Summer in Denali...Information Appreciated (Anchorage, Fairbanks: buy, school, college)

[Hatham Al-Shabibi]

Hello all.

I am new to this forum so bear with me.


I am a twenty year old college student in Tampa, Florida. My uncle, a manager for Holland America Cruise Lines recently opened a job for me in Healy, AK near the entrance to Denali. I will be working all summer for Gray Line. I am obviously very excited.

With days off, I will have time to visit other places and cities (I will be flying into Anchorage), and I have concluded that if I happen to fall in love with the state I would consider moving there after school. I am a city person yet I love nature so maybe Anchorage or Fairbanks.

What am I getting myself into here?

1. Is it true that during the summer months daylight lasts most of the day? And does the sun fully set?

2. Will I get a chance to see the Aurora Borealis in the summer in Denali?

3. Has anyone here happened to work for Gray Line, and if so, how was your experience?

4. How is the medical care in the state? I have a history of cholesterol/heart problems in my family and in case something were to happen is care reliable in the interior of the state?

5. There are myths down here, from people who have visited, that many ex-criminals and people on wanted lists flee to Alaska. Is this something to worry about? I will be hiking a lot, in groups.

6. For you clothing experts, I recently purchased a water/wind- proof Columbia jacket, some more jeans, and Redhead heavy-duty hiking boots. Will this suffice for the summer? I have read that temperatures can reach the 80's, which is the low down here! (By the way, I hate the heat. I enjoy cold.)


Sorry for this amount of questions, I am very curious and excited. I come up May 4th and fly back August 17th.

I am from Boston, so I have lived in cold conditions. I am fully aware that Alaska is a completely different world, but I really do enjoy the cold.

Thank you!

[Metlakatla]

I can only answer a couple of your questions. but:

you won't see the northern lights in the summer--too much daylight. I did, however, see them on the northern panhandle sometime in the middle of Sept. last year.


Sunlight in Denali---the sun will set for a little while but it doesn't get truly dark--around the end of July is starts getting pretty dusky though.

Criminals hiding---I've been hiding up here for years.

Seriously...it happens, but you'll be with people. Just respect private property and you'll be fine.

[Hatham Al-Shabibi]

Thanks a lot. Sorry for sounding like a little kid, I am just really curious. If I could make it up to Fairbanks (which I plan to do anyway to check it out) I maybe have a chance of seeing the lights?

[Metlakatla]

Well, you're only going to be here until Aug. 17th--you'll start to see some darkness there but it needs to be clear also--any chance you have of seeing the lights will be farther south, but even at that, not much. It'll give you an excuse to come back in the winter, though.

Don't worry about sounding like a little kid...the summer workers around Denali et al are one of the positive things about tourist season. You'll have a good time in Healy.

[Hatham Al-Shabibi]

Thanks a lot, seems like a cool little town. We have pretty nice living cabins, with wireless internet so I won't be "roughing" it really. But I am sure not going to sit around the whole summer. Thanks for your help!

[nope]

Hi--You will have fun in Healy during the summer months. The Greyline kids were always busy, socially. I didn't work for Greyline but I worked with them--you'll work hard and answer a lot of repetitive questions over and over. It'll be great! Practice that realistic I've-Never-Heard-That-Question-Before smile!
Early May in Denali can be very cold to a climatized Floridian--be sure you have a winter hat and maybe even long underwear. There was a little outdoor store for emergency items(Patagonia) but I don't remember when they opened. The Healy clinic is well used to providing service to people with heart issues--remember who the major Greyline client in Denali is! Nothing scarier to the bus traveler than Polychrome Pass from the backseat--the Park Service is very quick to respond to medical emergencies, too. The truly sick were sent to Fairbanks, if I remember correctly.
Met is probably correct about the Lights. Tho' mid August is getting close to some glimpses in the middle of the night. The gossip mill will keep you informed about sightings.
Don't worry about America's most wanted people up there--you will be constantly with lots of people--it's surprising busy everywhere in the summer--and always use your head. You'll be OK. You might want to head to the nearest craft store and take up some really huge bearbells, tho. The one's heard for several hundred feet--you never know!
Be laid back, flexible, patient, and you will have a great time!
Nancy
p.s. I was joking about the bearbells--they are a serious faux pax

[Hatham Al-Shabibi]

Thanks a lot Nancy. The "use your head" thing seems to be the most common tip, which should be something of common sense anyway. I am pretty laid back and intend to be this summer. Working for the companies, do you get a few days off? I want to work a lot but I want time to check the state out too.

Thanks for the advice!

[Dusty Rhodes]

Well, considering that Denali Park is larger than the state of (excuse the spelling) Massachusets (?) there should be an awfully lot of things to do outdoors in the Healy area. I would suggest (free advice being worth every penny you pay for it) that you buy a fishing license and your tackle of choice, personally, I brought both fly fishing gear and a good bait caster, and used both. Rumor has it that perhaps, on occassion, fish frequent the waters in that area, and, aside from being a nice way to pass the time blending in with your surroundings, you might actually come out with a really good meal. Then again, I've never heard of anyone catching a cooked Salmon or Trout before. If you know how to clean fish and cook, it won't be a problem, if you don't, it still won't be a big problem, (hint) get a good fillet knife as well.

[Hatham Al-Shabibi]

Fishing? I'm a little too impatient for it, but I might actually give it a try this summer.

[nope]

Hi Hatham,
Yes, you will probably get days off--employers can be inhuman if things are off at work, but not inhumane. And most people seem get to some of the places they want to visit--whether into the park to camp/hike or out of the interior. Now they may not be fully functioning after their weekend--more like walking zombies after a killer roadtrip, but they can say they were "there".

Interestingly enough, now in interest of full disclosure I'm not a fisherman, but the Healy/Denali area is not a fishing mecca. You can find places to fish, but the big waters in the area are glacial fed and don't support aquatic life. You don't need a fishing license to fish in the park(fed land) but I once sent a young fisherman up the Usibelli road to some pits and he had excellent fun fishing greyling there. Don't know how accessible that area is anymore--it's been a long time. Gotta have wheels and do some traveling to be a successful fisherman in Denali Park.

Be sure you get on a complementary fixed wing airplane tour as soon and as often as you can. They are fun.

Good luck in your travels!
N