CTDs to Alaska

[BRUTUS]

Marty

Thank you for your reply.

Unless others object, let's plan on meeting in Dawson Creek on Monday 30 June.

The Phords and Chebbys can follow us on the 31st



At my pace, it will take a week or more to get from here to there, or maybe more if we detour and meet with others on the way, or if we decide to stop off somewhere.

Let's just see what the other folks have to add.

 

[BRUTUS]

DBF

Thank you.

My long distance carrier has no such program in Canada, so unless I find an internet place, I'll be sol. (I'm with AOL)

Not that important anyway.

 

[GeneA]

Remember the old saying--"30 days has September; April, June and November... ". June 30th it is then at Dawson Creek? Count me in for now. I just have one more duck to get in line to make it happen.

 

[mbaston]

We could do top of the world... we will have to see how much time people have. If we did that, we would miss Kluane country. Perhaps some would want to travel the top of the world route on the way home.

Marty

 

[mbaston]

Brutus, the ferds and chebbys would have to leave the day before us to keep up.

 

[jbone]

Marty, Very interested, please keep me in the email loop... ... R, J. B.

 

[mbaston]

will do

 

[Bill Stockard]

Marty:



Count me in for June 30. That date works great for me as far as I can predict right now. And I've already got permission from "the boss" to go.



I would have replied sooner but have been away from home since early last Sunday morning. Actually, I'm not home yet. I'm writing this reply from the home of Bill Stockard, a fellow TDR member, on his computer.



Harvey Barlow

Lubbock, TX

 

[MWenger]

Hi there , my son and I are going to AK. about this time

need more info. about meeting in Dawson Creek

we are going up to stay 2 or 3 month's with my oldest

son that lives in fairbanks

 

[PLaFrombois]

I've been wanting an excuse to drive up the Alaskan Highway and thought I'd be able to join you on this venture. Unfortunately, I have a conference that I have to attend in Duluth, MN on the 17th-20th of Juluy. I know that I wouldn't be able to make the trip and the conference at the same time. The only two times I visited Alaska I flew up and I thought I wouldn't come home. If I drove up I know I might be begging one of you locals for a place to stay while I found a job and my own place. Anyone know of any jobs that are open? If things change I will be meeting you on the 30th, but I can't make any promises. Have a safe trip and take lots of photos.

Paul

 

[DBF]

http://www.jobs.state.ak.us/



DBF

 

[mbaston]

Well, since the meeting place will be Dawson Creek, BC, here is a link to learn more about that community. We will meet here and stay for the day/evening.



http://www.pgonline.com/tourism/dawsoncreek/dcinfo.shtml



If we meet in the morning, we can tour the town and get to know each other. We can also make plans for the entire trip realizing up here, plans always change.



How many hours of driving is the maximum for you all? I still don't have a good idea of how many CDTs are going.



Also, I will be leaving from Northern California a few days before should anybody want to travel up with me. I will be towing a car hauler but plan to travel pretty hard to Dawson.



Marty

 

[mbaston]

Hey PLaFrombois







Drive up with us, catch a flight down to your conference, then fly back up and enjoy the state and the trip back down. Northwest Airlines flys direct to Minneapolis/St. Paul daily from Anchorage.



Marty

 

[WDaniels]

mbaston,

Just read your post and think it's a super idea. If there is anything that I can help you with from Fairbanks, let me know. I would love to drive down to Dawson and come back with you but with me being in the Guard and the world situation, I might get called up again. Anywise let me know if there is anything I can help with.

WD

 

[HBarlow]

Marty:



Good idea. I'll plan on arriving the day before and spending the night in order to meet the next morning as suggested. Is there an overnight parking spot you recommend? Where will we meet?



I travel for enjoyment, not to rush to my destination. My preference is to drive approximately six hours each day and have time to find a parking spot early, settle in, and relax or socialize a little with members of the group. When I travel alone on long journeys I usually drive about 300 miles per day and take an occasional day off. I know we won't cover 300 miles/day in AK.



Could we get everyone who plans to participate to post a quick message stating their name, list members of their party, their hometown, and type of rig they'll be in? For example:



Harvey Barlow

(wife can't go)

Companion: "Porsche" (10yo German Shepherd female)

Lubbock, Texas

01. 5 CTD 3500 2wd (white) and 1987 Avion 32' TT (silver)



What do you plan for overnight parking? When I travel in the lower 48 I use Flying J (with dump and fill stations) or other truck stops, city, county, state parks, Wal-Marts, interstate highway rest stops, and other cheap or free parking. I avoid commercial RV parks as much as possible.



