Our Trip to Alaska in 2001

The most important item for the trip is a current year issue of the Milepost. The new yearly issue is available after March 1^st. Much useful information is given on road conditions, maps, camping, sightseeing etc. DO NOT LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT.

Some people prefer the company or the perceived safety of a Caravan. The freedom we had by going alone far outweighs the benefits of a Caravan. We where apprehensive about the trip especially after reading some of the comments and advise we where given on the net and personal discussions with people both positive and negative. Traveling to Alaska is not much different than going on a long trip in the US or Canada.

Prepare the coach and the toad for a somewhat rough ride with some sections of gravel and dusty or sometime muddy roads. I carry a mounted spare, 3 fuel and 2 water separator filters, air filter, oil filter, belts for the engine and radiator hoses. Also carry some engine and transmission oil. We travel in a Dutch Star on a Freightliner chassis.

Protecting the towed is difficult. I have a solid Newmar installed rock guard on the back of the coach and a solid Guardian Tow Shield mounted on the tow bar. Still had stones on the top of the car and the shield is very abused. I saw people with bras on the coach and the towed. In Tok, AK most people stop to wash off the mud and dust collected in Canada. I observed people removing the bras from the towed car. It was dusty, dirty with some very small stones under the bra. I don’t believe it is very beneficial for the paint having all that dust and grime under the bra. My set up is OK but it would be even better with the addition of a windshield protection for the towed and perhaps an under skirt protection under the tow-bar. Be prepared to replace your windshield on your coach or the towed. We got a big crack on the coach on a paved portion outside of Muncho Lake from a Motor Home heading the opposite direction. Of course not everyone will be as lucky, but it can happen.

The Alaskan Highway is in a constant state of repair in the summer. They are working 7 days a week rain or shine. Most of the road is good to very good other parts are fair and some of it is terrible. Worst section in May-July 2001 was from Haines Junction to Beaver Creek, YT.

Heed the road warning signs. SLOW DOWN for the little red flags planted in 5 gal. buckets or stuck into the ground. You will hit a bump or a dip, some are small others can get you airborne. Unfortunately the flags do not indicate the size of the bump/dip. Traveling on loose gravel roads will be a new experience. Expect dust or mud to cover the towed and penetrate every crack and crevice including the locks. SLOW DOWN let impatient drivers pass and follow in a safe distance. By the end of June most of the red flags are gone. They repaired some of the humps completely or shaved it off and put gravel on it. The road conditions change constantly. They repair one section than start on a new section. By starting early in the morning we had no problems on the bad sections of the road. Traffic is light until 8-9am no trucks or RV’s. No one is pushing, coming or trying to pass you.

The Highways in Alaska are generally in good condition. Speed limit is 55-65. Some construction and repair but it is not a problem. All roads in Alaska are numbered but they mostly use a name for the Highways. One section of the Glenn Highway from Glennallen to Palmer was a challenge. It has a long section with loose gravel and some of it is very narrow and winding. Trucks and Buses coming at you will make you pay attention to your driving. Take it slow and enjoy the trip. The road to Skagway from Whitehorse is very good except for an 8-mile gravel section. It is worth the trip. Most of these gravel sections will be repaired this or the next year.

Camping space is not a problem without reservations as long as you stop early. In May and early June plenty of campground space was available. Milepost has adds from all over the Alaska Highway and from Alaska. In Alaska you can stop and spend the night in a road pull out as long as it is not posted and you are off the road at least 10 feet. I also saw RV’s in Anchorage at the Wal-Mart, K Mart and Sam’s Club parking lots same for Fairbanks. Some had their slides out, lawn chairs and parked there for a long stay. On our return trip campground space was more limited on the Alaska Highway. We stopped before 2pm everyday, most campgrounds run out of pull-thru space early.

Fuel is available in all small and large towns in Canada and Alaska. Try to fuel up in the larger towns because of the price and the turnover of the fuel in their tanks. It will lessen the chance of getting water or old fuel. Remember that towns and stations are far apart so get fuel when you are ½ empty. Diesel prices ranged from $1.50 to $1.90/gal both in Canada and Alaska. By the time we got back to the lower 48, prices where coming down, we got Diesel for $1.19 in KY.

Crossing the border into Canada is simple. They will ask some questions: do you have a handgun, a shotgun, any bullets, shotgun or handgun at home, are you or ever been in law enforcement, wine or beer how many bottles or cases? They search RV’s randomly they searched our coach for about 5 minutes. We where searched again at the boarder from Skagway. I guess I look suspicious or they pick on states with no strict gun laws. In any case it gets a little irritating. Remember no handguns are allowed and you will need a $50.00 permit to transport long guns in Canada. We felt safe throughout our trip.

The Alaskan Highway has many beautiful sections and wildlife sightings. Alaska is full of wonders. Whatever you like will be available from boat trips to the glaciers to a flight to Mt. McKinley in a small plane. What a sight on a clear day. The Glacier Bay fly/boat tour from Skagway or Haines is an unforgettable trip. Calving Glaciers, whales, grizzly and black bears, sea lions etc. Some of the attractions are nothing but tourist traps others are a must see. Only you can determine what your interests are and take the tours that will interests you. We saw everything we wanted to see and passed on many others.

RV’s are pouring into Alaska from about the second and third week of June. 90 percent of the north bound traffic where RV's. As we where heading south at the end of June and early July every day hundreds of RV’s where passing us going north. Space may be harder to find in late June in the more popular areas. We saw 5-6 caravans some with large number of rigs following each other.

The weather in the north can be anything. Expect many cloudy days especially around the mountains. Dress warm for the Glacier tours.

If and when we ever make this trip again under no circumstances we would start our trip in the middle of June to the middle of July. There are advantages and disadvantages starting early or late. With early start no crowds and no mosquitoes but the roads will be in the worst shape. Late start after July 15^th should also be better for the crowds since many of them will be starting to go back home and the roads will be as good as they get for the year plus the fall colors must be something to see in September.

We traveled a total of 9,840 miles.