Alaska 2022??

Last summer we drove a rented truck camper up to Deadhorse. I filled up at heart attack prices in Coldfoot and Deadhorse. The highest gas prices I ever paid in my life, while looking at the well head sheds of the north slope.

I wonder if they will crack double digit gas prices this summer?

Trackrig wrote:
The good part is it will probably cut down on the crowds.

Don't count on it. One of the side effects of COVID was "Be a Tourist in Your Own Backyard" syndrome. Many people stayed local and attractions were just as busy. We were scheduled to go to Alaska in 2020 and had to bump into 2021. The remote lodge we went to was booked solid all through 2020 with people from Alaska staying at home.

Many of those who can afford a big rig will just bite the bullet on the cost because they can. An extra $500-$1000 won't bother then. Others will skip on other things so they can go. Yes, there will be some that sadly will have to cancel or change their plans but overall I think it might be a wash and you won't see a huge difference.

Looking at 2027 before I can make the trip.

"Cruising is fine for some but those boats stop at every T shirt, trinket & jewelry store on the SE coast."

Over the past several years, the DW and I have either taken the big silver bird or AMHS to several SE towns for a visit. One of the more enjoyable ways to spend a few hours in, say Ketchikan, is to get a good seat at a bar overlooking the cruise dock about 2:30 or so in the afternoon and watch the surge of folks trying to get a last-minute shot at trinkets before reboarding for a 5:00 cast-off. By the time of the 2nd or 3rd beverage (or is it 3d or 4th?) at about 4:30 / 4:45 interesting to see how the diehards deal with rushing to get back to the ship with their purchases before the cut-off for reboarding / departure.

I also think there would be quite a few segments of industry that could take lessons in effective demobilization from the trinket vendors in SE: within 3 minutes of the last cruise ship pax walking away, the shutters are down; by the time the ship casts off the hawsers, the trinket shop is closed up, the lights are off, and the staff is back at the hostel for the evening.

Edd505 wrote:

Cinderella wrote:
Was curious if anyone is considering going to Alaska this year? Usually by now there are some posts. Was wondering with Covid testing requirements to get through Canada and rising fuel costs if anyone is planning on going.

Yep June on Princess Cruise Lines

Cruising is fine for some but those boats stop at every T shirt, trinket & jewelry store on the SE coast.

The North & Alaska by RV is a whole different trip to whole different places.

Cinderella wrote:
Was curious if anyone is considering going to Alaska this year? Usually by now there are some posts. Was wondering with Covid testing requirements to get through Canada and rising fuel costs if anyone is planning on going.

Yep June on Princess Cruise Lines

I look at it this way.
At my age and after the medical issues I have had, if the price of fuel keeps me from doing a any trip that I want to do, may as well just jump off a bridge and call it a day.
We sat at home for the last 2 years waiting, and if you didn;t save some money in that time, your probably not going to afford a trip up north at anytime.
I thought the reason for working for 40 years at one place was so that when we do retire, you just do what you want and when.
Gas prices have been going up since I was a kid in the 60’s, they have yet to go down to date.
Happy Trails everyone
Soup.

Read an blog of some guy who went to Alaska riding a moped from Toronto. Sounding like a good idea these days.

Have to feel sorry for the CG owners along the Alaska Highway. Two years of covid now this. Talk about getting more licks when you are down.

PA12DRVR wrote:

Trackrig wrote:
The good part is it will probably cut down on the crowds.

The way it usually works (since Mr. Murphy rides shotgun on many of my drives) is that even if there are only 3-4 40' class A's in Alaska, I'll be able to catch up to them just as they leave Palmer and enter the twisty part of the Glenn....or maybe they'll be just ahead of me going past Girdwood... :S

Lol, funny part is I know exactly where you're talking about and how hard it is to pass Back of the Pack if he were driving around up there!

Trackrig wrote:
The good part is it will probably cut down on the crowds.

The way it usually works (since Mr. Murphy rides shotgun on many of my drives) is that even if there are only 3-4 40' class A's in Alaska, I'll be able to catch up to them just as they leave Palmer and enter the twisty part of the Glenn....or maybe they'll be just ahead of me going past Girdwood... :S