BB4A wrote:
Alaska to anywhere by road can be tricky to impossible. Are you (a) heading down to the lower 48 for good, or will you (b) be schlepping the gear down, and then back again?
If your answer is (a), then I suggest a bonded courier service is probably your best option. Particularly as (depending upon whereabouts in Alaska you live) your standard parcel services are probably restricted to air or sea freight.
If your answer is (b), then I suggest challenging yourself with these two questions:
1. Do I really need to take everything?
2. If not, should I rent or buy some/most items I will need, where I will use them?
Over the last 3 decades, I’ve found myself attending sports events and multiple other commissions on at least 2 continents, yearly. Whether it be top end World Championships sporting equipment or professional photo gear, I’ve personally found it more cost effective to stash “mini-hubs” of the larger / heavier essentials in each continent that I regularly visit (I’m SO lucky to have so many friends willing to look after a mini-hub for me).
Turns out, air freighting expensive (insurance costs added in!) equipment around the World is a fools game… cheaper and safer to pare down to essentials and buy a mini-hub set in each continent, near where it’s needed. I’m comfortable financially… but I don’t have the resources of the Ferrari F1 Team. Once I’ve shipped a $10K lens back & forth a couple of times, loss & damage risk, insurance, and freight costs mean I would have saved money renting or buying it & using it where I need it.
We are all special and unique… just like everyone else. You will probably have different challenges than me, but if your “box of bits” to ship costs less than around $20K, you may find it’s only worth courier delivery & insurance if you are a “one and done” trip.
Alaska to anywhere by road can be tricky to imposs... (
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B is most applicable. Already schlepped one way, now returning. Everything has been pared down as much as possible. I have gained significantly more equipment here. My concern is lost or damage but that is a risk either way. Thank you for your advise!