Relocating to Eielson AFB (Fairbanks, Lakes: work, price, banks)

[johnphil29]

Hello all, I am relocating to Eielson AFB in early January with my family and dog. We are really looking forward to it, and excited about the new assignment. Any tips, and advice would be great. My biggest concern right now is shipping my dog. I have a Jack Russell Terrier, and the temps look like they are in the negs. Has anyone shipped a dog in the winter time? Do the airlines (Ours is Alaska Air) take good care of pets? Also, we are in Southern California right now. What options are up there for cell phone coverage etc? Thank you in advance. John P

[Arcticthaw]

Well it has been -35 this morning and was -40 when I left work. Supposed to get -45 tonight.

Cell coverage is ATT, ACS (regional carrier) GCI. Cell One was bought out by ATT. For coverage... All the teens and younger use Cell One. This is a GSM system. ACS is slightly better for statewide coverage, but some argue that Cel One has better local coverage. Lots of new cell sites going up this year so who knows. Look at the following websites for more info.

http://www.acsalsaka.com
http://www.gci.com

Don't know about the dogs.

[johnphil29]

Thanks for the info. We are very excited about moving up there. So Cell One is now ATT up there? John P

[warptman]

Yes, you can bring your Iphone up.

[RayinAK]

It's very cold this morning at Eielson AFB, and North Pole. It's around -40 degrees at Eielson and most of North Pole (-47 by Chena Lakes in North Pole).

[icarian]

Yes, it is a bit "chilly" up here right now, isn't it

[johnphil29]

Looking forward to it. Now, I have heard from some people who used to be stationed there that the subzero temps arent as bad as other areas (Montana, ND) because there is no wind. Is that true? I mean cold is cold. But wind really adds to it.

[icarian]

My tires have had flat spots in them for the last three days. I say again, it is so "chilly" here right now, that the rubber in my tires deforms from the weight of my car in the cold. I am told that I can put NITROGEN in my tires to alleviate this from happening when the thermometer dips.

I'm sure it does get "somewhat" cold in northern Idaho and Montana. Combine it with the wind and it may very well "suck" down there. Maybe even more so than here--the wind very RARELY blows very much around Fairbanks (hit some the local mountain ridges and things change).

I'm just saying that it is easily cold enough for my tires to deform and get flat spots. It is bitter.

EDIT: One thing you might expect is a community that "goes to ground" when the temps drop and stay like they are right now (hey, we're warming up to -15F tomorrow Believe it or not, people are driving around doing their normal things...you just aren't going to see people standing around outside or kids playing on the playground (contact frostbite is so yesterday). And you do get to see other cool things like ice fog and everyone leaving their cars running while they get gas (no one has had a static discharge that I know of yet and blown themselves up--not for sure where all the gas pump warnings come from, but it obviously isn't here). So life does go on in our somewhat different way.

[johnphil29]

Wow, makes for an interesting way of life. My family and I have spent the last seven years in Hawaii so we are definitely in for some surprises. Right now, we are buying our winter gear etc.

[Arcticthaw]

Some pictures of Fairbanks at -40

What the eye doesn't normally see! Ice crystals, that make up ICE FOG!



Typical intersection at 5pm. At -40 your brakes are sluggish and tend to lock up. Slow to release.

People fueling up. Notice the price of gas! At -40 we don't care, just keep us warm! LOL



Yes the picture is blurry, You try and hold the camera still when it is this cold!