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.

[55cruisers]

Hook wrote:

55cruisers wrote:
In Soldotna overnight. Stayed at Fred Meyers. Free dump and water. Wifi in store.

We are in Homer until Sunday fishing. Are at the south end of the fishing hole on the spit in a brown Winnebago vista, facing the bay behind the pier one theatre. If you are down this way I would like to talk to you about Australia as we are going next year. Do you fish?

Hook

We called around to your RV but you were obviously out fishing. Send us a private message, happy to answer any questions about your Australia trip.

[mclee47]

We are in Valdez and took the cruise on the Lu-Lu Belle, which had come highly recommended by travelers we had met earlier. It was one of the best tours I have ever taken. Captain Fred takes his time and makes sure you see the wildlife. We saw several humpback whales, porpoises, seals, puffins and a bald eagle. We also spent over an hour at the Columbia Glacier face waiting for callings. The cruise lasted for 8 ½ hours!

We are staying at the Bear Paw, which is just across the street from the small boat harbor.

[notlost]

55cruisers,
thanks for the info about the pullout north of Denali...we saw it, but since we left fairbanks at 4:30am and arrived in the area so early, we decided to go to a cg instead. we're at denali rv and motel...pretty nice little campground and people here are extremely nice,
signed up to do a "discovery hike" with the ranger tomorrow...only 11 people can go..sounds interesting...i'll let you know how it goes..
hope the rain stops!

[Hook]

55cruisers wrote:
In Soldotna overnight. Stayed at Fred Meyers. Free dump and water. Wifi in store.

We are in Homer until Sunday fishing. Are at the south end of the fishing hole on the spit in a brown Winnebago vista, facing the bay behind the pier one theatre. If you are down this way I would like to talk to you about Australia as we are going next year. Do you fish?

Hook

[GordonThree]

mclee47 wrote:
O

We drove on to Valdez yesterday. The first part of the drive on the Richardson through the mountains is very beautiful as is the latter part of the Richardson Highway in the mountains just before reaching Valdez. Valdez itself is spectacular.

I'd argue the Richardson between Valdez and Delta is one of the best scenic drives you can make in Alaska, it was certainly one of the few highlights of my trip.

Where there still remnants of the avalanche in the bottom of the pass, outside Valdez?

[Kidoo]

alaska dennis wrote:
Kidoo
You might check this link.

http://511.alaska.gov/alaska511/mappingcomponent

Thanks for the link, good info

[mclee47]

On Tuesday we drove from Dawson City to Chicken over the Top of the World Highway. I thought it was a very interesting and fun road to drive. The biggest problems were passing large trucks on narrow ledge roads and the dust on the Alaska section. Our Jeep was smothered in red dust.

We stopped in Chicken for a half hour at the trading post and were not very impressed. The only reasons I see to go to Chicken are to say you have been in a place with a funny name and to take the shortcut to and from Dawson City. So we drove on to Tok. The Taylor Highway was in many ways far worse than the Top of the World.

We drove on to Valdez yesterday. The first part of the drive on the Richardson through the mountains is very beautiful as is the latter part of the Richardson Highway in the mountains just before reaching Valdez. Valdez itself is spectacular.

We are staying at Bear Paw Campground. Despite being a gravel-covers lot, it is a very nice little park.

[55cruisers]

notlost wrote:
Currently in rainy, rainy Fairbanks in the Pioneer Park parking lot ($15/night dry camping with very good wifi)...
this is a great place to stop in...safe to leave the rig and explore the city and outlying areas.
if you're coming from the east, you may consider staying at the Chena River Lake/River cg..it's beautiful! dry camping, very easy for a big rig to stay and maneuver in...but you may need to deal with the resident moose population!!! LOL
if in fairbanks, i would suggest going to the new visitor center...very nicely done. we say a native dance/strumming show there today with 5 young native teens, a fiddler, and a guitar. it was super...
heading for denali tomorrow.

thanks sue t for the weather forecast. we're planning on leaving about 4am to avoid construction delays and to get in the area early.

planning on stopping at a pull out somewhere north of denali...anyone have any suggestions for a good one?

let's hope this front passes...alaska is beautiful in spite of the rain, but................................!

There is a turnout about 6 miles north of Denali National Park where we camped for the night along with 2 others. About the only spot for miles that did not have a 'no overnight parking' sign

[55cruisers]

In Soldotna overnight. Stayed at Fred Meyers. Free dump and water. Wifi in store.

[alaska_dennis]

Kidoo
You might check this link.

http://511.alaska.gov/alaska511/mappingcomponent

[Kidoo]

Wonder how it will be on the Dalton. Anyone experienced the Dalton with this kind of rain? Slipery, flood?

It rained all day yesterday between Tok and Fairbanks and all night last night, still in the clouds this morning

[sue_t]

thomasw wrote:
The rain must be covering everything north of Wyoming!

Clear blue and sunny around Whitehorse this morning. :B
Forecast calls for some rain tomorrow though.

There's a flood watch between Tok and Fairbanks in Alaska today, through to tomorrow. Due to the rain the last couple of days. Take care if you're travelling through that area.

Some fog and rain in the forecast north of Fairbanks along the Dalton.

[thomasw]

traveylin wrote:
Made it to great falls mt today prior to the rain setting in. Dick's RV is well utilized tonight with two caravans assembling for about 40 rvers. Our role call Alaska signs are in the rear windows of rv and toad and sign forest sign is 40 % complete. Probably cross to Canada on wed. headed to Banff

pops

Pops: we must be on the same route...we stayed at Dicks on Fri (6/13), on to Glacier NP and crossed into Canada today (6/18). Going to Banff tomorrow...reservations at the Trailer camp. Will look for your Roll Call signs!

[thomasw]

notlost wrote:
Currently in rainy, rainy Fairbanks in the Pioneer


let's hope this front passes...alaska is beautiful in spite of the rain, but................................!

The rain must be covering everything north of Wyoming! We got rained out of Glacier NP yesterday...they closed the road going to the St Mary Campground. Rained all the way to Okotoks, where we are spending the night. All the rivers are running very fast and high...Gotta stop sometime!

[Kidoo]

In Fairbanks Walmart right now, rain and 50 degrees. Free Wifi with Lowes, great. We are loading stuff tomorow to get to the Dalton up to Deadhorse in 2 days. Hope the wheather get's better, we should be at the Artic Circle on the 21 for the longest day of the year.