Second traveler in Alaska report
Hello All,
We are just back from a 2 week Alaska trip. We rented a truck camper and visited/camped Denali, where we got lucky since the mountain was out. We saw two griz, caribou, and moose. Beautiful bus trip, sadly only one type of trip is offered this year. On down the Kenai where the high point was free camping on a beach, where the locals were Halibut fishing in small boats.
Then over to Wrangell-St. Elias to drive to McCarthy with a Kennicott visit. As a miner’s son I got a blast out of the processing plant. They also had some old mine maps, while my wife was fascinated by the correspondence and ledgers; she loves the old accounting stuff and personal letters. The McCarthy road was in very good shape; reportedly it was worked a few weeks before our trip. We went on to Valdez then back and drove past the second creek crossing on the Nabesna Road. We then pulled back and headed to Paxon, so we could cross the Denali Hwy, and drive up the Dalton to the Arctic with a favorable weather forecast. Both Nabesna and Denali roads were in fine shape, and the state was actively working both.
Beautiful scenery and wildlife along the Denali Hwy, we then headed up the Dalton. Quite a drive. Glad we took the tour to the Beaufort Sea (Arctic Ocean), and it was a beautiful 61 deg. day. The weather forecast was right. We added musk ox and a red fox to the bag on this trip. As a side note, on the Verizon system, we had cell service at Galbraith Lake Camping Area. My guess is this is associated with the maned airport at this location. As long as the navigation lights are working and the generators running, I think you could also get service here, good to know, but don’t count on it.
We then made several short trips, including Chena Hot Springs. My wife loved the Ice Museum. If you can, make an Alaskan trip this year, the businesses need your support.
As an aside, the dirt roads were in excellent shape, but the paved roads need some work. The department of highway crews are out and working.
We are just back from a 2 week Alaska trip. We rented a truck camper and visited/camped Denali, where we got lucky since the mountain was out. We saw two griz, caribou, and moose. Beautiful bus trip, sadly only one type of trip is offered this year. On down the Kenai where the high point was free camping on a beach, where the locals were Halibut fishing in small boats.
Then over to Wrangell-St. Elias to drive to McCarthy with a Kennicott visit. As a miner’s son I got a blast out of the processing plant. They also had some old mine maps, while my wife was fascinated by the correspondence and ledgers; she loves the old accounting stuff and personal letters. The McCarthy road was in very good shape; reportedly it was worked a few weeks before our trip. We went on to Valdez then back and drove past the second creek crossing on the Nabesna Road. We then pulled back and headed to Paxon, so we could cross the Denali Hwy, and drive up the Dalton to the Arctic with a favorable weather forecast. Both Nabesna and Denali roads were in fine shape, and the state was actively working both.
Beautiful scenery and wildlife along the Denali Hwy, we then headed up the Dalton. Quite a drive. Glad we took the tour to the Beaufort Sea (Arctic Ocean), and it was a beautiful 61 deg. day. The weather forecast was right. We added musk ox and a red fox to the bag on this trip. As a side note, on the Verizon system, we had cell service at Galbraith Lake Camping Area. My guess is this is associated with the maned airport at this location. As long as the navigation lights are working and the generators running, I think you could also get service here, good to know, but don’t count on it.
We then made several short trips, including Chena Hot Springs. My wife loved the Ice Museum. If you can, make an Alaskan trip this year, the businesses need your support.
As an aside, the dirt roads were in excellent shape, but the paved roads need some work. The department of highway crews are out and working.
