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RE: May 21 - Travel on Alaska Hwy not advised due to snowfall
72F in the shade outside our cabin's door today.
Birds, butterflies and squirrels are very busy!
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sue.t
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05/23/13 02:42pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Traveling in AK, BC, and AB in September
We drycamp without a generator. Just means changing your expectations or routines.
What specifically needs a generator?
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sue.t
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05/22/13 08:55pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: May 21 - Travel on Alaska Hwy not advised due to snowfall
At my age, metric and imperial are interchangeable.
Forecast had it all in metric BUT I translated to imperial for those who speak American :B
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sue.t
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05/22/13 08:52pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Traveling in AK, BC, and AB in September
September is our favorite month for travel in the north. The fall colours are spectacular! The highway is quieter too. And usually road repairs are complete and forest fire season is over so fewer delays.
There is the possibility of snow anytime in September. Usually it melts quickly, but be prepared to spend a day or two waiting it out. One mid-September trip southward we hit an ice storm at Fort Nelson that made the Alaska Highway slick and thick. Icycles were hanging from the truck mirrors!
Many commercial RV parks close after Labor Day. You'll find some open though. Be prepared to drycamp though, just in case.
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sue.t
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05/22/13 06:01pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Yukon Ferry at Dawson
The Yukon River finally broke at Dawson City the evening of May 15.
http://yukonriverbreakup.com/
The ferry usually starts running 10-14 days after breakup, depending on river conditions. The Yukon River is still clearing further upriver in Alaska.
Eagle AK had flooding and icebergs in town this year, damaging numerous buldings, including some that were wrecked in the 2009 flood.
Circle AK was completely flooded, with numerous homes ruined. Water levels were up 8' in some place in town.
Now Fort Yukon AK is feeling the effects of the river ice jamming and flooding.
This late spring hasn't been fun for many!
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sue.t
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05/22/13 05:55pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Some random questions driving through Canada to Alaska
Most provincial & territorial campgrounds do not have services. Most have a communal hand water pump or water faucet.
At some of the busier B.C. provincial campgrounds there is a dumpstation on your way out, with a small fee for use.
In Yukon, the territorial campgrounds do not have dumpstations. For $12/night you get a great campsite and firewood for the firepit. Often by a lake so fishing is an option.
Most RV Parks in Yukon will let you dump your tanks and fill with water without overnighting. Free if you buy fuel. Small fee (usually $5-10) otherwise.
If you're needing to do laundry, the RV parks usually have the best and most affordable laundry facilities. So we plan a stay at a commercial park once a week to clean-up -- vacuum the RV and wash the RV, truck, humans, clothes. Before we leave, tanks are dumped and fresh water filled. Then we're good for another week.
Along the Alaska Highway, 3G is available only at Dawson Creek, Fort St John, Fort Nelson, Watson Lake and Whitehorse. They've announced that Haines Junction will also be upgraded to 3G, along with Dawson City. Other than those locations your 3G service will not work.
Internet access is also variable in its quality. Some RV parks advertise free internet and it means you must be in the office or laundramat hardwired to the outlet in the wall. For those that have wi-fi, it usually means sitting close to the office to get the signal and don't be surprised if you're bumped out of the connection often. A few RV parks have good wi-fi though. Free wi-fi is not easily found in Yukon outside of Whitehorse. Most RV parks limit usage to emails and casual web browsing due to the limited bandwidth; no uploads or downloads of large files. Don't expect high-speed browsing regardless.
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sue.t
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05/22/13 11:11am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: May 21 - Travel on Alaska Hwy not advised due to snowfall
Most of the rigs heading north have Alaska plates, I've noticed.
Same with those heading south.
I was figuring Alaska must rotate its peoples once a year! :B
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sue.t
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05/22/13 10:52am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Roll Call Alaska 2013
Great News!!!! Wanted to let everyone know that I called to check on the cost of using Onstar to phone back to the USA from Canada. We found that Onstar originates in Canada to there is NO extra fees to you Onstar. You are only charged the minute prices as if you are in the USA. So I purchased 200 minutes for $39.00 and that translates .19 cents a minute. I realize you have to be in the vehicle to make calls but that's a small thing for us as we will be traveling a lot anyway!! Thought I'd share!
See you on the road!!!
Keep in mind that Onstar won't work on much of the Alaska Highway. Similar to cellular service, it will work in the communities only. Thus it isn't a popular feature here in Yukon!
Found this coverage map online
https://www.onstar.com/web/portal/coveragemap
Visit the link to see the whole map.
Here's a bit that would post online here ...
https://p0.cellmaps.com/1.2/tiles/1.0.0/na_onstar/3/1/5.png width=700
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sue.t
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05/22/13 08:49am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: On the Road with "Roll Call Alaska 2013"......
Gosh, I don't like this thread being a "sticky" at the top of the RV.net webpage. I don't look at the stickies often, instead I quickly scroll down to see what's new and who has been busy.
Thus, I miss new posts here. Wish this was a normal thread in with the other new postings so I don't have to remember to look at the top of the page!
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sue.t
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05/22/13 08:33am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: May 21 - Travel on Alaska Hwy not advised due to snowfall
From Environment Canada
http://weather.gc.ca/warnings/
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Snowfall warning for Muncho Lake Park - Stone Mountain Park
Additional snowfall amounts of 5 to 10 cm tonight.
This is a warning that significant snowfall is expected or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..listen for updated statements.
A Pacific frontal system combined with an Arctic front from the north will continue to bring snow to the Fort Nelson region and Muncho Lake Park region tonight. Additional snowfall amounts of 5 to 10 cm are expected tonight with the heavier amounts to occur along sections of the Alaska Highway close to the Rockies. The precipitation will end by Wednesday morning as the frontal system moves out of the region.
