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If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:07 pm
by andessmf
When and where is the best time to see the Northern Lights?
What else does Alaska have to offer?
Is there anything there that might interest little kids, considering that I want to see the Northern Lights.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:16 pm
by stlgph
Andes--
When are you taking me and my god children up there? We can shack up with ANCFlyer.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:17 pm
by andessmf
Hopefully he gets the hint.
I wonder how you deal with 24 hr sunshine.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:19 pm
by saxdiva
When ANCFlyer finally takes his hat off. It's been on his head for so long that the big white flash should be mindblowing.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:20 pm
by stlgph
Haven't you paid attention to these boards before?
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:24 pm
by NWA742
If I ever go to Alaska, I will have a beer with ANCflyer. He will have many beers. After he is drunk, I will knock him down and steal his Superduty and go explore Alaska for a few weeks.
-NWA742
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:26 pm
by andessmf
Quoting STLGph (Reply 4): Haven't you paid attention to these boards before? |
I dont know if I could get used to drinking during the day.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:34 pm
by stlgph
Quoting AndesSMF (Reply 6):
I dont know if I could get used to drinking during the day. |
Wha???!!!!!?????!!!!!?????!!!!
I'm coming to Sacramento ASAP to work on this.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:34 pm
by LOT767-300ER
I think its actually a bigger sin to take ANCflyer's hat off in public than it is to take a Saudi Arabian womans head cover off. Thats just a little theory of mine. God will smite you for both
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:41 pm
by andessmf
Quoting LOT767-300ER (Reply 8): I think its actually a bigger sin to take ANCflyer's hat off in public than it is to take a Saudi Arabian womans head cover off. Thats just a little theory of mine. God will smite you for both |
Damn, thats a good one! Take a bow. Well, we can try to take it off, and if the earth starts to rumble, well put it back immediately. On the other hand, him being in law enforcement, ANCflyer does carry a gun...doesnt he?
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:08 pm
by ANCFlyer
In the dead of winter - clear skies (duh), and the colder the better. Best viewed at -30F and below.
Start with a book called: The Milepost. Geez, this is a big question, I don't even know where to start. Hunting, fishing, hiking, nature, airplane spotting, camping, cruises, two railroads, glaciers, moose, caribou, bear, eagles, cities, farms, towns, villages, oceans, islands, beer, great restaurants, mountains, rivers, lakes, rock climbing, scuba for lobster and crab, I could go on . . .
Quoting AndesSMF (Reply 2): Quoting STLGph (Reply 1):
We can shack up with ANCFlyer
Hopefully he gets the hint. |
Quoting Saxdiva (Reply 3): When ANCFlyer finally takes his hat off. It's been on his head for so long that the big white flash should be mindblowing. |
I still have all my hair . . . so far. A-Net is waring on it though!
Sun finally disappeared tonight about 2200, will be back about 0300. As the summer progresses, we won't see darkness up here at work. Of course - the opposite is true in the winter.
There is that:
Quoting NWA742 (Reply 5): After he is drunk, I will knock him down and steal his Superduty and go explore Alaska for a few weeks. |
Never gonna happen . . . never let my guard down that far in public . . . but, I'll take you where you wanna go . . .
Quoting AndesSMF (Reply 6): I dont know if I could get used to drinking during the day. |
Suuuure you will!
Quoting AndesSMF (Reply 9): On the other hand, him being in law enforcement, ANCflyer does carry a gun...doesnt he? |
2
EDIT: I think perhaps my only answer to this thread should have been to "Alert the Airport/Port Police and Seal the Borders".
[Edited 2006-04-14 10:11:08]
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:14 pm
by LOT767-300ER
I smell sarcasm...
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:14 pm
by andessmf
OK, so my kids absolutely adored Yosemite last year. Is there a time when the weather is not that cold when you could see the Northern Lights?
Quoting ANCFlyer (Reply 10): Quoting AndesSMF (Reply 9):
On the other hand, him being in law enforcement, ANCflyer does carry a gun...doesnt he?
