Alaska was number 2 on my list of places to never visit... I moved here to Kodiak Alaska over a year ago after the Californians got the rent in Idaho doubled. As soon as I moved here I realized I don't ever want to go back to the lower states. The natural beauty of Alaska is truly unparalleled. And freedom is a REAL thing here.
My father moved up here a long time ago. He's been up here for 40 years. Was born here in Alaska myself, and all I have to say is that Alaska is an amazing place to live, as long as you're in the right place. Fun all year long. Midnight sun in the summer and the complete opposite in the winter, never gets old! Summer is months away as of now, but I can't wait. Been all over the lower 48. There will never be anything like Alaska in the lower 48, ever.
Like Alaska, living in Wyoming is similar, I carried a survival kit just in case my vehicle broke down at the wrong place and time. Such a situation can cost you your life. There are those who have never been to Alaska or west of the Mississippi River and don’t understand what, “being in the middle of nowhere” really means.
This is great. I think there’s 3 types of people in Alaska. The ones that grew up here and love living here. The ones that grew up here and don’t want to live here anymore. And the ones that move here. Personally think the ones that move here do the best and have the best outlooks/ attitudes for whatever reason. Sadly, I’m the second , I grew up here and don’t want to live here. I’ve moved out once and will be doing it again. Hopefully better this time… there are some great things about this state, and talking to ppl day to day, there is a lot of pride for here. Like texas, you can’t really go talking trash about your state here to most people. A lot of ppl aren’t that cheery or are negative and I think it’s largely the weather. It can ruB off and be demoralizing and you won’t even realize it. Me, I don’t mind the ppl, I just am done with the darkness nearly half the year, weather, etc. and need to move and experience new things and opportunities.
I understand and good luck! I have lived in Alaska since 1960 which a bit odd since I consider myself the fair-weather type. From living in the city to remote villages in the interior of the state where the temperature consistently hit -60’s each winter. Work and family have kept my wife and I around. Like you, it is now time to refocus……there is a lot to see and experience in the lower 48 and my wife and I are looking forward to the change.
A lot of Alaskans wind up down here in Seattle. My Ketchikan born/raised mom met my dad in this city. Mom would tell me some crazy stuff about her time there, she was actually living in Anchorage during the Good Friday quake.
I lived in Haines Alaska for 22 years. Great place. It is served by the state ferry, and it has a road to the big world, unlike Juneau. It was a 4 plus hour ferry ride to Juneau. And a similar length drive to Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon. And what a ride! Worth every minute. Haines definitely is NOT affected by most of the Alaskan problems. Great community. Good M to F ratio. Even the weather is milder. And it was mentioned by Outdoor Magazine as one of the ten best cities for outdoor recreation in the US. Nevertheless I'd only recommend it to the adventurous.
felt like the different regions of alaska make it such a hard place to categorize in one video like this. Living in the interior or Anchorage is 100x different than living in Haines and the SE.
@@caveaudio8138 When I first arrived in Southeast Alaska I met a fisherman down by the docks. After a while he said, sometimes I think that they are right about independence. I replied you mean Alaska becoming a separate country? He said. No, Southeast Alaska. Keep in mind that Southeast Alaska looks small in comparison to whole state. But actually including the Inland Passage waterway along the coast, Yakutat down to Ketchikan is roughly the size of Florida. And culturally it is different than the rest of the state, much more like Scandinavia.
@@KevenTomlinson Many people go to Haines in the summer to work with tourism. Look up companies like Chilkat Guides, Rainbow Glacier Adventures, River Adventures, etc. They all hire regularly and there are more. Fishing also takes place in the area, but you can't go in cold on that. Many people work in the nature related jobs first, then work their way into that. If you are interested look at these places now. Also go to trip Advisor and look at the names of other tour organizations. Do NOT work in Skagway or Juneau, the tourism is too industrial there. Good luck.
I knew a lady that lived in AK for a few years, teaching at a local college. She became depressed during the sunless days and never found the man of her dreams. The whole reason she moved from the lower 48 was because of the male to female ratio. It did not work out, at all.
Well my 11+ year GF just had to go there to teach in a western fly in remote village. We are an older age but she (semi) retired early to help family. This is our first LDR , her neighbor bragged about it and she jumped in . So whatever happens to us I will be fine.Her dream, not mine!😎
@@l.a.raustadt518 If you have been with your gf for 11 years and have not committed to marriage, she did not leave you to "go there to teach". She just left you. Don't kid yourself. Sorry about that.
Having spent some time in Alaska . I can assure you that the vast majority of people are simply Not cut out for Life in Alaska . Nothing is easy there , i mean nothing .
Many that leave wish they hadn't, but like many, they can't wait to get away. If a person is not use to being alone they most certainly should NOT live here! It is hard connecting with people here if you don't drink. Me, I"m a loner so life is good.
