Roll Call Alaska 2018

[JANETRUPP]

Okay...I know 2017 hasn't even taken off, but those of you that remember me from Roll Call 2013 know that I plan well ahead of time, lol.
4 years is way too long to go without being in Alaska so we are heading up again. This time my sister (Barbara), her husband (Pat) and their baby poodle (Koko) are going with us with their Bounder. We are planning to leave from Bullhead City, AZ around the end of May.
Would love to get a roll call started if anyone else out there is as much of an early planner as I am.
For those of you heading up this year, have a safe and wonderful trip and maybe you will enjoy it so much that you will join us in 2018. :W

Janet and Gary

[Askwines323]

Veebyes wrote:
Askwines, how much traffic you see depends on when you go. The people who are crossing into Canada early to mid May just about have the roads & the CGs to themselves.

This has become our preference. Ahead of the crowds. The critters are out, Ahead of the mosquitoes, most of them. Still lots of snow on the mountains making for great pictures. The crowds don't begin to catch up to us until mid June. By mid July we are heading back swatting mosquitoes & meeting the crowds going the other way.

No way have we ever considered joining a caravan. To us The North is all about doing our own thing, staying in the Provincial Parks, Yukon Gov CGs & Alaskan Rec Areas. Places the caravans don't go.

Thanks, sounds like a good plan. Guessing weather maybe an issue in mid may?

[Veebyes]

Askwines, how much traffic you see depends on when you go. The people who are crossing into Canada early to mid May just about have the roads & the CGs to themselves.

This has become our preference. Ahead of the crowds. The critters are out, Ahead of the mosquitoes, most of them. Still lots of snow on the mountains making for great pictures. The crowds don't begin to catch up to us until mid June. By mid July we are heading back swatting mosquitoes & meeting the crowds going the other way.

No way have we ever considered joining a caravan. To us The North is all about doing our own thing, staying in the Provincial Parks, Yukon Gov CGs & Alaskan Rec Areas. Places the caravans don't go.

[missnmountains]

In 2014 we had a three axle fifth wheel fly by us north of destruction bay that hit a frost heave and all six tires were off the ground. In 2016 we had a truck camper flyby us and he lost his entire top of his camper, air conditioner and all flew off.

My motto is just drive slow.

Ken

[rag-ftw]

CA Traveler wrote:
... And then there are those like the guy in his 19th day in Dawson Creek - he drove like it was an interstate and bent his 5er hitch - oops. As I like to say feel free to drive the speed limit or faster - just bring enough money to buy a new rig. :B

During our trip in 2016 we saw a 5er off the side of the road in the tundra with the hitch still attached to the trailer but no vehicle in sight! Frost heaves yanked it completely out of the truck!

We very seldom reach the speed limit on the Alaskan Highway, especially between Whitehorse and Tok!

[CA_Traveler]

Definitely not a caravan. Almost everything you'll get from folks on this thread is what you read right here. We meet about a dozen rigs from the related thread and virtually all were due to the signs we had had on the rigs. But all of the posts, comments, questions etc were very helpful before we left.

There are guided caravans that consist of 20+ rigs. Pre planned and paid in advance. There are pros and cons no matter how you choose to travel.

Some experience is good for the unexpected situations that can occur. And then there are those like the guy in his 19th day in Dawson Creek - he drove like it was an interstate and bent his 5er hitch - oops. As I like to say feel free to drive the speed limit or faster - just bring enough money to buy a new rig. :B

[tgdakota]

"Glad you are thinking of making the trip to Alaska. About your timing for Yellowstone, if you arrive there in late April or early May, campgrounds or services may still be closed. Roads may still be closed or impassable. Spring/summer comes late there (usually). We have been there in June and experienced enough snowfall for the Rangers to confine us to our immediate area for the day. It can snow and dip below freeing any month there. So if stopping by Yellowstone, I would suggest calling ahead to see what is open and what is not. Good luck and hope you have a great trip".


Thank you for the information. I plan to make a couple stops before hitting Yeellowstone, so I might not even get there until middle/end May. BTW, I am originally from Phila area.

[Askwines323]

Excuse me while i ask a few qustions.
I'm a complete noob here. No RV, yet.
And who doesn't want to go to Alaska?
Is this a group that all caravan together or just try and meet up.
How many RVs are in this group, caravan?
Reading thru the topic, I have pictured in my head of a miles long line of RVers heading north:)

Sounds like fun, hopefully in the next 3 years. I think Alaska sounds like trip for a little more experience RVer.
Have fun

[Veebyes]

CA Traveler wrote:
The best Alaska trip planning occurs during the trip.

There is truth to that statement however there is nothing wrong with making plans. Just don't make any more commitments than absolutely necessary. CGs with hookups are for the caravan crowd & for those days when there is laundry to do or some necessary internet time.

The bulk of the time is for PPs, YT Government CGs & Alaskan Rec Areas. You don't get views like Sue posted of Deadmans Lake from private CGs. Not easy to take a road that you have not been on before after the 2nd or third time. Also not easy to resist the urge to go back to the same CGs after the 2nd or 3rd trip but there are some that simply must be returned to.

The planning, & changing of plans, continues. So far the trip length is over 130 days from the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay.

[missnmountains]

CA Traveler wrote:
The best Alaska trip planning occurs during the trip.

X2

Ken

[CA_Traveler]

The best Alaska trip planning occurs during the trip.

[PghBob]

tgdakota wrote:
I am seriously thinking of making this trip leaving Florida late April or early May 2018. I am planning to retire end of 2017, and this trip is on my short bucket list. I have been reading and planning a lot, but do not have the final route planned. I want to travel to a least Yellowstone before heading up to Alaska. There will be two of us traveling via a travel trailer.

Glad you are thinking of making the trip to Alaska. About your timing for Yellowstone, if you arrive there in late April or early May, campgrounds or services may still be closed. Roads may still be closed or impassable. Spring/summer comes late there (usually). We have been there in June and experienced enough snowfall for the Rangers to confine us to our immediate area for the day. It can snow and dip below freeing any month there. So if stopping by Yellowstone, I would suggest calling ahead to see what is open and what is not. Good luck and hope you have a great trip.

[sue_t]

If you're on facebook, consider joining this RVing to Alaska 2018 group. It's a closed group so you'll have to join to see the posts of others heading to Alaska in 2018.

[tgdakota]

I am seriously thinking of making this trip leaving Florida late April or early May 2018. I am planning to retire end of 2017, and this trip is on my short bucket list. I have been reading and planning a lot, but do not have the final route planned. I want to travel to a least Yellowstone before heading up to Alaska. There will be two of us traveling via a travel trailer.

[fanrgs]

We stayed at the other Tetlin NWR campground--Lakeview CG--on our way north. Also has a beautiful lake with a scenic backdrop, but no water or hookups. Was a great place to stay for a night after all the frost heave and construction on both sides of Beaver Creek. And we used the FREE (with fill-up) dump and RV wash the following day at a gas station in Tok.

[sue_t]

Deadman Lake campground is a beautiful spot. Just 45 miles from my hometown - Beaver Creek.