Originally Posted by SteveG4
Been there and done that -- twice.
Once accomplishing ground-to-air radio upgrades for the FAA.
The second time while training on NORAD's long-range AN/FPS-117 RADAR at their facility just east of "Barrow" for a few weeks. I didn't take that job!
Saw a shot polar bear along the road in Barrow; it bled out for two days at -25 deg F. Those bears are insulated!
It's a bleak and very expensive place to live. You wouldn't want to be there for very long.
I also worked in Prudhoe Bay and have 25,000 miles driving the Haul Road for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) from the Yukon River or Pump Station 6 (PS06) to Pump Station 1 (PS01) in Prudhoe Bay.
I maintained the fiber-optic network along the northern 1/4 to 1/3 of the Pipeline. Oh... the stories I can tell.
If you've watched Ice Road Truckers while they were in Alaska -- that exact same stretch of road.
And this from someone who's live in the Anchorage area for 25 years.
BTW, all vehicles up there are diesel. I drove a 1997 diesel F-350 with a 7.3 IDI, a 1997 Chevy 2500 extended cab pickup with their diesel, and a 3/4-ton, diesel Ford Excursion, probably a 2003 or 2004.
The Excursions have a short front-end suspension travel range...
They were meticulously maintained with synthetic products about every 4 weeks, Filters were either Baldwin or Donaldson. Tires were specially siped E-load rated Bridgestone ATs, or E-load rated Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor Pro-Grade tires. Both were good in that environment. These trucks are specially setup for cold wx, to include specially added tin or steel rock guards to protect the undercarriage and brake lines.
At -30 degs F, all diesels are plugged into bull-rails with 120 VAC outlets and left running, sometimes for weeks on end, until it warmed up to at least -25 degs F. Trucks are filled up by their owners every 12 hours...
Again the stories!!!
If you would care to share, I'm sure at least some of us would like to hear the stories. I've been to Alaska, but one of these days I want to ride a Motorcycle up there from the western US, and up the Dalton to Prudhoe Bay.