Going To Alaska 2005

[Smarshall]

Oo. Was reading Jim Andersons article in issue 48 about there being enough people talking about going to Alaska that they could have their own rally.

Well the wife and I hope to make a three month trip starting in So. Cal the first of June. What is the input on windshield and light protection and is it needed? I've talked to one friend that made the trip without any and didn't even get a chip on his paint. Am going to take the stock take-off parts as spares or for someone less fortunate than I.

Should you see a green 2500 CC with a gray center stripe on the hood, towing a 30' Westport 5th whl, honk or introduce yourselves. If it's stuck in the mud, stop and help us out or come on in for coffee.

 

[Texas Diesel]

I'm jealous...



Have fun and be sure to post results & pictures.

 

[smokinclays]

Smarshall

I drove it in mid june last year and had no problems. I would suggest carry some spare fuel filters, and buy your fuel from big stations. What route are ya planning on taking? I crossed the border in SUMMAS there was a nice camp ground there close to the border crossing. Have ya got a copy of the MILEPOST, it is a must have. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have. Where are ya planning on visiting in ak? I am Military and am stationed in Fairbanks so I would be happy to meet ya and tell ya some of the good sites. . I am in Iraq right now but I get home 5 June. you can email me at worthenc@qatar. soccent. centcom. mil withe any questions talk to ya later

Chris

 

[Grizzly]

I made the trip on the Alcan Highway 10 years ago and I did suffer many rock chips and a totally busted windshield. That was on my 95 Dodge/Cummins which was two months old and 2K miles on the clock. It was the best trip. I did have axle and tire problems on my 27' HR 5er. I've been told by snapshot (TDR member), who lives in Alaska, that the Alcan is much improved since 10 years ago. We are planning on making the trip next year. We plan on 10 weeks starting 1 Jul 06. With that timing you will see more bears and wildlife and less rain and less mud from runoff. On the way home in early Sept you will see all the fall colors and some snow. It will also start getting cold with low of 10 to 20 degree F. There is a Thread about two months ago. See posts by me, snapshot and others. Do get a milepost way in advance and study it. Have a great trip, it's worth it. Grizzly

 

[Gypsyman]

I just drove up from Spokane last Thursday. All of the construction that I ran into two years ago is done. Tons of paint damage on that trip but this trip was just fine. No rock damage, no glass damage and VERY little construction. A word of warning though, once you pass Whitehorse and start seeing the frost heave warning signs SLOW DOWN! The signs give very little warning and the heaves are bad. I had the Kelderman pumped up to the max and still bottomed the front suspension over a hundred times easily. Just slow way down when you see the signs and you'll have a great trip. Gotta' say that even hitting the nasty stuff at 80 mph the truck and the Kelderman soaked it up without a whimper and zero damage was sustained.



Have a great trip and watch for the mountain goats anywhere there are rock cliffs and blind corners.



Richard

 

[smokinclays]

Anyone else comming up this way from spkane? I have some RV parts that I would like to save the shipping on. thanks

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I still plan on making the cruise in mid-September. My new passport arrived last week and I've got my Anchorage reservations. Oo.



The trip is late in the year, but I can take advantage of the 8th world wilderness conference to make this happen, i. e. mixing business with pleasure

 

[DIESELMAN]

Watch for the little red flags and stakes on the side of the road, they indicate frost heaves or ruts and ripples. One flag may not be bad but when there is enough for a MayDay Parade, SLOW DOWN, they mean it.



They aren't all marked, but by June they pretty much are.



Except for the AK Border to about White River, and some west of Muncho Lake, the road is really quite nice.



Yes, DO get The MilePost, and if you have the vehicle and aptitude, take the Cassier Highway, 400 Mile Alternative to the AH.



Headed Up June 15 to Fairbanks then Central.



DM

 

[Smarshall]

Thanks Chris, Hope to stay at the Fam Camp in Fairbanks. Will be in touch later.

