looking to wyoming or alaska...

[operator]

the free state project is an awesome concept. how close are you all to pulling it of? alaska still has better 2cnd amendment laws, as in none. its cold, just like wyoming, but alaska is not trying to be a free state. i think that it would be the best place to survive a wreck, but one might find themselves stuck there too. i am open to input, as i AM MAKING a move, but need to do good recon/intel prior to heading out of oregon.

operator

[MamaLiberty]

From my own experience, the very best way to know is to spend some time in Wyoming... Then you might want to spend some time in Alaska too, but you may find you don't need to do that. Alaska is COLD and DARK for many months of the year. I couldn't take that.

I have dear friends who live in Alaska, and I know there are good people there too, but I very much doubt you'd find a ready made family there, or anywhere near the help and community spirit that we have in NE Wyoming. Some things just have to be experienced to believe. If possible, I hope you can come to the 2007 "Jam" so you can meet the people here and SEE our community in action.

God speed, and let us know how we can help. Explore the forum and you'll find all kinds of information here already. Good luck!
MamaLiberty

[FSW Forum Administrator]

Found this at http://www.survivalblog.com/retreatareas.html. He makes a couple of good points regarding Alaska if/when the $hit hits the fan.

Why not Alaska?
A year ago, I heard one ?expert? on the radio recommend Alaska as a retreat destination because it has the lowest population density of any State, and has low taxes. IMHO, he couldn?t be more wrong! The biggest problem is that from an economic standpoint, Alaska is essentially a big offshore island. Many essential items are shipped or flown in. What happens when the ships and planes stop arriving? It won?t be pretty--at least not in Alaska's cities. (Ironically, although it is the most lightly populated state, Alaska has the second highest crime rate in the country!) Coastal Alaska is also earthquake prone. Further, you may think that because of the North Slope oil that the state will have plentiful fuel. Bzzzzzt! Wrong answer! There is insufficient refinery capacity of meet Alaska?s ?domestic? needs, and insufficient transport to get refined fuels where they are needed. (Current transport is geared to distributing fuel and lubricants brought in from the Lower 48--not locally produced fuel and lubricants.) So the little fuel left in Alaska post-TEOTWAWKI will be jealously guarded--doubtless saved for critical tasks like running farm tractors and chain saws. So there will be virtually none available for fishing boats or between-town commerce.

In a long term collapse, the residents of Alaska's densely populated coastal cities will likely starve and/or freeze to death. Meanwhile, those in inland towns, albeit better fed, will be geographically isolated so that commerce with the coast will be difficult if not impossible. Bush pilots will eventually be grounded due to lack of fuel, lubricants and spare parts. The only people I foresee surviving are a few seasoned Sourdoughs and native tribe members that still have well-honed outdoor survival skills and are still capable of reverting to a self-sufficient mode. The best set up for this would be a small settlement on a clear water (non-glacial) stream with an active salmon run and a couple of productive ?fish wheel? salmon traps.
Another consideration is that the Alaska Pipeline is vulnerable to frost heaving and rupture if the power grid goes down. (It is not widely known, but grid power is used to run thousands of refrigeration elements that keep the permafrost frozen around the pipeline supports.) My prediction: In the event of TEOTWAWKI, the Al-Can highway will have heavy traffic with heavily-laden pickup trucks carrying beau coup gas cans, going in both directions: Greenhorns from the lower 48 thinking that Alaska is the place to be and Alaskan Citizens who realize that Alaska is not a viable place to stay in a long term Crunch.

[wyomiles]

Operator, the only way to know for sure is to spend some time in both places as Mama said.  And in the end, as in "end days" you will need to be pretty self sufficient in either place. The best thing about Wyoming over Alaska now is the FSW communities that are forming.    Miles

[biathlon]

+1 for Mama Liberty's comment. You should attend the '07 Jam and actually meet all of us. b

[Sean_Galt]

Please come to the Jam.

Also, as a practicality, if you want to purchase anything online, and live in AK, you may end up paying quite a bit to get it shipped there.
That adds up quick. I had a friend trying to findmatching original  paint for an old KUCK-V in HI; he paid more for shipping than he did for the paint.
It may be a while before things go south all around...

[Mountian Logger]

The members that are already in wyoming have been VERY helpful to me!  They talk to you like they have known you for years and seem to be willing to do most anything that they can to help you relocate to wyoming.  One thing to keep in mind though is that we don't want to take advantage of that and ruin it for others!  I would have to agree on the supply issue, most every thing has to be brought in to alaska.

[bobcat]

(Ironically, although it is the most lightly populated state, Alaska has the second highest crime rate in the country!)

I am quite surprised to hear this as some acquaintances in Juneau and another working for Oil, 'say different'.  This is based on casual conversations.  I am curious if you know where this kind of quoted comment can be substantiated?  I will see if I can make the networked connection and ask this question more pointedly.

And yes, I have considered Alaska.  The isolation, short growing season, and other issues related to high latitudes are just a couple of the issues on the 'negative' side of my Alaska list.  And one of the bigger ones is the L-O-N-G trek up there.  Only one 'fully loaded' moving trip seems practical.  That being the case, I would have to shed too much and repurchase at a higher price in Alaska.

[John Corry]

I just sent a resume & cover letter to an aviation company on Kodiak Island.

I'm hoping to spend the tourist-busy part of next year with my family, on the island, flying my butt off in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

It's going to be *really* good experience to show to the companies in WY who I hope to eventually seek employment with (as a pilot). Alaska time commands a certain level of respect that doesn't come cheap or easy in aviation. It's challenging, rugged conditions that allow us to really hone our judgment.



I can't wait!