Alaskan Trip - Request for Info

[DKlimas]

We'lll be headed for Alaska the second week in September.

Can any of you members that live up that-a-ways recommend a place to have the truck serviced - oil change etc? (Maybe places to avoid).

We will probably visit Tok, Fairbanks, Anchorage, Homer etc. (Can't wait for a good halibut dinner). Any good boondocking camping spots.



TIA



Dave & Bert

 

[Buffalo]

Hi! I would love to do an Alaska trip, myself. I'm not trying to be negative but, i've been told, by a number of people that have done this trip, that You want to leave the lower 48 sometime towards the end of May and start heading back around the middle of September (just ahead of the snow). They, also, say to give yourself a lot of time, up there. It's supposed to be really beautiful and you don't want to cut yourself short on time, for such a long trip. You may have a good reason for wanting to go up in the middle of September that I'm unaware of but, I thought I would at least alert You to the information I have been told. Whatever You do, I hope You have a great trip. Joe.

 

[Jacek]

"You may have a good reason for wanting to go up in the middle of September that I'm unaware of ... "



Well the biggest reason I know is that there are fewer tourists! The highway isn't clogged with a bunch of Winnebagos going 35 mph. There'll be lots of hunters with trailers full of ATVs, though.

I personally think September is a great time to visit AK. The tundra is just beautiful with all the fall colors. The mosquitos will be gone (since the tourists left, there's nothing for them to snack on), you'll get to see northern lights since it will get dark enough - and halibut fishing is great this time of the year as well! (which you already know). You might start getting some frost though, and maybe snow too, but unless you're going over Atigun pass it shouldn't be a problem.

As far as having a shop change the oil and stuff - don't do it in Tok - the place lives off of fixing broken down vehicles just coming into AK, and their prices reflect it. The best place would be Anchorage or Fairbanks and the prices are a lot cheaper.

The fires will hopefuly die down by the time you get here, but it's pretty smoky right now. Check out http://akweathercams.faa.gov for some current pics around the state.

As an aside there is a law in Alaska that if you have more than 5 cars behind you, you must pull over to let them pass...



Have fun.



Jacek

 

[RabidRam]

I am SO jealous. I was in Seward visiting my sister last September and fell in love with Alaska. Absolutely, positively, the most gorgeous place I've ever been. If you need a grease monkey that can ride for free, let me know.



Dave

 

[GBaines]

Just returned froman 11,500mile trip up that way. We covered enough ground to need oil service in Whitehorse YT, they have a nice eco oil change, no long wait facility and young service guys interested in the trucks. I used them both ways up and back, hit them with about 3000 plus miles on the clock each way. We went a lot of the way off pavement so finding out the way camping was no problem. A couple of great places, along the Frazer R, just S of the Gang Ranch,another go E of Kluane lake and up the E side, this is a road for hunters and goes over eskars and finally along the lake past the small indian village( we just camped on the seldon used road overlooking the lake). Another great spat was up above the Salmon glacier out of Hyder. Don't be afraid to take small dirt tracks and camp along the streams, often a road will start at a bridge over a creek and go a ways. Ask at the parks information offices, at Fish and Game offices and at Forestry offices... ask about "informal camping", ask for fishing or hunting camps ( although you may be getting into some hunting seasons in Sept and Oct) If you have more specific Qs e-mail me.

 

[Jacek]

Hey GBaines,

I've often looked at that road on the east side of the Kluane lake and figured it was some old mining road - never thought you could actually access it with a truck.

Where do you access it from?



Jacek

 

[CougFan]

Dont forget to bring your birth certificates or passports with you in order to leave and return to the USA. Also dont bring any hand guns into Canada. If you have rifles or shotguns be sure to tell the officer about it.

 

[WDaniels]

Dklimas,

When you make into Fairbanks, call me and we will do a complete service on your rig. All it will cost you is to put up with my dumb A$$. I am in the TDR travel companion if you need my number. If you would like it sooner, PM me and I'll send it on. Lots of places to camp in the interior and in Sept they will mostly be empty.

WD

 

[DKlimas]

Thanks for the feedback...

Joe - This rig loves the snow...

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Jacek - Right on! no bugs, no tourists, fall colors etc. Thanks for the cam link.



Dave - Just pack up and go!



GBaines - Great suggestions; same question as Jacek, where do you access the road on the east side of Kluane?



CougFan - It's on the list.



WDaniels - Thanks for the invite. Got your number (if you are the only one listed in Fairbanks). I'll give you a call when we get there.



Dave

 

[Buffalo]

Jacek, I STAND CORRECTED !!!! Seems like there are quite a few GOOD reasons for going up to Alaska in September. Thank You, for Your opinions. I learned something. Joe.

 

[DIESELMAN]

Who wants to go to Alaska in September... . ME! I'll be up for a few weeks in September through early October, see ya! If you've been up in May/June, its totally different in the Fall, don't hesitate.

