I’ve been offered a job in Alaska. I’m both giddy and terrified at the same time. I’ve never been to Alaska, but I know it’s an amazingly beautiful place. It is primarily a summer gig, but could turn year round if I choose. The pay is absolute shit, but with Room and Board provided, I can’t imagine my requirements will be much. I’ll probably spend money on slinging lead more than anything else.

The place:
Klawock Island. Off-grid. 1 1/2 miles by road from the small town of the same name. Access to the closest major city by boat or plane is less than an hour. (There is a local seaplane base on the island which operates year-round) That city, which includes an international airport and hospital, is Ketchikan. The southernmost city in Alaska. There are limited emergency services on island, but they’ve got a clinic and ambulances.

The Job:
Remodel/Construction work on a 5 story hunting/fishing lodge that’s been in operation for nearly 20yrs. (It was closed last year, and remodel work estimated to take through the end of next year) There are also 26 individual homes on the property which were originally housing for a local salt mining operation which closed in the late 90’s. Seasonal maintenance on these homes is part of the gig as well. These individual “cabins” are currently being included into an expanding power system which links them to the Lodge. Originally solar powered....the current project is a hydro-electric run-off system.

Housing:
There are single rooms available at the lodge. It has power year round. But I’ve also been invited to take one of the beach cabins if I’d like to. There are no landlines, but there is 4g service available through AT&T. I’ve already confirmed that, and it wouldn’t cost me anything to port my phone and tablet #’s over. It’s a $5 difference in cost for unlimited data on both, and I already own my own compatible devices. No new contract necessary.

Food:
3 squares a day provided at no cost. The owners wife does all the cooking.
On a side note...I interviewed yesterday with the owner/operator and his lead man. They were in Seattle, just finishing loading a semi of supplies for the summer season. Included in those supplies were 100 cases of beer. *giggle*

The Perks:

All travel expenses payed (1 month min contracted service time)

Bi-weekly trips to Ketchikan provided.

3 Deer tags provided by employer per season

Unlimited small game opportunity (except for the local flying squirrel population. Apparently Prince of Wales island is the only place in the world that this type exist)

Recreational shooting on property. (According to the lead guy, they shoot at least 2-3 times per week, and the boss provides most of the ammo depending on caliber) targets and clays.

Access to vehicles for on and off property use. Trucks, quads, boats.


The whole opportunity seems crazy to me. I have reservations about anything that sounds so amazing. I’m certain I’ll be busting my ass, but I’ve never encountered anything I couldn’t do for a month. Guess we’ll see.

Thoughts? Advice? Warnings? Words of wisdom?

Sounds like a beautiful opportunity, there's probably ample bear hunting opportunities as well if that suits your fancy. In any job it's always hard to make a call based on a short interview. That being said, what's your gut feeling from the interview? How do the owner and the foreman strike you personally?

If that seems good, and your initial commitment is only a month, then I would say go for it. My thinking is they'll expect you to work hard and as a side benefit you can play hard as well. Not bad. Great opportunity to work in a beautiful locale that not many folks ever get a chance to or take the chance to live at.

My older brother is a Superfund attorney at the US EPA and has flown into the Juneau airport many times. Says it is an amazing area.

Just saw this National Monument also in the Ketchikan area, looks pretty awesome. I bet there is amazing fishing in the area as well.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misty_Fiords_National_Monument

Resist the urge to stay up late because of how the sunlight makes you feel.

Get tinfoil for your windows.

Take bears seriously. Carry a large round with at least 1750 fps speed. Bear spray is a joke, don't bother with it.

If you don't go, you'll always wonder. One of my uncles had the opportunity to go work in Antarctica shortly after he got out of the USMC after WW II. He decided not to go, and lamented about it for the rest of his life.

Probably not actually written by Mark Twain, but frequently attributed to him.

Great advice. Life is uncertain and in the end quite short. Better to have your adventures early in life. Later on marriage and family commitments tend to keep you rooted down in one place.

Yep, someone a while back was looking for folks to work on radio towers or windmills, don't recall which. Had I been 30 years younger, I'd have probably applied. I have no fear of heights and I have the electrical training and know how he was looking for, but now I'm too old, too busted up, and while somewhat smaller than a couple of years ago, too fat to do work like that anymore.

I hear you. Very grateful that I took the chance to work at ski resorts and do ski instructing gigs while I was younger. Most of us manage to get pretty busted up occasionally on the road of life and old injuries can start to take a toll also. Hope to teach skiing again part-time when I retire but that depends a lot on my wife and family commitments, particularly whether we can swing a move to Utah, Wyoming, or Montana in retirement.

What's the old saying, something like 'Getting old is not for the faint of heart'

I was an operations manager for a Beer/Liquor distributor in my early 20's and used to travel to Alaska quite frequently. All cities both big and small, and would get around by car, boat, and puddle jumper. Some of the best times of my life were up there, awesome place.

I will echo what Alpine says about the darkness/daylight. That takes some real getting used to, I was not used to it being sunny at 11pm.

If you have nothing tying you down here, my vote is to go.

If not now, when?

"If you don't do it now, you'll be older when you do". - Warren Miller

Go for it!

If the foreman seemed decent,jump on it. Something you will never forget no mater how it turns out

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It sounds like you'll be living/working/recreating with these people 24x7. If you have similar hobbies and outlooks on life and they are good people, you'll love it.

we want weekly diary updates

This is something to take into consideration. If the guy you're working for is an asshole, your life can be miserable. I worked for such a guy in the USN (he's the main reason I never re-enlisted), and again a few months later on a merchant marine ship. Fortunately, the second guy got stupid drunk in port, sold his passport (for $45 or so I heard), and was promptly fired and flown back to the US. He pretended to be your friend while stabbing you in the back.

Only real issue is the cost to return here for a visit. If you're not inclined to return at regular intervals, I see no downsides! Enjoy!