WWMD: Alaska or WA State?

A longtime lurker here, I'm looking for some advice about where to move next year. I'm graduating from West Point this year and have to decide where to post. Alaska could mean either Fort Richardson in Anchorage or could mean Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks. Fort Richardson has an airborne unit (jumping from airplanes is sweet) and is located in what I hear is a pretty decent city; I don't hear such charitable things about Fairbanks. It sounds like I won't really have any control about which place I'd be stuck. Fort Lewis is my other option -- it's just south of Tacoma. I can definitely go either place, but I'm leaning towards Fort Lewis. Thoughts on either location?

I don't really have any knowledge about what skiing in the PNW or Alaska is like -- I'm from New England with most of my western skiing in Utah. Any insights on the skiing front?

Fort Lewis is relatively close to Crystal and several other very good resorts in WA, also you're near a big city on a huge base. If I had my pick I would go with Lewis, I have a friend on base there who likes it quite a bit and gets to spend quite a bit of her time up in Seattle due to the short drive. That said, I haven't skied the resorts around the Anchorage area so I can't really vouch for how incredible those are. The heli skiing of course is vastly better in AK.

Good luck.

Washington would probably be a cheaper cost of living, so I go for that.

I know crap about Alaska. Crystal's the best ski area in WA, for what that's worth. Mt. Rainier is pretty close, for all your hiking and climbing needs. Good kayaking/creeking not far from Ft. Lewis. Maybe an hour and a half from the ocean, if you're into mediocre cold water surfing. I was when I lived in Seattle.

Ft. Lewis is an hour closer to Hood River than Seattle, and Hood River rocks. And, finally, it's a lot easier to get from Lewis to B.C. than it is from Alaska, and B.C. is home to everything good (Except those ketchup-flavored chips. Those suck).

If you like to fish or hunt get stationed in AK lots of moose hunting on post as well as decent fishing... AK pretty much rules

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Originally Posted by Badger

I know crap about Alaska. Crystal's the best ski area in WA, for what that's worth. Mt. Rainier is pretty close, for all your hiking and climbing needs. Good kayaking/creeking not far from Ft. Lewis. Maybe an hour and a half from the ocean, if you're into mediocre cold water surfing. I was when I lived in Seattle.
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You know crap about Washington too.

Crystal is not as sick as Baker, but it is still a pretty fun area with decent snow and terrain.

If you have any Tacoma related questions, shoot myself, Jumper Bones, or Fubar a PM and I am sure we would be able to anwser any questions for you.

Jumper is also an air force guy working out of McChord Air Force Base right by Ft. Lewis, so he could be helpful as well. I believe he is getting back from a mission in the next day or so, in which case I am sure he will see this thread. good luck

I grew up in Alaska and wouldn't want to live there again, but I still enjoy going up to visit my parents in Anchorage. That said, go for Alaska!, you might never get the opportunity again, you're in the military, so odds are you won't be there too long, and if you like the outdoors you'll see/do things that other people just get to watch on the discovery channel...

I'd go for Alaska, but I'm biased. I just got back up here, and my first day back at Alpenglow (30 mins north of Anchorage) was killer - five inches of untouched powder in their back bowl, which they hadn't opened the day after it snowed, and no lift lines! Had powder runs all day, laid back atmosphere, cheap tickets, etc. Also, there's something about Alyeska ...

I'd go for Alaska. Of course, I'm biased, grew up there, great place it is indeed. I wouldn't want to go back now, but it was a great experience growing up there that I wouldn't trade for the world.

Awesome skiing/riding, fishing, camping, hiking, etc. Anchorage is a cool city too, sprawling and bit backwoodsy at times, but offers everything any other Lower 48 cities can offer. Go there for a few years, take the experience, and move on from there. It's easy to move to WA anytime so you can go check it out later; moving to AK usually takes a reason.

Just my $0.02. :) Good luck!

Edit: my cousin was based in Fort Lewis as well, and when I visited wasn't too impressed. But then again, 1 day in a city doesn't give it much chance, so I could be wrong. Shrug.