Finally a video that speaks some truth. Lived in AK in the 80s was good. Today, AK developers are overly greedy. Modest housing not available under $300k-400k range. Under that is a rotted out, infested dump they call 'fixer-upper'. Property taxes inching up, and living off the grid is just a BS pipe dream. Majority of jobs are either tourism (min wage) or govt (extreme politics). With current rates of inflation, AK is generally double the lower 48. Just not worth it, too bad could be a great retirement option but would eat away most folks savings pretty quick. Has become the land of the high end professionals who build fly in mansions and their personal and civil servants humbly waiting on them. Sad joke from what used to be, when they actually had decent paying middle class jobs in the 50s and 60s. If I was stuck living up there year round, sad to say but would probably grow d o p e.
Heidi, if you haven't tried the Kirkland Stir Fry veggies from Costco no joke.......get a bag........or 5 depending on where you live. They will be the best thing you have ever put in your mouth. YUM
Spot on list, Briggs. I lived in Anchorage from 1991-97, working at a TV station. Get this, I didn’t have a car when I first moved up! Fortunately, my apartment was close to work and shopping. Unfortunately, it was kind of in a sketchy neighborhood. Still, I had a good experience there, but I never want to see snow for the rest of my life.
It's getting better, but ya....Anchorage has it's problems. That's why I don't live there. It kinda throws the states stats off a bit. It's gotten better though for transportation! But yup! Still snow! Take care man. Glad you got to at least experience Alaska! It's an awesome place, for sure, even if ya don't like snow. d;-)
@@wyolaskan1868 Neither, it was Spenard. I worked at the former KTVA on W. 32nd Ave. I lived on W. 25th, across from W. Anchorage HS. Nothing bad happened to me in the 'hood. But it did have a lot of Ladies Of The Night plying their trade.
I had a firm job offer for AK just last week. I turned it down for a job in WA. 3 reasons. 1 is promotion potential. 2 was cost of living compared to the pay (I am single). 3 is the lack of roads and places to drive. I love roadrips and the mountains. Thought AK was the dream spot. The deeper I dug, the more I realized I'd be unhappy there.
Yep. Beautiful to visit. But (most) ppl don't do well in isolation so some of these points are very understandable. Personally, th bears eating you changed my mind. Worrying bout dogs while walking is bad enough. At least I can shoot them if they attack (& they do, over 5,000 ppl a yr DIE from dog attacks so all you dog livers can just chew on that). I don't like loose dogs. Bears are just bigger, more aggressive dogs.
@@singingwindrider9881 Wow, pretty funny about the bears. I’ve been here over 40 years and have wandered all over hunting, fishing, rafting ... you get the idea and have never been really attacked. I’ve had a big brown bear run from something else and stop about 20’ from me. It looked over its shoulder where it came from as I took the safety off my :06 and yelled BOO and it ran like hell from me. We see a few bear at our remote cabin every summer. Moose in the winter are more dangerous than bear. We see them just about everyday from our house this time of year. I saw a couple already today.
You did a good job with your research then! I love here and will be moving out in five months for the exact reasons you stated lol. Hope you love Washington!
Someone from California bought my cabin in Alaska and moved into it. The guy died within 1 month. Had no idea what he was doing and drowned in the ocean in front of the cabin.
Alaska, it's a beautiful state but I would never encourage anyone to move here, especially a family. It's cold, dark and the summers are not that great. Moose have more rights than humans. The education system sucks and teenage suicide is third highest in the country. The housing market is ridiculously high as well as apartment living. Everything is high here! There are weed shops, cigarette shops and coffee shops EVERYWHERE, just for your FYI. Alaska doesn't spend a lot of money on their highways. If you don't like guns definitely do not move up here. If you like hunting, fishing, and living off the grid, this is the place for you. Not to mention 'earth-shakes', they happen all the time.
You know how you recognize an Alaskan. If an earthquake is below 6, we still working. 7. Hey this is fun. 8. Ehhh its a little long. Ps. Those none Alaskans, Richter scale
What do you mean? They spend a ridiculous amount on rebuilding rodes just the snow and ice destroy them. Alaska is a great place to move as long as you avoid Anchorage and the villages
You are spot on! Also its not just A gun. You'll want to own a few. And pretty much if you can't buy something local, you order from Amazon! Expensive either way. As for the saying "The odds are good, but the goods are odd" that pretty much sums it up. Great video! 😁
I've lived here for years. I've never needed a gun. Most people do have them though....sounds like you're pretty remote though by your name, so ya... you'd need a gun, for sure! d;-)
LOL yes I guess I should have made that distinction first huh? If you live in the "bush" you're going to want to own a gun. Or at a minimum some bear spray. 😁
Borned and raised in this beautiful state and moved to the Lower 48 for college, still visit friends and family, but likely won't move back. Living or growing up here will toughen you up and people are much more self-sufficient and tend to rely on their communties and neighbors more than institutions. That's why there is an underlying sense of Libertarianism here. Although it's a red state, that's more of a relfection of Alaskans' desire not to take orders from D.C. than their actual allignment from a policy perspective. For example, Alaska has strong unions and labor laws, a high minimum wage, legalized weed and other more left-leaning policies. They just prefer to impliment things at the state level, since there's literally one degree of connection here. If you are considering moving here, I honestly don't think you'll regret the experience, whether it's a year or a lifetime. Pro tip: have a winter activity! If you ski/snowboard, ice fish, snow machine (saying snow mobile will get you punched), moose hunt, snow sculpt, play pond hockey... Do anything in the winter, you will learn to look forward to both seasons (Winter/Construction). Keep in mind too, 1/5 of Alaska's population is Alaska Native and many villages struggle with drugs and alcohol and the crimes that stem from them. The native corporations in particular are doing positive work to ameliorate these issues, but the problem persists. For this reason, the statewide statistics are not always an accurate picture of what may actually be experienced, so focus on the specific community to which you're considering relocation.
