barge from ak to lower 48
Heading up through CA out of North idaho in juNE to alaska no hurry agenda just take it as it comes. Question... I know you can take a ferry back down (yikes price) but what about a barge? Have fri...
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prstlk wrote:However, she had no RV in tow. Plenty of locals and backpackers still do that, but on the ferries. At night on the open rear deck of all the ferries, they pitch tents, roll out sleeping bags, and camp out. There are even a few chaise lounges to use as cots and infrared heaters in the "semi-roof" that covers the forward part of that aft deck. Then during the day they can hang out in the lounge and eat in the on-board cafeteria. And all it costs them is the price of an individual ferry ticket. But, once again, these people are not in RVs, so the price is very reasonable.
Have friend who's wife is in her 60s and grew up in ak. She claims she made trips both up and down on the barge fleet. Tent bag food stove etc.
Keep in mind that the Alaska ferry system wasn't designed in the 1960's for tourists. It was, and still is, the Panhandle's only highway system and it runs year round, whether there are any tourists or not. Since there are no roads, space on that car deck is even more valuable to the locals than it is to you. The only way for a refrigerated semi carrying food from Prince Rupert to the grocery store in Ketchikan is on the same ferry you want to take. So, it is very likely that you will pay considerably more for the deck space your RV takes up than that IGA grocery truck pays for the same amount of space.
