Updated with Pics.

Made the drive up there again today to time it from work. Surprised it only took 20 minutes. Not nearly as clear today as yesterday, but still spectacular and could still see Denali. Have an appointment to look at another place here in town tomorrow and another next week.

The more I think about it, the more I want to do this. Will the drive be a pain in the ass at times? Yes. Will there be mornings that I get off and think about couch surfing with a co-worker or getting a motel room? Probably. But the view from up there absolutely rocks. It's all state park and forest service land around there. I have no idea how long I may stay up here. Might was well get the experience.

Here's the main house with the garage. Yes, if this works out, I will be living above the garage, call me Fonzie.


View from the driveway. That is Denali in the distance roughly 250-300 miles from Anchorage.


Now for the downside, looking down the driveway towards the road.


Just after turning out of the driveway and starting on the road back down the mountain towards Anchorage.


Now looking down the road to get up to the house. That's Cook Inlet and Turnigain Arm in the background.




The days of sharing the townhouse in Anchorage are going to be coming to an end soon. It's been great to get settled in and get a feel for things before making a commitment to a long term lease. So now the search for a new place has begun.

Found one place that I absolutely loved today. One bedroom apartment built over the top of a heated garage next to the main house. It's in the hillside area next to the upper Huffman Trailhead for those familiar with Anchorage. When I say hillside are it really should be named mountainside because that's what it is.

The drive up goes straight up the mountain. There were a couple of places I actually thought about turning around but said, "Fuck it, if a Subaru can make it up here, my truck can too!" Four wheel drive is definitely required to get up there, the roads are snow packed and steep. I was about to cross it off my list of consideration but then I turned around in the driveway and saw the view.

OH MY GOD! Up on the side of the mountain in the forest overlooking all of Anchorage, Turnigan Arm and the Cook Inlet. It was clear today and I could see Denali. Yes, being able to see a mountain 250 miles away. Ocean, mountains, snow, tress, an Alaskan postcard. Then I thought, "I may only be up here once, if I can look at this everyday the drive up is worth it."

So that's where I struggle. Great place, fantastic views, in the forest but a drive that may be a pain in the ass during bad weather. Being a trauma nurse, calling off for a snow day really isn't an option. I'm already starting to think I could do this, keep a small duffle bag in the back of the truck with a change of clothes in case I get off work and can't make it up the mountain.

So that's what I'm asking myself, how much of an Alaskan experience do I really want?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 2000Z-71,

Post a picture when you get a chance!

JP

quote:

Originally posted by jprebb:
Post a picture when you get a chance!

JP

Right?
He tells us all about this amazing view... then doesn't show it!

You have chains in the truck already right?
Should be OK for the hill unless it's a lot more crazy than I'm picturing in my head.
At least with chains you have stop instead of just go.

(I'm jealous, I've been to the 50th a few times but haven't seen the 49th yet)

Yeah, no.

I know where you mean, generally. You need studded tires, and would possibly have to chain up occasionally. Except if you do it will be dark, both unchaining once you get down far enough, then chaining up to go home.

More importantly if you have a required response time when called, you will miss your response time when you are on-call. It will happen.

If that doesn’t apply to your position, then love it. The view is breathtaking. Unless there are trees in the way, then the view goes away when you’d really be able to (warmly) enjoy it.

The drive gets to be a bit much. No one wants to visit (more accurately no one wants to crash driving to or from your home), and you end up being a hermit.

You might also ask what type of internet they have available. If they don’t have cable service you’ll be sucking bits through a DSL straw, or LTE.

Are you on a term contract?

If you really want an “Alaskan experience” you probably won’t find it in anchorage.

I’d get one of Thise town houses by the university near providence if it was me. But if I was moving to town I’d probably be looking at Fairbanks anyways.

quote:

Originally posted by onegeek:
Are you on a term contract?

Not on a contract per se, but if I leave earlier than 2 years from my start date I have to pay back my signing bonus and relocation costs. Currently I'm 3 months into it.

The looked intimidating today going up but the truck made it no problem. I've got an F-150 4x4 with 33" BFG All-Terrains. It does good in loose snow and snow pack, on ice it kind of sucks. Didn't slip at all until I got back into town, got complacent and shifted back into 2 wheel drive.

I've got a set schedule and I'm not on call. But the drive up and down the mountain does concern me. I'm already thinking of a duffel bag with change of clothes in the back of the truck and either couch surf or grab a motel room and stay in town if it gets really bad. So far this winter has not been bad, I don't know if that's typical or not.

Given what's been posted I would look at other options. We're just now starting to get into Winter so I expect things could get worse in the next couple of months.

Do you keep any weight in the back of your truck like cinder blocks etc.?

I'd go for it as you only live once. Weight in the back of the bed in the form of bags of sand and bags of salt both of which can come in handy. A couple of shovels. Actual winter tires.

Updated with pics at top.

That looks amazing!

IIRC, you're in the medical/hospital field? Did you ever post what took you to AK from AZ?

I have spent much time in Alaska. As they are fond of saying: "that is a million dollar view." For the few times a year "you may have to stay in a hotel;" I would say the great view and days of easy drive would greatly off set a few nights in a hotel. Go for it, before someone else does.

quote:

Great place, fantastic views, in the forest but a drive that may be a pain in the ass during bad weather. Being a trauma nurse, calling off for a snow day really isn't an option. I'm already starting to think I could do this, keep a small duffle bag in the back of the truck with a change of clothes in case I get off work and can't make it up the mountain.

So that's what I'm asking myself, how much of an Alaskan experience do I really want?

It is a beautiful view...
And it sounds like you want it pretty bad...
Go for it!

But... Good luck with getting up and down a steep driveway if it's packed with snow and becomes icy. Do you have a tractor or a blade to attach to the truck? You're gonna have to plow it rather than just drive on it.

That is a great view!
If the drive is doable then go for it.

This might sound counter intuitive, but my experience has been that 600 - 800 pounds of weight in the bed helps a lot in similar conditions (U.P.). As another stated, grab some studded tires for added grip.

I have also found the added weight chills the ABS down a bit so it doesn't try to kick in at times when unwanted/unneeded.

Get the view. Regret is hard to swallow.

I hope you and yours are well.

That looks like a great place!


If you do it, make sure you have plenty of weight in the back of your pickup. I have about 8 or 9 60 pound sand tubes in my pickup bed. It makes a huge difference.

Get good chains, and practice installing them. There is definitely a learning curve. Throw 1,000 lbs in the bed. I plow a private road just up from me. You'd be amazed how much a decent amount of weight helps. I'm not talking about a few sand bags, but serious weight. I like the big concrete pavers. However, I don't like driving around town with them (I have a Tahoe for regular driving). In a high speed accident, the weight will be missiles.

IIRC, Anchorage doesn't get a huge amount of snow, correct? I think the issue is once it's packed on the roads, it's there for a while (doesn't melt).

My only live experience with Alaska was a 10 day personal tour in a rented RV. There were so many 'scenically enhanced' locations I was overwhelmed.

Having lived in a very scenic rural area where amazingly 'up close' spectacular views of the flanks of Mt Hood were literally a few hundred yards from my front door, the issue was really not of 'being there' but of 'getting there' during some extreme weather periods...and back to where ever friends/family/visitors/ were intent on returning.

Whatever travel time to/from employment still is 'the commute'. Good luck, you have a lot of great country to pick from.

On the one hand I don't see the problem in your pictures. On the other hand, I've noticed my pictures of 20-25 degree hills in our favorite scramble area don't convey the "Damn, that's steep" feeling you get when your at the bottom looking up or at the top looking down.