Arriving in October for some Adventure (Anchorage, Fairbanks: how much, home, to buy)

[sethmeredith]

Okay, I'm sure you've heard this story a thousand times, but i need some answers to questions from people who've lived in Alaska during the winter. I'm 18 years old and just graduated from High School and decided to take a break before college so on October 4, I will get on a plane to Anchorage. I plan on leaving Anchorage after a few days to get to Kodiak in search of the ever infamous fishing job.

I have a few questions:
1. What cold weather gear will I need? The more specific the better, Will Anchorage be the place to get this?

2. How easy is it to get around with out a car?

3. Will I need to buy my own rain gear or should i rely on the boats to have there own gear?

4. Can you just walk around with a gun or do you need some kind of special permit?

5. And is it 100% necessary that I buy a crewman's license?

Thank you very much. I can't wait to get up there or I guess over there, I'm flying in from Germany.

-Seth

[Metlakatla]

My head hurts.

[cobolt]

Please use the search function on this forum and read previous posts and threads. The Deadliest Catch guys are waiting for you on the dock, so I am told.

[warptman]

Good luck. I see you've been watching the Discovery Channel.

[cobolt]

I just can't take these posts/questions anymore. I don't even know why I bother to read or respond to them.

[DreamChasers8]

Hey maybe it's really Lone Traveler...lol

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by sethmeredith

Okay, I'm sure you've heard this story a thousand times, but i need some answers to questions from people who've lived in Alaska during the winter. I'm 18 years old and just graduated from High School and decided to take a break before college so on October 4, I will get on a plane to Anchorage. I plan on leaving Anchorage after a few days to get to Kodiak in search of the ever infamous fishing job.

Let me see if I can answer a few questions

1. What cold weather gear will I need? The more specific the better, Will Anchorage be the place to get this?

If you plan on just going to Kodiak, then plan on a lot of rain... wet cold in the 20's to 30's with a lot of sleet for snow/rain mix. If you plan on going to interior Alaska, then dress like you are a mummy, you will need it when the cold hits. The stores in Anchorage can better tell you what you need when you figure out where you are going, just tell them how much you have to spend and they will help you out of most of it....

2. How easy is it to get around with out a car?

Alaska is as wide as the lower 48 States, about 2,500 miles accross and about as tall as going from the bottom of Flordia to the Top of Ohio, about 1,400 miles or so high, or about the size of Europe... So how hard is it to get around where you are from without a car? I would say a bit harder here.... see last part of my first answer, you will be waiting a while with your thumb out in the cold.

3. Will I need to buy my own rain gear or should i rely on the boats to have there own gear?

The boats that would hire someone with no clue to what they are doing on the water, will not supply you with anything because they figure you will fall overboard and take what they paid good money for, with you...

4. Can you just walk around with a gun or do you need some kind of special permit?

Do you normally hunt in town where you live? Unless you are worried about a "King Crab" attack, you won't need a gun unless you want to pull an "Into the Wild" gig.... Then you may need one to shoot yourself for not knowing what you need to do... the fact you "May" not be American, is a good reason that nobody will legally sell you a gun... just a guess though... But you can get a good .25 cal from some seedier places....

5. And is it 100% necessary that I buy a crewman's license?

Where in the world did you hear that? I need to get one too, they were suppose to be a secret until after the first of the new year.... darn!

Thank you very much. I can't wait to get up there or I guess over there, I'm flying in from Germany.

Maybe a green card is in order though... it allows you to buy and work in coffee shops in the port towns of Alaska. In the interior, you need a red card..

[sethmeredith]

I know, I know that show has sent a bunch of crazed youth up your way. However, I have always dreamed of working on a fishing vessel far before the advent of Deadliest Catch. So, If i could please get some real advice and not be mocked that would be nice. I have read every thread on fishing.

I have not found anything on what type of clothing i should buy and how much all of it will cost.

I'm being serious so please try to take me seriously.

-Seth

[warptman]

Get some rain gear.

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by sethmeredith

I know, I know that show has sent a bunch of crazed youth up your way. However, I have always dreamed of working on a fishing vessel far before the advent of Deadliest Catch. So, If i could please get some real advice and not be mocked that would be nice. I have read every thread on fishing.

I have not found anything on what type of clothing i should buy and how much all of it will cost.

I'm being serious so please try to take me seriously.

-Seth

If you are serious, then plan on having a nice vacation. Nobody will hire you without experience on boats unless they plan on ripping you off and not paying you later on. There is too many people that have been put of out work because of politics that have the experience that are looking for work too.

If you are not an "American Citizen", then to work here you will need a "Green" card that makes you legal to work here, not just a passport.

I work on ships and travel all over Alaska because I don't want to leave home anymore to travel the high seas. When we pull into Dutch Harbor, Kodiak and other Alaskan ports, there are a hundred guys like you roaming the docks looking to be on the Crab boats, they are pretty bummed out when they get hit with reality, and find that the "Deadliest Catch" isn't what it is made out to be.

Enjoy your time here and see as much as you can, don't expect anything and enjoy everything. You will have a good time, but getting around without a car in October is going to be really rough when the cold hits. You can though ride the train to Fairbanks and the Ferry system from Homer to Kodiak. The rest is going to be a long walk.

If you like to camp, then you will need a lot of rain gear for the Coastal areas and warm clothing for the interior. Make sure you have some money with you if you plan to stay very long.