So this evening I was talking to my wife and mentioned that I'd move back to Alaska in a heartbeat if she'd go. I said probably not Fairbanks but for sure the Soldotna and Kenai area. She says, "Why in the heck would I go back to Alaska and not live where my family is?"

That surprised me. Maybe I pried open the door? We spent a week on the Peninsula last Summer and it really is pretty nice.

Not mentioned about Fairbanks is the smoke in Summer. Forest fires. Every Summer. It gets so dense in Fairbanks that you can't hardly see across the street. People with breathing problems have a heck of a time. I liked the winters, but then again I had something to do then. Work on The Pipeline. Sitting day after day in the cold in FB would probably get tough. She said: "If you can get me out of there from Halloween through mid March I'll go. Well there you go eh? Maybe.

It gets in your blood. Gump has it right. It's about people. You gotta be an excellent bullshitter to live there because of the long nights, and you'll probably be pretty lonely if your philosophy leans towards things being in control..... Alaskans pretty much do whatever the hell they please and don't abide much nonsense.

In Fairbanks you got Hockey, moose in the yard, pretty decent local theater productions, drinking, all kinds of wacky outdoor fun around the Summer Solstice, floating the Chena river during the summer and racing dogs and sleds on it all winter. I've seen sleds pass me doing over a hundred and hour. And that was on a public road. I don't think you'll be bored unless you're bored where you are right now.

I think for now, Alaska during the winter is out for me. I've done some loads to ND with -25 degree temps and that was enough for me. I turned into a big wuss very quickly. 11 degrees here in Casper today seems about as cold as I want to get. I think northern NV will be a good fit for me. Elko is a good spot. Less than 2 hours to the Idaho backcountry strips and about 4-5 hours to my family in SoCal. And Ogden, UT isn't too far for the $300.00 In N Out burger run Northern NV and southern ID is the perfect type of area for my 4 wheeling exploring trips, too.

Zzz wrote:

SkyTruck wrote:I believe this so much that I will be willing to provide you with Airline Travel, Hotel, and Vehicle Rental (using award points that I have available) for you to witness what I/we experienced while there.

He feels strongly about this, Pat. Take him up on it!

Mark's offer reminds me of the time the TV game show offered up special prizes. First place was a one week all expenses paid vacation in Fairbanks. Second prize was a two week all expenses paid vacation in Fairbanks.

Just kidding. Mark and I would disagree as to quality of life in my adopted home town.

58Skylane wrote:I think for now, Alaska during the winter is out for me. I've done some loads to ND with -25 degree temps and that was enough for me.

Chicken!!!!!

There were lots of winter days I'd be sitting there in Kotzebue, 35 miles north of the Arctic Circle, with temps around zero F, and waaaaay down south in places like Burns, OR or Big Piney, WY would be 40 degrees colder.

Maybe that's why I like Burns and Big Piney!

Hope Elko works for ya Pat. Be good to have you close enough to do some flying and four-wheeler stuff.

Gump

Well, I'm joining the gold rush in northeast Nevada next month. I was told that lots of overtime should be avaliable. Which is great! I should have my 182 flying by summer!

Congratulations!

Hope it all works out.

Good luck!!

To hit some older points I just read through:

There's usually no wind and low humidity in the Fairbanks bowl, so -25 in ND would suck way worse than -25 normally would in the 'banks. I used to crank my truck before work in a t-shirt and pants every morning, down to -40 (about 30-45 very bearable seconds outside). Now outside of the bowl it's another story.

Also, I had a Soldier that worked for me. After he retired from the Army he got a job at Ft Knox up by Chatanika and did not enjoy himself there. He was driving dump trucks.

Mister701 wrote: Summer Solstice, floating the Chena river during the summer and racing dogs and sleds on it all winter. I've seen sleds pass me doing over a hundred and hour. And that was on a public road.

OK I've watched the iditarod on tv and I never saw one of those hundred mile an hour dog sleds....

Sled = snowmobile

Or, a Sled is a Cessna 207. Though there are snowmachines probably faster!

Gump

Big yahoo for u Pat...! that is very cool, and like i said there are lots of cool idaho folk there, so i know u will fit in well...look forward to seeing u around the back-country up here once again in that good lookin' 182 of yours. WHEE, as of right now i will still be at action for sure, my partner has a few health issues right now, and i'm kinda worried for him. i'll go to the end of the earth for that guy and his family, as he has done for me. we are damn close and that means a helluva lot more that any amount of $...! so for now ive buckled in tight and we will ride it out, thankfully our business is rockin' really good...! so bottom line, i will be doin' a lot of flyin/campin and more than normal business trips as well and that all rocks in my world...! i am happy that Pat is getting a job i think he will like...are u,whee, gonna be sticking around idaho still...?!

Thanks guys!! Jomac. Yes, I'll stay in Emmett for a while and commute back and forth (5 hour drive each way and 1.25 hour flight each way). I may move to Elko if I can sell my house in Idaho for a good price. Right now, Emmett has been slower to rebound than the Boise area. But I'd be also cautious about buying a house in a Boom and Bust town like Elko.

I did get hired by Barrick. By the time I read your comment about your contacts at Barrick, the wheels were already in motion. Glad it all worked out. I'll be working at the Bald Mountian mine. So if your friends are there, be good to meet them.

Thanks again guys! Might be a few more months. But my goal is to get flying by summer time! Just in time for high DA's

Good for you Pat, make it work Get your ass back in the air

Pat - I really like your house in Emmit , wife can't do stairs . I'd really like to find a single story hideaway around Emmit and go there during April/May thru Oct. Timeframe. Our place. In summer can be brutial - we need something much cooler . I've been to Fairbanks ( in military ) and really gets cold ~ burr. Elko is more Temperate climate and I can tolerate much better."Gold Rush" is one of my favorite TV show's and tape/DVR all the shows. Near 40 years ago went to central/south American on Gold exploring adventure . 94 lbs of pure gold in 6 weeks !

Well done on the new job Pat. Bummer that Kayenta didn't work out, we could have used another backcountry pilot around the rez.
Good luck with it.

Rezrider wrote:Well done on the new job Pat. Bummer that Kayenta didn't work out, we could have used another backcountry pilot around the rez.
Good luck with it.

Thank you!! I was really looking forward to a call back from Kayenta. But never received a call. But Elko really is a perfect fit for me. I'll still get down your way a time or two after I get the plane flying and get money back in the bank account.

Most of all, I'm thrilled to be getting onto a salary that will allow me to keep the 182 and maintain her properly. I came very close recently to lit go of the 182 if I was going to stay on the income I'm on now.

And Bill...... We should talk! I'm sure we can work something out.