Traveling in AK, BC, and AB in September
We are leaving for Alaska from NC July 8. We plan on spending all of July through mid-August in SE Alaska before heading north to Alaska mainland. I expect us to be heading south into Canada sometime ...
Forum Discussion
2011 year was bad enough on the Alaska Highway when I travelled on it in early to mid September due to the increased traffic when the Cassiar Highway was closed in two places, with the typical increase of Alaska southbound traffic with people leaving before winter arrival along with the increased commercial traffic of oversize loads escorted by pilot car to deal with in Central BC area of the Alaska Highway roughly between Wonowon and Fort St. John hauling lots of drilling and gas rig equipment around before winter.
However returning northbound in late September is always nice and light traffic once you get past north of the Pink Mountain area.
Compared to June thru August with the increased daylight and the much warmer temperatures, I enjoy that much more than vacationing in the month of September with the colder overnight temperatures and the increased darkness for sure despite the fall colors and the lesser biting bugs.
The last two years the boss would only permit me three weeks off in the month of September as the line of work I do, no one gets any time off during the summer months which is the most demanding and busiest time of the year, in addition of keeping the position it's either full time or no time, so for the last two years on vacation in September I been touring parts of Banff, Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper National Parks.
The month of September does get cold at night within the Alaska Interior, Yukon Territory, and northern BC but not so bad in Southcentral Alaska and Central BC in most cases with the overnight low temperatures and much more tolerable providing it is not raining of course, thank god for the furnace to stay somewhat in confort in the other cooler and colder parts, which my RV battery has held up without breaking out my portable generator so far the past two RV trips in September.
By all means camping and RV'ing in September is very doable and most of the time the daytime temps are well above freezing, I do bring my light winter gear with me and a few more clothing garments to rotate while breaking out the premium raingear in order to keep fully dry which is the key to staying in comfort.
Early September 2012 it was cold in the Yukon Territory with overnight temps in Dawson at 34 F and in Whitehorse it got down to 38 F overnight with constant rain while threatening to snow....returning to the Yukon in late September I got lucky with a warm trend to where I didn't kick on the furnace when the overnight lows were around mid to upper 40's F.
As pointed out, some commercial campgrounds and more remote businesses do close following Labor Day Weekend as other seasonal places will extend upon thru the end of September as you will always find many boondocking opps and a ready spot available at any campground.
September weather in the far north can be a hit and miss, so dont be surprised to see snowfall in a few spots which generally it is not much of a concern for any road hazards as the ground will stay well above freezing and not stick snow for long at all.
The higher elevations and short passes can be a different story depending on the type of weather fronts that will occur.
Early October is generally the average timeframe snow will stick long enough in the Fairbanks Area and by mid October the ground will freeze solid, which means it's over.
Mid September travels you should be fine anywhere in Alaska with the exception of the area north of Coldfoot.
However returning northbound in late September is always nice and light traffic once you get past north of the Pink Mountain area.
Compared to June thru August with the increased daylight and the much warmer temperatures, I enjoy that much more than vacationing in the month of September with the colder overnight temperatures and the increased darkness for sure despite the fall colors and the lesser biting bugs.
The last two years the boss would only permit me three weeks off in the month of September as the line of work I do, no one gets any time off during the summer months which is the most demanding and busiest time of the year, in addition of keeping the position it's either full time or no time, so for the last two years on vacation in September I been touring parts of Banff, Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper National Parks.
The month of September does get cold at night within the Alaska Interior, Yukon Territory, and northern BC but not so bad in Southcentral Alaska and Central BC in most cases with the overnight low temperatures and much more tolerable providing it is not raining of course, thank god for the furnace to stay somewhat in confort in the other cooler and colder parts, which my RV battery has held up without breaking out my portable generator so far the past two RV trips in September.
By all means camping and RV'ing in September is very doable and most of the time the daytime temps are well above freezing, I do bring my light winter gear with me and a few more clothing garments to rotate while breaking out the premium raingear in order to keep fully dry which is the key to staying in comfort.
Early September 2012 it was cold in the Yukon Territory with overnight temps in Dawson at 34 F and in Whitehorse it got down to 38 F overnight with constant rain while threatening to snow....returning to the Yukon in late September I got lucky with a warm trend to where I didn't kick on the furnace when the overnight lows were around mid to upper 40's F.
As pointed out, some commercial campgrounds and more remote businesses do close following Labor Day Weekend as other seasonal places will extend upon thru the end of September as you will always find many boondocking opps and a ready spot available at any campground.
September weather in the far north can be a hit and miss, so dont be surprised to see snowfall in a few spots which generally it is not much of a concern for any road hazards as the ground will stay well above freezing and not stick snow for long at all.
The higher elevations and short passes can be a different story depending on the type of weather fronts that will occur.
Early October is generally the average timeframe snow will stick long enough in the Fairbanks Area and by mid October the ground will freeze solid, which means it's over.
Mid September travels you should be fine anywhere in Alaska with the exception of the area north of Coldfoot.
