Is a commute from Wasilla to Talkeetna doable? (Anchorage, Fairbanks: lease, how much)

[quakinator]

If I took a job in Talkeetna what would my commute look like from the valley? I'm thinking it's probably just a bit too far, especially in the winter when the snows come.

Anyone have any personal experience commuting there?

[warptman]

There are a lot of moose on the road. Two weeks ago I went up to Fairbanks and back. On the way down I came across two trucks that had hit moose. One just north of Willow and the other near Big Lake. Winter commuting would suck.

[HighlandLady]

It's roughly between 30-40 miles from my property to Talkeetna...and it certainly would be doable in the Spring and Summer. As Warpt stated, there are a LOT of moose on the Parks around that area...and at night, you usually cannot see them unless you are right up on them. That and the area tends to receive more snow than in the Wasilla area, roads seem a bit more questionable in the area. If you care to take the time and go slowly, it would be doable.

[Nephler]

Yes it is doable. I know someone that does it from Trapper Creek, about the same distance.

[Marty Van Diest]

Originally Posted by quakinator

If I took a job in Talkeetna what would my commute look like from the valley? I'm thinking it's probably just a bit too far, especially in the winter when the snows come.

Anyone have any personal experience commuting there?

People do it but it would be a long commute. I occasionally make the drive to show houses there. it's almost 70 miles from Wasilla to Talkeetna. On real bad days it might take 2 hours one way. On good days its under 1.5 hours.

The speed limit is 65 from Willow North. But as Warpt says...watch for moose.

Why not just get a house from Willow north to Talkeetna?

[Nephler]

But, it sure beats the hell out of having to drive from Wasilla to Anchorage. We saw at lease 8 cars on their tops, that's not counting the dozens in the ditch, on our way to and from Fur Rondy today.

[quakinator]

Originally Posted by Marty Van Diest

Why not just get a house from Willow north to Talkeetna?

That would probably put us 2 hours from Anchorage, probably a bit too far for my wife. Getting her up to Alaska was just the first step, the second is getting her to love it. She's not super fond of moving somewhere that rural just yet. She grew up in a city about the size of Anchorage, I grew up in one the size of Sitka that grew to the size of Eagle River over 10 years. Getting her to love the valley is going to be an adjustment, she's not used to living on a couple acres with neighbors that you have to hop in your car to go visit.

[Grannysroost]

Going by Marty's distance...You have at least an hour or more on the road one way, now double the time to at least 2 hours out of a day on the road just driving, now add price of gas and the question will it go up and how much...

[Moose Whisperer]

Just my opinion, but just because something CAN be done doesn't mean it SHOULD be. Why would you want to move up to Alaska - I presume to make your life better - only to impose a lousy commute on yourself. Sure the drive is beautiful, and sure I even know people that live in Anchorage and commute by car to Valdez (but they work 1 week on/off schedules), however I'm thinking a commute like you describe would start to get real old, real fast, and in winter would start to border on dangerous if you are constantly tired from work/driving. What is so special about a job in Talkeetna that can't be done somewhere else? Unless it's paying upward of $100 an hour, is it really worth a drive like that?

[Alex2009]

Originally Posted by Moose Whisperer

Just my opinion, but just because something CAN be done doesn't mean it SHOULD be. Why would you want to move up to Alaska - I presume to make your life better - only to impose a lousy commute on yourself. Sure the drive is beautiful, and sure I even know people that live in Anchorage and commute by car to Valdez (but they work 1 week on/off schedules), however I'm thinking a commute like you describe would start to get real old, real fast, and in winter would start to border on dangerous if you are constantly tired from work/driving. What is so special about a job in Talkeetna that can't be done somewhere else? Unless it's paying upward of $100 an hour, is it really worth a drive like that?

don't you think you're exaggerating the $100?