On the Road with "Roll Call Alaska 2013"......

[JANETRUPP]

Okay all my Alaska family...Here it is...
As requested I am starting a new thread for all you "Roll Call Alaska 2013" travelers to blog all your adventures.
This may help others traveling behind us or those going next year. Any news on roads, gas, what to see or miss. Anything.... just blog and tell of your adventures on one of our most memorable trips.

We start out tomorrow (only as far as Vegas..:C) but will be slowly heading up and away on our trip.

So start Bloging and lets keep in touch.

Travel safe and smart!!!!
Janet

[sue_t]

Lizzie, last I read the Taylor & Top of the World are in decent enough condition now. Still a lot of gravel, but if you drove the Denali Highway that isn't an issue for you!

[lizzie]

We are back in Tok tonight at the Tok RV Village. Had a great time in the Denali area despite staying at the worst CG yet. I consider it a stroke of good fortune that we could not get reservations for the Kantishna Experience and had to take the "Green Bus" instead. Our driver was Wendy Hester and no PhD naturalist could have done a better job. She knows that park inside and out Save yourself $100 (each) and ride with Wendy. We were ready for some space so dry camped last night off the Denali Highway on a beautiful lake. The drive from Cantwell to Paxson is really special. We went north to Delta Junction, then east to Tok. We have both been to Fairbanks in the past and decided to give it a pass this time. We are planning to Chicken and over Top of the World tomorrow. Can anyone give up-to-date advice? A couple in the campground warned us not to do it but they are washing their rig right now so I'm not sure we have the same travel expectations. lizzie

[Hjudge49]

We leave Homer for Seward tomorrow, will be staying in Stoney Creek, but will look for tbaugh.

[tbaugh]

We have also just left Denali after a 5 night stay in Tek. Met two other Roll Call RVers there (pistolpeter55, and the Holts).

We are currently in Seward for the next 6 days. Parked in the Resurrection RV city park.

The stay in Tek was great with quite a number of animals and some great pictures. Weather was pretty good but not completely clear any day.

[JANETRUPP]

phxkayaker wrote:
Spotted Aiden_J and their sidekick with their Northern Lite pickup campers northbound on the Dalton Wednesday afternoon as I was bobtailing south. We'd camped next to them in Seward's Resurrection South a couple weeks ago. For me, the Dalton has been the highlight of the trip so far.

On another note, our King Charles Spaniel was attacked by a Bullmastiff in the Chena River State Park campground in Fairbanks. We'll be restructuring our activities for the rest of the trip as we care for Turk with his five broken ribs and punctured lung. 😞

I'm so sorry about your fur-baby. I don't know what is wrong with some people not watching their dogs and letting them run free to harm others. Prayers coming your way for you and your baby.

[b2egypt]

We are in Tok. Not sure if we want to head toward Denali or Chicken first.. Thinking Chicken first, let smoke settle. Fire around here. But trying to rain.... Enjoying Alaska!
Betsy and Bill

[donp5311]

Thanks for the update cosninocanines on going over the top sounds like the road could be in better shape now that they are working on it. Pistolpeter55 if you are interested in Salmon fishing you are hitting the Kenai at the right time. I am at Soldotna now but leaving Monday and heading north. The second run of Kings is starting and should be great around the 15th of the month according of the locals. Have fun:)

[cosninocanines]

Headed to Manley Hot Springs tomorrow morning, undetermined how many nights there but a minimum of one. I keep looking for Roll Call signs but none to date. Our's are 8x11 in the back window of the fifthe wheel (North Trail) and tow vehicle (Ford F-350). We are loving our trip, even with the "Duct Tape Wars" minions on our heels.

[pistolpeter55]

Just returned from 7 nights at Teklanika CG in Denali. If you can get reservations do it. Very nice camping. The best deal was the Tek bus pass which lets you ride the shuttle for as long as you are at the CG for the price of a one day shuttle pass. First day we saw 13 grizzlies and Mt McKinley. Later on more wildlife and great hiking. Heading to Trapper Creek, Palmer then the Kenai on Wednesday 7/10.

[cosninocanines]

donp5311 wrote:
How was the roads coming over the top? I was planing on going that way returning to Whitehorse.

We had heavy rain on the Dawson side and so lots of mud but no problems at all. Road was in great shape and a grader was working close to the US border on the Canadian portion. To say our rigs needed cleaning is the understatement of the year. The US side is under construction for 15 or so miles from the border towards Tok and was kind of rough but the rain had quit so just slow going to Chicken.

[fanrgs]

pnordan wrote:
Any one with reports on Cassier please check in! We will be there in a couple of weeks.

We just got off it today. As Sue says, the 20-miles north of Dease Lake are signed with a number of tiny "Slow" signs. The rest to Watson Lake is fine. Just plan to go 80 km/hr, not 90 or 100!

[phxkayaker]

Spotted Aiden_J and their sidekick with their Northern Lite pickup campers northbound on the Dalton Wednesday afternoon as I was bobtailing south. We'd camped next to them in Seward's Resurrection South a couple weeks ago. For me, the Dalton has been the highlight of the trip so far.

On another note, our King Charles Spaniel was attacked by a Bullmastiff in the Chena River State Park campground in Fairbanks. We'll be restructuring our activities for the rest of the trip as we care for Turk with his five broken ribs and punctured lung. 😞

[CA_Traveler]

Talkeetna is a small town that's interesting to visit. Well worth the stop. We stayed at the Fish % Game CG where we met a few locals. Two had a nice small display of fireworks.

The Hurricane Turn train ride was great. It's the last regular red flag stop train and very interesting to see the bush people get on and off of the train. Many were hunters or fishing. We highly recommend this trip.

[sue_t]

North of Dease Lake is the worst of the Cassiar. Dease Lake to the Yukon border the highway narrows considerably and is dippier. Just mosey along.

[pnordan]

Any one with reports on Cassier please check in! We will be there in a couple of weeks.