Looking at land in Glennallen (Fairbanks, Copper Center: buy, live, safe)

[JamesM]

Hi folks,
I am planning a trip to the Glennallen area this spring to look at some land. I haven't been in Alaska for 20 plus years now so I was wondering when the snow is mostly gone. I would like to look at the property and see the type of soil, vegitation etc. Is anyone on this forum in the Glennallen area? So when is the snow gone and anyone here live there?
Thanks,
James

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by JamesM

Hi folks,
I am planning a trip to the Glennallen area this spring to look at some land. I haven't been in Alaska for 20 plus years now so I was wondering when the snow is mostly gone. I would like to look at the property and see the type of soil, vegitation etc. Is anyone on this forum in the Glennallen area? So when is the snow gone and anyone here live there?
Thanks,
James

The snow is gone by mid-May. You should be aware that the water table in the Glennallen/Copper Center area is very deep (500+ feet). Most resident who live outside of town have their potable water trucked in from the nearby Kenny and Pippen lakes.

[warptman]

Why did you double post? This should be deleted!

http://www.city-data.com/forum/alask...llen-area.html

[JamesM]

Originally Posted by warptman

Why did you double post? This should be deleted!

http://www.city-data.com/forum/alask...llen-area.html

Thanks Glitch...I am trying to gather as much info as possible to determine when I should head up there.

Gee warptman...the way I see it this is a different question. If you took time to read both posts you would see. Looks like Alaska has changed some since I was last up there....... Am I not allowed to ask questions about an area I am going to move to? Dang relax man...its just a question! And thanks for the hospitality...geez

[akravenlady]

just drove through there a month ago. I have no idea what the land is like there but good luck!

[JamesM]

Thanks Kraven lady. do you have a two or four wheel drive truck (car)...if I may ask. I had a four wheel drive truck when I was up there...but have driven two wheel drives in the snow country of Idaho for a couple of winters. Now all I have is two wheel drives...since we don't get much snow here in cental CA.

[akravenlady]

4 wheel is really a must. Remember, Glenallen is really a long way from anywhere.......

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by JamesM

Thanks Kraven lady. do you have a two or four wheel drive truck (car)...if I may ask. I had a four wheel drive truck when I was up there...but have driven two wheel drives in the snow country of Idaho for a couple of winters. Now all I have is two wheel drives...since we don't get much snow here in cental CA.

Two-wheel drive vehicles are just fine in Alaska, unless you are planning on doing some off-road travel. I have both a two-wheel drive and a four-wheel drive. I may actually have to use my four-wheel drive one or two times at most during the entire year because my access road is never plowed. The rest of the time I drive my two-wheel drive vehicle because it gets 35 mpg whereas my four-wheel drive vehicle only gets 10 mpg.

Just remember a 4x4 doesn't stop any faster on ice and snow than a two-wheel drive vehicle. Too many people buy big 4x4 SUVs thinking it will keep them safe during the winter, yet when you look at all the ditch divers the vast majority are in 4x4s or AWDs vehicles. It isn't the vehicle that makes one safe, but rather the driver's experience and proficiency that makes one safe.

[JamesM]

Wise words Glitch...I don't plan on any off road and if I do I would use an ATV or snowmachine.

It is interesting that the water table is so low there. Do you know if the well water is any good. I know when I was in Fairbanks the well water there was full of iron and stained everything and tasted bad.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by JamesM

Wise words Glitch...I don't plan on any off road and if I do I would use an ATV or snowmachine.

It is interesting that the water table is so low there. Do you know if the well water is any good. I know when I was in Fairbanks the well water there was full of iron and stained everything and tasted bad.

I have only met one property owner in the Glennallen area that has a well, and I didn't ask him about the quality of his water. I think you will find most ground water in Alaska to be very similar; heavy in iron, glacial silt, and elevated levels of naturally occurring arsenic because of the heavy metals in the soil.