alaska trip 2016

[dtcerrato]

Bring it on

[luvrbus]

I hear some of the Western GMC Club are going this year one was talking to me and asking if I would like to make the trip again,it's off my list BTDT and enjoyed it

[buswarrior]

Same as everywhere, gas is cheaper at the moment.

A quick check online:

Dawson, Yukon, is about CND $1 per litre or USD $2.90 a US gallon

Edmonton, Alberta, is about CND $0.80 per litre or USD $2.32 a US gallon

Anchorage, Alaska, is about USD $2 per US gallon

3.78 litres to a US gallon

American dollar is worth CND $1.30

HTH.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[buswarrior]

Not too smart....

diesel prices....

Dawson, Yukon is at CND $1.36 per litre

Edmonton, Alberta is at CND $0.77 per litre

Anchorage, Alaska is at USD $1.90 per US gallon

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Scott & Heather]

Heather and I have been watching diesel and realized that if we want to make the trip, now really is the time. If it happens I don't perceive us making the journey until summer of 2017. But who knows.


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[john9861]

Since we live in SC & not retired & physically wouldn't put myself through the driving thing we flew to Anchorage in July of 2015. Rented a motorhome & decided before hand to only do the Kenai Peninsula for this trip. 2 weeks & didn't see it all just in that area. Of course maybe some of that was the fishing 3 times a day that I HAD to do. After all the research prior I learned a lot once there. I found out that you don't have to take everythnig with you. There's plenty of opportunity for food & gear especially at the Fred Myers stores. Talk about an all in one stop. You can even overnite in the parking lot for 3 days at a time at no charge. I booked numerous campsites ahead & discovered once there some of the areas we overnighted were on travel days between stops. Could have done that just in the pulloffs side the road. The campground in Seward was incredible. The town owns it. You can't reserve ahead but the views are tops. This post could get endless so I'll end it by saying yep we're heading back in 2017. Will go for a month next time!! All in approx. $7500.

[chessie4905]

Also obtain the Alaska Milepost. Fantastic and info about every mile of the way about campgrounds, fuel, food, etc. Sort of like a traveler's Bible. New issue published every year with updates.

[luvrbus]

It is really not a trip everyone would enjoy I got tired of driving so we rode the ferry back but it didn't $3500.00 back then either.Some enjoy the trip some don't, Idaho I enjoy more not as far and offers about the same I can't wait till Salmon season opens in Idaho love it 

[rip]

We went in 03 for 3 months and are looking to go back maybe next year.It is a long trip,but just take it slow and in joy the journey. Alaska is one of the best trips we have ever done and hope we can go next year.Between fishing,whitewater rafting and going to Denali National Park were just a few of the highlights from are last trip.
   Don

[rusty]

Alaska was the first item on my bucket list ( you notice I said mine not the bosses ) It was all and more than I expected. Some of the most beautiful  sites you will ever see. Even the boss admitted it was better than she thought it would be. It did not get taken off of OUR bucket list it just got moved down a ways. After we remove a few items from the bucket list we will go back and spend the whole summer doing it.

Wayne

[buswarrior]

The DRIVING for this vacation must be carefully considered.

Go to your favorite mapping software and plug in Anchorage AK and your place.

and sit and stare at the proportions.  Roughly plot your biggest drives to date on there and think about doing that how many times over to both get there and home...

The trouble with maps, Alaska and Rhode Island are the same size in the book, and mysteriously, there's nothing showing above the 48th parallel until you get Alaska.

New York City to Anchorage is 75 hours of driving on the biggest roads at the limit. New York to Los Angeles is only 41 hours. 

Both the driver and the co-pilot need good, supportive chairs for this adventure, this isn't a spin 'round the block to the local bus rally.

Just like the pioneers, if this takes too long, it'll start snowing...

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[dtcerrato]

Yes, one of the first items on the bucket list, 35 years ago it was placed there. We have been talking about it that long. With the fuel prices the way they are - it HAS to happen this year for us. Two leading factors in the decision making department: Fuel prices and TIME... We are setting aside 5 months for this trip. NO HURRY. Take time to to take your time. We love the lower 48, been traversing it with the ole' girl for 37 years cross country (W-E-W and S-N-S) in all the mountains she's got to offer. Now retired for 3 years - we're going for it. FL - AK - FL via CA on return to welcome our marine back home... That's what life is all about, right? The only thing more fun than being a bus nut and having these conversations with all is going out and doing what these rigs were intended for. Each in our very own way. The next best thing to this conversation is the knowledge we all gain as a collective talking about our unique experiences - & there's plenty of it here! Thanks for sharing - it's great to be part of this big mess!

[Brian Diehl]

We are going this year.  In fact, we plan to be in Canada by the 3rd week in May.  We should be back in the lower 48 sometime last August or early September.  All of us are looking forward to the journey.  Fuel prices make this trip so much more practical as compared to just a few years ago.  We have all our $$$s saved up and ready to go.

I'll start a new thread with a routing question I have.

[Gary LaBombard]

I know those wishing to fulfill their bucket list will not listen to recommendations of how to make your trip shorter and more enjoyable so here is a couple of things to think of also before your trip that will make you better prepared.  If I think of others that we found out on our trip in 2014 I will post as I remember them.  some of them have slipped my mind, Getting older I guess.  Here goes, this is ONLY to make you better prepared.

1) Be sure to bring a spare for all your vehicles if not just a RV or Bus.  Be sure to have every wheel balanced and at full of air pressure needed.

