Roll Call Alaska 2014

[sljohnson1938]

Anyone traveling to Alaska in 2014? We ,my wife and I, are planning a trip and was wondering if anyone is planning on going in 2014 also.
Would go this year, except we have two weddings to go to in MI, one in late June the other in early August.
So next year we are planning to leave home in NC in mid July, we plan a 2 month trip. We were there in 2004, only that time we were with paid RV tour. Loved it, and would take another paid tour in a 'heart beat', but the cost is now too much.
The reason for the mid July date is looking at the 2013 Alaska postings the wx, road conditions and insects are at their worst. Later in the season all three are better. Plus I want to travel back on the Cassiar Hwy in Sept is supposed to be the best time of the year on the Cassiar, plus less travelers.
Finally, money is an issue with us. So we will 'boon dock', stay at
free or low cost CG's, rest areas, etc. when ever possible.


Hope you all have a great trip and hope to see you some where along the way.

[CA_Traveler]

mclee47 wrote:
Since CA Traveler brought up rock protection for your towed vehicle, I'd like to hear opinions on how much protection is needed and what is the best way to provide it.

There are lots of opinions on that subject.

My opinion is that the Alaskan Highway is different with sections of paved highway with a lot of rocks. And Alaska has 5,000 miles of paved roads and at least 10,000 miles of unpaved roads. So what roads do you want to travel on?

Having now traveled to Alaska my opinion:


Toad Protection

I towed our CRV for 60K miles without a scratch until I reached the Alaskan Highway! This is what I then learned about toad protection from rocks.

The worst device is the vertical shield mounted on the car. These hard shields can and do reflect rocks back to the motorhome and can and will cause paint and even rear radiator damage. Adding some type of damping material to the front of the shield will help reduce rock reflection. A full custom fitted bra on the car will protect it. However it must be washed every day to remove the dirt and grit that will get underneath and scrub the paint. The best device for protection is the horizontal shield type of device that extends from the motorhome to the toad. This will not however protect the toad from rocks when meeting or passing vehicles.

The toad radiator also needs protection. The horizontal shield that installs above our CRV tow bar would not protect the radiator that is below the tow bar.

The worst device on the motorhome is the large rear mud flaps installed at the rear bumper and are less than 5” from the ground. These mud flaps will kick up rocks to the toad. Actually these aren’t mud flaps at all. They are a marketing and advertising device and not intended as a mud flap. If yours is less that 5” from the road then remove it before the trip. The broom type of mud flap will also do little to stop rocks.

Driving slower in Northern Canada than you normally consider for the lower 48 can certainly help. Slow down and move as far right as possible when meeting traffic will also help. Note: We encountered a large number of loose rocks on the paved portion of the Canadian Alaskan Highway.

On my next trip to Alaska I will have a horizontal shield and I will use my yoga mat to protect the toad windshield. I will no longer need the second yoga mat that protected the radiator. Both of these yoga mats were devised on the Alaskan Highway

[mclee47]

I heard from Amazon yesterday that the Church camping book is shipping about a month early, and I should have my copy by January 8.

[mclee47]

Since CA Traveler brought up rock protection for your towed vehicle, I'd like to hear opinions on how much protection is needed and what is the best way to provide it.

[CA_Traveler]

Guess I should add that Yukon fuel prices are $$$$$. Yup, more than BC.

My fuel log will give you a good idea to what to expect for fuel prices.

[CA_Traveler]

Boat Protection: Did someone post a question about this? See below.

In this link the second picture shows a typical construction area. Note all of the pavement is ripped up and there was 14 miles of dirt and rocks.

Scroll down to see our on the road toad protection. I towed our CRV 60,000 miles in the lower 48 without protection and without a scratch. Welcome to the Alaskan Highway. We have paint and light damage and the windshield has been replaced. The toad protection shown was added in Whitehorse to prevent further damage.

Scroll some more to see the boat/trailer protection from rocks used by a Yukon local.

The last picture is in Haines and following that is some text that you may find interesting. I didn't want to buy fuel in Haines Junction but as it turns out the Haines stations have high prices. And there was no way to avoid buying fuel in $$$ BC on the way home.

