Nails in Tires from Top of the World

When the wind blows the dust away, nails surface also. Probably joe b is right.

It is September 6 and we are in Seward. Planning on leaving on Sunday for a couple days in Homer, then head north and east toward Tok. We would like to do the TOW hwy sometime around September 18 from the Chicken side. My concerns are (1) road conditions this time of year (generally of course); and (2) I have heard many horror stories about this road, so should I be concerned about towing a 23 foot travel trailer over this road with a 2 wheel drive vehicle.

Please, if anyone has first hand knowledge of road conditions as of this date of posting, and advice/recommendations as to taking this route, I would appreciate hearing from you. Joe B, I would especially appreciate your advice as I know you have taken this route many times and perhaps as late in the year as mid-september. Thanks

September 18? The customs might be closed by then, which means there is no crossing the border. The highway will close when customs closes. Last year when we went through on September 6, the customs agent still didn't know when the crossing would close but they had heard it would be the 17th. I don't know when it actually closed. The date varies year-to-year. Best to check before going that way. The tourist info center in Tok should know.

The road itself is usually in good driving condition in September because all repairs are complete and waiting for first snowfall to settle in.

Found 2012 info for the Poker Creek (Top of the World) customs http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/ak/3104.xml

Name: Poker Creek (Seasonal)
Phone: (703) 921-7752
Fax: (907) 774-2020
Operational Hours: 8:00 AM-8:00 PM(Alaska)
Seven Days A Week (7)
05/19/2012 To 09/15/2012

The Canadian customs, Little Gold Creek, doesn't list a closing date:
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/listing/offices/office516-e.html

Both the US and Canadian crossings close the same day.
"Weather dependent" means if it snows, it could close immediately.

Thanks for the info Sue. We will certainly check with border patrol etched before heading that way, but as of now, not looking like we'll make it up there. We'll see but all sounds too ify that late in the year. Thanks again

The border crossing closing only closes the Canadian side of the TOW to non-Canadians and visa versa on the US side. Mining in the 60 Mile Disrict, the Canadian side, has become more active in the last 10 years or so. The Canadian miners will be using the road until the ferry stops running because of ice running on the Yukon River. Not many mines working in the 40 Mile District, the Alaska side of the border. In the winter, snow machines driving the TOW can clear customs with some government agent in Dawson or Tok from what I understand, with a phone call ahead.

On the US side the road from Tok, Tetlin Junction, up to Eagle is open to US citizens as late as they can drive the road. Road maintenance stops in the fall, if it ever started, but this is not the land of heavy snow falls, but is the land of super cold in the winter.

The people that live on the west side of the Yukon river will be stuck till the river ice freezes thick enough to support driving on it. There has been talk for years of bridging the Yukon at Dawson, but the cost would be high for the few that would actually use it to drive the TOW in the winter. The residents of Dawson look toward Whitehorse to meet their needs, not toward Alaska, such as shopping, fuel supplies, etc.

The Border Patrol stations on the TOW are under the supervision of the stations at Beaver Creek for Canada and Port Alcan for the US. Both sides jointly decide when to close the stations on the TOW, since they share the same building complex.

The road is normally at it's best in the fall prior to the rains starting in late September that continue until the turn to snow around the first or second week of October most years in that part of the north county.

Peg Leg wrote:
The nails must have fell from someone's truck.

Yeah--the local tire guy.

Thanks for th info Joe b. What is your recommendation as to driving TOW in mid September? I really want to take this route but am extremely nervous from all the negative feedback we've heard this summer about the conditions of the route. Also concerned about customes closing on us so we can't get to Canada, but I gess I can check on that status when we get close (in Tok)?).

The Border station closing would be my only concern with mid September. Ice in the river should not be running by then so the ferry should still be operating I would give the border station at Port Alcan a call when you are a day or two away fom Tetlin Junction. That would be the go or no go decision point for driving the TOW.

Port Alcan - 907-774-2252

A number I have for Poker Creek on the TOW is 703-921-7752 but I am not comfortable that it is a good one or not. The Port Alcan number should be good year around.

Thanks Joe. I will call as you suggest. We will be in Valdez until 9/15 or 16 so should be in Chicken by the 18th. That is the plan anyway. I'll call while in Valdez to find out status of border patrol and TOW Hwy. Thanks again for your help.