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Last Monday seems like a lifetime ago; nevertheless, our City of Fairbanks VISTA cohort spent a productive day helping to get Restore Inc.'s new stabilization space ready for its soft opening last Friday. Not only was the day's service satisfying, but seeing the direct fruits of our labor in such a short amount of time was a bonus reward! The final four photos were taken at last Friday's big reveal, and although I could not be in attendance, I heard it was a complete success; the photographic evidence underscores the dedicated human vision behind the space. The cohort was truly thrilled to help Restore Inc. get this important community resource ready for use. Thanks so much for the opportunity to serve, Shelissa!
Denise
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By Aisha Pereira, Restore Inc. '20-21
So you’ve accepted a position with AmeriCorps VISTA of Fairbanks. Congrats!
Now you’ve got to decide how to get to your service assignment… all the way in Alaska! Seems crazy. Maybe it is, a little. For many people, it’s more prudent to fly, but others may have a vehicle they don’t want to leave behind. In my case, I love road trips and have two fur-covered companions in tow. I accepted a position in Fairbanks, Alaska more than 5000 miles away from where I lived with only two months to make it there. It seemed next to impossible, but the adventure was well worth all the stress of planning. The best piece of advice I was given and feel obligated to pass along to anyone interested in making this trek is to buy the guide book called the Milepost! This guide is amazing - it gives you info on literally everything that you will encounter between the lower 48 and Alaska, from maps to lists of amenities, where to get gas, food, lodging and so much more. Driving from Maine across the entire country (and Canada) to Alaska was one of the best experiences of my life. I met tons of interesting people and saw some of the most awe inspiring sights. I highly recommend Badlands National Park and Mt. Rushmore.
If you’re like me with family and friends spread across the country, take advantage of the opportunity and turn your road trip into a chance to see all your long-lost friends and family.
Not only does this help with your hotel costs, it gives you a chance to see their neighborhoods from local eyes. I budgeted for 2 weeks to make the entire 5000 mile journey (it can be done in less if needed) and I certainly didn’t take the shortest route possible. I planned out which areas I knew someone or parks that I was hoping to explore. The shortest route would have taken me through Canada nearly the whole way. According to other travelers, that drive is boring and not recommended for winter travel. I discovered that the best route (especially during winter) would be to drive all the way across the country to Seattle and then travel up through British Columbia. I was honestly thrilled at this idea because I had never been to the west coast and always wanted to drive across the country and now I finally had that opportunity. Another major aspect of my trip that gave me immense joy was the fact that I was completely free to change my plans as I went.
The only deadlines I had were to be in Seattle by a certain date and to get to Alaska before my start date. I budgeted to get there about a week before I needed to start work. This worked out ideally because at the beginning of my trip, I decided to skip a stop, affording me an extra day along the way. I was able to stay two nights and explore Badlands National Park, as well as enjoy a whole day in the middle of my trip that I didn’t need to be on the road. I was able to recharge, repack and relax. The next part of my journey wasn’t as easy going as the start but it was still highly enjoyable. One last piece of advice I would give is that you allow yourself extra time! Not only do you want to enjoy this trip in all its glory but there are a multitude of things that could happen that could push back even the most well planned and prepared traveler. I budgeted for three days to drive from Seattle, Washington to Fairbanks, Alaska. I was very lucky to have another driver join me for this stretch of the trip and it still took us an additional day to make the full trip. The first leg of our trip went well but we pushed ourselves hard and drove a little too long. We ended the night by driving through some of the most magnificent looking mountains in the dead of night. After a day of driving, we were exhausted; the roads were winding, steep and covered in a thick layer of ice. We made it safely but it was worrying. From there, we decided to shorten the amount of driving time for each day and make it a little easier. The final section of this journey included some of the most breathtaking scenery and wildlife. Not only were we driving through mountain ranges like nothing I had seen before but we were amazed to see herds of bison along the road, mountain goats on the cliffs, as well as countless moose and caribou in different areas along the way. 
If you’re considering this drive, I highly recommend that you stop at Liard Hot Springs. I passed by on a snowy day and didn’t think we would end up going in but figured it was a decent place for a stop and to walk the dogs. When we got to the springs, it was so clear and beautiful I couldn't resist and ended up just jumping in. It was definitely one of the highlights of the entire trip and so refreshing and relaxing during a long day of driving.
All in all, my road trip was an exhilarating, empowering and life changing experience. I recommend it to anyone that has the means to do it, whether it’s the entire cross country trip or just driving the Alcan through Canada. Do your research. Make sure you have emergency plans and supplies, because you never know what could go wrong. But if you’re undecided on whether to drive or fly, I want you to know that it is absolutely possible to drive to Alaska and I hope my experience might provide you the confidence to give it a try. 
Shea, Diana and Aisha will serve Fairbanks from March 16, 2020 - March 15, 2021. Year-long VISTAs perform indirect service focusing on capacity building. Stay tuned for updates as their year progresses!
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