[Travelandtourism] Ted Shelly response

[Bill Packee]

Hi Ted,

I'm hoping this response back to you is done correctly, my apologize if not.
I actually live in Fairbanks, and have been here for almost 13 years now,
making me what's known as a "sourdough", one that has survived more than one
winter season in the Interior. It is definitely winter here in the Interior,
with temps yesterday of -62, and airlines having difficulties with
freeze-ups. My wife had her flight to New York delayed until last night
because her plane froze up on her. The highs today may reach -44, but with
ice fog, and less than 4 hours of sunlight, I'll bet against it.

I came to Alaska back in 1995, just like all those "crazy" people who just
packed everything up one day and headed out to the Great White North. I came
with my wife at the time, and four kids in a conversion van filled to the
gills, traveling from Wisconsin up the Alcan Highway and into Anchorage. On
the way we hit deer, figuratively speaking, in Wisconsin, snow in Edmonton
on the last day of summer, and sub-zero temps in the Yukon before we even
got to Alaska. Anchorage was a nice place to live for a year, but we came to
Alaska not to live in a big city, so in 1996 we moved to Fairbanks, and have
stayed since. We have survived +90 degree temps, mosquitoes that could carry
you away (exaggeration), the sun all day long in the summer, cold that would
make the heartiest of men freeze up, and the most beautiful Northern Lights
ever to behold. I firmly believe that God has blessed this land. 

I own an assistive technology business, and do quite a bit of traveling,
including to Anchorage, Bethel, and to Barrow. Bethel and Barrow are
classified as "the bush"  because there are no roadways that connect to
them, so the only way in to them is via rivers or by plane, when they are
able to fly to them. Travel is difficult at times, especially in the bush,
because you may not catch a plane out for a day or two because of the
weather, winds, snow, or anything else, so getting stranded does occur, but
the generosity of the bush communities is just awesome, and they take you in
until you can leave. Travel often times involve a one or two seat single
prop plane, so when you fly over the mountains, or over the flats, it is
like you are flying yourself, and is truly a unique experience.

The Iditarod is quite a big thing here, but only once did it start here in
Fairbanks, and that was because of the lack of snow in Anchorage and the
trails out . It was so big, that schools closed, and a lot of businesses as
well to get out to the starting spot, and on the outlying trail. We have the
Yukon Quest here in Fairbanks, where the racers start or end , they
alternate yearly, and end up in Whitehorse Yukon. The race starts/finishes,
downtown on the frozen Chena River, and is lines with fans as far as you can
see. I have seen the start only once, and have seen some of the late
finishers when they have come in as I have crossed the river, but I haven't
made it a point to see every year, the weather plays a big factor in that.

My parents, who live in Milwaukee, treated myself and my wife, as well as my
other family members to an Alaska Cruise last summer, and hit the Inside
Passages. If you have the opportunity, this is something that should be
done. The cruise was great, the sights were great, according to my wife, and
to visit the other parts of Alaska that we cannot get to was a big bonus for
us as well. The cruise line we were on, Princess, were very accommodating
with myself being blind, and with aiding me with the needs of my seeing eye
dog, even setting up a "litter box" for her in one of the crew areas, that
was cleaned out twice a day. I had people bending over backwards for Rio and
whatever she needed. Once on the land tours, the staff was just as
accommodating to our needs as well, helping us with the train, walking on
and off the boat, setting up rides to and from attractions if we needed
them, and anything else we needed. So, yes, take the Cruise if you can, but
take a couple of extra days to get to Fairbanks in the Interior to enjoy the
real Alaska, and Alaskan hospitality.

Thanks for your questions, please let me know if I can help you out any
more.
Bill