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Alaska Warnings or Dangers

Murphy Dome on Late April - Alaska
Murphy Dome on Late April
by Scandic
Alaska travel tips posted by real travelers and Alaska locals.
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What to do around bears???
  • Tip Rating:
    • jumpingnorman
  • By jumpingnorman on May 10, 2009
  • Alaska Page by jumpingnorman
    • Be careful around bears, Alaska - Alaska
    Be careful around bears,
    Alaska
    by jumpingnorman
    My sister and I went to Cooper Landing so that we can hike the Russian Trail. There was still some very slippery ice on the trail and we had to go around those --- and then, at one point, we heard some rustling of some creature near us and we got scared it might be a bear. Due to too much ice, we decided to head back.

    But I was asking my sister if she knew what to do if we did see a bear -- and we both did not know!

    Well, scats and tracks are indications that bears are nearby. What you could do is CLAP, TALK LOUDLY, BANG TWO STONES, WEAR CHIMES.

    And of course, they always say DO NOT RUN - stand your ground, clap, yell and let the bear know that he is entering "your space".

    An aggressive response from a bear is when they are scared and it is simply protecting itself and possibly its cubs.

    And never allow them to get to your food or garbage when you are camping.

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    Moose Droppings!?
  • Tip Rating:
    • jumpingnorman
  • By jumpingnorman on May 10, 2009
  • Alaska Page by jumpingnorman
    • Circular Moose Droppings, Alaska - Alaska
    Circular Moose Droppings,
    Alaska
    by jumpingnorman,
    1 more photos
    After being in Alaska for a while and experiencing the wilderness, we got experienced at identifying droppings and also avoiding stepping on them...but still, most of the droppings we saw were UDO's (Unidentified Dropped Objects).

    Moose droppings look very circular and like a small easter egg chocolate. It has the same shape of the sun-dried dropping from some animal we saw in the wild in Cape Town, South Africa (I put that dried dropping in my mouth for a contest as to who could shoot the dropping as far as possible - I did not win...)

    But the moose droppings here are still moist (not dry as in Africa) and so I don't think it's wise to play that game ---- but there is Moose Dropping Festival believe it or not held at Talkeetna - very interesting (talkeetnachamber.org)

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    restrooms/facilities
  • Tip Rating:
    • PA2AKgirl
  • By PA2AKgirl on October 1, 2006
  • Alaska Page by PA2AKgirl
    • heading into the bathroom - Alaska
    heading into the bathroom
    by PA2AKgirl
    Don’t expect to find nice rest areas along the major roads. I guess considering the freezing temperatures and sewer system/permafrost issues, you’re lucky to have a place to go to the bathroom at all. Sometimes great distances are between gas stations with indoor restrooms but the roadside rests are plentiful. The ones with facilities are not. The ones that do have them are outhouses, though and privately maintained or not maintained. Pit toilets, that even in cold weather, smell pretty bad. These are usually found near state parks and often times, the ones labeled “wayside” are closed for the season if you’re not traveling in the summer. You should take on a more “backcountry camping” philosophy or at least prepare yourself in the event you have to hike a little to get the privacy of the trees. But, that’s Alaska and really, do you picture glorious roadside rests in this state? Probably not.

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    At Canadian Customs on the Alaska Highway
  • Tip Rating:
    • PA2AKgirl
  • By PA2AKgirl on October 1, 2006
  • Alaska Page by PA2AKgirl
    • home of the unhappy customs lady - Alaska
    home of the unhappy customs
    lady
    by PA2AKgirl
    Taking the Alaska or Taylor highways to or from the Yukon Territory means unavoidable border crossing. Having crossed the US/Canada border numerous times in various locations, I knew what to expect so that in itself is not the reason for this warning. The process is standard. However, the lady for the Canada side of the border on the Alaska Highway was not. She was the most disgruntled government worker I’ve ever come across. Mean, mean, mean. She first asked us where we were from—expected question. Bobby said Alaska. She turned away, turned back at us and rolled her eyes. With an exaggerated sigh and then a scoff (completely unnecessary), she said, “Okay, I’m not blind so let’s try again.” We said Anchorage, this time. She rolled her eyes again. She asked where we were going and how long we’d be gone. At that point we didn’t know so we just said a couple days. She didn’t like that answer at all and slammed down her hand onto the table inside. Then she pointed at something in the back seat and said, “What is that back there?” Naturally, we had to look because we didn’t know what she was pointing at specifically. So, we turned. Lifting up our coats, we named off what we had (which wasn’t much). After we finished, she started raising her voice at us, saying, “Okay. I’m not back there. How about you turn to me and tell me again so I can actually understand you?” We went through the list of 5 items again. Her attitude was horrible and we were crestfallen; she was so mean to us. She threw our passports back at us and told us to go. Our moods were again elevated by the time we reached the first town and everyone else from the Yukon was so nice to us. It was just her. I can understand being cranky if she had a busy border crossing, but judging from the traffic and the wait, only 10 other vehicles—personal and commercial—could have crossed that day. The roads were empty.

    On the return trip, the same questions were asked at the US border, but the lady was very nice.

