There are many ways to get to YSD, but your SUV isn't one of them! You see, the roads don't come to our neck of the woods. So, how do you get here?
First Stop, Anchorage
Well, the way to begin is to get to Anchorage, Alaska. This can be done by flying into Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage from anywhere in the world. Major airlines that fly to Anchorage include Alaska Airlines, American, Continental, Delta, Northwest,and United Airlines.
You can also get to Anchorage by road. If you're coming from the lower 48, you'll find the Alcan Highway through Canada to be beautiful and a real adventure. Don't look for too many "name brand" motels out there, but there are many small lodges and campgrounds for lodging.
What to do in Anchorage
Once you get to Anchorage, you'll find a very modern city with many opportunities for shopping, eating out, lodging, cultural and recreational activities.
If you bring a vehicle to Anchorage, you will also find there are many places to store it near the airport so you will have it to use when you go into town.
While in Anchorage, you will want to stock up for your life in Bush Alaska. Anchorage has Sam's Club and Costco, membership warehouses where you can buy in bulk. Also there are Walmart, Fred Meyer, JC Penney, Nordstrom, and Safeway Grocery to name a few of the major stores.
Many stores have "Bush Shipping" Departments that will box and ship your purchases for a fee. Or, if you want, you can purchase boxes and do the mailing yourself. In Alaska, we have a US Postal Service that is set up to deal well with life as we know it. We have a 24-hour, 365 day per year post office facility in Anchorage that allows you to do your mailing at any time. And, parcel post shipping is subsidized within Alaska making this a very economical way to get things from Anchorage to your village.
On to Bethel, Alaska
OK, so you are now within 500 miles of your new home--hardly a daily commute! The next leg of your trip will take you to Bethel, Alaska, a city of about 5,500 people in Western Alaska. Alaska Airlines and Frontier Flying Service both offer flights to Bethel daily.
For more information on Bethel, visit http://www.deltadiscovery.com/Shopping/shoppingalpha.html.
Your final leg can be by air or by water! Several small bush planes fly to our villages, some with scheduled flights and others that you can charter. For a list of the carriers we most often use, click here.
The river travel may be a bit more tricky on your first trip out. The Kuskokwim River becomes a boating highway in the summer, and many people buy a boat to get out and about. In the winter when the river freezes over, the Kuskokwim becomes an ice road traversed by vehicle, snowmobile, ATV, and even dog sled.
Inform us of your Arrival
One last thing...if you come to visit, or to stay, be sure you let the school office know you are coming. Our air strips are just that—places for planes to land and take off. There are no telephones at the end of the airstrip, so someone will meet your plane only if we know you are coming. Otherwise, you may be lugging your belongings quite a ways.
