Alaska 2012

[bcaddel]

I remember about a year back there was several folks discussing a convoy to Alaska the summer of 2012. Is anyone still thinking about such a trip or has fuel prices pretty much shut down these plans. We are thinking about taking off work a couple months this summer and trying to make a trip up from Las  Vegas to Fairbanks.

I used to rebuild supercubs back in the late 70's and fly them up to fairbanks to sell. I remember the roads looked pretty tough back then but we were several hundred feet above them so it didn't matter too much. I understand the roads are in much better shape now and the wife really wants to see Alaska so it sounds like a fun summer trip.

If anyone is interested in making such a trip we sure would  like to kick the idea around some before deciding if the expense is worth the adventure.

Bob & Pearl

[Scott & Heather]

Someone give us a "real" expenditure calculation. What would it cost for a round trip. Leaving from the middle of the contiguous. This has been a dream of myself and Heather. We're still in our twenties, so I do hope it materializes someday.

[bcaddel]

Hi Scott
I am thinking round numbers would be about $5,000 for fuel, $1,000 for food, $1,500 for camping fees, $1,500 for side trips, and tour type adventures and $1,000 for unexpected repairs or expenses, for a total of $10,000. I doubt it will be less and probably more but we are hoping to do it for around $10,000.

[Seayfam]

Bob,
That figure is about right. We travel from down in Homer Alaska to Boise Idaho and back for 8,000

That is a very fun trip! The only bad part of the road now is from the Alaskan border to Haines junction. Lots of large frost heaves and cracks in the pavement, there is about a 50 mile stretch where you will only be traveling 30MPH

I believe that Teresa (happycamperbrat) was trying to get this caravan together.

[Scott & Heather]

Interesting. So $10,000 is a good ballpark...what about time frame? Obviously the up and down trip would best made during the warmer months (though I'd welcome a winter trek in a Land Cruiser with a caravan of other 4WD's...another dream). How long would the trip conceivably be? Also, could someone post a Google map of the route that would likely be the best for a coach? Just thinking out loud...I love this idea...

[buswarrior]

Why not a winter trek in the coach?

If the trucks are going up and down, no reason a busnut can't.

For most of us in a 40 foot coach, budgeting 5 miles per US gallon for fuel is a good budget number.
You will get varying amount of change, but difficult to go over.

And the online fuel price websites will give you an idea as to the fuel costs along the way.

More than a few have got caught forgetting that fuel is more expensive the more remote you go.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[robertglines1]

Some $ from SW Ind for you   driving time to and from  18 days @ 8 hrs a day    fuel for 9000 mile @ average 4.50 gal @ 5mpg=8000$   actual milage round trip to fairbanks from Evansville 7572 miles rest of miles is for side trips.  New coach will get better fuel millage is one reason we up graded and put trip on hold. Checked on ferry up inside passage  was 4200$ but would save  $1000 in fuel and give you the cruise experience from your coach.  Dreaming..Bob

[luvrbus]

No sleeping in your RV on the ferry now so I was told you have to rent their berths we did the ferry thing and then the highway  up to Fairbanks to Gates Of The Arctic Park never again lol  that was a $15,000 trip in the early 90's for us and we started from Boise ID where we lived at the time

good luck

[Scott & Heather]

My concern for a winter trek in the coach isn't the snow...it's the cold. Extreme cold like that makes life difficult if we have to troubleshoot an air, mechanical, or other problem on the coach. And I know there would be at least one problem on the trip...Murphy's law. In a smaller vehicle, things are just less complicated usually. But yeah, I'd love to do a winter trek someday...

[GP]

Bob & Pearl,
We made that trip in the summer of 09 in our bus and it was a big time. The $10k estimate might be a little short.  We took 6 weeks for the adventure and that was not enough time in IMO if we were to do it again I'm thinkin 10 or 12 weeks would be about right and I would spend more time poking around in northern Canada.
George

[Boomer]

The first thing you should do if planning the trip is get a current copy of the Milepost book.  It will have answers to most of your questions and is the bible for Alaska travel.  Also a Garage Index book which will give you locations of the coach operators in BC, Yukon and Alaska in case you need help on the road.

[bcaddel]

Boomer, I just ordered the Milepost book, it looks like a great reference. We will get the Garage Index if we decide to actually make the trip.

George, I would like to take 12 weeks but I am thinking 8 are about the best I will be able to take off from work. If I took more, I am afraid the owner would figure out he can do just fine without  me and make it a "career changing" decision, if you know what I mean.

Clifford, do I read your comment to mean you wouldn't do the trip again? Was it that bad or just once is enough. I am not looking for a head ache vacation, but hoping for a leisurely cruise up and back before I get too old and just don't have the energy or ambition to try such a long trip. (62 now and just starting to feel the age thing creeping in)

Robert & Buswarrior, We have driven all over the centennial US on both coast and lots of mountains pulling our toad and rarely have we done less than 6 mpg so I am hoping to average at least that. I am thinking 1,200 gallons of fuel will cost around $5,000 with maybe a couple of tanks of  gas for the toad. We easily have over 600 miles between fill ups so we should hopefully be able to skip most of the super expensive diesel fuel in some of the remote areas. I didn't add in for propane to run the generator which will probably add another $300 or $400. There is no doubt in my mind when we return our credit card will have some extra charges that we failed to put in our $10,000 budget but that seems to happens with every trip we take.

I think mechanical breakdown is my biggest fear as I am not a bus mechanic by any sense of the term. Does anyone know if Coach Net services are available in Canada and Alaska? That would be a big comfort to know that at least I could get towed to the nearest shop for repairs.

Thanks Again for letting me think out loud and sharing your thoughts, they have been very helpful so far.

Bob

[luvrbus]

Bob, I am a hard surface type guy I didn't care for the roads, mud, broke windshield,chips on the paint,prices,weather,Customs on both borders,or the mosquitoes it was a once in a lifetime trip but I never had the desire to return

good luck

[Bill B /bus]

We made the trip in 2001. Nine weeks from and back to Maine. Not enough time as we only ad three weeks in Alaska. When we go again I would anticipate leaving the lower 48 in mid May and returning mid September. Fuel cost is the same no matter how long the trip. We spent almost every night in some type of campground. We, wife/myself and 16 year old daughter, did almost all the tourist attractions. Total cost of trip was about $8K. Total mileage was about 13K at 8.3 MPG in a 1970 PD4108 and 1000 miles on the toad.

When we do the trip again there will be very few campgrounds and some tourist attractions that are worth the second look.

Where to spend more time? Dawson City, Eagle area, Circle/Central area, Valdez, Homer and the Kenai area. Skagway/Haines area, Alaska State Fair (late August).

Get the Milepost now for planning your trip. Then get the new addition in March when its printed.

Bill

[luvrbus]

If the budget allows the ferry's and the marine highway is the way to see some beautiful country to do the whole highway it would cost you a fortune. 
I really enjoyed the ferry the rest was just so so for me after working there for 2 years and the reference I made about prices wasn't the fuel cost

good luck