Very interesting feedback. That's what I am thinking those days when I watch videos about the crime level of different countries. It's difficult to make the difference between a vast overall crime activity and more specific, localised crime activity.
Good one Briggs!!! I have been to AK as a visitor and loved it but won't move there. Had a friend who lived there who was a prison guard. He told me there are some strange people that go up there to hide out because they don't fit in society in the lower 48. It's beautiful to visit though. Sitka is gorgeous!
Very true..........there are a lot of people that change their name illegally and move up here to hide out. It's easy to do..........really easy to do.
@@10MinutestoRouletteFortune That used to be true, but pretty much impossible now with all the technology available to LE. Back in the early 70s there was a plane crash just off shore in my father's jurisdiction. One passenger refused to come ashore and died from hypothermia. When my father held the inquest it turns out the guy was a fugitive from justice and didn't want to be exposed. Today, whether you come by air, sea or land, your identification will be checked and confirmed by someone.
@@AlaskaErik Only ones that had contracts with the oil companies ride the charter. I put my airfare on a company card the last nine years I was up there. . I haven’t worked for a company where I flew on a the charter in 33 years of going up there. In the early 80s the company I worked for had us all authorized to make our own reservations.
There was one more you forgot! The missing people being kidnapped. You can sweep this problem under the rug. This is something that Alaska doesn't like to talk about but it's a huge problem and it has been televised all over the US.
If you started with a good supply of dry food, I think Pelican might be a nice place to live. Nice boardwalk road. Elfin Cove looks nice. And Warm springs Bay.
I spent a month in Alaska back in 1983, Ft. Wainwright for Arctic Warfare School. I went from Grenada (90+) with a short stop at Ft. Bragg, NC and then jumped into Alaska -30). HUGE change! I like cold, but a 130 degree change in weather made the first few days kind of tough, but I had a killer tan. 😁
When I went to Ranger School in Benning the c-5 that picked us up at Fort Ord came from Alaska and took us all to Georgia in August. The guys from Alaska about fell over when the hit that heat and humidity.
@@WorldAccordingToBriggs My uncle Paul trained at Fort Benning for what ended up as a Glider Rider in the 17th Airborne 194 the GIR Co.B. Only a few his company survived something like 120 replacements after Nazi tank incident in Belgium. Thanx 4 your service! Lets home current president does not cause losses to our troops ,peace!
I've lived in Michigan most of my life and the last 10 years in Alaska. The mosquitos are about equal in the valley or Anchorage but swampy/muskeg areas in Alaska have waaaaaaay worse mosquitos than Michigan.
I've been living in AK for about ten years. I've thought AK is a very safe place but this video made me shocked that showed how violent crime is high in AK comparing other states.
I think the numbers are a little skewed. The state is so sparsely populated, and I think almost half of the population of the sate lives in Anchorage. Therefore, most of the crime happens there. I'm from Chicago and I now live in a small island community in the Southeast. My girlfriend and I feel much safer here than back home.
@@roberthodges8261 I agree. Alaska is very safe even in Anchorage I feel safe. I really don’t get it but I guess it’s there. I lived on a island 20 years and while it was rough, I’d hardly say it was dangerous for crime.
I wouldn't go anywhere in Alaska (mainly Anchorage) even if they paid me to go. It's full of drug addicts, abductions, serial killers, people vanishing without a trace, etc. And Alaska is the most dangerous state in the US. Thanks but no thanks!
I was thinking about relocating to either Anchorage or Minneapolis from Seattle. After watching this, it's hello Minneapolis for me. Just have to get my wife on board now.
When the price of oil goes over $100 a barrel the state has big bucks and everything is great. Our economy runs opposite the rest of the country on an oil economy. When prices are low the lower 48 booms and Alaska starves. I’ve seen this 3 times now in the 43 years I’ve been here. Our legislators just started meeting and they are talking about spending big bucks between the oil revenues going up and a crap load of Federal $$$.
