informal caravans to Alaska

About two trips back, in 2009, my wife's sister and her husband wanted to drive along with us to Alaska. While they had lived in Anchorage for 17 years they had never driven the Alaska highway. They flew in and they flew out when they moved to Oregon, where they currently live.

This is not an uncommon situation for many living in Alaska. The trip went well, we would camp together at night, decide where we were going to spend the next night and if we were going to meet up during the day anywhere or not. It was fun to have someone to spend the evening with, share meals with, other than one's spouse. It wasn't better or worse than going solo, just different. We met up in Whitefish Montana at a preselected campgrounds, where we set up a three day window in which to show up. We have gone camping with this set of relatives many times in the past, but never on a trip to/from Alaska. We camped together most nights, they had a hard framed popup (A-Liner)until we reached the Anchorage area. They had old friends to see and we only wanted to be there long enough to resupply. We agreed to meet up a week later in Seward at a campground. Then traveled together over to Valdez and back to southern BC where they went on to Oregon and we headed in the general direction of Florida.

Never traveled with folks I don't know and not too sure it sounds to pleasurable an idea to me. There is always that kid that gets marked on his school report card, "does not play well with other" and those kids do grow up, it seems. I am sure the travelers that enjoy caravans are so thankful that those social isolates like to go solo.

Most of the travelers, camping at the northern campgrounds tend to be open and approachable, much of the time. I enjoy wandering around the campgrounds and conversing with my fellow campers. It is fun to ask first and second timers leading questions, just to hear their stories (expertise) of how to make the trip to northern Canada and Alaska.

What 2gypsies said. You don't have many choices in roads going to Alaska. Everyone is on the same 'mission'. If you are the sociable type you will meet the same people all along the way, maybe arrange to do something or have dinner together. Maybe just sit around a fire waiting for it to dark & realize that it is midnight & not dark yet.

It is a different experience.

We are too contrary to actually travel with anyone else, but last summer we found it easy to "hook up" with other RV'ers for a few days as we traveled to and from Alaska. You will probably see the same folks over and over again and if you sign up on this Forum, you may meet some that you feel you already know. Just about everyone (excluding the rental RV's,)traveled a long way on bad roads to get there and that creates a bond. lizzie

There will be thousands of other RVers making the same trip. You'll meet up with them constantly along the drive or in campgrounds. Just go at your own pace and you'll have a great time!

Check out this thread (Roll Call Alaska 2014), it may provide info to help you link up with other travellers;

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26960837.cfm