Working Get aways - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**clevercraig** · 01-04-2005, 08:42 PM

My 2 months in Europe this past summe ronly got me madly addicted to travel...As I assume it does everyone. I'd like to get away this summer (and every summer after that). However I will not have the funds to pull it off this year. SO I have done a little research on working get aways. While quite different than my past trip (not nearly as much freedom) I am thinking it might be a good idea. Destination? Alaska. has anyone been to Alaska or done some sort of working get away there. What were the positives and the negatives? Any suggestions for a good company? The following site motivated me.

http://www.rctalaska.com/default.htm

I am sure that there are faults by going this route. This board was so influential in me finally sucking it up and going to Europe so I figured that there might be some one floating out there with some advice. Thanks.

**omisan** · 01-05-2005, 12:08 AM

My co-worker spent a couple of months working on a fishing boat in Alaska this last summer.. he loved, it but he came back early due to some drawbacks:

* You're surrounded by guys, guys, guys. And showers are scarce.
* Real toilets are scarce, too, when your main port is a small fishing village.
* Fish for breakfast, fish for lunch, fish for dinner.

Positives: Absolutely gorgeous scenery, no cell phones for miles and miles, bring back all the delicious sockeye salmon Omisan can eat

'Course, that's just the fishing boat route. I knew some guys a while back who went up there to work on a boat laying undersea cable for the phone company. The conditions were about the same, but they came back with over six figures each for a few months of work. Not bad, eh?

**The Monsignor** · 01-05-2005, 08:27 AM

Not quite the fishing boat direction (but the work seems much easier!)

I'd go for the Denali GSR position, personally.. all the other positions (anchorage and Fairbanks) don't pay much better, and housing isn't included! Denali is somewhat remote, and you're likely to be in dorm style rooms, but all is good.

That's my 2c worth...

**clevercraig** · 01-05-2005, 12:16 PM

Yeah, I just got a response from the RCT web site saying that I would recieve dorm like housing while in Fairbanks but when the train stops in Anchorage I am on my own. What is this Denali GSR position you speak of? Did I miss it on my link. Obviously being from the east coast housing would be a big part, in fact a must, for my travels.

xanthuos · 01-05-2005, 04:06 PM

Talkeetna GSR's also have their housing furnished. It seems like Talkeetna is a small village, so it's not quite as remote as Denali, but I'm sure there's still lots of scenic beauty.

clevercraig, since you mentioned the train, am I to assume you're looking at a position on the Wilderness Express? Such a position also caught my attention because it says that typically, you would work for 4 days a week at 15 hours a day for 4 weeks, then have a week off. If you are paid overtime (1.5) on hours above 8 a day, that means you would be getting 7 hours overtime each day you worked, then a week off. As for accomodations, I found www.jasonshostel.com/ in Anchorage. Considering how much more you might make thanks to overtime, it might be worth it because then you would have a full week after each month of working to explore on your own. Your link has gotten me interested in doing this as well!

If not this summer, perhaps next.

Omisan, SIX figures you say? WOW!

A fraternity brother of mine worked on an offshore barge for about 3 months and he banked over $15,000 but SIX figures? I only wish I knew how to lay underground cable!

**kingcrazylegs** · 01-05-2005, 05:11 PM

I'd really like to live in Alaska for a year or so. I hear that finding jobs can be difficult... I work in the non-profit/social/counseling sectors...so I am wondering if I'd be able to find a decent job with a decent wage to live comfortable (for 2 people). We'd want our own place though for sure. What are rent prices like there?

**The Monsignor** · 01-06-2005, 08:26 AM

Depends on where you live, hear tell.. for the most part, many of the basics (milk, bread etc) are unusually expensive. Rent/utilities aren't quite as unreasonable, but still high.

The Denali Position is listed in the website in the frame to the left... including ones like train mechanic. That would be fun, and it doesn't sound like they're too picky about qualifications. They probably have a hard time keeping people who will stay an entire season.

I've thought about picking up a job for a season to see Antarctica (it's $15k to actually pay for my own trip there, and it's a 2 week cruise with only a day actually touching the ice) Talk about bragging rights, though!
Raytheon Polar Services

**clevercraig** · 01-06-2005, 01:54 PM

yeah, thanks for the feed back. I am still in the early stages of doing research here. Working at a lodge bartending would not be such a bad idea either. One consideration that I have is that I happen to live in a resrt like mountain region. While it would not compare directly with the isolated regions of Alaska I kinda' got the feel. I think I'd like to focuse on a mor epopulated area than an outpost as that I'd like to take in some culture. Besides even if I lived in down town Anchorage it still is Alaska, the scenery surrounds you............Incidently I have a friend that used to own a bar in Anchorage, he says it is one of the most fun places he has ever lived.........And off topic I wonder if that hot short haired chick from northern exposure lives there

**TimmyJames1976** · 01-10-2005, 03:41 PM

this has some interesting ideas and links

CoolWorks

**TheJake** · 01-10-2005, 03:51 PM

yea thats what i was gonna say

www.coolworks.com

and if you have 30 bucks this site is really good too and has much higher paying jobs than coolworks

www.actionjobs.com

**TimmyJames1976** · 01-10-2005, 04:23 PM

actionjob huh, ill have to check that out too....TPUNK RULES!!!!!