alaska trip 2016

[Alan N]

It has been interesting to read all the Alaska opinions.
Here are some of mine.
Go! Just go. You won't regret it.
The Alaska Highway is pretty tame. If you can convert a bus you can handle it.
The Top of the World Highway is amazing if a little rough in places. Don't miss it.
Consider a side trip through the Northwest Territories. Well worth it if you are not afraid of gravel.
Speaking of gravel, the Dalton Highway was the best part of our Alaska trip. The Dalton Highway isn't for everyone but we found it grand.
Putting our bus on the Alaska ferry was more expensive than it was worth.
If you ever wanted to go to Alaska go. You can drive from one RV park to the next or be a little more adventurous.
Just Go!

[dtcerrato]

Good stuff! We're going. Enjoying all the conversation on a subject matter that we're finally moving on...

[eagle19952]

if you need to test your mettle, start your return trip about mid October

[gumpy]

A few comments about our trip from 2005, and from our bike trip in 2012...

The highway up is paved except where construction is being done. The section from Haines Junction up to Tok is in pretty poor condition. Earthquakes and frost heaves have taken
a toll. If you see an orange cone in the middle of the road, assume the road doesn't exist near it. In one instance we found a hole 1 foot in diameter that we couldn't see the bottom
of. It was in the center of one lane of the two lane road, and was marked by a single orange traffic cone. That would have been a problem on the bikes had we not seen it in time.

There are some incredible places to boondock along the way. The gravel pits which were dug when the road was paved are generally available, and great places, if you can find them.
Some are secluded and when pulling the toad, if you pass it, it can be a long ways before you can turn around.

The Top of the World highway was not rough, but was extremely dusty. Frankly, I thought there was better scenery in other areas. I enjoyed it the one time, but would probably not do that one again. The ferry ride across the Yukon at Dawson scarred the crap out of me, but then again, I'm not real big on fast moving water when crammed so tight onto a boat that you could not even open the door, and there's water washing over the deck!

The Dalton is rough, and I do mean rough! We did 20-30 mph and only went up to where the road crosses the Yukon. The tour buses were going by us at 60mph or more. They don't pay my repair bills, though. The trucks on the haul road don't like it being open to tourists, and they will intentionally try to break your windshields. They will lock up the brakes on the trailers to throw rocks at you as they pass.  If your goal is to simply go to the Arctic Circle, as was ours, then do a day trip from Fairbanks in the toad instead of taking the bus up. If you are looking to get to the Brooks Range or beyond, then take it easy. 

Water and sewer dumps are plentiful. Most gas stations have them. Most people are friendly, but there's a general sense they'd just prefer you left your money and went home.

Moose are very large. Especially when viewed from the front seats of the bus as they walk out of nowhere in front of you. Do not take the roads for granted!

Mosquitoes are as large as the moose.

Do not make the mistake of opening the bedroom window at 3:00 in the morning because you heard something outside. You will not get back to sleep due to the buzzing of the invaders.

Pay special attention to the toad. It's a long, long way between each point of civilization along the Alaska Highway. Plan accordingly. Your toad is you insurance plan. Cell phones don't work well there.

[dtcerrato]

Hey Gumpy, thanks - that's great info!

[Alan N]

I was ready to give up at the Yukon as well. Glad I didn't. The road improved, but this was in 07 things can change.

[gumpy]

I was ready to give up at the Yukon as well. Glad I didn't. The road improved, but this was in 07 things can change.

I assume you are referring to the haul road where it corsses the Yukon.

We actually didn't give up there. That was the original destination plan. My Father-in-Law, who was with us on the 2005 trip, had worked on the pipeline in the 70s. There was
a man-camp just across the Yukon River where he had stayed for awhile. He wanted to go see what was left there, so we did. After we got there, we realized how close
we were to the Arctic Circle, so we decided to do a day trip to it in the car, which turned out to be a great decision. Both of our teenage kids got to drive in the Arctic Circle,
which was a big deal. None of their friends could say that! We also collected a bug, which was brought back to a young girl with some leaning disabilities and self
esteem issues for her class summer assignment (3rd grade, I think). She and the Arctic Circle Bug were the talk of the school and she remembers it still today. 

Someday I'd like to go farther up the road.

[rusty]

That is a nice drive to the arctic circle. There is no gas between Fairbanks and the Yukon river. My jeep would not make the round trip on 1 tank of gas so I filled up at the yukon ( 5 dollars a gallon ). On the way back I stopped and topped of the tank same 5 bucks a gallon. When driving around up there I like to run on the top 1/2 of the tank.

Wayne

[Alan N]

We went all the way to Dead horse. The young folks jumped in the Arctic Ocean (they said it's warmer than Lake Superior). I would like to do it again someday. We lived in Alaska when I was young and I wanted to drive that road since they built it. It would be fun to do it in the semi, ONE time.

[billy6941]

Another possibility is to take the Alaska ferry from Prince Rupert to Haines or Skagway. Much less cost than from Washington state. It's worth the trip one way. You can look at ferry schedules via internet and if you like you can make reservations. We run tours from Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle for Japanese and Chinese tourists and I did one the first part of March. The Arctic Circle is at mile 115 on the Dalton highway ( Haul road). Don't know anything about the rest of the road. The "Top of the World" highway runs from the Yukon river at Dawson City, Yukon and connects with the Taylor highway, which connects with the Alaska highway 12 miles south of Tok, Alaska. The 13 miles of the top are paved to the tune of 16,000,000 dollars of stimulus money. How about that for wise us of US dollars??....Bill

[Brian Diehl]

I looked at the cost to run the ferry from Haines to Skagway and it was about $380 for bus and toad.  I think we'll save those dollars and use them for whale watching or a fishing excursion.  It does look like a nice way to go though...

[niles500]

Brian, if you look at the mileage to backtrack and go to Skagway along with the price of fuel cost up there it would cost close to $350 to drive it. Time saved and the view is worth it.

[gumpy]

I looked at the cost to run the ferry from Haines to Skagway and it was about $380 for bus and toad.  I think we'll save those dollars and use them for whale watching or a fishing excursion.  It does look like a nice way to go though...

That's too bad. That's a lot of money for that short little boat ride.

Both are incredibly beautiful drives.  Haines seemed to have some things to do. Skagway, not so much, other than the train.

I've heard the drive down into Valdez is really nice, too, but we have not done that one. Evidently there's nothing there but oil tanker loading dock, so not other reason to
go other than the scenery.

[eagle19952]

That's too bad. That's a lot of money for that short little boat ride.

Both are incredibly beautiful drives.  Haines seemed to have some things to do. Skagway, not so much, other than the train.

I've heard the drive down into Valdez is really nice, too, but we have not done that one. Evidently there's nothing there but oil tanker loading dock, so not other reason to
go other than the scenery.

Unless you like to fish... then there is Thompson Pass and salmon fishing and camping at Blueberry lake and Worthington Glacier and Keystone Canyon and Bridal Veil Falls and Halibut fishing and 

[Brian Diehl]

Brian, if you look at the mileage to backtrack and go to Skagway along with the price of fuel cost up there it would cost close to $350 to drive it. Time saved and the view is worth it.

I agree with the thoughts expressed, but would not drive down to both Skagway and Haines.