Is Alaska more like the Rocky Mountian West or the Pacific Northwest?

[rockydem]

I'm talking from a people and culture standpoint. Or is it so unique that it can't be compared to either?

[idiosyncratic]

1. Read John McPhee's book, "Coming into the Country"

It was written in the 70's, but it was great. After reading it, I wanted to move to Alaska.

Seems like many of the people are true individuals, real characters, and very independent.

If I could take the climate, I would like to live there.

Coming into the Country

[Dear Maggie]

2. Come on up!

Alaska is a nice place

Have lived here since 1985

and then moved from the Pacific Northwest

The weather? Yes, we have a lot of snow, but in Valdez it's not bitter cold as in the Central part of Alaska

Many times in recent years you will note that weather is better in Alaska overall than it is in the lower 48: Summer & winter

But alas, Oct through March is snow weather

But then, we have heli-skiing

Oh, come to Valdez where the eagles do fly!
www.valdezlink.com/vldz_verse_rantroar.htm

www.valdezhousing.com/valdez_photos.htm

www.valdezlink.com/move_to_valdez.htm

[idiosyncratic]

3. But, but, but . . . it is 75 degrees today here

I am a "lizard." I love the sun and the warmth. Those short, often cloudy days would not be good for my psyche.

[Dear Maggie]

5. OK - you win

My husband would agree with you

He's thinking Verde Valley in AZ for at least 7 months a year,
then back to Alaska May through Sept

We call that 'snow birding'

[Blue_In_AK]

9. The climate's not all that bad

if you live near the coast.

[mchill]

4. After working there for a year....

It seemed that a lot of single men who ended up there came from places like the backwoods of Minnesota or Wisconsin. Similar temperatures, similar forests (I was living on Kenai penninsula), etc. Those yearning for the same environment, but less people and less bureaucracy. Very much the rugged individualist who found their hearts in Alaska. I loved Alaska at the time, and had dreams of going back someday, but as I get older one starts to think of the hardships of living in that sort of place. Short days in the winter, very cold, or very wet. It can be an adventure or hard work, depending on one's viewpoint.

[Lenape85]

6. Physically, Pacific Northwest, Politically, Rocky Mountain West

[LdyGuique]

7. Introducing myself

I moved up to Alaska this past summer, along with an adult daughter. Also, another daughter, her husband, and their kids moved up here this past summer (he retired from the Marines and wanted to return to his favorite duty station).

It's been difficult "landing on our feet," but I have no regrets about the initial relocation. It will work out in time.

I'm a native Northern Californian, but had moved out of California in 1979 to New Hampshire. We relocated down to Boston after busting out. Then moved out to Seattle in 1983, then to Wisconsin in 1989, and then I moved to PA as part of a divorce. So, I've been crisscrossing the country and have a good idea of various climates, social cultures, etc.

I'd followed Alaskan weather averages for several years preceding the move and had frequently found the temperatures in South Central and Southeast Alaska to be more moderate than Wiscosin, New England, and Pennsylvania. Of course, up Fairbanks way, the Central zone is substantially colder than where I am -- much more similar to New England for temps. Since Alaska is a huge state with some real differences in temperature, based on location, it's very relevant as to "where" on moves to.

The length of daylight is a definite winter factor; however, the never-ending day of June and July balances things out. I like the daylight extremes as it gives one a complete change without having to "do" anything to create the change. Although, I definitely like the lengthening of days that is now occurring (basically, one can use the 5 minutes/day -- or one hour every 12 days -- as a measure of change, which is roughly 2-1/2 hours of daylight change per month).

I'm still too new to really evaluate social differences other than in sidebar ways. I've found the people more friendly and caring overall, and I have to control my own "city" aloofness. While Anchorage is definitely a city, everything is a bit lower-key. And, there is still a huge gap between the Alaska that people who live off the grid experience and those in the Anchorage basin. I'm planning on moving out to Palmer soon as I really prefer it for a half dozen reasons to Anchorage; however, for many Alaskans, that is still too close to cityways.

