Our Alaska Trip

[rkassl]

We're back in the US and resting for a week at Glacier National Park. At this point have registered about 7500 miles from Northern Wisconsin to our furthest point which was Homer, AK. We were on the front cusp of the tourist invasion. When we passed Muncho Lake in May it was still iced over as was Klulane Lake. There are still piles of snow in Valdez that the locals say will stay for a long time. We had much more road construction on our way back than going up. I NOW KNOW for myself the condition of the roads. I don't want to hear that the Alcan is all paved. Its paved ok, but the heaves and road construction and rebuilding of the road especially from Beaver Creek to the Alaska border is terrible. Don't get me wrong this was truly an adventure of a lifetime for my wife and I. The things we saw the people we met will be memories for a long time.

Would we make this trip again, in all honesty, probably not. The conditions were extremely hard on the truck and trailer.

What we did was to drive about 200 to 250 miles then depending on where we stopped stay for 2 or 3 nights. Otherwise you would go road nuts with all the driving. For example between Whitehorse and Watson Lake the frost heaves were so bad that the average speed pulling the trailer was about 35 miles per hour. That makes for a very long drive.

Found some great campgrounds, Tok Village in Tok, AK, Glacier View outside of Glennallen, Toad River, Nugget City in Watson Lake, Heritage RV Park in Homer.

It as an amazing adventure!

[JaBob]

We did it differently, a 13 day cruise/land excurison. Would we do it again, you bet a fantastic time. Flew in to Fairbanks, train ride to Denali for 3 days, back to Anchorage then a cruise down the coast. Love our RV but 10,000 miles of driving, not for us.

Bob

[taviking22]

Johnny G1 wrote:
taviking22, Are you still in Wassilla @ Anderson Lake.

Yes! We will be here on and off until after Labor Day, Sept. 3.

[Johnny_G1]

taviking22, Are you still in Wassilla @ Anderson Lake.

[Chiefelectusn]

taviking22 wrote:
We left for Alaska May 9 and will start our return after Labor Day. We tried to do our homework before hand. We found that the environment is extremely hard on roads in the northlands. We planned on having to go slow so that we would not beat our rig up. Have we hit unexpected and unmarked rough places- yes! But not any more than we have in the lower 48. Both CA and AK try to do their best to mark the frost heaves and potholes.

Anyone who expects to drive 65 MPH all the time and not anticipate or ignores having to slow down for road conditions hasn't planned well for their trip. Road construction slowdowns and stoppages while waiting your turn on a 1 lane accessible road are the norm. Just plan for it to happen. Each CA Province and AK has a 511-like web site which should show where major construction and slowdowns are at.

Do not over-schedule your time. Leave a day or two extra in your schedule to compensate for driving slower. Again, plan for it.

We have been to Skagway, Valdez, Whittier, Seward, Homer, Anchorage, and Denali NP and our rig is no worse for wear than I believe we would have in the lower 48 traveling the same distances.

I did have 2 nails in tires. One in a trailer tire which went flat sitting in the campground parking lot in Valadez (how lucky was I?). The other was in TV tire which I discovered when doing my regular pressure check (a good, safe routine!). That tire was down 15#. Upon inspection I saw the roofing nail head. I have also had flats in the lower 48.

My advice is to do your homework and plan. Research what others have been saying on this forum and others. Get a copy of The Milepost. Never let the thought that the roads up here are so bad that they are beating up your rig. Your speed is the culprit!

This is our first trip to BC, YT, and AK. There is a tremendous amount of things to see and do. I am so glad that we are in AK and would never let the roads prevent me from coming up here again!

HERE, HERE-----BRAVO, so well put. Thank you!

[taviking22]

We left for Alaska May 9 and will start our return after Labor Day. We tried to do our homework before hand. We found that the environment is extremely hard on roads in the northlands. We planned on having to go slow so that we would not beat our rig up. Have we hit unexpected and unmarked rough places- yes! But not any more than we have in the lower 48. Both CA and AK try to do their best to mark the frost heaves and potholes.

Anyone who expects to drive 65 MPH all the time and not anticipate or ignores having to slow down for road conditions hasn't planned well for their trip. Road construction slowdowns and stoppages while waiting your turn on a 1 lane accessible road are the norm. Just plan for it to happen. Each CA Province and AK has a 511-like web site which should show where major construction and slowdowns are at.

