Paved Routes

I think you can see the heaves better at night...the dark part of the night at least. But you better watch out for animals. Or better yet just realize that you won't make much time in the north, relax.

"Seemsv like there are a few groups who say the northern highways are so bad. Those who have never been. Those who have not been for a very long time. The biggest group, those who drive too fast for road conditions."

^^^^^ This...particularly "The biggest group, those who drive too fast for road conditions"

If you want to make up time on the Alcan, take 4-5 "days" and make your driving time at night. The road and frost heaves are the same....traffic and related delays are really reduced.

Seemsv like there are a few groups who say the northern highways are so bad. Those who have never been. Those who have not been for a very long time. The biggest group, those who drive too fast for road conditions.

I much prefer the northern roads to the south, especially the NE states. I'll take frost heaves to compact car swallowing potholes anyday.

We went up this past summer. We were doing fine until we hit a construction area just west of Whitehorse, when a big rig coming the other direction, well over the speed limit, showered us with stones. Our first ding in the windshield. Just after leaving a Kluane Lake campground, we came to the aptly named Destruction Bay area of the Alaska Highway, and once again an on-coming speeding big rig showered us with stones. Bigger ding in the windshield and many small dents in the skin of the RV.

There are two things to take from this: 1 initiate your defensive driving in these areas, staying well back from the vehicle in front, and stay as far to the right as possible, but keep in mind you can still get "hit" from oncoming traffic, and 2 we would do it again for the experiences. Remember, that the roads being disrupted due to frost heaves is real and on-going, and just part of the "dues" you may pay to visit Western Canada and Alaska.

Been to AK twice in 2013, 2014. Roads are paved all the way on AK Highway and most of the way on the "Top of the World" and the Canadian "Cassiar Highway." The only gravel is the ever on-going construction/repairs as well as frost heaves and potholes. Most potholes, frost heaves are marked by flags or cones, but you can also spot them by oil marks and tire scrapes in time to slow down. You shouldn't be going more than 55mph anyway, even if that fancy sports car passed you with the top down. I passed him later while he was backing up to retrieve luggage that flew out of back seat. In construction areas, you should't go over 25mph no matter how smooth it seems.
As to mud flaps, I am slowly realizing that they do more harm than good, because when bouncing along (the recommended 4" clearance) isn't enough, because the flap strikes the ground and kicks up rocks onto the toad. I've tried home-built plexiglas shield, and all it does is bounce the rocks into the back of the motorhome and then bounce again over the shield onto the window, etc. I've tried the spray on shield, both the military spec paint (aircraft) and Rustoleum, but when it gets hot, it cooks it on and hard to get off. Looks awful when wet too! Ditto too, to the tape like shield sold by Camping World. This next summer, I am removing the mud flaps and will install the Guardian Shield as well as the Defender Apron for our return trip to AK. I found that a home-made apron made out of greenhouse cloth worked very well with bungee cords, but it didn't look neat after it got loaded down with mud and wear and didn't have the retractable features of the Defender. The only thing I don't like about the Guardian, is that it has to be removed for the toad to be driven... headlights don't shine through the solid material, and if the temperature is warm, you will have issues with vehicle cooling.
I expect though, with using both the Guardian and Defender in tandem, no more rocks should be thrown over the screen or barrier onto my toad, except for the oncoming vehicles throwing rocks at you.
Don't let the horror stories stop you, it is a trip well worth taking. And by the way, just north of Watson Lake (10 miles approx) take the Cassiar Highway about an hours drive to Boya Lake Provincial Park and stop for the night. It is a gem that you won't want to miss!

colliehauler wrote:

sue.t wrote:
There are sections of the Alaska Highway that must be rebuilt every few years due to the frost heaves. The section between Destruction Bay and Beaver Creek is the worst. It should never have been paved; in the old days, it took just a nice grading to smooth out the bumps. Now, the asphalt must be dealt with.

Four years ago the section between our place and Whitehorse was rebuilt. Now there are dozens of orange flags along the route despite some good repairs last year. Good kitchen discombobulaters.

Here's a section south of Beaver Creek...

The speed limit sign is a nice touch.

That's 90 KPH - roughly 56 MPH. Still much too fast for road conditions.

Tom

sue.t wrote:
There are sections of the Alaska Highway that must be rebuilt every few years due to the frost heaves. The section between Destruction Bay and Beaver Creek is the worst. It should never have been paved; in the old days, it took just a nice grading to smooth out the bumps. Now, the asphalt must be dealt with.

Four years ago the section between our place and Whitehorse was rebuilt. Now there are dozens of orange flags along the route despite some good repairs last year. Good kitchen discombobulaters.

Here's a section south of Beaver Creek...

The speed limit sign is a nice touch.

My my, Sue... does that bring back memories. We'll probably be driving out this fall again. :D

There are sections of the Alaska Highway that must be rebuilt every few years due to the frost heaves. The section between Destruction Bay and Beaver Creek is the worst. It should never have been paved; in the old days, it took just a nice grading to smooth out the bumps. Now, the asphalt must be dealt with.

Four years ago the section between our place and Whitehorse was rebuilt. Now there are dozens of orange flags along the route despite some good repairs last year. Good kitchen discombobulaters.

Here's a section south of Beaver Creek...

2gypsies wrote:
By your take off in 2024 all of those construction areas will be finished! :)

And past due for a second rebuild :R