2) Figure the length of your time you will be up in Alaska and traveling, be sure you have more than enough of every medications needed whether they be by prescription or over the counter.  I run out of one of my cholesterol medications which cost only $10 here at Walmart, it was $100 at Walmart in ALASKA.  I carried a prescription with me just in case, get all your prescriptions overfilled if you explain to your doctor your plans.

3) All animals to be vaccinated with documentation 30 days before your trip.

4)  Do not bring vegetables and fruits to the border, they will be confiscated possibly by border patrol.  Buy them in Alaska or on the way through Canada if you wish to have them.

5) DO NOT BRING ANY WEAPONS (PISTOLS, RIFLES ETC.) to the border.  This will slow down your trip if they are found in vehicle. They will have to be disassembled, and mailed at your cost to your home but this will take you ALL day to get accomplished.  Do not lie about not having a weapon with you if you do have one.  This will truly ruin your day or several of them.  Again, only a warning here, it is up to you. 

5) Have ALL your money to be spent on Alaskan trip, separate in a special Debit card from your bank to keep track of your trip costs.  You will have to get fuel & food etc. and in Canada you will get pissed as you can only get about $75 at a time for fuel and have to keep putting in your debit card to fill up your tank.  lots of chances for overcharges here if this is one of the stations you visit.   BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR BALANCES "EACH NIGHT" POSSIBLE IF YOU HAVE INTERNET to be sure you do not get ripped off from these gas stations you will forget where they are.  We got stuck twice with overcharges but caught them that night and reported them so they did not get paid the overcharges but they will still overcharge you in some places if they can.
     a) Keep your debit travel card separate from your home use debit card.
     b) Tell your bank of your plans, they will be able to keep track of your travel expenses as they are made.  You will have to list with your bank every U.S. state and canadian providence you plan to travel both way to and from Alaska but this is to protect you getting overcharged big time while on the road. KEEP ALL, ALL RECEIPTS USED FOR YOUR ENTIRE TRIP SEPARATE IN A BOX AS PROOF OF YOUR PURCHASES BECAUSE "YOU WILL BE PISSED" IF YOU HAVE NO PROOF OF NO PURCHASE OR OVERCHARGES!  Only a warning now.



6) Bring the strongest BUG REPELLANT you can get as the mosquitos in Canada and Alaska are the most ferocious you will ever encounter especially at night. Be sure to bring enough and use it every day and evening.

7) If you are fortunate enough to see wild bears and moose etc. along the highway, do not be tempted to think of them as cute little pets etc. and want to get close to them.  Have a good camera with Zoom and this will be the safest way to enjoy seeing them up close when you get HOME.  You are in their territory and you PISS them off being there remember. 

Call your telephone provider for special programs available for this trip both ways through Canada, it may be alittle more expensive but if you are in Canada over 18 days and you will be, it will be peace of mind to conduct business concerning your finances during your trip.  You will need this also for contact with your family off and on.  9 days with no contact one say if you push right through is a long time with no contact with family.

9)  If you get to see a Salmon run at one of the fish hatcheries, do not be tempted to reach down and catch one with your hands.  The fine is big, big time.  Take photos and be respectful of the rules.  You are only a guest remember, you do not get special privileges because you are from the lower 48, at times it is just the opposite as you will see occasionally.

10) Bring extra "V" belts, my friend who had the Prevost we traveled with went through 2 belts at two different times because of the rocks and stuff you WILL encounter on the gravel roads. 

11)  If you travel with others, travel at the same speeds with each other, when one wants to stop to take photos have courtesy and do the same.  This is a once in a lifetime trip and enjoy it as a group.  You will get where you want to go, just go together in case of emergency breakdown etc. 

12) Have some sort of long range communications devices or good hand radios or CB's to be in communication with everyone in your caravan or with your small group at all times to arrange stopping times for lunch, bathroom breaks etc. Most bathrooms will be outhouses so be prepared to use your bus or rv if possible for this.  These outhouses are not pleasant to use as you will see and the mosquitos around them will make your butt pucker.

13) When on gravel roads and you can stop for oncoming traffic, consider doing this as you pull over as far to the right at you can without endangering your vehicle.  The truckers get a challenge at breaking as many windshields as they can and if you are traveling when this happens you could lose control.  This again is only a suggestion.  Especially if you go on the East side road up to Alaska and against all suggestions not to use the "Top Of The World Highway" you have a lot to learn.  Go slow, roads are steep, 12-15 deg. Long and very dusty and narrow.  Truckers do not care, they will push you out of the way believe me.  STOP when you can until they go by is only a suggestion that may make your trip more safe and enjoyable. 

14)  Check if you have windshield coverage on your vechicle insurance as I am sure most of you will need it when you get home.  Maybe not all but most will.  My friend had his windshield broken by a trucker on the trip also.  Be sure your entire vehicle insurance is issued to be used in Canada and Alaska if needed.  Check on Towing allowances.  We had to be towed twice on our trip.

15) Try not to travel at night, in Canada it is really, really dark, animals could be anyplace at any time but nighttime is worse for bears and moose.  They are always moving around.  Do not feed any wild animals, against the law and very, very dangerous no matter how cute they look!

Well this is enough to start your list not mentioned a yet I believe.  Just be sure you have enough money to go up and back, Remember, $20,00 is a magic number if you drive it from the East coast to Alaska and Back and wish to see as much as you can and do as much as you can.  My wife reminded me I made a mistake on telling you it was $369 pp for our jeep caravan to the mountains.  It was $369 for two people.  Sorry, and the boat trips are about $100 - $125 pp.  Any way nothing, nothing is cheap.  Be prepared to pay, pay, pay.
Gary     
 

[mikelutestanski]

Hello:   thanks for all the info;  and Good luck to all those brave souls who will take this journey.

    Regards  and happy bussin,
    mike