Minnesota native here, Minneapolis is getting crazy expensive for how little their is to do imo. Not crazy like Seattle though. It’s very flat, and other then Minnehaha falls and the lakes of course, it’s just a lot different than the PNW.
@@liliana7201 And a lot colder too I bet. Don't worry. I can deal with that. I used to live in NY. The cost of living in Minneapolis is still a lot more manageable than Seattle. There's an abundance of job opportunities there. Can't wait to start another chapter of my life.
@@liliana7201 I’m retired and even though it is expensive for many things, many things are cheaper. We have not state sales or income tax. Some towns have sales tax but it isn’t bad. Wasilla is 2.5% with a $300 cap so he max you would ever pay is $7.50 on a purchase . Where I live as a senior over 65 I get a $218,000 property tax exemption. We built a small very energy efficient home with R40 walls and a lot of glass on a south wall with a nice view. If you live here long and had a good skill retirement and social security are good even with a lot of crazy life choices.
I admit, Alaska isn’t for everyone. I’ve lived in Fairbanks for over 40 years, and believe it or not, I love it here. I can’t think of any place down in the states where you can this free. 15 min and you’re “out of totem.” If your am outdoors person, Alaska is fantastic. If you’re a city / urban person, not even Anchorage can satisfy your need for city life.
When people from back home ask if there’s anything to do, I always have to tell them “it really depends on what you’re into and what you want to do.” A outdoorsman’s paradise, for sure! Some semblance of City fare, not a lot of options, but it’s there.
My issue with Alaska is the predominant darkness in the winter and the lack of darkness in the summer. I love summer nights! But I wonder if it’s just a matter of getting used to things. I live in Wisconsin. I’m used to cold weather. I’m curious about Alaska.
@@miguelidcomm Mainly, yes. I prefer the veil of night and cooler weather, so the winter is pleasant, despite the cold sticking around too long. But, summer, for me, is brutal. Too much Sun, for me. And the heat isn’t excruciating, but it lingers longer and feels hotter than it actually is.
@@wyolaskan1868 Interesting. Here in the Midwest, summers can be annoying because of the humidity, and people doing more drugs or drunk driving. But other than that, I do love it. Hope I get to visit Alaska someday. I just think it’s an interesting-beautiful (not to mention intriguing) place.
I laughed when they were talking about wildlife. I went camping for like 6 weeks in the boundary waters between Canada and Minnesota. It was a thing called the Rainbow 🌈 Gathering, with like 2-3,000 people. The black flies were so bad that I could see light scars forever. Also I saw a couple bear and a moose with her baby. Thankfully I was on the lake since you don't want to be anywhere near a mother moose always remember that they are great swimmers though.
I definitely read that as “mother goose”. I was like “WOW. He mentioned Bears and moose but said to stay away from the geese. They must be super protective and dangerous out there!” 😂😂
I’m 15 and I was born and raised in anchorage Alaska (I’m still here) and I’ve always loved it however my mom, aunt, and possibly my uncle are thinking of moving to the lower 48 to be closer to family and things but we’ll definitely be up there at least once or twice a year cause it’s absolutely breathtaking, and although literally everything he said in the video is true (especially the men to women thing I think there’s something defective abt the boys up here) Alaska just has the best things that I’ll never be able to part with.
When you considers stats on the R word it makes me wonder is the stat reflective of the amounts of R or the bravery of the women reporting the R. Its real hard to enumerate something like that...just a thought🤔
Good news for us travel nurses to keep working in Alaska! We can live there without committing! As for finding a man….the correct saying is “The odds are good, but the goods are odd!” Long, long winters are worse than the temps! Much of the violent crimes occur within families actually and due to substance and alcohol abuse. Getting back and forth between islands are just a plane trip away and part of the adventure! For years, I can fly to anchorage cheaper than within the lower 48…many times.yes everything is expensive, you just learn that you don’t have to spend unnecessary items. Ya learn NOT to spend money! Alaska has its problems, but just go outside and throw yourself into the wildlife….yes, in winter also. You will get over it quickly! The world seems huge and open to any open mind in Alaska!!!
It's so weird you posted this because since yesterday I've been thinking of making and saving tons of money to move to Alaska. I've been watching your Alaska videos and other channels that talk about Alaska and I see you posted this video 4 hours ago. This is probably a sign? I love the rural and natural vibes of the State. I see Alaska grows huge vegetables, so that's a reason I want to live there. I want to have huge gardens with organic vegetables, fruits, and herbs. And have a farm of chickens, sheep, ponies, etc., and living in a big cottage in the middle of a huge land.
Th bear, wolves, & other big predators will wipe you out. Ppl who do well in Alaska are those that truly love being alone (always, like years), can hunt & truly live 99% off the land (off grid, 99% self sufficient).Your dream sounds like you would b better off finding a like minded settled community. That way, predators are minimal. Greenhouses & hydroponics give great results as well.