I've seen a lot to love, a lot to like, and will adjust better as my financial house of cards improves. I think it's critical that one have as part of an overall outlook a less material lifestyle. There is less disposable income for the majority. At this point, the scenic beauty still compensates for a lot. It's breathtaking and gives one a lift.

[Ken Burch]

8. As an Oregonian who moved to Alaska in 1982

I'd say that Southeast Alaska had, at that time, more of a
Pacific Northwest sensibility(and some of the same tensions
between middle-class environmentalists and loggers)while the Railbelt
(Anchorage and environs)is more of a Mountain West place in its values system

the Bush and the Interior(including Fairbanks)are less categorizable.

Lately, the whole state has gotten MUCH more Mountain West(with the obsession with military expansion, conservative politics and evangelical "Left Behind" type "Christianity")sometimes makes the whole state seem like a really large and really cold Colorado Springs.

[Blue_In_AK]

10. Ha, that's funny

I grew up in Colorado Springs.

[Ken Burch]

11. For everything other than the beautiful scenery around there,

my sincerest condolences

[Blue_In_AK]

12. Yeah, I was just a kid...

...left there when I was 15 and moved to Houston, Texas. From the frying pan into the fire.

[Ken Burch]

13. I think the only thing I might have liked about Houston as a kid

Was seeing Mission Control for the space program. I used to get up at 4am with my grandmother(we lived in Oregon)to watch the Apollo liftoffs.

[Broken_Hero]

14. To me...

SE Alaska is just like the pacific northwest, same moutains, trees, landscape essentially...but a lot more rain in SE than in the Pacific Northwest, man, Ketchikan is known for its damn rain. The furthest north i have been is Anchorage and it was a lot differnt than SE. To me Anchorage is a lot like kansas...let me finish. Flat, with skinny ass trees, but with moutains way off in the distance....and the weather is different from kansas, but to me land scape wise, it reminded me of kansas, just flat...

As far as the SE mentality of environmentalists and loggers, that carried through in ketchikan until 1995, when Ketchikan Pulp Company pretty much went belly up...they are still running, but not doing even half, or anything of what they use to do...as a matter of fact, KPC could be out of business, cause if memory serves right the Alaska marine highway has their offices out where KPC use to be...but I can't remeber for sure.

I really didn't like anchorage that much...it was an all right city, but to me, the beauty of southeast is soaked into my heart...and yes, i'm biased in saying that...:)

[Broken_Hero]

15. Plus...

SE is more like the pacific northwest when about half the towns support the seattle based teams...my father was from WA, and i do bleed mariner blue baby...:)

[Blue_In_AK]

16. I have photos of Anchorage area

that would make you eat those words, Petersond. :spank: Your regional bias is showing.

[Broken_Hero]

17. I got photo's too :)

of course i'm biased...:)

[Blue_In_AK]

18. I'm just teasing you...

Southeast is indeed beautiful, as you say, but I can live without the rain. Of course, without it you wouldn't have those B-I-G trees and all that beautiful moss, so I guess it's the price you pay. But you have to admit, even Anchorage is better than southwest Missouri. Why are you so far from home?

[Broken_Hero]

19. Missouri...

To be honest with you, I can't stand Missouri at all. I'm here becasue my wife, and her family is here, and so is her career at walmarts home offices in Arkansas...we live next to the Ar/Mo border. Yes, Anchorage is better than Missouri, barely...KC is decent, and i haven't been to ST. Louis yet, but KC is better than Anchorage, as far as places/things to do...

But I'm in Missouri for now, I know I will be back in Alaska eventually, just not now...I try to deal with it here, but its difficult being so far removed from friends/family...but I deal mostly....

[roguevalley]

20. southcentral and the kenai peninsula is beautiful, called the Naples

of Alaska.

very leisurely. small towns, fishing, boating, stuff like that. winter is cold but not so snowy. summer is 24 hours of light. winter peaks at Yule, with short 4 hour days.