Some Alaska Trip Questions

[USMC46]

We are planning a trip to Alaska this year. I'm reading the posts, will buy a couple of books and MilePost but would like some other advice. I have a "trip planner" that recommended a ferry from Homer to Valdez. I believe it stops at Kodiak. Anyone ever taken this ferry ? Cost ? I'm working on an estimate and was wondering if $4.50 a gallon for diesel would be a good average cost for the lower states, Canada and Alaska ? Is it reasonable to estimate that we could boondock in Alaska 50% of the two month+ we will be there ? Average full hook-up RV parking costs in AK ? Best three months to go ? Any legal way to transport a weapon through Canada ? Any and all advice appreciated and if anyone is heading that way from South Texas let me know.

[Orion]

My weapon is for protection inside my motorhome not outside in the wilderness

Make sure that you do not say this at the border, unless of course you are expecting nasty wildlife IN your motorhome!

[FreeLanceing]

I was thinking of taking a home defense shotgun myself. Maybe I can just convince Sue to come along and hold my hand. Great photo's!

[nbargolf]

As I understand it from the Canadian web page. A long gun can be carried across the boarder just fill out the form from their web page and present it to the border guard. My weapon is for protection inside my motorhome not outside in the wilderness so I always have it onboard.

[fanrgs]

Take a look at the "Alaska Costs" thread on this forum. Many of your questions have already been answered in detail there.

[PA12DRVR]

If one routinely carries a weapon and feels comfortable with it, by all means, bring it to Alaska...I'm not against it and I REALLY don't want to divert the thread to a "weapons or not" thread.


I've lived in Alaska the better part of my life and covered a great deal of it on foot, plane, snow-go, or boat. Never felt the need for a weapon for protection from wildlife that I wasn't specifically chasing.....I guess what was meant is that, given the difficulties (both serious and not-so-serious) with getting a weapon to/from Alaska, I'd simply offer that,for an RV trip, a weapon isn't needed, particularly if, as Sue mentioned, one stays aware of wildlife.

[lanerd]

I can only add that another, and probably better, publication for traveling through Canada and Alaska is Mike and Terri Church's book "Guide to Alaskan Camping".

Have a great trip.

Ron

[TripleE]

USMC46 - if you are retired look into staying at the military campgrounds up there. They are all good. Use this link to check out the campgrounds.

[sue_t]

Moose kill more people than bears in the north. Cow moose with calf can be downright vicious.

[sue_t]

We live in the wilderness. We camp and explore deeper into the wilderness.

Have never used a weapon for "protection" from wildlife while hiking, snowshoeing, exploring deep in the wilderness.

Instead, we stay keenly aware of the sounds around us, and we make lots of sound ourselves. In bear country, we talk loudly to each other as we hike.

We see wildlife, unfortunately they rarely hang around long enough for me to get a good picture. Those that do stick still for a bit are more interested in the berries and food on the ground then they are in me.

I photographed many bears, some around the cabin. None have ever threatened me. But then I don't threaten them. http://suethomas.ca/Bears.html

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

PA12DRVR wrote:
Strictly as opinion, and recognizing it doesn't answer the question, I question why so many feel compelled to bring a weapon to Alaska.

I think it is more that the person carries a weapon normally. Either for personal safety or a hunting firearm.

They really don't want to give it to a gun shop near the border for storage, nor have to find a way to ship it to someone in the US to hold the gun for them. Either is a big pain and expense.

It is not 'I need a weapon in Alaska' but rather 'I always have a weapon with me'.

[Ranger_Smith]

PA12DRVR wrote:

Strictly as opinion, and recognizing it doesn't answer the question, I question why so many feel compelled to bring a weapon to Alaska.

Having never been there I thought it would be for protection against some of the wildlife while exploring the wilderness.

But what do I know as I have never been there

[Less_Stuff]

We recommend driving into Valdez then taking the ferry to Whittier.
Valdez to Whittier across Prince William Sound on a sunny day is the best.
Then the drive out of Whittier is interesting as well.

This link will show costs and routes.

Alaska Marine Highway System

[PA12DRVR]

Homer-Kodiak is an interesting ride, but I don't know of any Homer-Kodiak-Valdez ferry (that makes any sense).

If you want to go to Kodiak, by all means, take the ferry, or fly over for a day or two, etc.....but the drive into Valdez shouldn't be missed IMNSHO.

Strictly as opinion, and recognizing it doesn't answer the question, I question why so many feel compelled to bring a weapon to Alaska.

[2gypsies1]

Taking a 41' motorhome and Jeep on a ferry is not going to save you fuel money. If you're debating about that or boondocking, why would you want prices on full hookups? The most economical way to make the trip is boondocking or public parks. We never had a full hookup site for the trip and even stayed in two non-hookup campgrounds in Denali Nat'l Park. Boondocking can easily be done - even withing 100 miles of Anchorage and Fairbanks. We did it. Have a great trip and just go.