Okay, forget that last question, it's retorical. Still, answer the first, if you dare...

Also, feel free to ask any questions relating to Alaska, I (and any other alaskan geeks, do they exist) will answer them.

-Oz

quote:

---

Originally posted by Oz, the Wizard of:
Okay, pardon me for my curiosity, but:
AM I THE ONLY GEEK FROM ALASKA THAT POSTS? IS THERE REALLY SUCH A THING AS AN ALASKAN GEEK OR AM I JUST FOOLING MYSELF INTO BELEIVEING I AM A GEEK?

Okay, forget that last question, it's retorical. Still, answer the first, if you dare...

Also, feel free to ask any questions relating to Alaska, I (and any other alaskan geeks, do they exist) will answer them.

-Oz

---

Is alaska cold, or is it just a rumor?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Oz, the Wizard of:
Okay, pardon me for my curiosity, but:
AM I THE ONLY GEEK FROM ALASKA THAT POSTS? IS THERE REALLY SUCH A THING AS AN ALASKAN GEEK OR AM I JUST FOOLING MYSELF INTO BELEIVEING I AM A GEEK?

Okay, forget that last question, it's retorical. Still, answer the first, if you dare...

Also, feel free to ask any questions relating to Alaska, I (and any other alaskan geeks, do they exist) will answer them.

-Oz

---

I just finished reading "Into the Wild" about that kid who disappeared in Danali National Park. It was fascinating.

-Oz

Since you seem to be soliciting inqueries:

1) So are the mosquitoes really as big as the moose?

2) Do you have trouble coping with the long days in summer or long nights in winter?

3) How's the internet connectivity?

4) What is the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge like? Is it really pristine outback or is it a barren wasteland? What do you think about the oil guys drilling there?

5) How's life in Fairbanks? Do you find enough fun things to do with your spare time around town, e.g. restaurants, movies, cafes, bookstores, live musics. There are a couple less than enthusiastic impressions at everything2.com.

Well, that's all I can think of now. Thanks for satisfying my curiosity.

p.s. I'm reading Moby Dick right now, learning more than I ever wanted to know about whales. You can read it on-line, starting here.

1. No, the mosquitoes are not technically as large as the moose, but they are thick enough in places to pick up moose and carry them away (if they were so inclined).

2. The long days are fun! Nobody who's a native of the state has a problem with it. As for the nights, we all go out of our way to get out-of-doors a lot.

3. At the University of Alaska Fairbanks (where my favorite lab is), we get T1.

4. There's not much there, carabou go migrating through occasionally, but beyond that, not much. The oil people sound reasonable, but then, they bribe us all yearly. 8^)

5.There's not too much to do, hence my presence on this board. There are lady geeks here!

And, I've yet to see insomnia.

-Oz

I saw the Northern Lights once. It was one am in late summer. I was leading a climb in the North Cascades AND looking for water so I was a little too preoccupied to properly enjoy them. The mountain punished my distraction from the view by sending a partial white-out storm so when we hit the summit we could barely differentiate land from sky. Bleah.

Are there really towns you have to fly in to? What do the people in the super isolated places do for supplies in the winter?

Anyway, to answer your question, there are literally hundreds of small, cut-off towns and native villages. Ever heard of Alakanuk? How about Unalakleet? Didn't think so. However, communtities with an airstrip get supplies and mail year round. I'm not certain, but there may be a few remaining villages that still get the bulk of their supplies by river barge, though.

Great! I'm glad people are liking this. Any other questions?

-Oz

quote:

---

Originally posted by Oz, the Wizard of:
Xanthene, it's hard to even see the northern lights properly outside of the state. To properly observe the northern lights, you must be in a set of carharts, staring up at the sky, in near -60 degree temperatures, with no clouds. You may get frostbitten, but IT IS WORTH IT! To learn more about the Aurora Borealis, go to http://www.pfrr.alaska.edu/~pfrr/AURORA/INDEX.HTM.

---

I'm not even going to pretend I saw them properly. I was amazed I even saw them at all and miffed I couldn't get a good long look. All I recall is a red and green glow on the horizon. I thought it was the sun and was confused because the sun does NOT rise at 1 am at the latitude Mt. Baker is at. What are carharts? How do people handle the long dark days in winter? I know that in Seattle people come down with SAD all the time (my mom being example A). Is it like that up north too?

Oh BTW, Insomnia was filmed in Canada

I live in Juneau, but I was mostly raised in the Native Village of Metlakatla. I also lived in Anchorage as a kid.

A lot of the movie was filmed in Port Alberni, British Columbia, just up the Island from us.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rednivek:
What do people do in Alaska besides fish and lay pipe?

---

Climb big stormy mountains? That's why I want to go there...

Anyone else?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Oz, the Wizard of:
Woo! Okay, Miles, here we go.
2. The long days are fun! Nobody who's a native of the state has a problem with it. As for the nights, we all go out of our way to get out-of-doors a lot.
5.There's not too much to do, hence my presence on this board. There are lady geeks here!

---

Bing,

I'd like to point out that the population ratio of men to women is my sole reason for wanting to move there. Just might nab me my ubergeek yet. Mmm... Uber...

KG-

-Oz

"you have asked the question and the great Guru Kelly has answered"

Oh, and Xanthene: http://www.supercasuals.com/category.cfm/49
This will give you an idea of what carharts are. For refrence, a store in Fairbanks (called Big Rays) actually sells the most carharts of any retailer in the nation. Wooo! Go Alaska! 8^p

-Oz

-kelly