2 |
I will try to always be on your good side.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:25 pm
by ANCFlyer
Quoting AndesSMF (Reply 12): Is there a time when the weather is not that cold when you could see the Northern Lights? |
Nope. Winter or bust.
Viewing up this far north is easy - very little man made light sources to clutter up the view. Get on top of Sagwon Pass or Atigun Pass - no man made light for 50 miles - and there they are. These pictures take from Sagwon Pass . . . about 62 miles south of the Arctic Ocean. About 2000' elevation.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:30 pm
by andessmf
Words cannot describe it...wow!
And you say that they move perceptively.
Thanks for the pics. I'll have to take that
AK trip, hopefully soon.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 6:11 pm
by ANCFlyer
Hell yeah, they dance across the sky, no question they are moving. If you look closely at the photos you'll see the mountains in the background. They were taken at the same spot at the same time, and you can see how the lights have move from picture to the other.
It's about -26F right now, and they are out tonight. Not as bright as usual, but definitely there.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 8:02 pm
by aloges
Interesting, that colour. Is that the colour they usually have? If I recall correctly, the ones I saw in Norway were mostly green and sometimes red-ish.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 8:16 pm
by ANCFlyer
Green is the dominant color for them . . . they can occasionally be red, yellows and oranges . . . usually green though. Must be all the GREENhouse gas in the air
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 8:48 pm
by KROC
Quoting LOT767-300ER (Reply 8): I think its actually a bigger sin to take ANCflyer's hat off in public than it is to take a Saudi Arabian womans head cover off. Thats just a little theory of mine. God will smite you for both |
I can confirm that ANCFlyer does take his dome piece off on a very rare occasion. Pep, myself and Brenna rolled into a local bar one of my last nights in
ANC for a few pops and he actually pealed the hat off and left it in his truck! When we got back to the truck it was back on before I could even blink, but it actually does come off!
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 8:56 pm
by ANCFlyer
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:00 pm
by KROC
It was the retired Army Hat. I had no idea you owned any other hats!
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:51 pm
by aerorobnz
I will be up in Alaska next month, I guess that's too late for them, but can't wait anyway....all those lovely classic props... and the scenery of course too...
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:56 am
by Chugach
I drove back in from Palmer last night about midnight, and they were out over the Chugach mountains along with a full moon. Spectacular; lots of purple thrown in with the green. That's one thing I miss about Fairbanks.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:49 am
by srbmod
Quoting KROC (Reply 18):
I can confirm that ANCFlyer does take his dome piece off on a very rare occasion. |
Myself, along with just about everyone who attended the
LAS Meetup, can also vouch seeing him hatless. I doubt he would have been allowed into Delmonicos wearing a hat. And further proof:
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:54 am
by saxdiva
Ow... it burns, it burns!!!
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 5:00 am
by andessmf
I smell a conspiracy theory coming on, that is not the real ANCflyer, but a replacement.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:20 am
by bushpilot
Anytime in winter, they were out last night at my house and I am well south in the state. We get them a few times a year and last night the conditions came together with a cold clear night and we sat outside drinking beers and watching the show. It was about 0F with the windchill and the greens danced around on the horizon and would streak straight up occassionally with red streaks next to the green. Quite nice.
Plenty, just look around.
For folks who live here it is a gradual change over several months so its normal and you learn to value the fact you have more daylight, more time for summer activities, fishing mostly.
Oh the lights in
FAI, when the ice fog is clear the sky glows green like a giant Heineken neon sign.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:04 am
by L-188
Winter-Fairbanks.