Thanks to all. We have the Milepost and Alaskan Camping books and have good about both.

Dieselman, may see ya on the road.

Smarshall

 

[pcarlson]

Can't make it this year. Last trip was fall of last year, that was my 6th trip on the Hwy. Some stories you'll hear are Ol' Wives tales, in that they were true many years ago but things change...



Catch lots of halibut and salmon. Enjoy yourself.

 

[snapshot]

.

Yes, DO get The MilePost, and if you have the vehicle and aptitude, take the Cassier Highway, 400 Mile Alternative to the AH.

DM

The Cassiar (hwy 37) is now fully paved and will save you close to 150 miles over the Alcan. The Cassiar was the original route for the Alcan but they abandoned it feeling it was too close to the coast making it vulnerable to attack. A good choice is to use it as a return route so you can take the side trip (hwy 37A) from Meziadin junction to the Alaskan bush town of Hyder to watch the grizzlys catch salmon out of fish creek. It's only about 40 miles out of your way.

If you can, drive the Cassiar very early in the morning. You stand a very good chance of seeing wolves and bears during those times in this area. If you are really lucky you might even get to observe wolves stealing fish from the grizzlys at Hyder.

Three months is just about right for the trip, enjoy!

 

[TWORAMS]

Just wondered if those windshield tear-offs that the NASCAR guys use would work going to AK? I know thay use it mostly to remove all the oil and rubber quickly but would they work for at least small rocks and sand/pebbles? Just a thought. I guess they get them from Bell and other places that sell racing stuff (suits, helmits etc. ) but I really do wonder if they would work and would they be cost effective?

Mike

 

[RColston]

Ditto on what snapshot said!!! This is a great route to take on the way home. Snapshot, Did they just finish the paving recently. A couple of years back it seems that it was stiill gravel some distance north of Dease Lake to just before Bel II Lodge.



PS I Wanna Go!!!

 

[snapshot]

People I have talked to this year tell me is is all paved now. The added advantage of driving it on the way back (The Cassiar) is that by that time most of the frost heaves will have been repaired. Besides, June is too early for the bears in Hyder.

The trick to saving your windshield is to slow way down whenever you see someone coming at you too fast on fresh oil. Its the fine gravel they cover fresh oil with that does most of the damage. At times I have even come to a full stop to keep from breaking my windshield. The only time I ever aquired a "Yukon Star" was when I failed to take my own advise.

By the way, they tell me that the "Top of The World" highway is also now fully paved. That brings up another point you should beware of. Up north they use the term "highway" rather carelessly. For example the Dempster highway (NWT) is over 400 miles of dirt, shale, gravel and, at times, mud. The Denali Highway is a killer on RV's.

But HEY, like they say on the T-shirts: "Just Do It", it's well worth the effort. Should you break down near Anchor Point give me a call and I will come hold the flashlight for you and maybe bring coffee.

 

[Grizzly]

People I have talked to this year tell me is is all paved now. The added advantage of driving it on the way back (The Cassiar) is that by that time most of the frost heaves will have been repaired. Besides, June is too early for the bears in Hyder.



The trick to saving your windshield is to slow way down whenever you see someone coming at you too fast on fresh oil. Its the fine gravel they cover fresh oil with that does most of the damage. At times I have even come to a full stop to keep from breaking my windshield. The only time I ever aquired a "Yukon Star" was when I failed to take my own advise.



By the way, they tell me that the "Top of The World" highway is also now fully paved. That brings up another point you should beware of. Up north they ure the term "highway" rather carelessly. For example the Dempster highway (NWT) is over 400 miles of dirt, shale, gravel and, at times, mud. The Denali Highway is a killer on RV's.



But HEY, like they say on the T-shirts: "Just Do It", it's well worth the effort. Should you break down near Anchor Point give me a call and I will come hold the flashlight for you and maybe bring coffee.

