Roll Call Alaska 2018

rag-ftw wrote:

jacketsbum wrote:
So I'm planning on leaving in July for 8+ weeks. Is August and Sept not a good time? ...

Not the best time to see animals along the roadside but a better time for fishing!

The only thing about leaving in late September is you could run into some snow in the Canadian Rockies that might hold you up for a couple of days. SueT and PA12DRIVER would be excellent sources of info on possible road conditions.

Not sure if you'll be in the North for July/Aug/September or on the road in the continental U.S. during July and then hit the Canadian border circa 1-August:..... in any case, thoughts:

- For Southcentral Alaska (McKinley Park to Kenai) August is still "summer", but September can be a magical month: a bit cooler, bugs are gone or on the way out, tourists are gone or on the way out ;) snow is dusting the mountains, etc. ....but it can also be rainy and chilly
- Further North (Squarebanks and upwards) September is the harbinger of winter, particularly at higher elevations or towards the end of September.
- Many tourist attractions shut down mid-September, although there is still plenty to see and do
- If you wait until end September to leave Los Anchorage or Squarebanks, you will encounter snow along the way out. In all probability, you'll encounter a few patches of road with snow on them (either in Alaska or Canada), but IRCC it will be patchy
- Mid-August through mid-October is Silver Salmon and trout season (when the fish are active whether or not the regs allow catching them). Halibut are good too, but the weather on the salt gets to be more of a consideration, particularly if going further offshore in search of the barn doors.
- August in Southcentral can be nice and is usually full of tourist activities and warmer days (even if rainy).
- FWIW, September is my favorite time of year in Southcentral and I'm perfectly happy to enjoy October if I miss September.....but by the end of September, one had better have their painting and roofing done and the warm weather chores done because Fall is on with a vengeance and winter is knocking on the door.
- In many ways, animals are actually more active at the end of summer and in the fall (i.e. September) but they're not dumb: roads and trails tend to become access points for hunters from late August through the end of September and the animals tend to avoid roads at that time of year in my experience. Not entirely, but noticeably so compared to June July.