HollardawgUSMC
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Re: Winter sets in
pigman1 wrote: HollardawgUSMC wrote: The reason for snow, ice, below zero temps, and long winters is so the residents can have some peace and quiet away from the tourists. Aw, come-on. When I took my first trip north, I expected to see hordes of tourists, but was very surprised. Well over half the people we met at RV parks, sightseeing locations or along the roads WERE ALASKANS. When I'd ask them about it, they told me they'd been cooped up all that long cold, dark winter and it was time to get out and enjoy their beautiful state. Eight additional year's trips up there and I continue to see the same thing. We worked an entire summer in an RV Park in Alaska. I think we have a pretty good understanding of the area. Sounds like you misunderstood something meant as "tongue in cheek" Lighten up. Life is too short to be offended so easily.492Views0likes0CommentsRe: Roll Call Alaska 2019
AKsilvereagle wrote: In Wisconsin on way back home. Traveled over 11400 miles so far. Steer clear of Tok cut off between Tok and Glennallen. Use rt 4 between Delta Junction and Glennallen. Tok cut off is in bad shape (frost heaves) and construction. Broke a spring and shackle there. Saw another guy who broke an axle. Long delays there also. Unfortunately here in the far north, construction and frost heaves have been a way of life since roads were developed. I cannot stress enough the fact when I post here or tell other people about commuting on buckled up roads or frost heaves to SLOW DOWN OR DRIVE TO A CRAWL IF NEEDED or else significant damage to equipment, suspension parts, and axles bending or breaking will result ! To give a prime perspective on a much similar conditioned route when I travelled the notorious 85 mile stretch of Destruction Bay YT thru White River YT on the Alaska Highway over the years - these are the driving times I posted according to my travel logs in my old 1970 Ford F250 camper rig : Year - Total Time - Average MPH 1998 ....3 hr 46 min....22.56 MPH 2008 ....2 hr 44 min....31.09 MPH 2009 ....2 hr 50 min....30.00 MPH 2010 ....3 hr 07 min....27.27 MPH 2011 ....2 hr 41 min....31.67 MPH 2012 ....3 hr 32 min....24.05 MPH 2013 ....2 hr 39 min....32.07 MPH 2014 ....2 hr 55 min....29.14 MPH 2015 ....2 hr 53 min....29.48 MPH 2016 ....3 hr 36 min....23.61 MPH Now haulin' the camper on my old 1975 Ford F250 rig : 2017 ....1 hr 54 min....44.73 MPH 2018 ....1 hr 41 min....50.49 MPH During 2016 and 2017, the Yukon DOT Road Maintenance had worked on the Koidern-Donjec corridors of the Alaska Highway and significantly improved the roadway along this stretch which was the best I ever seen it during 2017 and 2018 since the first time I driven it in 1985, however it will be short lived as this stretch will buckle up again within a year or two. As you see the incremental travel times I logged over the years are different, as there were stretches of this 85 mile area that the road surfaces and frost heaves were so bad, I had to drive thru some portions moving between 2 MPH to 10 MPH in many spots. Regardless, I NEVER had a single mishap on bent, broken spring, shackle, or axle issues in my 1970 Ford F250 rig that I exclusively used as a camper hauler from 1996 thru 2016..... That covered over 3600 miles of estimated unpaved road surfaces.... Crossed well north of the Arctic Circle while sections of the Dalton Highway were very rough.... Estimated covering over 70 percent of the 'connecting' Alaska road system minus various city and village side streets.... Driven thru many road construction zones and pilot car escorts to count.... Driven Top of the World Highway to Dawson seven times and the Taylor Highway 8 times between 1998 and 2016 in my camper rig.... Driven a 5060 mile round trip from Fairbanks AK to Yellowknife NWT and back in 2008 with unpaved road and rough surfaced sidetrips in between.... ....and countless western Canada trips on a yearly basis since 2008. I driven the Tok Cutoff route in my camper in 1997 and it was pretty horrendous with frost heaves then, took me two days taking my time thru there as I overnighted on Nabesna Road and overnighted in Gakona the following day taking my sweet time to Anchorage. Logged 45,951 total miles with my camper on my 1970 F250 rig, and the GVWR was overweight between 200 and 600 lbs., while the front axle was 300 lbs. overweight from 2008 thru 2016.....All on Alaska and western Canada roadways with countless frost heaves and buckled road surfaces in between without a bent or broken mishap !!!!!. Although I had to retire the 1970 F250 truck of mine from being a full time camper hauler because of the replacement cab mounts welded in 2010 were not as durable as the factory ones - only lasted six years as I only had 80 percent rust free floorboard left and the steering column started taking a toll on the heavier front end with the cabover camper weight - now it is an everyday driver starting in 2017 with the extra weight off the truck and is just fine. I'm sorry but whenever someone experiences equipment damage to suspension or axles - they were still driving too fast for road conditions - it is all on the driver. If the road is declared open, it is drivable....just slow down or waaaay down if the road surface is worse like I always done and you will avoid damage. Unless one wants to be in a hurry - then avoid a certain route and go the long way around if that's an option. Bottom line here is: You must allot adequate time to compensate for road conditions caused by extreme weather and geological conditions. Alaskans and Northern Canadians operate under some of the most extreme conditions on earth. Therefore, it makes building 'Lower 48' type roads next to impossible. Do your research, allocate the proper amount time, leave your 65 mph travel plans at home and incorporate slow going into your adventure......or don't go.501Views0likes0CommentsRe: Roll Call Alaska 2019
PA12DRVR wrote: MORSNOW wrote: I live right by the epicenter and the damaged bridges, they are all partially open already and work continues 24 hours a day. ADOT and their contractors were all top notch and on it right away. Traffic was horrible due to the roads being closed soon after the earthquake, but much better now. Of course permanent repairs will probably continue next summer when the ground thaws, but I would change travel plans for next summer. Ditto the above....I think MORSNOW meant to say "...would not change travel plans..." AK Department of Transportation and Public Facilities has done a great job, assisted by a break from usual December temps and has, at a minimum, got most of the damaged roads flowing again. I drive by two of the major impacted areas in Los Anchorage every day (was even on the New Seward at the time of the quake) and although there is a (rapidly diminishing) impact to traffic due to repair works, it's amazing to me how much road repair has been accomplished in a few days and nights. Road access to Alaska's largest city requires crossing bridges....they won't be ignored and left unrepaired. While I agree with a lot of what has been said, it still begs the question for all of us wishing to travel North this summer, how much time are we willing to spend navigating through bridge and highway construction zones. It all boils down to the individual's tolerance level.305Views0likes0CommentsRe: Roll Call Alaska 2019
Beentherefixedthat wrote: Jayco1c wrote: I thank at this time my wife and I will be changing our plans to travel to Alaska in 2019. We will be having our 50th Anv. some where in New Mexico or Utah. We were looking forward to our Alaska trip but I don't believe they will have all the damaged bridges repaired by next May. This would be a shame as the damage will be taken care of rapidly. Don't let a few uninformed people here put you off your trip. Hang in there and just monitor the progress. Alaska is well worth the trip and the vast majority of the state was unaffected by this earthquake. This uninformed person is married to a retired University Professor of Geology whose field of study is Plate Tectonics,Earthquakes and Volcanoes. And who has lived through 3 good sized earthquakes in Southern California in the 70's and 80's. But, the bottom line is, make up your own mind. Do your own research, and make your final decision based on your own information.305Views0likes0Comments
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Bucketlist destinations you just can't miss. Which spots stick with you?Jan 11, 202513,487 Posts
