Our Alaska Trip

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

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.

taviking22, Are you still in Wassilla @ Anderson Lake.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.. :)

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.

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.