I don't have the time to look up the website, but I seem to remember UAF having a website that predicted aurora activy.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:04 am
by andessmf
Quoting Bushpilot (Reply 26): Anytime in winter, they were out last night at my house and I am well south in the state. We get them a few times a year and last night the conditions came together with a cold clear night and we sat outside drinking beers and watching the show. It was about 0F with the windchill and the greens danced around on the horizon and would streak straight up occassionally with red streaks next to the green. Quite nice. |
So I get the idea that even the people of Alaska still love to watch the 'show'? My concern about this proposed trip is what I would do with two small kids. They love the outside and my daughter would absolutely go nuts if she sees a real bald eagle. But is there a place like this, where nature watching and hiking (with comfortable temperatures) can be done during the day, and then the wife and I can have a drink while watching the aurora?
Quoting Bushpilot (Reply 26): For folks who live here it is a gradual change over several months so its normal and you learn to value the fact you have more daylight, more time for summer activities, fishing mostly |
How much sleep do people actually do during 24 hr days? Just a silly question.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:17 am
by L-188
Quoting AndesSMF (Reply 28): My concern about this proposed trip is what I would do with two small kids. They love the outside and my daughter would absolutely go nuts if she sees a real bald eagle. But is there a place like this, where nature watching and hiking (with comfortable temperatures) can be done during the day, and then the wife and I can have a drink while watching the aurora? |
Throw a snowsuit on them an let them make snowmen
Kids can expend an amazing amount of energy on a sledding hill.
Someone more familiar with Fairbanks might be able to answer this, but arn't you able to rent outdoor hot tubs up at Chena during the winter to watch the lights?
Can't really see too much aurora activity in summer-this is the land of the midnight sun after all!
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:18 am
by bushpilot
Quoting AndesSMF (Reply 28): They love the outside and my daughter would absolutely go nuts if she sees a real bald eagle. But is there a place like this, where nature watching and hiking (with comfortable temperatures) can be done during the day, and then the wife and I can have a drink while watching the aurora? |
If your main reason for traveling is the Northern Lights, you must do it in winter, I know there are tour groups and such that do Aurora tours, mostly Japanese tourists I believe. Fairbanks is your best bet for visiting a city with good accomodations and having a more or less guaranteed chance to see them. But it will be cold, there is not much way around that except to dress warm. Fairbanks is routinely in the -20 to -40F in the winter. But there is a festival type thing that happens in february I believe. Involves the sled dog races, and plenty of ice scupltures. But comfortable temps for someone coming from a warm climate will be difficult in
FAI. I was born in
ANC, and
FAI is flat out cold. To see eagles and other wildlife it would be wise to take a road trip from
FAI to the
ANC area, where you can see all those critters in winter. There is a place in Homer where a lady feeds eagles all winter, there are dozens if not hundreds of bald eagles there. You also might be able to go for a fishing trip for white winter king salmon out of Homer, which are probably the best tasting salmon around.
Quoting AndesSMF (Reply 28): How much sleep do people actually do during 24 hr days? Just a silly question. |
Well you can definatly get away with less. It isnt light 24hrs here where I live in the Bristol Bay region. But it doesnt really get dark, you can easily get away with a few hours less of sleep. In the winter I am a 9hour guy, in the summer 6-7 is plenty.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:25 am
by andessmf
Thanks for all the info, Bushpilot.
BTW, fishing and I just dont mix, for some reason I just cant get the fish to bite. I have had friends on either side, shoulder to shoulder, catching fish. I give them my hook, they catch them, but for some f*****g reason they just dont bite for me. The last time I tried it in my honeymoon. Everybody, even my wife, caught a fish. Me, well, at least my wife help mop up my manhood from the bottom of the boat.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:31 am
by bushpilot
Quoting L-188 (Reply 29): Someone more familiar with Fairbanks might be able to answer this, but arn't you able to rent outdoor hot tubs up at Chena during the winter to watch the lights? |
When I was living up there from 98-00 they did offer it, and a weekend package deal to boot. I never did it, but it sounded novel.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:36 am
by L-188
Quoting Bushpilot (Reply 32): When I was living up there from 98-00 they did offer it, and a weekend package deal to boot. I never did it, but it sounded novel. |
I thought they did..
