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

[danrclem]

Thanks for the info rag-ftw. That's exactly what I wanted to know.

I don't mind snow as long as it's not on the road so we may try to get there a little before June 1st. One of my most memorable hiking moments was In Glacier National Park hiking to Hidden Lake (I think that's the name of it) in the snow.

Thanks JANETRUPP for your sticky on planning for Alaska. That gives me a heads up on what to look for and plan around.

[rag-ftw]

danrclem wrote:
...Those of you who have been there before what month would you say is the best month to be there. If you were going to stay for two months what would those two months be.Danny and Debbie
Kentucky

Danny, our best trip for animal viewing was when we crossed the border in mid May. There was still snow on the ground and the only 50 yard or so green area was what was cleared beside along the road. Everything was coming down out of the mountains to enjoy the fresh grass. It did get down to 25 our first night at Dawson Creek and we had to stay a couple extra days there while they cleared a spring snow storm from the mountain passes. That may be to early for some, but it was perfect for us as we wanted to see as many animals as possible.

Be advised most RV facilities and tourist attractions do not open until Memorial Day, so you have to plan your stops if you need hook-ups. We had no problems finding fuel/gas before Memorial Day.

The best two months are any between 1 June and 1 October. I highly recommend staying for all four months. We have been three summers and still have not seen/done everything on our list.

[danrclem]

CA Traveler wrote:
Driving to Alaska is not just another bucket list trip like the lower 48. It's a 10,000 mile adventure like no other. Just my opinion.

I fully realize that it's a trip of a lifetime and will probably want to go back for seconds but one never knows what the future has in store for us. I just want to make the most of it while I'm there.

You suggest leaving in mid May and that maybe would put me crossing over into Alaska about the start of June. Maybe not though since we'll be stopping along the way. So would you consider The 1st of June to be the beginning of Alaskan prime time?

My wife flying home really wouldn't be an option unless there was an emergency. We've been married for 42 years and I don't think I would enjoy it alone.

Thanks for the reply.
Danny

[JANETRUPP]

Roll Call Alaska 2018.....so far

janetrupp..... Arizona.....Janet & Gary
badiamond.....Arizona.....Barbara & Pat & Koko
memtb.....Wyoming.....Todd & Marianne
rag-ftw.....Texas.....
Lwiddis.....California.....
Veebyes.....Bermuda/Maryland.....
Acampingwewillgo.....USA
bob nestor.....Texas
PghBob.....Pennsylvania
pirlbeck.....Iowa....
missnmountains.....Florida
bobkatmsu.....Florida
CA Traveler.....Arizona.....Diane & Bob
Williebago.....Kansas.....
Socalal.....California.....
TxGearhead.....Texas
c.traveler2.....California
caseyhoward.....Texas
Keyspirate.....TN & Florida
jnharley.....US
bobkatmsa.....Florida
Stickdog.....Texas
jacketsbum.....Ohio
fuzzyface.....Michigan
Just Lee.....California
danrclem.....Kentucky

Welcome all ! It looks like we are going to have a great group, and a year to plan to make it such a special trip. Don't forget to have some signs to place in the window so we can recognize each other. Just something that states Roll Call Alaska 2018 your names and you forum name. I will try to find a picture of mine from last time.

Janet

[JANETRUPP]

CA Traveler wrote:
Small signs can be overlooked. This dollar store poster board worked very well and was also seen as we drove the car.


Click For Full-Size Image.

Thanks for your picture. I could not find mine. I remember yours well. We all enjoyed so much meeting all our other rv net friends that we had been talking with for months. Glad you are going again with us. Hope we see each other again down the road

Janet & Gary

[CA_Traveler]

Driving to Alaska is not just another bucket list trip like the lower 48. It's a 10,000 mile adventure like no other. Just my opinion.

[CA_Traveler]

danrclem wrote:
Those of you who have been there before what month would you say is the best month to be there. If you were going to stay for two months what would those two months be. I'm going to stay as long as my wife will let me. She's misses her grandkids if she's away from them very long.

Leave mid May and return in August. Give her the option to fly home from Anchorage and I'll bet a donut that once there she'll be in for the entire trip.

Our return trip included Haines, Fjord Express passenger ferry to Juneau, ferry to Skagway and Hyder. Sure glad we didn't just head home.

[CA_Traveler]

Small signs can be overlooked. This dollar store poster board worked very well and was also seen as we drove the car.


Click For Full-Size Image.

[danrclem]

We're planning on going to Alaska in 2018 too. I have recently retired but didn't have things ready for this year even though I have been thinking about this trip for many many years. I guess you could say it's my retirement party. We're long time campers but this will be our ultimate trip.

I've just started doing some research getting ideas but the final plans won't be laid out until early next year.

Those of you who have been there before what month would you say is the best month to be there. If you were going to stay for two months what would those two months be. I'm going to stay as long as my wife will let me. She's misses her grandkids if she's away from them very long.

Danny and Debbie
Kentucky

[rag-ftw]

Just Lee wrote:
... We just got back from doing a cruise and fell in Love... Now we want to drive...

Central Valley Jefferson (aka California).LoL Just Lee

Be careful! We did the cruise in 2011 and then spent 2012, 2014, 2016 enjoying the REAL Alaska summers and 2018 will be our fourth. There is definitely more to Alaska towns than fudge stores, jewelry shops, and Harley-Davidson T-Shirt vendors! The cruise was great but it doesn't compare with the drive!

[Just_Lee]

Janet; may as well put us on the "Wanna-Be-In-Alaska" in 2018.. We just got back from doing a cruise and fell in Love... Now we want to drive...

Central Valley Jefferson (aka California).LoL Just Lee

[jacketsbum]

Sign in the rear window of the fiver sounds like the perfect place, will do it! Maybe the side also!

[JANETRUPP]

Roll Call Alaska 2018.....so far

janetrupp..... Arizona.....Janet & Gary
badiamond.....Arizona.....Barbara & Pat & Koko
memtb.....Wyoming.....Todd & Marianne
rag-ftw.....Texas.....
Lwiddis.....California.....
Veebyes.....Bermuda/Maryland.....
Acampingwewillgo.....USA
bob nestor.....Texas
PghBob.....Pennsylvania
pirlbeck.....Iowa....
missnmountains.....Florida
bobkatmsu.....Florida
CA Traveler.....Arizona.....Diane & Bob
Williebago.....Kansas.....
Socalal.....California.....
TxGearhead.....Texas
c.traveler2.....California
caseyhoward.....Texas
Keyspirate.....TN & Florida
jnharley.....US
bobkatmsa.....Florida
Stickdog.....Texas
jacketsbum.....Ohio
fuzzyface.....Michigan

Welcome all ! It looks like we are going to have a great group, and a year to plan to make it such a special trip. Don't forget to have some signs to place in the window so we can recognize each other. Just something that states Roll Call Alaska 2018 your names and you forum name. I will try to find a picture of mine from last time.

Janet

[fuzzyface]

Linda and I will be traveling from Polk City, FL with a few friends (we think about 4 coaches) leaving FL about the end of May and meandering towards AK. Specific plans are not firm, yet....but we do have almost a year to plan ..... and dream.

[rag-ftw]

Emptynest,
IMHO waiting until next year is the right decision for two reasons:
1. You will be so busy doing honey-dos between March and June you won't have time to prepare for the trip.
2. The drive up is a beautiful part of the trip that you both will want to experience.
A good summer trip is Route 66. We did that in 2015 and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.