joe b. wrote: The roads from Heally north have been a constant problem for the maintenance crews due to the under lying permafrost. They have tried all sorts of "solutions" to fix the problem. One year between Anderson turn off and Nenana, where we lived at the time, they dug down in the road bed about 6 feet, put in about two feet of wood chips, covered the chips with compacted gravel and then paved over it. Lasted about 5 years and then they dug it up again, but this time laid 6 inch Styrofoam down, then covered this with compacted gravel and repaved the road. Lasted about 5 years, the same as just using compacted gravel all the way down. None of the northern countries around the world have figured out a way to keep the sub surface of the road beds from turning into "jello" in the summer time when the frost melts more than normal, due to the natural insulating vegetation being removed, to build the road in the first place.
Summer time it is a nice drive from Anchorage north to Fairbanks up the Parks Hwy. Winter time is something else at times, especially around the Cantwell area and south through Broad Pass. White outs, black ice and blizzards can be a hazard in those areas at times.
I suspect you will enjoy the Fairbanks area, different in many ways, the land of the Gold Rush, the Alaska frontier, just nice. A place I still consider to be my home, as I lived in the interior longer than any other place I have ever lived. Started banking in Fairbanks in the late 60s and still bank there to this day. But if I were to ever move back to Alaska, it would have to be somewhere farther south than the Interior, just too cold for too long in the winter.
Well we drove to Fairbanks the "long" way We drove north out of Anchorage to Palmer, then up through Glenallen and turned north on Highway 4. Lots of wildlife, and a fair bit of gravel, heaves and a section of construction that is blasting a mountain down to provide the rock for the road bed through the tundra. Raised the road bed a good 10 feet or more with big rock. That may help the bad heaving that we elsewhere, and appearantly a problem in the area that is gravel now. Then we turned at Delta Junction towards Fairbanks. We left Anchorage at 9am and arrived in Fairbanks at about 5:30pm stopping mainly for gas or bathroom/snack breaks. We came back down past Denali on the Parks highway, and took a side trip over to Talkeetna, then in Wasilla we jumped over to Palmer, spent the night, and got a chance to watch our son who had made the Track traveling team compete at the Regionals. We had to leave right after his event to make it to Anchorage for my wifes flight home to watch the rest of the kids, and then I had to drive to Homer to catch the ferry this AM. I spent the night on the Homer Spit, and for once it wasn't windy in Homer! The ride was beautiful till we got outside of Kachemach Bay, and got downright rough around the Berrant Islands. Over all it was a great trip. The last few days of the trip, though, the gas jumped a full quarter....
Gotta go pick up my kid from the airport...
Garry
Garry K
Wife + 4 kids
Retired Military Family.... Alway's on the move....
2002 F350 CCSB 5.4 6spd 4x4 in AK
1966 Avion C-10 Truck Camper
Hey Gary, sorry I missed you. I haven't been on RV.net in nearly 2 weeks; been playing with my new truck and TC, Vision's, etc... we went on our maiden voyage down to Soldotna, up to Cpt. Cook State Park, then back down to Homer, the spit and all points in between, then back home to Anchorage.
I fished with Project Healing Waters and the Wounded Warrior Battalion on Saturday the (4-28), 22 people went out, only 5 bows were caught, I caught my first Rainbow on a fly I tied the night before! I was very excited needless to say.
Sounds like you had some excitement getting those Vision's; hope they did well for you. I like (love) mine, they make all the difference in the world. I took the TC off yesterday, and took DW up to Eagle River for Mom's day B-fast at E.R. Ale House, very good place for b-fast, pizza, beer, burgers, etc..., a bit pricy, but good food. Anyway, the truck drives and handles effortlessly, like it glides along the roadway. I can feel the weight taking off and coming to a stop, but other wise, they are GREAT! With the TC on, I felt so much more sure footed. I did notice that when I changed over from my OEM wheels to these, my stable loads became locked in hard, I mean they were squished down to the point that I had to swing them out and not use them. The ride is now actually better without the SL's.
