Roll Call Alaska 2013

[JANETRUPP]

Just thought I'd start a thread regarding who will be starting up to Alaska in 2013. It would be nice if we could share information so everyone has a memorable and safe trip.
We will be leaving around the end of May out of Las Vegas. We will be traveling with our 40' MH and towing our Equinox car. We are heading up with my husband's cousin and her husband and they have an airstream.
We have gone before but in 2005 so we are really looking forward again to the adventure. It is surely a trip of a lifetime and to do it more than once is a blessing. We are only on this earth for a short while.
Travel safe!

Janet

[Smitty77]

We plan to head out from San Diego in the third week of May. Our first Alaska trip, and what we are calling 'Our Victory Tour into Retirement!'...

My DW and I will have our family lady dog with us, and that is an area I'm trying to learn tips on how to plan around. (Day trips she can join us on; Sightseeing where she is welcomed; Etc.) Will do some searches on this, but then probably post a seperate thread. (Know about the vet papers and stuff for Canada, more about the logistics. Between me and the dog, my DW will choose 'The Dawg':)!) So, and important part of the planning... As I would like to go too...

To the 2013 Gang, travel safe, good weather, OK Roads, and smoke free days!

Best to all,
Smitty

[JANETRUPP]

linda9918 from Idaho just joined our group. A big Alaskan Howdy :B
Since you have been before, feel free to give suggestions of "not to miss" for our list.
Again welcome and make sure you make a sign so we will recognize you along the road.

Janet

[JANETRUPP]

ROLL CALL - ALASKA 2013
We will need to hang a sign in the window with our screen name so we will recognize each other while traveling. I know I have too much time on my hands, lol

janetrupp - Bullhead City, AZ
DesertHawk - New Mexico
TwoHands - California
SD1209 - San Diego, Calif
Lonnie4801 - Texas
LindaZ - Colorado
JUrban - Delaware
AprilWhine -Pahrump, NV - Smart Caravan
PA12DRVR - Houston -Anchorage
KPSmithSr - St Louis, MO
JoeB - Florida
Jim4929 - Roaroke, VA
HKsilvereagle - North Pole
gandalf42 - Fort Collins, Colorado
tsimtcu8 - Vancouver, British Columbia
Hjudge49 - St Augustine, Florida
Jnharley - Indiana
sodajerk - Dallas, Texas
b2egypt - Michigan
pasco1215 - Central Alabama
glen68 -Warba, MN - Great Falls, MT for SMART Caravan
CA Traveler - Sun Lakes, AZ
Gonecamping444 - Michigan
rickjf - Florida
daily double - Ketchum, Oklahoma
retired frog - Albany, NY
jonlin - North Carolina
phxkayaker - Washington state
glaciergus - Minnesota
Dirtsailor - Halethorpe, MD
donp5311 - Iowa
AidenJ - Adirondocks, NY
Texas Roadrunner - San Antonio, TX
S Ski - Chandler, AZ
Tom&Susan G - Ringgold, Georgia
lizzie - Unaka, North Carolina
Butch50 - Bentonville, Arkansas
pistolpeter55 - Maine
bajarat - Austin, Texas
pnordan - North Carolina
dlklose - Colorado
fanrgs - Denver, Colorado
Elmer Zilch - Bossier, LA
Takemeanywhere - Wisconsin
taviking22 - Omaha, Nebraska
bigtuffy2 - Merkel, Texas
Alan M - Cobb, CA
Hoaugh - Columbus, Ohio
Bob n Izetta - Florida
glen112233 - Iowa
yukiroad - South Pasadena, Calif
Bakers - ? (friends of Texas roadrunner)
two travelers - Smithtown, NY
sanjim - Mississippi
gandalf12 - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
sassydad - Indiana
lapinebob - Oregon
gypsylady7 - Florida
TallyCouple - Florida
tbaugh - Columbus, Ohio
mhwarner - Arizona
rrguess - Texas
linda9918 - Idaho

[linda9918]

We are making our third Alaska trip this year. We first went up in 2009; returned in 2010 and served as camp hosts at Johnson Lake State Park.
This year we plan to leave on June 6, and taking a leisurely drive, arriving in Seward on June 16. We are planning on spending most of our time on the Kenai River, enjoying the outstanding fishing. I can't wait to catch my first fish of the year!
Both my husband and I agree, this is a trip of a lifetime. There may be some boring stretches of the highway, but the scenery and wildlife, museums, historical sites, make up for those sections.

Our 2 cocker spaniels will be joining us on the trip. Our daughter and grandson will fly up to Kenai, to join us when the fishing is at the peak.

[joe_b_]

We tried a set of the "claimed 36 mile" FRS/GMRS radios when traveling to Alaska with my wife's sister and her husband. While they claimed to be good for many miles, we found them to be line of sight mostly. If we could see each other, we could talk to each other. Main problem we had was keeping both charged all day as they belonged to my BIL and he only had one car charger to plug in. Didn't take much transmitting to run the batteries down in a few hours.
The only way I can see you could ever talk a long distance apart would be to have both radios on mountain tops with nothing in between. Real life range is more in the .5 to 1.5km range (about a third of a mile, to a mile) is what we found.
Another problem to him, was at that time, 2009, they required a FCC license for use in the US, at a cost of $85. Not sure all the radios are licensable in Canada through Industry Canada. (Industry Canada is the equivalent of the FCC in the US in issuing radio licenses)

Most useful when we would stop at a mall or large store and split up to shop. We normally kept our cell phones turned off in Canada. Among the long haul truckers and the timber industry, VHF radios are popular. The large companies can lease the use of a certain frequency from Industry Canada to use. Much longer range radios, but still line of site in many cases.