I’ve been gardening up here for over 40 years. My sister and her family came up after me and I let them live in a 2nd place I had in the 80s. She took classes up here on agriculture. Their house was on about an acre in a subdivision and it was a small farm with sheep and chickens. We built her a 24’s40’ greenhouse with the double walls. She had almost the whole lot planted and sold organic produce at a few farmers markets. She moved to Vermont in 2000 and did it there but with many greenhouses right up till she died last year.
I absolutely love it up here. A lot of the problems are in Anchorage and it really throws the stats off. It truly is amazing.... especially the months of daylight which makes up for the months of darkness when it comes to gardening. I know quite a few people that garden year-round up here with lights! Summer though is an awesome time for gardening. Things certainly grow better and bigger up here with all that summer sunshine!!! d:-)
its cold its desolate, lots of crime, high addiction rates, VERY expensive, yet very poor economy and job market, its absolutely beautiful though,so a good place to visit, spend a few months exploring, but not to live
Alaska is fantastic, but it absolutely isn't for everyone. Even though I'm a die hard Alaskan and I love this state, this video is very accurate. Thanks for the video, hopefully it'll help keep outsiders out lol.
I want to say I never even wanted to visit Alaska : however almost 17 years ago we moved here to Homer Alaska: and I have to say it is an amazing place to live, the people the mountains the ocean, the Freedom and just the sense of safety and well-being you feel living here. People are a family because most of us moved from somewhere Else, next to Hawaii it’s the most amazing state to live and raise your family. Living in Alaska is a life changing experience. People really care about others. However if you lived in Anchorage: or a small village where you don’t leave or the sun sets in the fall, and dosen’t come up until spring that would be a different ball game. So Alaska is a huge state: it’s important to choose wisely, as with any state you move too. For us Alaska is family. ❤️🇺🇸
every time I visit I want to move there more and more, I want to get away from the grind and live like a free man catching my own food and no one to bug me.
@Big Dick Black from bad cooks and people that don't bleed them properly, I've not had a bad deer or rabbit because I learned how to bleed them and cook them.
Friend of mine told me about the number one on this list because she studied there for a bit and I was shocked. But it actually kinda makes sense. All that bleakness for so much of the year can get to some people I guess.
For the assault point, god it's beyond true. One of my friends grew up in Seward, and she kept saying she had three things to worry about that could happen to her that would destroy her out there. Bear attacks Men without empathy And the cold
The women DELIBERATELY CHOSE those bad men - they are attracted to the "bad boy" and abandon the good ones. I saw this happen constantly in America, to my friends, myself, and even enemies...
@@creamydistortion Yes bro it's basic female knowledge. Alpha fux, beta bux. Alpha seed, beta need. Break rules for the alphas, make rules for the betas
Thats not true. Ive lived in Seward for the last 23 years. There has been one non-fatal bear attack here in that time., due to being on an ice free ocean port, its warmer here in the winter than most US midwest states, and my wife (in AK 21 years) and her friends colleagues, all feel very safe here. Random violent crimes here are not at all a thing. And yes we are all very armed. Breaking into a home or messing with the wrong person is a death sentence.
Huh that’s weird, because I’ve lived in Alaska all my life and well, I have almost never heard of crime, well I’ve that there’s been a shoot out of guns, but that’s about it, other than that it’s like small crimes, the only place we’re crime is often is Anchorage, but still not very often, it was kinda expensive before, but now that Biden is here it’s even more expensive, if someone were to live in Alaska, it be better to live in Wasilla, not to far from Anchorage, because not about an hour, at most, there think about building a bridge between Anchorage and Wasilla, so not that long.
The mosquito problem in Michigan is huge during the summer epsically in the Upper Penninsula because way to many forest and water and mosquitos love that stuff.
The weather is the deal breaker for me. I hate being cold. That's #1 on my list. I have driven through 48 states. I would like to drive to Alaska someday, if there are good roads all the way through Canada. 68 hours and 4,200 miles from where I live. I can drive about 15 hours per day, so it would take me 5 days to get there. Sounds like fun!! Also, I'm glad you don't mind playing games with RU-vid algorithms as I enjoy watching your videos. I couldn't be a RU-vidr simply because I refuse to make changes just because RU-vid wants to demonetize people over the use of a word while completely ignoring context. That would drive me insane.
I'd love to visit one day but there's not a chance I could ever live there. As much as I love nature and my space the negatives are just too numerous. Great vid though :)
So long as you don't live in a village, the crime isn't bad as they claim. I've been in Anchorage for 4 years and yes there are bad spots just like every other city. You just don't go there at 2am.
My brother was stationed with the AF for a short time in Juneau. He said the mosquitoes were unlike anything he'd ever before seen. Without netting, they would have all been eaten alive. As it was, they were knawed but survived.