Good post snapshot. Good hearing from you again. We plan on making the trip next year. Hopefully we can visit. Grizzly

 

[DIESELMAN]

The Cassiar (hwy 37) is now fully paved... .

I didn't drive it last year, but did the year before (2003), there was still nearly 100 miles unpaved or seal-coated only then, they must have been crankin out the asphalt last year.



This is still my favorite route even without a bear stop at Hyder.



As for the rest of the AK HWY, except for some stretches, it makes I-40 look like a dirt road.



DM

 

[DIESELMAN]

Thanks Chris, Hope to stay at the Fam Camp in Fairbanks. Will be in touch later.

Thanks to all. We have the Milepost and Alaskan Camping books and have good about both.

Dieselman, may see ya on the road.

Smarshall

Which Fam Camp??

 

[Smarshall]

Which Fam Camp??

We're planing to spend some time around Fairbanks, Anchorage and Seward, so it depends who will let us in. Don't mind boondocking as long as the security is there.

I am not retired Military but They have extended the privilages for us DOD retirees. I spent 35 yrs on detachment staff with the AF and was one of those that worked every day that I was there. My wife and I both carry ID.

We plan to come home the Cassiar highway.

Smith & Juanita Marshall

 

[viper700]

I have lived in Alaska for the last 34 years and came up in here in the Air Force and stayed here when I retired from the AF. I drove the Alcan 3 times since last July and it is a real nice drive now. We got our Dually from Dave Smith last summer and then wintered down in Yuma for the first time. When we came back in the end of March it had a bunch of bad frost heaves in the last 100 miles to the AK border but rest of trip was at 70 mph most of the time. I was being passed a lot at that speed. When they post a flag about a bump in the road BELIEVE them. I was pushing that last day and just about went airborne a few times. There will be a big construction thing around Kluane lake near Destruction bay that will be nice when it's done. They are always doing something on the roads in the summer and they use what the call "Chip Sealing". I have been on the Alcan enough so that the Milepost is some times a pain as so much info in it and it's hard to find the info you want. I urge you to have your wife keep a journal next to her and when ever you pass a good spot to camp or stop or especially a fuel stop that looks good write it down with the mile marker so on the way back it is easier to plan your fuel stops or camp stops. The summer is a piece of cake and every thing is open as a lot of places are closed in the winter. I was not pulling a 5er on the way home but with the 65 gallon transfer tank I could go a long way between fueling stops. Include Homer in your trip as the Dept of fish and game have a fishing hole there that they put in King Salmon for early season fishing and Silvers later. It is a bit of combat fishing but you can have fun as a tourist and have a good chance of catching something. Bring some fairly heavy tackle for the Kings because when you inadvertently hook one in the tail of some other part of the fish than in its mouth you will have a fight on your hands. Early in the season you have to use a lure or bait but later on in this particular place snagging is allowed. There is a place in Seward like this also but but your lure is a large treble hook with lead moulded around it and it can be interesting. Don't get me wrong I am not saying you can go all over snagging fish. But for a newbie without having any big toys to get to the quiet places and not knowing a lot of places to go to sportsfish you can stop there and fish a few of the tides. The fish come and go with the tide in these places and you can have a fun experience. Any way come to Alaska and have a fun time. I came here in the Air Force 34 years ago and thought I must be in heaven and never left. Up here it's he who dies with the most toys is the winner.

 

[snapshot]

Hold on now viper700, don't be telling them outsiders about "The Honey Hole"! I might have to report you to "Rosie" and she will see to it your rock is removed.

Just so people won't get the wrong idea, the fishing hole is not stocked in the traditional sense. Smote are put into the hole in holding pens until they "imprint" to the area. They are then released and go on their merry way to grow up and later return to spawn. Trouble is they can't spawn since the hole is not a gravely stream in fresh water. This is why, after the "runs" are over, they allow snagging. Otherwise the fish would simply swim around until they die. This project is mostly paid for by the local merchants along with donations from the locals via raffels, etc.