Adventure in Alaska + Perminant living. (Anchorage, Kenai: for rent, mattress, how much)

[JakeVT]

Hello, I've been reading these forums for a while, and decided its time for me to finally post.
About 5 months ago some friends decided that they wanted to move to Alaska. I thought it was a great idea, and wanted in. They plan on moving up to Anchorage in July, but i wanted to head up in March/April and go exploring, and take a vacation of sorts, experience the wilderness on my own.

Now that is 3 months that i want to fill. Ideally i would find someone willing to rent a room for cheep, so i can stash some gear, then use that as a base camp. i want to explore southern Alaska as well, check out the Kenai river, and the Juneau area.

I am 23 and have 4 years of carpentry experience and would love to help a few families build cabins, be they log, timber frame, or a typical 2x4 framed.

Things i need to know are:
Is any if this possible, or conceivable?
How hard is it to travel around in late winter/spring without a vehicle?
Are there ride shares available, is hitch hiking doable?
What are average temperatures in southern Alaska during those months?
With a good tent/sleeping bag, is camping an option?

Other goofy questions:
Is there anyone out there that wants help building a cabin?
Anyone got a room for rent, and wants some company?
Does anybody want to do any fishing with me?
How would i find a job in a state park?

i just need something to do until summer hits and my friends come up.
Would appreciate any advice, tips, do's/dont's, or just a simple chat about all the fun winter/spring stuff i can/should do.
thanks!
-jake

[MissingAll4Seasons]

You should be able to do some hiking in SE Alaska in Mar/Apr. You might get some cold nights and sporadic snowshowers, but it'll be warming up. The biggest problem you'll probably run into is all the mud and rising waters during breakup. If you have a good tent and great sleeping bag, camping shouldn't be too much of a problem if you can find some dry high ground. Just keep in mind that all the critters will be waking up right around this time, too... grumpy and hungry. A 12g shotgun with 00 buckshot and slugs would probably be a good idea.

Hop the ferry up the Passage in May/June and you should be fine hiking around Kenai etc. You can get around in AK without a car, sometimes people will stop to pick up hitchers, sometimes you can arrange rides with truckers and travelers, other times you'll just have to hoof it. So make sure you only bring what you can carry easily in a pack and leave the rest for your friends to bring up if you want a real AK hiking/nature vacation.

Don't know how rustic you were looking to go; but if you're looking for something a bit "easier" I'm sure someone will pipe up soon. From my experience, if you're hiking through, it's usually easier to find the odd job when you get there... you'll usually find someone who needs some help, especially if you have carpentry skills and a strong back.

[JakeVT]

sounds fun! i am currently looking into a Sleeping Bag and Tent, but i think i got that under control. Gear advise is always appreciated. As far as angry/hungry critters go, i plan on bringing up a G20 10mm and getting a shotgun when i get up there. My friends and i plan on a lot of woods activities, so that parts a given.
Rustic is what i am aiming for, but maybe not when i initially get there. i think i may stay in the anchorage area for a month, getting used to the area, since that's where my friends want to live, then when it gets warmer and closer to fishing time ill break out the bag and tent and get going south. I'll happily help out anywhere for a dry place to sleep.

i have been getting mixed information on a few gear items, but i think this is what i will go with:

Shelter: Tent, 0* sleeping bag, wool blanket, light tarp (for under tent, or to replace tent in summer), foam/air mattress 4-6 R value.
Water: 2x 50 gallon water filters, steel 32oz bottle, titanium cup, 2x 2 liter water bladders.
Fire: Firesteel, 4x lighters.
Food: (or food procurement) Compact fishing rod, 12quage on arrival, 22lr conversion kit for pistol.

Thats the basics. aside from that just 2x pairs of all clothing, 3x socks and undearwear, knives, TP, a laptop(hopefully i have a place to store it)
i got a few months to get the geer i need/want. so advice is appreciated. money is only slightly an issue. thanks!
-jake

[stiffnecked]

If your coming to southeast Alaska you want a big blue tarp. Not some cheap flimsy thing. As a matter of fact you'll probably want more than 2. My main one is about 20'x30' and sometimes it's not big enough. In my opinion in southeast Alaska you can never have enough blue tarps. Though I have been thinking about a green one for days when I wear my tinfoil hat.

[MissingAll4Seasons]

SE Alaska tends to warm up sooner than Kenai/Anchorage, but the difference isn't too significant. Just keep in mind that "you can't get there from here" is a reality in AK... if you're in Anchorage and want to visit Juneau, you have to fly or ferry. Not to mention some places look "close" on a map but are really hundreds of miles apart... this is a big adjustment for a lot of East Coasters who are used to living in states where you barely have 5 minutes between "civilized" areas and can drive the whole state in a day (or less). And distance doesn't mean as much in AK as time does... you can have a place only 120 miles away, but the going is so rough that it still takes 4+ hours to get there. If you're outside of the few cities, there also isn't much for roads... make sure your land nav skills are really good if you go cross country and don't forget to adjust your compass for the latitude!

If you're looking to get some/most of your food off the land - make sure you get all the appropriate hunting & fishing licenses! You can go weeks without seeing a cop, but the minute you kill something without a license AF&G will magically materialize out of the bushes! Know what section you're in and what your species you're hunting/fishing, because some are in season in different places at different times and with different bag/catch limits. Also, Mar/Apr is a little early for most of your wild edibles depending on where you are... some places in the Interior have a growing season that's less than 100 days!

[JakeVT]

hehe, compass... forgot about that.
yeah, i plan on getting the full set of licenses. i think i apply as a resident if i plan on staying for over 6 months. not positive tho. To start i am pretty sure ill be buying food. but by may/june, hopefully i can live off fish, and other little yummys!

Just bought a -20* sleeping bag and a 4 season tent. and got my backpack coming in a week. almost ready!!! haha, i have been so excited just thinking of moving.

What is the fishing like up there? run based, so like a month of good fishing and its done? how much do the fish weigh typically? i have a 25lb rod, so that should handle most of what i will try to catch.
anyone got any good fishing/bear stories?

[HighlandLady]

You have to have resided here a year to be a resident for licenses.

[arctichomesteader]

You have to physically live in Alaska for a full year to qualify to get resident hunting/fishing/trapping licenses.

[jsr5]

When I was looking at the Denali park information I ran across somthing mentioning Subsistence hunting and fishing permits. Maybe these are a less expensive way to feed yourself while trekking Bit I didn't look closely or get prices or what-not.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by jsr5

When I was looking at the Denali park information I ran across somthing mentioning Subsistence hunting and fishing permits. Maybe these are a less expensive way to feed yourself while trekking Bit I didn't look closely or get prices or what-not.

Have to be a resident for that. Although federal and state regulations are different.