I was born and raised in Anchorage Alaska and everything you said was spot on. If you are a single man moving to Alaska with the intention of finding a woman to be in a relationship with, you're going to be disappointed and wasting your time. Don't even get me started on the nightlife, you'll mostly see more guys at bars and clubs than women & the balance ratio is awful and that's one of the reasons why I left Alaska, too many men, and not many women. I do miss the scenery and fresher air though! lol
@ryan dean I haven't been back since 2013 but that's how it was the last time I was there. It didn't matter if you went to koots or downtown the ratio was always bad.
Anyone remember the tv show Northern Exposure? I wanted to move to Alaska but then I started doing research and now I go to visit one day. Just to visit.
I grew up in Homer AK and put a lot of years working there and saw all kind of people moving and visiting there. It was a great state and still is but if your a city person stay away its not for you especially during winter. Like most states the more people moving there the more scum comes along. The cold in AK is a dry cold, summer's are beautiful, but if you think bears or moose are like in a zoo NOT they will kill you if you get stupid.
California has it all if we want snow we can go to the snow ❄️ if we want sunny weather at the beach we can do that also if we want to hike we can go to the mountains California has the best geography in America easily and it's not close
Yea but too bad your Governor sucks and your state is an expensive, tax crazy, highly regulated, homeless infested dump now. Was nice back in the 60’s-70’s but not no more. Time to move for better pasture. Still Alaska beats California hands down
You're verrrrrrrrrrry creative in finding out how to navigate around the RU-vid "buzz words". It's sad to address this two topics; and ridiculous that the RU-vid overlords will demonitize channels for being open about them; but, nevertheless, I'm impressed.
i do not get it at all An act does not stop being an act because we stoped using the term to describe the act. why are we doing this dance? its really really weird to me
Just moved to the Kenai Peninsula a few months ago. It is a different life than in the lower 48 for sure. The thing is, Alaska calls to people. I visited many years ago on a cruise and knew I was leaving "home" when the ship sailed away. There are several things about Alaska that are unsettling, like crime (more prevalent in bigger cities), wild animals, including the hummingbird sized mosquitoes, earthquake tremors, and all that comes with being in the Ring of Fire Wilderness. I knew that going into our 5832 mile move to Alaska, which is not a move you take lightly for sure. I am absolutely ok with whatever Alaska has to offer, because it's the dream, and it is home: I live in the most beautiful place ever, and it is so worth it.
Interesting you said Alaska calls you, I feel the same way, One day it got in my mind Alaska was the place to be no matter what, and I will be moving there soon, still working on it, never been but I'm sure Ill never leave after arrival. I don't know why.
@@ZaChYmO you will love Alaska! It is the most beautiful and magical place in the world in my view. Just be prepared to deal with Mother Nature in all her glory! Some advice: don't make the mistake of making your journey here after October and before May. Winter gets dicey here. I hope your journey is a great one!
@@mrsjkehoe 😊 I apreciate the response. May be the winter months will be the ones that will take me there as I am a truck driver and will be going through a temp agency. I'm not sure how big Alaska is in the warm season as to commercial driving..
Something not mentioned in the video is how totally odd the way people interact are in Alaska! The social skills of people who grew up there are just not quite as refined as those of us who grew up in the lower 48. It takes some getting used to- being sort of uncomfortable and uneasy in conversation with people lol. It’s can make it hard to make friends. I’m leaving Alaska in five months and I could not be more excited!
@@SeattleMartin apparently you cared enough to reply, This chick I commented about clearly does not belong here and it shows. I'm happy she's leaving because she most likely would not survive living up here very long. Those "social skills" Taryn mentioned is called being friendly. Ppl from the Continental States have lost what it means to be friendly so much to the point when they are confronted with true kindness it makes them uncomfortable. Yeah, those kinds of ppl are not welcome here.
Alaska is a very transient state. Some people can't take the long winters and strange unpredictable weather. Dress in layers and NOT cotton and you will be fine. We are a quiet group that have no problems with being along. Many might think of us as anti social because, well, there aren't may people here. You had better be an introvert to really survive up here or you just might push your own button so yes, it is easy to be lonely up here. Yeah it sucks being a single guy in Alaska but if you dress just one level above all the other guys then your chance of landing a lady is easy and dressing a little above them is easy. Don't expect anything over a 6 up here guys. Just keeping it real. The population is smaller even though we are the largest state so, crime rates will seem high. Again, in the villages woman are at risk. So long as you don't live off in a native village, you are pretty safe. Like Native Americans, Eskimos don't drink well at all. Many villages are DRY. I'm in Anchorage and there are a few pockets to stay away from just like every other city. Yes we have guns.........yes we carry them and many everywhere. Yes, you can go into bars and people will have a gun in your chest rig in fishing towns. Amazon Prime is a MUST!! Yes, it's expensive but YES you are paid more so it's a wash. Bears..........make noise, especially in spring. One bear spray at camp on the table and one with you at all times. PERIOD.
