our goal. We plan to camp our way up across the lower 48 not really due to money but to get acclimated before we spend 7 days in a tent duct taped to the deck of a ferry. This should be an epic journey if there ever was one.

I'm not sure the ferry is crossing the gulf to Whittier this time of year, have you checked with the ferry system yet?

[AlaskaHippie]

Kennicott does Cross Gulf year 'round.

[Yukon Cornelius]

Hey,
In 08 we were just starting to save and plan. I have become much better informed and have a MUCH larger nest egg now than then. We have lived here in what amounts to a dry cabin for a couple of years, let me tell ya nothing like Alabama heat and humidity with no power. We are currently packing the car and trailer and finishing the last little details before we head out. Both of us are prepared for 7+ days of misery on the ferry deck so if it's anything less than terrible hey pleasant surprise! Honestly the only thing I am really worried about are the Mat-Su's land tax rates. They seem to want about 4 quarts of blood a year. We may alter our plans about living there and buy a more northern piece of land. Our intent is to be out of town but not so remote that its air only. Something on a river would be great, but there are other issues with that. I have no desire to get out by a village unless they are willing to accept us being there. I understand how important neighbors can be there. However since there is no real rush when we get there I know we will find what were looking for.

Do you already have a place to stay?
I'm not sure that winter is the best time to look for land to buy...then again, is there any snow on the ground on the road?

From a GA boy that grew up on the GA/Bama line (Roll Tide Roll) AK can be a shock. I've always loved winter months in the south. I hate the summers. But be prepared to be shocked. We were able to spend Aug, Sep, and Oct to prepare our first year up here. It's been a strange winter so far (more like fall and spring than winter) but temps are quickly dropping. Layer. Layer. Layer.

Good Luck though with your move. Make it through winter before you buy too.

[anchskier]

You may already fully understand this, but figured it doesn't hurt to mention it. If you are looking for land to buy in the winter, be VERY careful. It can be very deceiving. It may look nice and flat and/or solid. Remember that everything is solid this time of year because it is frozen, but it could very easily be a bog or marsh come spring/summer. If possible, talk to any nearby "neighbors" to get their opinions of the plot of land.

EDIT: Another thing to take into consideration is access. If you are off the road system, realize that access methods will likely change depending on the time of year and depending on where you are at, there are likely times when access is not possible by anything short of a helicopter. Lakes and rivers are good for summer and winter, but sketchy in spring and fall due to mixes of open water and ice. ATV trails go from good for 4-wheeler or snowmachine to mud holes you can't find the bottom of in the shoulder seasons.

[mike h]

Everything looks nice when covered with snow. You may find of mess of stuff when it melts. Old building materials, junkers, hard to say. Found some stuff around my home that I bought in snowy April.

[stid2677]

I would reconsider that tent on the back deck thing this time of year,, there was no room left when we started our trip with clear skies, but after the first major blow all but one or two tents were gone. I would get there early and try to get under the weather cover "has heat" worst case they allow sleeping in the theater between movies.

Weather deck..





Stateroom



Tent on deck,, tape came loose once wet.





Theater



Not sure why they call it "the party deck"





Long drive up icy roads to Squarbanks, winter tires recommended.

All these were from one trip, from Anchorage to Fairbanks.














Pack some survival supplies, just in case.

Have a fun and safe trip.

Steve

[kingfisherktn]

Kennicott does Cross Gulf year 'round.

Good info, thanks.

[Yukon Cornelius]

I would reconsider that tent on the back deck thing this time of year,, there was no room left when we started our trip with clear skies, but after the first major blow all but one or two tents were gone. I would get there early and try to get under the weather cover "has heat" worst case they allow sleeping in the theater between movies.

Weather deck..

How does one tie these tents down? Are they inside a wind protected area?


To OP:
I do not recommend doing the drive up, unless you have extensive snow driving experience.
Think about that winter storm that came through your area and the ATL area last year...I once lived down south and this is only my third winter. I still am not comfortable driving on the roads yet.

[mike h]

FYI: Some ferries don't allow tents. My experience while on ferry from Juneau to Haines.