[Scottiemom]

sue.t wrote:

Scottiemom wrote:
Campgrounds are expensive. If we go back, we will plan to spend every few days in provincial parks in Canada and similar parks in Alaska. They are much cheaper, few amenities, but would cut the overall cost of your trip by a considerable amount.

Dale

So when can we expect you? :B

We really enjoyed our trip Sue. It couldn't have been more perfect weather-wise. Good planning on our part meant we got to see a lot and it still was a relaxing journey. Never say never, but there are other places on our bucket list, so it may be a while!

Dale

[sue_t]

Scottiemom wrote:
Campgrounds are expensive. If we go back, we will plan to spend every few days in provincial parks in Canada and similar parks in Alaska. They are much cheaper, few amenities, but would cut the overall cost of your trip by a considerable amount.

Dale

So when can we expect you? :B

[CA_Traveler]

BTW The hardest question was to trace the Iditarod because very few of the villages were on the map!

[CA_Traveler]

We involved our US family: Before leaving we mailed each set of GCs road maps and they drew our route on the map. And we asked them questions:

1. What are the 3 major rivers that start in Yellowstone? Do you guys know? And they traced their routes.

2. Trace the Continental Divide.

3. Where does water flow on each side of the Continental Divide? And if you say the Atlantic and Pacific you'll only be partially right.

The kids had great fun and the parents helped with the research.

Just an idea. It did require that we send them regular emails as we traveled.

[CA_Traveler]

Scottiemom wrote:
The Milepost was also helpful. One of us would actually read passages aloud as we drove through. There is plenty of scenery, but soooo much history and this also helped get us through some of the very long drives of wilderness.

Campgrounds are expensive. If we go back, we will plan to spend every few days in provincial parks in Canada and similar parks in Alaska. They are much cheaper, few amenities, but would cut the overall cost of your trip by a considerable amount.

Dale

X2

Actually the entire trip was expensive.

We spent $330 on tours in the tour book and hence saved $220, a very good deal. We had planned several more tours but they didn't work out.

[Scottiemom]

I second the Mike and Terri Church's Alaska book and you can order it directly from them if you like at Church's website Since they are always on the road, it might actually be quicker to order from some place that has it in stock. They list places on their site where you can purchase their books. We have several that we have used. We find the information arranged well and they give you a heads up on places to see and things to do in the area you may not have been aware of. I actually read the entire book before we left and highlighted things of interest to us, then put tabs on the pages with notes which made it easy to flip through and find the info I needed.

The Milepost was also helpful. One of us would actually read passages aloud as we drove through. There is plenty of scenery, but soooo much history and this also helped get us through some of the very long drives of wilderness.

Campgrounds are expensive. If we go back, we will plan to spend every few days in provincial parks in Canada and similar parks in Alaska. They are much cheaper, few amenities, but would cut the overall cost of your trip by a considerable amount.

Dale

[sue_t]

Yup, on the Denali Park Road, the bus stops at that spot for about five minutes; everybody jumps out and takes a shot. It was quite fun with this image, turned out I captured someone who was looking for images of the mountain a year later. He was thrilled to see a picture of himself taking a picture!

September 2010

[CA_Traveler]

CG Advice: Caravans have CG reservations so arrive by 1:00-2:00 and you'll be ahead of other campers in case the park is full.

[CA_Traveler]

The Pacific NW Church book covers southern BC and worthy of consideration.

CGs come and go but if you can borrow a 2013 and maybe even 2012 book you'll be good to go.

The book includes a website with updates but my experience: We arrived in Watson Lake expecting 3 CGs as listed and 2 were closed. I sent the Churches an email and received a reply that they had seen this earlier in the year but it wasn't listed in their online updates??? I never sent them another update. But it is a great and "must have" book - NOTHING else is even close.

The NW is a harsh environment with a very short tourist season. ALWAYS have a plan B as stores and CGs change. Just after we left Watson Lake the one CG filled up with a large caravan.

[bgnmky]

Is this INSIDE the park where you were on a shuttle bus and got off to take the picture!

How lucky…great picture

fanrgs wrote:


Mt. McKinley, taken from the Denali Park road on August 1, 2013. Just a little preview of what you will see next summer (weather permitting).