Our Alaska Trip
We're back in the US and resting for a week at Glacier National Park. At this point have registered about 7500 miles from Northern Wisconsin to our furthest point which was Homer, AK. We were on the ...
Forum Discussion
We left for Alaska May 9 and will start our return after Labor Day. We tried to do our homework before hand. We found that the environment is extremely hard on roads in the northlands. We planned on having to go slow so that we would not beat our rig up. Have we hit unexpected and unmarked rough places- yes! But not any more than we have in the lower 48. Both CA and AK try to do their best to mark the frost heaves and potholes.
Anyone who expects to drive 65 MPH all the time and not anticipate or ignores having to slow down for road conditions hasn't planned well for their trip. Road construction slowdowns and stoppages while waiting your turn on a 1 lane accessible road are the norm. Just plan for it to happen. Each CA Province and AK has a 511-like web site which should show where major construction and slowdowns are at.
Do not over-schedule your time. Leave a day or two extra in your schedule to compensate for driving slower. Again, plan for it.
We have been to Skagway, Valdez, Whittier, Seward, Homer, Anchorage, and Denali NP and our rig is no worse for wear than I believe we would have in the lower 48 traveling the same distances.
I did have 2 nails in tires. One in a trailer tire which went flat sitting in the campground parking lot in Valadez (how lucky was I?). The other was in TV tire which I discovered when doing my regular pressure check (a good, safe routine!). That tire was down 15#. Upon inspection I saw the roofing nail head. I have also had flats in the lower 48.
My advice is to do your homework and plan. Research what others have been saying on this forum and others. Get a copy of The Milepost. Never let the thought that the roads up here are so bad that they are beating up your rig. Your speed is the culprit!
This is our first trip to BC, YT, and AK. There is a tremendous amount of things to see and do. I am so glad that we are in AK and would never let the roads prevent me from coming up here again!
Anyone who expects to drive 65 MPH all the time and not anticipate or ignores having to slow down for road conditions hasn't planned well for their trip. Road construction slowdowns and stoppages while waiting your turn on a 1 lane accessible road are the norm. Just plan for it to happen. Each CA Province and AK has a 511-like web site which should show where major construction and slowdowns are at.
Do not over-schedule your time. Leave a day or two extra in your schedule to compensate for driving slower. Again, plan for it.
We have been to Skagway, Valdez, Whittier, Seward, Homer, Anchorage, and Denali NP and our rig is no worse for wear than I believe we would have in the lower 48 traveling the same distances.
I did have 2 nails in tires. One in a trailer tire which went flat sitting in the campground parking lot in Valadez (how lucky was I?). The other was in TV tire which I discovered when doing my regular pressure check (a good, safe routine!). That tire was down 15#. Upon inspection I saw the roofing nail head. I have also had flats in the lower 48.
My advice is to do your homework and plan. Research what others have been saying on this forum and others. Get a copy of The Milepost. Never let the thought that the roads up here are so bad that they are beating up your rig. Your speed is the culprit!
This is our first trip to BC, YT, and AK. There is a tremendous amount of things to see and do. I am so glad that we are in AK and would never let the roads prevent me from coming up here again!
