A Return Trip to Alaska Motivation

Because it's Alaska, THE LAST FRONTIER.

We've been up 5 times in the summer and once in the winter and I'm chomping at the bit to go this summer. Yes, we fish and shrimp and bring down a 17 cu ft chest freezer full of fish, but that's not the only reason. It's the free and easy way of the people, their ability to live in a place where they must combat extremes in climate, wildlife and abilities. I don't think I've met an Alaskan who was afraid of hard work, was anything but self reliant and was as independent as anyone you will find. The state regulations recognize this independence and encourage it, and even though they are strict in some areas they allow flexibility. I haven't met a "politically correct" Alaskan and if and when I do it'll probably be no longer be heading North. Those we meet take people at face value and don't pre-judge.

I believe the ruggedness and beauty of the geography from the tundra north of the Brooks Range to the rain forests of the pan handle to the glaciers, fjords and rugged coastline is without equal anywhere in the world. The place just talks to me. If I were 20 years younger I would not be a visitor up there, I would be a proud resident. Unfortunately, that is no longer possible so summers every other year will have to suffice.

I have traveled the world as an Air Force pilot and since retirement have traveled the US and Canada extensively, but this place is absolutely unique. We have actually been to the places you see on the Alaska reality shows from the oil fields at Deadhorse (Prudhoe Bay) to the oil terminal at Valdez and the beauty of the Kenai peninsula. No place better.

Hi This makes me remember when my wife and and were in Alaska (North Pole) from 1979 to 1982. I was in the USAF flying out of Eielson AFB to Shemya for our reconnaisance missions (RC-135). Lots of memories for us newlyweds! Bet most of you never heard of "ice fog". Maybe some day, we"ll drive back up.

We have been to Alaska four times. The first was a cruise, so only saw a small portion of the Inside Passage. There was a lot more to see. So we made two summer long trips driving cross country spending weeks in Alaska. The fourth trip was limited to Homer for the eagles and Anchorage for the Iditarod start. Now we are planning a fifth trip to see more of the state that we have not seen. I believe it would take more trips than I could afford to see all of the interesting areas Alaska has to offer in addition to the beautiful scenery and wonderful wildlife.

But to put that into perspective, we have been to Yellowstone three times, the Grand Canyon twice, Disney World at least 5 times, Maine twice, Massachusetts many times and I could go on. No matter how many times you visit the same place there is always something different to see and experience.

We have been twice. The first was a cruise on Ms Ryndam maiden voyage. Awesome! Sailed in the evening at dinner with beautiful vistas and docked in the morning and checked out the towns during the day and did excursions. We loved it so much the next year we flew into Anchorage and rented an RV for 12 days. Saw more of the out of the way places. Saw a bear cub in the road, and a baby moose in Denali Park. I would go back at least 2 more times if we can swing it. (we have other places on our list before that). My favorite town was Haines. The ferry rides were awesome. We took the Lulu Belle boat from Valdez. Saw puffins, seals, otters, stopped for fresh oysters, got real close to a glacier and watched it calve.

What Enblethen said, plus to explore many "out of the way" places more in depth. Alaska is rich in historic and cultural significance.
Over the years, we have made four trips to Alaska, however not all with an RV, and plan to go back again.

I doubt if one can take in Alaska in one trip unless it is for an entire Summer. If one did not conform to my rule about staying in one place for at least three nights it may mean that the first trip just skimmed the surface.
The rebuttal is that it is a very very long way from Chicago and it's got to be hard on an RV.

I go a lot of places three (or more) times. The first time you're sort of lost and feeling your way around - you certainly didn't see or do everything. The second time you're getting the feel of things. The third time you're pretty comfortable with it all, can see what you want to go back to, and just feel relaxed and enjoy things.

Bill

When I completed my first road trip to Alaska (from Michigan), many folks back home asked if I would do it again... initially my response was no - the negatives of the trip fresh in my mind, the expensive of it fresh on my balance sheet, I was happy I went but not so blown away that I was eager to head back right away.

Now that my trip is six months behind me, the rose colored glasses of nostalgia have me thinking of another trip.

I now know more what I liked and what I want to avoid. For example, the Cassair highway was some really rough road, and as I drove North on it, I was telling myself I'm surely not going to make my return trip on this awful road. So on my return I drove south-east on the Alcan to Dawson Creek and then from there to Grand Cache. The stretch of road between Dawson Creek and Grand Cache was in good shape, but oh so BORING. Nothing to see but trees and the clear cuts belonging to the earth-rape that is hydraulic fracking.

I want to give Alaska another chance, and maybe I'll take an airplane and rent an RV instead of driving the one I own, so I can have more time. I left Alaska somewhat dismayed, my visit ruined by wildfire and rain with thick ground hugging clouds. When I go back, it's hard to say how I'll do it. I hate to rely on other peoples schedules and equipment, so flying and renting are real turn offs to me. On the other hand, it takes about 10 days to get from home to the Yukon / Northern BC where things start getting interesting, so that means if I drive, twenty days are gone before the trip really starts.

As far as having seen the scenery, yes I saw some, but it's good enough it's worth seeing again and again. I had visited in the spring, before summer turned everything green, before the masses arrived, when snow still covered the mountains and many mountain roads were closed. As big as Denali and the range it's part of are, it was all buried in thick clouds for days. Friends I had met while traveling reported waiting a week in DNP, and the last few days of their visit, the skies parted and they were treated to a sight of the mountain from its base to its peaks. Much of the Kenai was blanketed in noxious smoke from a wildfire that had started just as I arrived, and wasn't brought under control until my time in that area had run out.

Never been to Alaska, but I've made return trips to other destinations. Reason being that the first time everything was new- second trip allows one to concentrate on areas of interest already "learned".

There is so many things that change from trip to trip.
Animals and countryside!
No family in Alaska or along the way. Family at times ruins a good trip.
We eat enough fish so we don't have to bring any home.