Anyway, good to hear to had a safe and pleasant trip, maybe next time we can meet up and compare notes. Tell me the cost of the ferry from Homer to Kodiak and how to book the ride, we would like to one day visit the "rock", just to say we've been there and done that.
Fisihing season is slowly creeping in and I'm trying to get up to speed so I'll know what to do, where to go, and how to catch a lot of fish! Will be on Green Lake with PHWFF this Friday, practicing fly fisihing for trout and learnining to tube fish. Supposed to go King fisihing on the Kenai on Memorial Day, out of Soldotna and Kasilof area, can hardly wait for this one...wish us luck!
Here were the temporary tires I drove over on (can you say - whimpy...)
I'll see if this will work... I tried while on vacation... but I kept getting the error that others were getting... I may have to go over to the Woodalls portal to post...
Well had to go to the Woodalls Portal... I'll try again...
OK, Now that I can post pics... Here is a small run down on the trip...
After picking up the new (to me) rims and tires, I was leaving Soldotna and passed this big guy...
I saw a total of 8 of these guys between Homer and Soldotna the night before. I also saw a total of 8 TC's heading south that night... An Outfitter, two Lance, two Northern Lites, one Bigfoot and two others I didn't catch names. Several A's, a couple C's, two baby C's one 5ver, and a few TT's.
I spent that Friday Night at the Fred Meyers Parking lot in Soldotna. They have two spots, one at the south end of the lot, and one at the north end of the lot. THere is even a free RV dump at the south end of the lot!
Here I stopped at a pull out at the intersection of the Seward Highway and the Sterling Highway.
There is a small lake there nestled between the mountains. Lots of birds and a mix of ice and open water.
Sorry, here is that goofy camper again in the picture of the mountains and water...
As I neared the Anchorage area, I started seeing budding plants!!! YAY!
Here I arrived at the Family Camp at Elmendorf Air Force Base. The Black Spruce Campground was still closed, and the water and sewer were all still froze, so again all they have is Electric for $12/night.
Next to the Campground is a very busy Beaver!
Here he actually was posing for me!!
And then he slaps his tail and I barely caught him diving!
Here were the temporary tires I drove over on (can you say - whimpy...)
I'll see if this will work... I tried while on vacation... but I kept getting the error that others were getting... I may have to go over to the Woodalls portal to post...
Well had to go to the Woodalls Portal... I'll try again...
Garry
Man,
Having looked at those rim/tires I'm really wondering what it would take to get em for my chevy. I keep hearing that chevy's end up needing a lift + spacers in order for them to work. Time to get googling!
Those look great!
2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 6.0, 3.73, Firestone Air Bags, CCSB LTZ
Ah, springtime in Alaska. Thanks for the photos. Steve it sounds like you are a busy man. Bet you did enjoy the route you took to and from Fairbanks. I am always surprised, with talking to Anchorage residents, how many of them have never made that drive. Over the Glenn Hwy to Glennallen, the Richardson north to Delta and on into Fairbanks. Then southbound on Intestate A-4, also known as the Parks Highway/Alaska route 3. LOL
I like moose, right next to the mashed potatoes. Usually anywere there are young willow trees/bushes you will find moose munching away. Must be their favorite food source. Beavers are good eating as well, more fat like bear meat. Those damm beavers can sure make a mess when they flood somewhere people don't want flooded.
If you make the same route this summer you can take some contrasting photos to have showing the two seasons and the differences. Thanks again.
joe b.
Stuart Florida
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Chevy 3500 DRW Dmax CC - Rockwood 8281 SS 5th Whl & 2008 Lance 845 TC www.pajbcooper.com web site
Alaska Trip 2011 posted
Colo-Utah-Ariz 2012 trip posted
"Without challenge, adventure is impossible".
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