Some Thoughts on 4080 miles to Alaska
As may of you know I just finished a 4080 mile trip from Tucson to Fairbanks and thought I'd share some insights about places along the way. This was my second trip to Alaska in the last 10 months.
We started in Tucson and it was nearing 80 degrees that day. By the time we got to Tok Alaska it was -34F that is a 114 degree difference in temperature.
We traveled up through the central valley of California on 99 which has been much improved over the years and up and over the Siskyous just in time to beat a big snow fall.
By the time we hit Bellingham where we stayed for Three nights to get my hair cut, the trucks oil changed and a block heater cord installed and winterize the trailer for the freezing weather just ahead in BC.We were right on the schedule that I had.
We were able to make good time on the road actually getting ahead of schedule by 2 days as we drove the Hwy.
We started staying in Motels in BC as it was very cold there as well. We had some very nic stops along the way and almost every morning it was between -24 and -34 below zero. Here are some thoughts about what we encountered along the way...
One place I would avoid Is Andreas Hotel in Watson Lake. I know most of you will be camping but if you decide to stay in a hotel one night don't do it here.
I have owned a resort hotel/restaurant/bar and do know something about running them and this place was pretty much a disaster.
The restaurant is mediocre at best turning out cold food that should be hot and just more like bad fast food than anything else.
There was construction going on when I was there and they were converting the space next to my room to a "spa" The flooring was going in. The noise was incredible. This I can have some sympathy for but to fill the room right next to it was madness since it was not necessary at all.
But the biggest joke...and it was a joke for sure was the Free WiFi. Oh it's free but only...wait for it...40MB yes that is not a misprint that is Mega Bytes. beyond that you had to pay $10 for more.
I noted at the time that we had pretty good wifi the whole trip where we stayed with few restrictions making this truly unreasonable.
The rooms are very noisy, you can literally hear the people in the next room BREATHING. There is nothing in the walls. In fact the construction of the entire place is very shoddy and cheap. It was clearly slapped together in a very big hurry.
Because of the extreme cold weather on the trip we stayed in Motels and this was the only one that was a disappointment.
Toad River Lodge was a good place to stay with decent food and they have an RV Park. Though just up the road are the campgrounds around Muncho Lake Which are very nice and exceptionally scenic and will be open by the time most of the travellers come this way.
Fuel Prices have risen dramatically since my last trip up here in May of Last year. Then Diesel at the Fred Meyer in Fairbanks was about $2.49 I paid only $2.19 by using my Fred Meyer discount card from my grocery purchases. Now the price is $2.92.
And in Canada the same diesel is about $3.23/gallon after the exchange is figured. It is over $4.00 Canadian. It was running between $1.22 and $1.16 per Litre Canadian.
Many RV Parks are surprisingly still open in places along the Hwy, many with year-round residents in them. So even if you go early like April you will find a place to stay. (This is not so true once in Alaska)
At one place (Sasquatch Crossing) we stopped for some coffee and a snack. When we got to the door a sign said their furnace was broken and they were closed but a man let us in and we used the facilities. They had hot coffee and some great looking Cinnamon Rolls and we gathered some up. When we tried to pay he wouldn;t let us...saying I don't know how to work the machine so just take 'em. Stop here and get a Cinnamon Roll on your way up.
We didnt see a lot of animals on this trip being the time of year that's not so surprising. But we did see a herd of 65 Bison near Coal River all eating and relaxing by the side of the road.
May is one of the best months to come up here. And if you do the drive in May you will see lots lots more animals. Most folks leave the trip till June which in my opinion is a mistake of great proportions. Some of the clearest weather is in May and your best chances of Seeing Denali (Slim at the best of times). Early June can be good also but as June progresses it turns more rainy and cloudy at times. Also the Mosquitos come out. Last Summer they were not bad at all except in some remote campgrounds.
If you can make the trip in early mid May you wont regret it.
We started in Tucson and it was nearing 80 degrees that day. By the time we got to Tok Alaska it was -34F that is a 114 degree difference in temperature.
We traveled up through the central valley of California on 99 which has been much improved over the years and up and over the Siskyous just in time to beat a big snow fall.
By the time we hit Bellingham where we stayed for Three nights to get my hair cut, the trucks oil changed and a block heater cord installed and winterize the trailer for the freezing weather just ahead in BC.We were right on the schedule that I had.
We were able to make good time on the road actually getting ahead of schedule by 2 days as we drove the Hwy.
We started staying in Motels in BC as it was very cold there as well. We had some very nic stops along the way and almost every morning it was between -24 and -34 below zero. Here are some thoughts about what we encountered along the way...
One place I would avoid Is Andreas Hotel in Watson Lake. I know most of you will be camping but if you decide to stay in a hotel one night don't do it here.
I have owned a resort hotel/restaurant/bar and do know something about running them and this place was pretty much a disaster.
The restaurant is mediocre at best turning out cold food that should be hot and just more like bad fast food than anything else.
There was construction going on when I was there and they were converting the space next to my room to a "spa" The flooring was going in. The noise was incredible. This I can have some sympathy for but to fill the room right next to it was madness since it was not necessary at all.
But the biggest joke...and it was a joke for sure was the Free WiFi. Oh it's free but only...wait for it...40MB yes that is not a misprint that is Mega Bytes. beyond that you had to pay $10 for more.
I noted at the time that we had pretty good wifi the whole trip where we stayed with few restrictions making this truly unreasonable.
The rooms are very noisy, you can literally hear the people in the next room BREATHING. There is nothing in the walls. In fact the construction of the entire place is very shoddy and cheap. It was clearly slapped together in a very big hurry.
Because of the extreme cold weather on the trip we stayed in Motels and this was the only one that was a disappointment.
Toad River Lodge was a good place to stay with decent food and they have an RV Park. Though just up the road are the campgrounds around Muncho Lake Which are very nice and exceptionally scenic and will be open by the time most of the travellers come this way.
Fuel Prices have risen dramatically since my last trip up here in May of Last year. Then Diesel at the Fred Meyer in Fairbanks was about $2.49 I paid only $2.19 by using my Fred Meyer discount card from my grocery purchases. Now the price is $2.92.
And in Canada the same diesel is about $3.23/gallon after the exchange is figured. It is over $4.00 Canadian. It was running between $1.22 and $1.16 per Litre Canadian.
Many RV Parks are surprisingly still open in places along the Hwy, many with year-round residents in them. So even if you go early like April you will find a place to stay. (This is not so true once in Alaska)
At one place (Sasquatch Crossing) we stopped for some coffee and a snack. When we got to the door a sign said their furnace was broken and they were closed but a man let us in and we used the facilities. They had hot coffee and some great looking Cinnamon Rolls and we gathered some up. When we tried to pay he wouldn;t let us...saying I don't know how to work the machine so just take 'em. Stop here and get a Cinnamon Roll on your way up.
We didnt see a lot of animals on this trip being the time of year that's not so surprising. But we did see a herd of 65 Bison near Coal River all eating and relaxing by the side of the road.
May is one of the best months to come up here. And if you do the drive in May you will see lots lots more animals. Most folks leave the trip till June which in my opinion is a mistake of great proportions. Some of the clearest weather is in May and your best chances of Seeing Denali (Slim at the best of times). Early June can be good also but as June progresses it turns more rainy and cloudy at times. Also the Mosquitos come out. Last Summer they were not bad at all except in some remote campgrounds.
If you can make the trip in early mid May you wont regret it.