[JANETRUPP]

I finally got the picture to work! Hope I can remember what I did, lol. Anyway this is our rig and tow if you see us on the road. I will have several signs in the windows.

[JANETRUPP]

[lapinebob]

I would guess the walkie-talkie you are going to use are FRS/GMRS radios. They are invaluable when traveling if you don't have CB radios. Some radios claim a range of up to 30 miles. Maybe others might have some thoughts.

[JANETRUPP]

Welcome to rrguess from Texas. Any way you decide to see Alaska is going to be a wonderful trip. In my opinion, for what it is worth, driving gives you a more leisure time plus you see what you want when you want and for as long as you want. In other words no time schedule. Big plus is you can take your fur-baby. My fur-baby passed but when we went in 2005 she loved it, but she always loved being in the MH. Real sorry to hear of the death in your family. May you all heal your hearts quickly.
The cruise does give you a different perspective but you get the whole picure driving all the way. Getting there is just as much enjoyable as when you arrive. Canada and the Yukon really have a lot to offer. Our favorite being Icefields parkway with Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper
Icefields Parkway
Still no matter what you decide....WELCOME...:B

lapinebob, a "roll call channel" sounds great, but I have to admit I know nothing of FRS radios. Our cousin has some walki-talki's that he is bringing. Is that the same thing?

[JANETRUPP]

ROLL CALL - ALASKA 2013
We will need to hang a sign in the window with our screen name so we will recognize each other while traveling. I know I have too much time on my hands, lol

janetrupp - Bullhead City, AZ
DesertHawk - New Mexico
TwoHands - California
SD1209 - San Diego, Calif
Lonnie4801 - Texas
LindaZ - Colorado
JUrban - Delaware
AprilWhine -Pahrump, NV - Smart Caravan
PA12DRVR - Houston -Anchorage
KPSmithSr - St Louis, MO
JoeB - Florida
Jim4929 - Roaroke, VA
HKsilvereagle - North Pole
gandalf42 - Fort Collins, Colorado
tsimtcu8 - Vancouver, British Columbia
Hjudge49 - St Augustine, Florida
Jnharley - Indiana
sodajerk - Dallas, Texas
b2egypt - Michigan
pasco1215 - Central Alabama
glen68 -Warba, MN - Great Falls, MT for SMART Caravan
CA Traveler - Sun Lakes, AZ
Gonecamping444 - Michigan
rickjf - Florida
daily double - Ketchum, Oklahoma
retired frog - Albany, NY
jonlin - North Carolina
phxkayaker - Washington state
glaciergus - Minnesota
Dirtsailor - Halethorpe, MD
donp5311 - Iowa
AidenJ - Adirondocks, NY
Texas Roadrunner - San Antonio, TX
S Ski - Chandler, AZ
Tom&Susan G - Ringgold, Georgia
lizzie - Unaka, North Carolina
Butch50 - Bentonville, Arkansas
pistolpeter55 - Maine
bajarat - Austin, Texas
pnordan - North Carolina
dlklose - Colorado
fanrgs - Denver, Colorado
Elmer Zilch - Bossier, LA
Takemeanywhere - Wisconsin
taviking22 - Omaha, Nebraska
bigtuffy2 - Merkel, Texas
Alan M - Cobb, CA
Hoaugh - Columbus, Ohio
Bob n Izetta - Florida
glen112233 - Iowa
yukiroad - South Pasadena, Calif
Bakers - ? (friends of Texas roadrunner)
two travelers - Smithtown, NY
sanjim - Mississippi
gandalf12 - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
sassydad - Indiana
lapinebob - Oregon
gypsylady7 - Florida
TallyCouple - Florida
tbaugh - Columbus, Ohio
mhwarner - Arizona
rrguess - Texas

[rrguess]

We have been looking forward to a trip to Alaska this summer. We were supposed to do a cruise in Aug. with our nephew and his wife but she unexpectedly passed away. Now we are talking taking our trailer and dog and driving Alaska. The debate is whether to drive the whole round trip, doing the ferry for some ocean view, or just driving up, taking a cruise ship and tour to Denali, then flying back to our vehicle. Listening to all of you we seem to be leaning to the driving. Thanks for all the information here. Maybe we will see you soon!

[lapinebob]

I believe someone mentioned using FRS radios to stay in contact with each other. My wife and I have used them in the past and their range is limited perhaps a mile or less. How about having an official "Roll Call 2013" channel so we can do more than just wave?

[AprilWhine]

Thanks Janet.

It's easy to post a picture on here but you have to use a third party service. This forum was written to be "special" (cr*ppy ;)) and doesn't allow users to post pics directly like the good forum software.

I use Photobucket, but there are several free sites that are equally good if not better. Just create a free account, upload your pictures, then copy and paste the code into your post here.

[JANETRUPP]

So sorry hjeaton65 won't be able to make it this year with our group. 😞 Hope you have a safe and blessed year. Travel safe wherever you may go.

Aprilwhine....you are very welcome! My Pleasure :B By the way...love your rig. We have a brown and marroon Monaco Diplomat 4 slides towinf a black Chevy Equinox. I'd post a picture but don't know how to do it on here.

Janet

[AprilWhine]

Janet, THANK YOU for keeping track of everyone in the thread!