Roll Call Alaska 2014
Anyone traveling to Alaska in 2014? We ,my wife and I, are planning a trip and was wondering if anyone is planning on going in 2014 also. Would go this year, except we have two weddings to go to in...
Forum Discussion
Although I have traveled in both directions, I certainly prefer driving the Denali Highway from Cantwell (west) to Paxson (east).
For one, from the drivers side point of view you can see to the north in a much broader open area as you follow the entire Alaska Range which turn into a pretty landscape on those clear days.
Secondly, depending of course the month of passing thru there... if a person is not a crack of dawn morning person like me - the sun could be in your face give or take between 700pm to 1100pm when travelling from east to west direction and it can be daunting at times, however an overcast cloudy day will have no bearing....Travelling from west to east will not be a factor with a sun in your face scenario unless you want to hit the road at 200am or 300am during mid June.
Remember upon those who tend to drive northbound towards Fairbanks during the month of June from Cantwell or Dot Lake or Black Rapids, the sun when exposed will obstruct your view real bad between 930pm to 1230am give or take an hour, as I highly recommend restricting travel during this timeframe when the sun is out upon the guidelines posted in this paragraph.
What I also hated when travelling east to west on the Denali Highway was after an intermittent rainpour, the wet road surface would reflect bad enough to be of a nuisance when the sun would appear again.
Taking the Denali Highway from either direction is a peaceful experience with that remoteness feeling to it, and very enjoyable if one takes their time on the route.
As far as Paxson Lodge being mentioned, although I have not been there since 2006, the local Fairbanks newspaper informed the closure of the lodge on an article last October as I do not know it's current status....I always stopped in there for their arcticburger meal that was quite reasonably priced and pretty good.
For one, from the drivers side point of view you can see to the north in a much broader open area as you follow the entire Alaska Range which turn into a pretty landscape on those clear days.
Secondly, depending of course the month of passing thru there... if a person is not a crack of dawn morning person like me - the sun could be in your face give or take between 700pm to 1100pm when travelling from east to west direction and it can be daunting at times, however an overcast cloudy day will have no bearing....Travelling from west to east will not be a factor with a sun in your face scenario unless you want to hit the road at 200am or 300am during mid June.
Remember upon those who tend to drive northbound towards Fairbanks during the month of June from Cantwell or Dot Lake or Black Rapids, the sun when exposed will obstruct your view real bad between 930pm to 1230am give or take an hour, as I highly recommend restricting travel during this timeframe when the sun is out upon the guidelines posted in this paragraph.
What I also hated when travelling east to west on the Denali Highway was after an intermittent rainpour, the wet road surface would reflect bad enough to be of a nuisance when the sun would appear again.
Taking the Denali Highway from either direction is a peaceful experience with that remoteness feeling to it, and very enjoyable if one takes their time on the route.
As far as Paxson Lodge being mentioned, although I have not been there since 2006, the local Fairbanks newspaper informed the closure of the lodge on an article last October as I do not know it's current status....I always stopped in there for their arcticburger meal that was quite reasonably priced and pretty good.