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There's also a rain warning, with amounts up to 2" for the interior of B.C. Same system, but not meeting up with the Arctic front from the North.
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sue.t
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05/21/13 08:32pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: May 21 - Travel on Alaska Hwy not advised due to snowfall
Yes, it is time for Mother Nature to divorce Old Man Winter ...
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sue.t
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05/21/13 08:28pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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May 21 - Travel on Alaska Hwy not advised due to snowfall
From http://energeticcity.ca/article/news/2013/05/21/travel-on-alaska-highway-not-advised-due-to-heavy-snowfall
Travel on the Alaska Highway is not advised today due to heavy snowfall. The department of Public Works and Government Services Canada warns that Highway 97 is currently in poor driving conditions with heavy snowfall at higher elevations. Driving is advised only if necessary.
A snowfall warning continues for Fort Nelson, with 10 to 15 centimetres expected over higher terrain today and tonight. The heaviest snowfall is expected to occur along the higher sections of the Alaska Highway just north of Sikanni Chief where up to 15 centimetres is possible by Wednesday morning.
http://energeticcity.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Fort-Nelson-road.jpg width=640
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sue.t
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05/21/13 06:50pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: July 4th
Monday, July 1 is Canada Day and our long-weekend.
Campground space in B.C. & Yukon is at a premium on that long weekend. Plan accordingly.
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sue.t
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05/20/13 09:56pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Something I Read
We usually keep our water tank topped up so we can boondock or drycamp whenever or wherever.
On laundry & human wash day (once every 7-10 days) we'll stay at a commercial campground and fill the water tank before pulling out. If we get low for whatever reason, I will ask at the gas stations if we can use their hose bib to fill the RV water tank. Have never been told no.
Most of the government campgrounds in Yukon have handpumps. They also have signs advising to boil the water before consuming it. Haven't ever used the pumps so don't know much about them.
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sue.t
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05/20/13 09:54pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Suggestions for Destruction Bay
Some of the campsites have a pipe protuding from the ground for grey water for use by tenters.
From http://www.env.gov.yk.ca/camping-parks/campgrounds.php#facilities
Campground Facilities
The Yukon government's roadside campgrounds offer picnic tables, campfire pits, firewood and at least one picnic shelter. You’ll also rely on outhouses and hand-pumped cold water.
Government campgrounds do not have RV dump stations. You can get a list of dump station locations at Visitor Information Centres.
And from http://www.env.gov.yk.ca/camping-parks/rvdump.php
There are NO dump stations in Yukon Government Campgrounds.
This page also has a downloadable list of RV dump stations.
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sue.t
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05/20/13 07:56pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Suggestions for Destruction Bay
Joe, there is no sani-dump at Congdon Creek, or at any of the Yukon Gov't campgrounds.
In Haines Junction one can dump their tanks at Kluane RV Kampground or at the Tags gas station/RV Park if fuel is purchased. The Tags dump station is easy to access.
In Beaver Creek, the Westmark RV Park lets everyone dump for free regardless of whether you buy fuel or not. I like this policy because it helps keep Yukon clean. I hope this doesn't change next year when the bus tours are no longer running on the Alaska Highway ... the sani-dump at the Westmark RV Park is used by the tour buses overnighting at the Westmark Inn.
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sue.t
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05/20/13 09:35am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Suggestions for Destruction Bay
We usually camp without hook-up, using battery only. Hot water heater and fridge both work well on propane.
We have long hours of daylight in the north in summer so don't use too many lights inside. Even when we're 'South of 60' and using the RV lights, or winter camping here, our two 6-volt batteries last 3-4 days without being charged. Most of that usage would be fridge & furnace.
Some campgrounds in the north offer only 15A, especially those that make their own electricity via a generator. Some shut down their generators at night to preserve fuel. So best to get comfy using batteries and propane.
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sue.t
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05/19/13 09:28pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Alaska Hwy km1503 - one lane open now - update 16 May 2013
Not taking any guesses about roads, water and summer this year. The creek is running low today, likely because of the colder temps in the mountains. Fresh snow in the mountains too. So when it starts to melt, water will rise quickly again.
Last June a washout near Rancheria (between Watson Lake & Teslin) delayed travellers for four days until a temporary bridge could be installed. This March when we drove south, the temp bridge was still in place and the highway was still a gravel construction zone.
Nothing went north or south for those four days in June. The Cassiar Highway was also washed out, as well as the Campbell Highway. Store shelves in Whitehorse went bare and some gas stations ran out of fuel.
The crews are still working on this recent road damage BUT one never knows what/where/when another will flood.
Keep fuel on the top half of your tank, and have a well-stocked pantry so you can eat well enough if a delay is encountered.
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sue.t
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05/19/13 09:17pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: On the Road with "Roll Call Alaska 2013"......
It snowed in Whitehorse today. Stuck to the ground and cars too.
A friend near Braeburn (north of Whitehorse) had 2" yesterday. Likely more today too.
Although I just woke up from a snooze on the deck in the sunshine. No snow at our place west of Whitehorse.
BUT, quite possibly summer has already passed and we're into winter 2013/14.
Hope y'all have your snow tires or tire chains ... :(
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sue.t
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05/19/13 07:02pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Suggestions for Destruction Bay
Cottonwood RV Park is south of Destruction Bay and a pleasant spot. On the shores of Kluane Lake. I hear the owners are pleasant.
http://www.yukonweb.com/tourism/cottonwood/
Congdon Creek Yukon Gov't Campground is about half way between Destruction Bay and Cottonwood and is a great spot but no services. Only $12/night too. One of our favourite spots to camp.
In Destruction Bay ... there isn't any place I would recommend. The two campgrounds are just gravel parking lots exposed to the elements. Not too many amenities.
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sue.t
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05/18/13 09:19pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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