Roll Call Alaska 2015
I know its early but we have been planning for the past 3 months. I know its another 15 months at least till we leave but we are just going crazy... So here is our very rough plan overview. Leave mid...
Forum Discussion
fireman93514 wrote:
Just got my 2014 milepost. Now the planning can begin in earnest.
Some tips to consider in your planning.
1. Drive from Chicken to Dawson City as the wait will be shorter at the ferry on the river. The wait to use the ferry going from Dawson City to Chicken via the TOW can be up to 7 hours as one couple told us as they were waiting to cross the Yukon.
2. Frost heaves are not just on the dirt road for the last 120 miles to Alaska, they are also on the paved road from Dawson City to Whitehorse as I found out the hard way when the seat belts were the only thing that kept us in our seat. It was a blind heave, meaning you didn't see it till you hit it. Below Whitehorse the road is excellent.
3. Reservations are not really necessary except in Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Denali. We made reservations at every stop and found they all had room for more campers. Just call a day in advance to confirm they have space for you either that day or the next.
4. Realize the weather is not going to be ideal. We had cold, rain, and even snow on the Icefield Parkway, but we were prepared for it and enjoyed every minute of the trip.
5. The Milepost is a good book, but the Church's book is better for campground data. The milepost can be difficult to use if you are driving south and their directions are for those driving north, forcing you to read that section of highway backwards.
6. Regardless of the posted speed limit, take your time and enjoy the view. I think we kept it about 10 miles below the speed limit the whole trip, just pulling over to let the vehicles behind us pass us (it is the law up there).
7. Buy the TourSaver coupon book. It is well worth the $100 price. We did not use every coupon, but we still saved over $400 using just about 6 of them. Then we gave it to someone going north so they could use it with the remaining coupons.
8. We were gone 10 weeks and saw what we wanted to see and do what we wanted to do. Don't try to cramp this trip into a 4-6 week trip. You will be frustrated at the end.
9. Take your time, drive the road not the speed limit, enjoy the view, and savor the minutes for the rest of your life.