This is going to be an 8,000 to 10,000 mile trip for me. (I'm thinking of returning home via the western access route and WA, OR, ID, etc. Fuel costs alone will be significant not to mention parking and other expenses. I'd like to keep my expenses down as much as possible. I don't want to take out a mortgage on my home or get a job as a Wal-Mart greeter when I get home to pay off my credit card debt.



What is your planned route for our guided tour? I notice from your signature you live in Palmer. Do you plan to lead the caravan straight home or the long way via Fairbanks? I want to see Fairbanks and the Anchorage area and other interesting cities/scenery if possible. The rest of the caravan can either continue on as a group or as individuals once you arrive home and detach.



I bought a copy of the "Mile Post" a year ago and have browsed it a few times. It contains so much information that it is a little overwhelming. Once I know your planned route I intend to get intimate with the "Mile Post" and become more familiar with the route, sites to see, facilities, etc.



I think it would be appropriate for caravan members to kick in a few bucks to show our gratitude to the tour guide by buying a meal or two.



I'm looking forward to this trip!



Harvey

 

[HBarlow]

Afterthought:



I'll be leaving home about June 20th. You know, old and slow. I'll be traveling from Lubbock, TX to Denver, Casper, Billings, Great Falls, and Dawson Creek.



Anyone want to join up in a mini-caravan along the way?



Harvey

 

[mbaston]

What I like to do is get on the road by about 8:00 am, and travel until around 2 or 3. This assures I get a place to park.



There are no truck stops or the like. Depending on how many of us there are, we can use the occasional rest area, provincial park and/or private campgrounds. I too don't want a third job. Two is enough.



My plan is as follows, subject to everybody's input.



We will travel the Alaksa Highway with stops that include, but are not restricted to, Ft. Nelson, Liard Hot Springs, Watson Lake, Whitehorse and Haines Junction. From Haines Junction, we will leave the highway and travel to Haines. We may have a fishing trip there. We will travel back to Haines Jct and travel on through Kluane country and into Alaska and Tok. From Tok, onto Fairbanks with perhaps a side trip toward Chena. From Fairbanks, south on the Parks Highway to Denali Park. From there to Willow, and into Wasilla, home of the Iditarod. From there, onto Anchorage and maybe the Kenai Peninsula. It gets pretty crazy out there. After time around Anchorage, I may be able to lead a trip to Valdez and McCartney areas. On your return trip, you would travel through Glennallen, up the Tok cutoff through Mentasta and the Alaska Range back into Tok.



Following this route, you will have an opportunity to see just how diverse Alaska is. You will see the Southeast Coast, Interior, Alaska Range and South Central as well as the Kenai area. You will experience a rain forest, alpine tundra, muskeg, boreal forest, mountains and coast.



I think it will be a good, rounded experience.



I don't know if I mentioned it in my earlier message, but you need good bug juice. The spray on or Avon stuff doesn't cut it here. When you look at the repellent's ingredients, it should be at least 75% DEET (there is big long name for the actual chemical). Don't get the stuff on any plastic though. Also, I have had no luck with Citronella candles. I do use the mosquito coils though and they help.



I will be providing some "guide" information via CB radio on the way up if you like and have a radio.



I have not heard from many of the people who have said they are going along for quite some time. I think we are at about 5 rigs now.



Marty

 

[HBarlow]

Marty:



Your daily schedule is perfect for me. That's the same schedule I follow when on a long journey. It allows for fun and relaxation and doesn't leave me so tired I forget where I went or what I meant to see.



Your travel itinerary for the Alaska Highway and the State of Alaska is great. It sounds like the "deluxe tour". From your brief description you clearly know a lot about the state and its geography.



Yes, you mentioned the 75% DEET in an earlier post which I printed out and copied into my "Alaska File. "



I've already got my trip itinerary from home to Dawson Creek planned.



Harvey

 

[HBarlow]

Marty:



I read your post again with all the stops you are planning and have more questions.



Approximately how many miles should we expect to cover each day on the Alaskan Highway? How much time should we allow to see all the sites you've listed? I'm guessing three weeks from Dawson Creek to the time we detach to start home. Is that a fair estimate?



I plan to allow 7 - 10 days to get to travel from home to Dawson Creek to meet you on June 30. I'm also hoping to return home by the Western Access Route and through WA, OR, ID, etc. so I expect to spend about 10 - 14 days getting home.



Harvey

 

[mbaston]

Three weeks is a good estimate. I have to be home July 18th. However, I can take off for short trips a few days after that.

Marty