Alaska is challenging, and will pick you up with those times. You will fly more, learn more and could mature more in 12 months there than anywhere else I've ever heard of. I don't care who you go to.
Who said flying was easy? Let's take a trip accross the Delta in Oct or Feb, single pilot piston twin, say... Hooper or Scammon Bay. I'd say Cape Ramonzoff, but I wouldn't want to scare you. Easy... hmph. Challenge is where you find it. I couldn't stand it if it were too easy! Why bother with simple?