I have lived in Alaska for over 50 years and you are pretty much spot on. I have tried some warmer places that people flock to when they retire but end up back here because it’s home. A couple reasons for some of the negative topics you touched on in my opinion are the PFD, the free money attracts too many less desirables and the wide open remote areas attract some folks that are trying to stay one step ahead of the law. They figure they can come up here and hide out. Yep! The odds are good but the goods are odd😳 Where men are men and the women want to be🤣
I've lived in Alaska for 35 years in Eagle River (little north of Anchorage) and like you said, it's home. All of my family is here and I wouldn't be anywhere else.
@@Jenny-fw6yq I ve got family around E.R. area (cousins) and they enjoy it. The GF is due west teaching . So my hearts there ,I have never been but sure it is as safe as you make it. Heck I live in North Minneapolis , not your safest city! Works for me though. Peace!✌
It would be so nice to live somewhere you had to ride a snowmobile 5 hours to get to a town, then spend the night in a motel then ride 5 hours home the next day.
Many employers will not hire a person that has not spent at least one full winter in AK, turnover is terrible. People go there in summer and then move there then leave shortly after the new year. More people are killed by mouse than bears in AK.
Lived in Alaska most of my life and always plan to leave but I’m so comfortable here. I can be a nurse anywhere but I’ve got cheap housing and I know what to expect up here.
I live in Wisconsin. I feel that way sometimes. In the end, this is my home. I wonder if I would like living in Alaska. I’m used to cold-long winters and short amazing summers. I love nature too. Who knows. I think visiting first would be the best thing to do. ❄️
Texan: We're the largest state in the Union. Alaskan: No, we're bigger than you. Texan: Only until you melt! (I'm a native Texan who heard that alleged joke too many times!) I'd like to visit Alaska, see the beautiful scenery, do some fishing, hunting, camping. On my bucket list.
I was born and raised in Anchorage. When I left to attend college in Texas I had to deal with the statements about Texas being bigger than Alaska if all the ice melted. My reply which left most hecklers speechless was , "If you melt all the ice in Alaska , Texas will be under water!
@@edbaranowski1958 Even, the northern you go, it's still not true. It's 2.5-3 months at best. The 6 months thing is from Antarctica, where a lot of people get mixed up on.
My husband works with airplanes and he got a “great job offer ” but in Alaska. He was kind of talking and thinking about it but we live in Florida, no way…I won’t survived 3 months. That didn’t happen
Glad to hear people are leaving Alaska. The newcomers bring crime and everything else with them. Alaska used to be great until they came. It still is...
When I was stationed at the Norfolk, Virginia Naval base, I met someone who was actually hoping for order to Alaska. I asked him why. His answer, the fishing.
1968 my mother got remarried and the guy she got married to had a sister living up just outside of Kenai that halfways between Kenai and Soldotna. I had also Growing Up in Southern California, Garden Grove California to be exact! And just five days after I turned 15! Up until that time the only snow I had ever seen or ever knew about was what I thought was bad reception on the TV because cable hadn't been invented yet! When I came back from the service my mom sister and stepdad had moved to Soldotna! And for me out of still been up there but my wife was going to leave with me or without me she didn't care! I should have said see ya!
I was born and raised in Anaheim then in the early 2000s moved south of OC. I don’t think I’d be able to handle living in the northern U.S. winters. The initial cold wouldn’t bother me as much but the overall chilly temps year round would. It’s nice to get 70F even in January here and there. Alaska wouldn’t get that till late April I’d imagine.
Pretty good..you know alot about our state..but you forgot about the smoke from all the fires in the Summer...where else in the USA do you have 20 by 30 mile fires that are just left to burn ? Thanks for your videos ! Cheers from Prince of Wales Island..3rd largest island in the USA..( unless you are counting territories ) Maybe you could do a video on the 10 largest islands in the USA..some time ?