There you go AndesSMF.
Fly into Anchorage, get you and the wife on the train north-they do run winter. And spend a nice night sipping wine in -40 temps while sitting in a pool of 70 degree water watching the northern lights.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:45 am
by andessmf
Quoting L-188 (Reply 33): Fly into Anchorage, get you and the wife on the train north-they do run winter. And spend a nice night sipping wine in -40 temps while sitting in a pool of 70 degree water watching the northern lights. |
Weeeellllll, now thats a little better, my son is a real train fanatic at three years old (we took him on a weekend train trip for his b-day). He actually refuses to watch any toy train stuff, he only watches real train videos. So that is a good idea.
BTW, for the first time he has started to take a toy with him to sleep, an airplane...sniff! words cannot describe the happiness...
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:53 am
by searpqx
Quoting L-188 (Reply 33): -40 temps while sitting in a pool of 70 degree water watching the northern lights |
Um, not to nitpick (well, actually, completely to nitpick), but if you spend more than a few minutes sitting in 70 degree water at -40 you're going to be a prime candidate for severe hypothermia, not to mention, damn uncomfortable. Now, make it 105 and you got a deal!
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:07 am
by bushpilot
http://www.chenahotsprings.com/
There is the website, they offer quite a few activities in the winter as well.
Quoting Searpqx (Reply 35): but if you spend more than a few minutes sitting in 70 degree water at -40 you're going to be a prime candidate for severe hypothermia, not to mention, damn uncomfortable. Now, make it 105 and you got a deal! |
Yeah its hotter than 105 even, I know it comes out of the ground either at or real close to boiling temps, they cool it quite a bit before it hits the tubs. I think it is close to the standard hot tub temps, but the minerals in the water are supposed to blah blah blah, good for your skin blah blah etc. Once nice touch is you can jump out of the water and directly into the snow and witness penis shrinkage in the glory of green light under the aurora LOL
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:12 am
by andessmf
Thanks, I might check out prices for my 10 year anniversary next year.
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:54 am
by ANCFlyer
Quoting AndesSMF (Reply 28): My concern about this proposed trip is what I would do with two small kids. |
Alaska is well known for it's many, many varied uses for Duct Tape . . . might I suggest you add to the list
Or, there's this:
Quoting L-188 (Reply 29): Throw a snowsuit on them an let them make snowmen
Kids can expend an amazing amount of energy on a sledding hill. |
Only on weekends. Northbound
ANC-
FAI on Sat, Southbound
FAI-
ANC on Sunday.
Quoting AndesSMF (Reply 34): BTW, for the first time he has started to take a toy with him to sleep, an airplane...sniff! words cannot describe the happiness... |
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 11:01 am
by saxdiva
Damn, that's romantic. Get out the Dom Perignon!
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 11:25 am
by Chugach
Quoting L-188 (Reply 29): Someone more familiar with Fairbanks might be able to answer this, but arn't you able to rent outdoor hot tubs up at Chena during the winter to watch the lights? |
Hell, you don't even need to rent one--just go in the big outdoor pool. You haven't lived until you've been swimming outside at 30 below zero!
Quoting L-188 (Reply 27): I don't have the time to look up the website, but I seem to remember UAF having a website that predicted aurora activy. |
climate.gi.alaska.edu
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 11:31 am
by L-188
Quoting Saxdiva (Reply 39): Quoting Bushpilot (Reply 36):
witness penis shrinkage in the glory of green light
Damn, that's romantic. Get out the Dom Perignon! |
Yeah it sucks for the ladies, but for the guys it makes her parts that we are interested in stand more....proud
RE: If I Ever Go To Alaska...
Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:07 am
by dinker225
Quoting L-188 (Reply 27): Winter-Fairbanks.
I don't have the time to look up the website, but I seem to remember UAF having a website that predicted aurora activy |
Heres the website that predicts the aurora's.
http://www.gi.alaska.edu/cgi-bin/predict.cgi