Do not over-schedule your time. Leave a day or two extra in your schedule to compensate for driving slower. Again, plan for it.

We have been to Skagway, Valdez, Whittier, Seward, Homer, Anchorage, and Denali NP and our rig is no worse for wear than I believe we would have in the lower 48 traveling the same distances.

I did have 2 nails in tires. One in a trailer tire which went flat sitting in the campground parking lot in Valadez (how lucky was I?). The other was in TV tire which I discovered when doing my regular pressure check (a good, safe routine!). That tire was down 15#. Upon inspection I saw the roofing nail head. I have also had flats in the lower 48.

My advice is to do your homework and plan. Research what others have been saying on this forum and others. Get a copy of The Milepost. Never let the thought that the roads up here are so bad that they are beating up your rig. Your speed is the culprit!

This is our first trip to BC, YT, and AK. There is a tremendous amount of things to see and do. I am so glad that we are in AK and would never let the roads prevent me from coming up here again!

[Rustydog]

guidry wrote:
"We're back in the US". ...
Did you have to convert US currency to Alaskan money? (Sorry, couldn't help myself. Just thought it funny because you almost think Alaska is a different country)

Hyder Alaska uses Canadian currency.

[sue_t]

PA12DRVR wrote:
In my view, in the months between April and September anyway, YT feels much more like Alaska should feel. (Not quite sure how a location gets to "feel" ;)...but there it is). From October through March, AK feels like AK should feel, particularly if one gets more than 50 miles away from Los Anchorage and/or away from the easily accessible sno-go recreation sites.

Population of Anchorage, more than a quarter million people!
Population of all of Alaska, likely more than 3/4 million people.

Population of Yukon, a whopping 36,000 people.
27,000 of those live in Whitehorse, which leaves the rest of Yukon to only 9,000 of us! Very easy to get away from it all!

[bmcdonald]

We've made 3 trips to Alaska.. 2X pulling 35ft. fifth wheel including taking it up the Dalton Hwy.. Hope one day for a 4th. I say when driving to Alaska: you pay your money and take your chances.. good roads/bad roads.. and add to say, love the Yukon! Of course the Campbell Hwy.. 🙂

[PA12DRVR]

sue.t wrote:
Gosh ... wonder what was wrong with us? We made the trip every year for years. Loved it. So moved to Yukon.

Yukon & Alaska are different despite being neighbours and sharing a border. We prefer Yukon.

Choices alter cases...or something like that! I'm with Sue...although I've made other choices for right now, I've driven the Alcan 20+ times and fully anticipate getting to the point (spelled "Retirement") in the next few years where I will drive it at least every other year.

Sue, while I definitely agree that YT and AK are different, and solely based on some dawdling road trips through the area, I can certainly understand a choice for the Yukon. In my view, in the months between April and September anyway, YT feels much more like Alaska should feel. (Not quite sure how a location gets to "feel" ;)...but there it is). From October through March, AK feels like AK should feel, particularly if one gets more than 50 miles away from Los Anchorage and/or away from the easily accessible sno-go recreation sites.

[sue_t]

Gosh ... wonder what was wrong with us? We made the trip every year for years. Loved it. So moved to Yukon.

Yukon & Alaska are different despite being neighbours and sharing a border. We prefer Yukon.

[Dr_Quick]

WE went in 2008 and stayed at some of the same campgrounds. Great trip and trip of a life time, but for me, once is enough. Covered over 10,500 miles from our home in Tennessee

[Chiefelectusn]

We are going in 2014 or2015, 40' MH with toad. I have read and continue to believe slow is better. If you are short on time eliminate some things and come back again another time.
We plan on 4-5 months, what's the rush. I have waited my whole life to get there so I am taking my time. Sue T and others have said the turtle wins!

[guidry]

"We're back in the US". ...
Did you have to convert US currency to Alaskan money? (Sorry, couldn't help myself. Just thought it funny because you almost think Alaska is a different country)

[lonnie4801]

We are currently in Alaska. Have been here 7 weeks. Found the roads through Canada and in Alaska to be in fair to good condition. We are driving a 40' motorhome with a tow. This is our 3rd trip. In my opinion the roads are better than a lot of the interstates in the lower 48.

Again, in my opinion, if you are driving to Alaska it is to see the scenery and animals. Just take it easy and there are no problems with the roads.

The "Top of the World" highway was a bit dusty when we came over it in early June.