Washington To Alaska

good day all, would like to know if there is companies or is it Independent truck drivers that drive to Alaska and back to the lower 48. would like to here from those that have done this trip be for, and are going to do it, I have done this in a suv had a great time. thanks. Easy E

Welcome aboard Easy E!

Ya know, I'm not really sure to be honest. That's something every trucker ponders at some point but I don't know which companies run up that way. You would have to think there are some West Coast companies running up there from the produce belt in California, otherwise nobody in the great state of Alaska would have ever laid eyes on a tomato or a head of lettuce. Not the best farming land or climate up there.

I don't think I've ever even seen a job listing that called for drivers to Alaska. It would be a grand adventure for sure. One of my closest friends growing up lives up there. He has run the Iditarod several times, breeds racing dogs, and gives sled dog tours across the glacier in the summer. He's also a big burly dude with a hefty beard who wears a lot of flannel just to make sure I've given the complete picture of what a stereotypical Alaskan he his.

Brett, you got the wrong idea about Alaska. Although the growing season is short, crops do really well up there because of the 20+ hours of sun light and the fertile river valleys. Some of the largest vegetables in the world are grown in Alaska such as a 17 lb carrot and so on. People often think that you can not grow things up there but heck all you need is about 90 days and you are good to grow. Most crops are ready in that time or less.

Brett, you got the wrong idea about Alaska. Although the growing season is short, crops do really well up there because of the 20+ hours of sun light and the fertile river valleys. Some of the largest vegetables in the world are grown in Alaska such as a 17 lb carrot and so on. People often think that you can not grow things up there but heck all you need is about 90 days and you are good to grow. Most crops are ready in that time or less.

I know my flatbed friend at Prime has gone there a few times

Yeah, the land and soil have unusually highly concentrated mineral levels and combined with the white nights, make for amazing veggies, from what I hear. However, Alaska still needs to have goods shipped in, and who knows? Is there an export of shellfish shipped via refers during crab and shrimp season? There's got to be a demand both in and out of Alaska.

Brainstorming, here ...

-mountain girl

I hadn't thought about the long days....I forgot about that. But wouldn't that throw a wrench in daylight-triggered plants like onions which use length of daylight to determine growth stages and such? Sound like you could grow some amazing stuff up there (like that huge carrot) but there must be some things that probably wouldn't do well at all because of the daylight factor.

...and I've heard the soil is rich in potassium. Black as coal and beautiful loam. ...yeah, some plants, veggies, etc. need to be dormant part of the day. Don't know which ones though. But I've heard they just explode into growth, as though they know, the season is short, so grow like crazy.

Still Alaska needs shipping/trucking.

-mountain girl

However, Alaska still needs to have goods shipped in, and who knows? Is there an export of shellfish shipped via refers during crab and shrimp season? There's got to be a demand both in and out of Alaska.

I haven't been in that industry for a long time, but 20 years ago almost all of the fish caught in Alaskan waters was shipped on large (often 300 foot) ships with refrigerated holds, and most of it went to Japan. The seafood that comes to the US mostly comes through Seattle, which is essentially the home base for the Alaska commercial fishing fleet.

I'm hard pressed to think of anything that might be shipped into or out of Alaska by truck instead of by boat. It's just a lot cheaper to send it by water.

Hey all thanks for the input, I use to live in Ak, I would like to start driving there, just don't know who to contact, got one Prime, thanks, RedGator that's a start for me. As for daylight yes it does determine growth and make for amazing veggies, I have seen some of the pumpkins and squash at the fair, they are huge. I got to live there for four year Anchorage area. If you have not been there go see for your self, you just might not come back.