Palmer (Anchorage, Eagle, Susitna: home, living, shop)

[Metlakatla]

Again, I was referring to explaining it to someone from out of state. I've found that people from different areas have very different ideas of what is rural and what is remote -- to some, for instance, living 20 miles out constitutes remote living. I also think it's more like 43 miles from Anchorage instead of 30

[pfieber]

Thanks for all the responses for the Palmer area.

Another question on the wind. How bad is it and are there places around the Palmer area to avoid less wind. I am looking at settling within a 20 mile radius of Palmer, but not towards Wasilla. Is there a concern for flooding in the area?

Paul

[Alaskan Mutt]

Originally Posted by pfieber

Thanks for all the responses for the Palmer area.

Another question on the wind. How bad is it and are there places around the Palmer area to avoid less wind. I am looking at settling within a 20 mile radius of Palmer, but not towards Wasilla. Is there a concern for flooding in the area?

Paul

Unfortunately about the only direction you could head to perhaps get away from the wind is towards Wasilla. You might look at some of the subdivisions East of Palmer across the Matanuska River or in the Palmer-Fishhook area to the Northwest of Palmer. Both areas will still be windy but both have lots of trees which will break some of the wind.

I do not think flooding is a real big issue unless you find a place way off the beaten path. What has been an issue in the past is bank erosion along the Matanuska River.

[AKStafford]

Originally Posted by pfieber

Thanks for all the responses for the Palmer area.

Another question on the wind. How bad is it and are there places around the Palmer area to avoid less wind. I am looking at settling within a 20 mile radius of Palmer, but not towards Wasilla. Is there a concern for flooding in the area?

Paul

I drove school bus for a lot of years, all over the Valley. There's some spots in the Butte that seemed to not get as much wind. Someone explained that they sit in a spot where the mountains deflect it...
The only spots you'll see flooding is in any low areas or near streams & rivers. Along the Matanuska River there is some trouble spots. There's also a couple of neighborhoods along Wasilla Creek that I've seen flood too. Oh, and the along the Little Su off of Schrock Road.

[heathen]

There are two winds in the valley - the Matanuska wind and the Knik wind, and they blow at different times under totally different weather conditions. The Matanuska is the worst because it aims cold air right at downtown Palmer during the winter, when there's cold high pressure over the interior, and low pressure on the coast. This wind also affects the Fishhook area, Sutton, Chickaloon, etc, but not Butte, which is right at the mouth of Knik River valley. The wind that blasts Butte is a Chinook, brought on by strong, warm weather systems from the Gulf of Alaska. It's a relatively warm wind in winter, but can blow at any time of year. Wasilla is in a position to get both of these winds, but not as strong.

The areas near Palmer that are somewhat protected from both winds are the Lazy Mountain area (Clark-Wolverine Road, Smith Road, Maud Road), as well as the Old Glenn Highway where it wind along directly below Pioneer Peak. Over there though, you just have to worry about 4 months without direct sun, and occasional avalanches...

[lv2hoop]

Heathen is right on with the valley wind report. The Bodenburg Butte area is immune to to cold, bloody hell wind that rips through the mat su for much of the winter. One thing about that area though is that it can be 18 degrees on the average day in Palmer, and it'll be -13 out in the Butte--no joke. Very common to see this in the winter. And strange because it's only about ten miles away as the crow flies.

[heathen]

This is true. I used to live out by Hunter Creek, right in the bottom of Knik River Valley, and that's the only place in southcentral I've seen get below -40.

[phlinak]

Unfortunately, when the winds start, there is usually little or no warning and they can sometimes last....for......days.....and.....days.

The one bright spot is if the winds are strong enough and last long enough, they will blow all of the snow off my driveway and out of my yard.

[Dakster]

Originally Posted by phlinak

Unfortunately, when the winds start, there is usually little or no warning and they can sometimes last....for......days.....and.....days.

The one bright spot is if the winds are strong enough and last long enough, they will blow all of the snow off my driveway and out of my yard.

I can tell you are one of those glass half full types...

[pfieber]

Originally Posted by heathen

There are two winds in the valley - the Matanuska wind and the Knik wind, and they blow at different times under totally different weather conditions. The Matanuska is the worst because it aims cold air right at downtown Palmer during the winter, when there's cold high pressure over the interior, and low pressure on the coast. This wind also affects the Fishhook area, Sutton, Chickaloon, etc, but not Butte, which is right at the mouth of Knik River valley. The wind that blasts Butte is a Chinook, brought on by strong, warm weather systems from the Gulf of Alaska. It's a relatively warm wind in winter, but can blow at any time of year. Wasilla is in a position to get both of these winds, but not as strong.

The areas near Palmer that are somewhat protected from both winds are the Lazy Mountain area (Clark-Wolverine Road, Smith Road, Maud Road), as well as the Old Glenn Highway where it wind along directly below Pioneer Peak. Over there though, you just have to worry about 4 months without direct sun, and occasional avalanches...

My wife and I will be coming to the Palmer area May 19th through 29th. We are looking for someone who possibly would want to rent out a room for us to stay during this time. This or other inexpensive places to stay would be greatly appreciated.

Paul