Currently stationed in Japan (2nd tour), but Alaska is my home duty station. We moved up in 2005 to Palmer, and I drove the Glenn Hwy the 100 mile round trip everyday to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), when not deployed. My wife, of 31 years, grew up on a working ranch in Northern Arizona. We did a road-trip vacation to get to Alaska via the Alcan through western US and Canada. When we hit Alaska (just in time for Breakup) she cried all the way from Tok to Palmer, claiming it as the ugliest place she had ever been to. In 2008 had the opportunity to get shipped back to Arizona, and my wife said NO. She fell totally for Alaska, and said she would die before ever going back to the Lower 48. She passed in 2020, and her ashes and those of all the dogs we had are scattered in Rabbit Slough out on the Palmer Hay Flats Wildlife Refuge (there are no laws against disposing of a body that died of natural causes, I checked first). Some things about the stats mentioned in the video. Crime: Yes there is high violent and personal assault crime in Alaska. Sadly, it is mostly in the rural native villages, and in Anchorage thanks to all those that support an exploding homeless population; mostly among natives and drug and alcohol related. The Mat-Su Borough (Palmer, Wasilla, Houston) does have a lot of property crime. But the criminals are stupid and it is easy to follow their tracks through the snow back to their house. Overall, Alaska has fewer police than there are transit cops in NY City, and sometimes it can take days for Troopers to get to anywhere off the road system using planes/boats because of the weather. Guns: Yes, Alaska is gun friendly. Thank god. I have lived places with strict gun laws and experienced more crime, not less. Our question is always, if it is Tourist Season, why can't we hunt them? But when you live in a place where it can days for even just one Trooper to show up (in our case 2 hours was a good response time), you need to be self-insured (and I have survived gun battles with Cartel members in Arizona and drug gangs in DC). The Mat-Su Borough is the size of West Virginia, with a population of 110,000 some, and has maybe 50 cops counting Troopers plus Palmer, Wasilla and Houston PDs. Diversity: I have lived and travel all of North America, and many places in Central America and the Asia Pacific Rim. Anchorage is very culturally diverse, with some of the best ethnic restaurants and some of the most vole (mice like) infested dives with the best home cooking. Mosquitos: If you thought Kenai was bad, obviously you have never been up to the North Slope (Brooks Range, Gates of the Arctic, ANWR, Prudhoe Bay). The mosquitos are so bad, you will see Caribou run till they drop dead trying to get away from the skeeters. Without a head net, every breath sucks in 50-100. The mosquito is the unofficial bird of Alaska. Seafood: Seafood is way more expensive in Alaska (purchased rather than you fish for it). Snow Crab is less expensive in Tokyo than local grocery store in Anchorage. Whole point is Alaska makes more money off of shipping out of state, than selling in state, that is why so many are into hunting and fishing; to cut out the middle man. Dangers: If the cold doesn't kill you, the volcanoes, earthquakes, rock fall, avalanches, bore tide and typhoons will. Most highways are two-lane rural roads with no guardrails and surrounded by swamps (Muskeg) or along mountainsides without guardrails and drops of 100's of feet. And Alaskans drive 70-75 mph no matter the time of year. If you remember the accident, you were not driving fast enough. All of our vehicles were equipped with expedition sized backpacks with complete shell gear, tent, stove, sleeping bags, headlamps, firearms and food. And that was just for the winter drive from Palmer to the Costco in Anchorage. Not to mention ice falling off buildings, poisonous plants (Devil's Club, Cow Parsnip) and large animals that want to chomp, stomp or gore you. Been chased by Grizzlies mountain biking on base and by Moose (swamp donkeys) walking the garbage out down my own driveway. Had Moose kick the side of my truck while stopped at a traffic light in Anchorage, and Wood Bison up north head-butt the truck trying to get through a herd standing in the road. Then there are the flying rats, AKA Bald Eagles. For that experience, try Haines in winter. But the wolves are super friendly, and I love X-C skiing the frozen rivers with them. According to Nat Geo, more people go missing in Alaska every year, never to be found again, than the rest of the Lower 48 combined. Something like 400 disappear each year. 40 would be more like it unless you are counting all the wanted murderers that come to Alaska and go off-grid to avoid extradition. I lived at the junction of two great mountain ranges (Talkeetna and Chugach) and from my back deck could see the northern lights every time they were out and had a view of one of the massive glaciers (Knik) from the front deck. Have climbed and taught mountaineering up on Denali. I have back-country skied/ski-mountaineered the Talkeetna and Chugach Ranges, whitewater kayaked some of the rivers and ice climbed frozen waterfalls in winter and seracs (ice towers) on glaciers in the summer. The people that are crazy about Alaska, are just plain crazy. But a good kind of crazy you only find in remote, small, close knit communities that are isolated from the rest of the world and the real crazies. Looking forward to going back in September of 2026, just in time for the 3-weeks of fall, the rainy state fair (pork chop on a stick), and all the winter gear prep I need to do. And the first sub-zero X-C ski day on the frozen river through the Moose Range.
Too long didn't read also you're so full of sh1t its pouring out your ears Very typical Alaskan male behavior Let me guess the bear was 30 feet tall too! And you caught a 12 foot trout! Eat lead
Why is the violent crime rate so high? Domestic abuse? Oh, I just got it. Unauthorized use of others persons body! Duh. It is so so sad! Great video Briggs!
I live in Alaska... I heard we gained 3%. That being said, it was the media, so who knows. I love it here. It's amazing. That TOO being said... Briggs knows what he's talking about. HAHA! The good outweighs the bad though. d:-). Psssst.....(you can drive to Haines and Skagway, you just have to go through Canada. *wink*)