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    Bear Bells
  • Tip Rating:
    • catalysta
  • Updated By catalysta on December 8, 2003
  • Alaska Page by catalysta
    • Bear Scat - Alaska
    Bear Scat
    by catalysta
    A bear will normally try to avoid contact with humans if given warning. Talking, singing, playing a portable radio, or making some other noise is good policy in bear country. Bear bells are small bells like cow bells or sleigh bells that are worn somewhere on your body, and they make a noise as you walk.

    Knowing how to identify bear scat is a good idea too (see jpeg - the top is black bear scat, the bottom is grizzly scat). Black bear scat is smaller & often has berries in it Grizzly scat can be identified by the little bear bells and bits of backpack remains in it.

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    expense
  • Tip Rating:
    • PA2AKgirl
  • By PA2AKgirl on October 2, 2006
  • Alaska Page by PA2AKgirl
    • and that's in a city, on sale! - Alaska
    and that's in a city, on
    sale!
    by PA2AKgirl
    I mentioned this on my Anchorage page, but it’s worth repeating. If you live in the lower 48 (US), maybe you’ve seen commercials that, in tiny letters, say “prices higher in Alaska and Hawaii” Are they ever! I can understand it out in the bush or in the towns that aren’t connected by roadway but here? It’s a major city, has roads in from Canada and eventually the states, airports with major cargo deliveries and the resources to obtain anything. But certain things are outrageous. Milk, which locally produced from the farms in the valley has an exorbitant price on it. Gas is expensive, eating out costs about 25% more than what it does at the same restaurant in the lower 48. It’s frustrating. I realize Alaska is separated and not easy to get to, but no doubt, people are making a killing by raising prices and attributing it the location. Anyway, expect to pay a lot for everything. You’ll find those bargains if you look hard enough but you’ll also find that in some of the port towns, there are prices for Alaskans or locals and then prices for tourists.

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    Cell/Mobile phones
  • Tip Rating:
    • PA2AKgirl
  • By PA2AKgirl on October 1, 2006
  • Alaska Page by PA2AKgirl
    • think there's a phone tower out there? - Alaska
    think there's a phone tower
    out there?
    by PA2AKgirl
    Cell phone service is unreliable. I have Verizon and when I first came to Alaska in 2003, I was promised it would work. It did not. From Sitka, I called on a land line and was told, “well, if you go to Anchorage, you can use it.” Hundreds of miles away from where I was living. When I finally got up to Anchorage, it didn’t work there either. I had to call again and have them adjust some setting to allow for a cooperative tower agreement. What really got me was that other people with the same wireless carrier could make calls so it’s not about which company you have a plan with. Bobby has a local provider and our service was great in certain areas (like in the middle of Denali) and then not available near towns, so it’s not even about that, either. WiFi seems more common than cell service. Find out about your coverage and charges if you have a cell phone and want to use it here. Otherwise, have a back up plan in the event you need to call a tow truck or have another kind of emergency.

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    Weather and roadways, no cell reception
  • Tip Rating:
    • catalysta
  • Updated By catalysta on July 9, 2004
  • Alaska Page by catalysta
    • Mt. Sukakpak, on the Haul Road - Alaska
    Mt. Sukakpak, on the Haul Road
    by catalysta
    I can't overemhasize the importance of bringing along foul weather gear when you travel in Alaska, and a stash of water & food in case of emergency. While we generally have glorious summers, it can change at any given moment.

    And make sure your vehicle has at least one good spare tire. Check all your tires before heading out. You can wait all night and then spend hundreds of dollars for assistance if you get stuck out in the boonies!

    Oh, and be aware, your cellular phone isn't going to work in a lot of valleys and mountain pass areas. There are still lots of dead zones, even on the main highways.

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    Bears
  • Tip Rating:
    • tompt
  • By tompt on August 19, 2005
  • Alaska Page by tompt
    • Grizzly and young, very dangerous to encounter - Alaska
    Grizzly and young, very
    dangerous to encounter
    by tompt, 4 more photos
    A danger in Alaska is encountering bears. They can seriously wound you or even kill you.
    What to do?
    Try to avoid bears. Make noise so the bear won't be surprised by you. The bear will go away and avoid you. Never take food or smelly stuff in your tent, this will lure bears.
    In the case you surprise a bear: Make yourself big by raising your arms and in a calm voice talk to the bear, back away slowly. If the grizlly bear choose to attack play dead, covering your neck and head with your hands and arms. Never run away, the bear will see you as a prey. If the attack continues fight back.

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    Eyes Ahead
  • Tip Rating:
    • mrclay2000
  • By mrclay2000 on September 1, 2003
  • Alaska Page by mrclay2000
    • moose crossing sign, Houston, Alaska - Alaska
    moose crossing sign,
    Houston, Alaska
    by mrclay2000
    Draw a radius of 50 miles from the center of Anchorage and you will compass an area through which most visitors to Alaska will pass. This is also one of the most prevalent concentrations of moose and large wildlife in the entire state. Signs by the dozen dot the highways around Anchorage and its neighboring towns. Other signs keep pace with the unfortunately growing count of moose killed by unwary commuters every season. Forested drives in Alaska should by no means be taken as simple drives in the country -- you must keep your eyes not only on the road, but also on the terrain around you.

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