It is not as bad as you believe planepics, I am sure. Having said that, I do not know as I only work for the company and usually don't have to get into the nuts and bolts. I will find out for you and send you a PM.
With all due respect to Skagway, it is a Disneyesque set for tourists to buy jewelry and curios, or take the train ride up the White Pass, which is an interesting and enjoyable trip but you will feel like cattle. Haines is 14 miles down the fjord from Skagway, and many people opt to book a trip to Haines and take the fast ferry (runs several times a day and takes about 45 minutes each way) to shuttle them to and fro. I work for Rainbow Glacier Adventures as a tour guide for photographers, and I cannot tell you how many clients have expressed their great joy at choosing to get away from the ships and shops of Skagway to find Haines and the Alaska of their dreams. Most of the clients I take on photo tours come from Skagway on that ferry and have a great time. If you want to consider this as an option, look us up at http://joeordonez.com/ and take a look at what people are saying on Trip Advisor at http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g31005-d1603295-Reviews-Rainbow_Glacier_Adventures-Haines_Alaska.html
You wont be suffering planepics! If you are stopping by Haines, look me up! If you're going to Skagway, look me up anyway!!
We are artists ... a certain level of egotism is inherent as is denying we have any ego involved! IMHO, anyone who wants to "steal" a ~100 kb image from Facebook or Picasa or whatever is welcome to it.
You can get on and off the bus in Denali
I have seen it already mentioned in the forum that sunsets are late and sunrise is early. Believe it! You will be experiencing sunset through around 11 pm and sunrise a few hours later. Google TPE and look for The Photographer's Ephemeris and download this jewel. It will show you when and where sunset, sunrise, moon cycles will be relative to your point on a map and it is wonderful freeware. The great advantage to the long golden hours is that you dont have to rush to capture the magic. It will be lasting a long time! Do bring lots of memory or a computer and back up portable hard drive to duplicate downloads.
Another important aspect which seems to be overlooked: you can adjust the strap so that the camera rests behind you, rather than on the side. If you are wearing a suitable coat, the camera becomes quite invisible. Handy for travelling around perhaps? Certainly the sling strap makes carrying the camera over long distances and for periods of time far more comfortable. Easier on the back of the neck or not constantly trying to slip off your shoulder like conventional straps.
Very easy to adjust color temperature in post processing.
I guide photography tours in Alaska ... where are you going? We can share D800 stories!
I use R-straps ... just type in "r strap" in Amazon and you can see what they look like. A bit pricey for what they are, but what isn't anymore? I keep my Monfroto quick-release base on the bottom of the camera and clip the R-strap on.
Might I recommend when buying from B&H (great company) you invest in the extended full warranty coverage for the camera, especially with it being refurbished. I have never been sorry to have made this extra investment.
I started off with DX and now exclusively own FX bodies. The ability to use higher ISO in the FX is its claim to fame. The higher resolution in the D800 is extraordinary for the ability to crop in on wildlife and retain a wonderful resolution. While the DX allows a 1.5 crop factor which increases your focal length, the extra resolution and ability to shoot in lower light far exceeds the edge of the DX crop factor. Here is one example among many of the recent shots captured that have been cropped for the subject, with satisfactory results: https://picasaweb.google.com/116758701035860297724/Alaska2012#5809042001697698578
There is taking a picture, then there is making a photograph.
For what it is worth, I purchased the D800 and I am extremely happy with it. I have been (and continue to be) very happy with my FX D700, but the D800 offers better dynamic range and less noise in side by side tests I have made. My main reason for wanting a 36 megapixel camera however was for cropping. Shooting wildlife, it offers a real advantage having the increased resolution.
skidooman nails it: you need to find your niche market. I have sold several hundred pieces over the last few years, and still I am fond of saying (the truth): "Aint making any money, but I am laughing because I love the business!"