 

[Alaskaskiff]

A few quick thoughts



Get a milepost book (most bookstores) which gives you great info on roadside attractions and services. See http://www.milepost.com/



Excellent time of year to come up. One of my favorite times. I just drove from Anchorage to Valdez and back for work. Road was great and the motorhomes are mostly gone already. The local hunters are just starting in the interior.



Most places for boondocking, just look for open spots along the road and go for it! Lots of federal and state land up here. This is not the lower 48 with all those rules and little open access.



Alaska state parks facilities are still open too. Many of them have little to no traffic.



Enjoy the trip and take as much time as you can to enjoy it.



To get off the beaten path even more, take the Alaska Marine Highway and get to some of communities off the road system.



Southeast is particularly spectacular. The fast ferry will get you from Haines to Juneau in 2. 5 hours now. Real Cool

 

[PatrickCampbell]

YES do just pack up and go! A TDR member here gave me the opportunity to bring a horse trailer up for him, it was an awesome experience even though it was pretty short. I went up the back ass way and at times was 400 miles in between fuel stops. Mapquest libby, mt to TOK, AK for the route I took through Jasper national park.



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[BrentKaiser]

DKlimas,

Live here in Fairbanks, and think you are picking a great time to come up. If you get into Fairbanks and need anything just give me a call. Info is on the travel companion. Also have a guy that needs a bobcat pulled up from Montana if anyone is interested in doing it. I think he got qouted $1500. 00 to have someone from here go get it. I would go get it, would be perfet to help break this new truck in, but can't get off work. Enjoy the trip!!!

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

By golly, I'm looking for a horse trailer to tow to Alaska. :-laf



PS: October 2005 the World Wilderness Congress in in Achor-age from Sept. 30th to Oct. 6th. Oo.



Would love to take the ferry up and drive back. Good idea, comments (stay home is not acceptable ), or suggestions?

 

[BPellman]

Cummins Northwest here in Anchorage. Can't say much about the remainder of the state.

 

[DEickhoff]

You'll love the drive and what you will see. I've driven the road both ways and have also taken the ferry both ways. IMHO, the best way to see it is to drive. I found the ferry boring. There are lots of places to pull off and camp. Just be careful with fire (we got enough of them right now lol). The latest I have driven out was mid October. It just started snowing in the higher elevations but was not sticking much.



I second the Milepost. It will give you lots of facts and information along the way. Best money you will spend on a book. I live in Kodiak and Sept is the month for Silver Salmon fishing in the area streams and rivers. Nothing and I mean nothing beats a fresh silver salmon fillet. If you ever make it over to Kodiak look me up.



Take care and have a fun trip up to the Last Frontier!!



Dawna

 

[dpetre]

The weather has finally started to turn and the rains have finally started coming. The summer in Fairbanks this year was filled with hot weather and lots of smoke. Moose season has started and the roads are full of hunters and related equipment. You mentioned the halibut and going to Homer may be your best bet. The major of halibut charter boats in Valdez have already shut down for the season. Besure and pack your winter surival gear as you can never besure about the Alaskan weather. I hope you have a good trip. Dennis

 

[viper700]

Alaskan Trip- Request for Info

September is a really nice month to enjoy the fall colors. I have lived in Alaska for 33 years, the last 29 in Anchorage. October can bite you as watch out for Black Ice conditions. Mother nature has not fully decided that winter is here and it can be slick quick. A large Rand McNally Road Atlas(I got mine from Costco) and very important as was already mentioned The Milepost. There is a wealth of information in the Mile post to find out what services are available as some are more summer time orientated. A must is to bring your bathing suit along and I am not joking about this. A stop to make is the Liard River Hot Springs Provincial park at mile marker DC 477. 7. A year round use is the hot springs there. It is a short walk in to the hot springs and there is a place to change then hop in to the hot springs and enjoy. They have made a real nice attraction here.

The smoke from the wild fires is bad still in a lot of places and even Anchorage looks like a bad day in LA for the last couple of weeks. The fires have consumed over 5 million acres so far and are not done yet. Some roads are not maintained after the 1st week in October Such as the Top of the world Highway between Dawson City and Tok. We run that in March on Snowmachines, It's called The TREK Over The Top. 200 miles each way it is a blast. But come to Alaska and enjoy. I can't see ever living any place else.

 

[Hemiless]

Great fishing in Homer

Dave,



I live down in Kenai, which is on your way to homer. I cannot tell you about any service centers for oil changes in the area as I do them myself but if you are in the area and need a place to pull in and change your oil you are more then welcome. Just drop me a PM. When you are in homer I highly recommend Homer Ocean charters for your halibut fishing trip. My cousin was up from Connecticut a week and a half ago and we sent them out with Homer Ocean and they limited out on silvers, rock fish and halibut. They had such a good time they went back again a day later and limited out once again and this time with a 105 lb halibut. I had never heard of or used Homer ocean before then but I now recommend them to everyone. Have a wonderful trip up and be sure to watch out for all the snowbirds fleeing the state