RE: Cassiar Highway closed at the north end due to forest fire
Hmmmm ... we were also going to do a jaunt up the Dempster, and it has been closed on and off too. Maybe Joe is right.
Although, we have to drive north through Williams Lake, Lac La Hache and Quesnel. Might be similar to a trip we took in 2001 when B.C. was pretty much shut down due to forest fires. No backcountry travel was permitted, not even hiking. Not many photos from that trip due to the amount of smoke.
Travelling from Lake Louise to Radium Hot Springs we wondered why the highway was open. Flames were visible both sides of the road, with trees spontaneously bursting into flames. Travel was still permitted but no stopping was allowed.
That was our "hot tour". Intention was to visit B.C.'s and Alberta's hot springs, which we did, with fires burning throughout the journey. We sat in Nakusp Hot Springs with helicopters flying overhead carrying water from Upper Arrow Lake to the fires.
News Articles: Taylor, Top of the World & Dempster Highways
Rains playing havoc with Taylor, Dempster arteries
The Whitehorse Daily Star
Mon Jul 26 2010
The Taylor Highway has been closed again because of washouts caused by heavy rains, and a disaster declaration for the area is expected from Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell.
With another closure of the Taylor, highway travellers are unable to use the Yukon's Top of the World Highway to travel from Dawson City into Alaska, and vice-versa.
The Dempster Highway was also closed over the weekend because of excessive rainfall and road washouts between kilometres 236 and 242, Jennifer Magnuson, a spokeswoman for the territorial highways branch, said this morning.
She said the Dempster was closed Friday night, reopened Saturday and was closed again Sunday.
"Then it was opened this morning to single-lane traffic," Magnuson said. "The Ogilvie River has been flooding and water is seeping out wherever it can."
Magnuson said the Dempster is being hit by the same system of excessive rain that's been soaking the eastern half of the Alaska.
There are signs in Dawson telling travellers the Taylor Highway is again impassible, and all the visitor information centres are being kept apprised of the situation, she said.
Spokeswoman Meadow Bailey of Alaska's Department of Transportation said this morning from Anchorage the governor is expected to make the disaster declaration Tuesday.
"It means you are eligible for federal funding, and it makes it easier to bring procurement of contracts faster," she said.
Bailey said that rather than waiting the regular couple of weeks before the state issues work contracts, the declaration allows for fast-tracking the purchase of services.
"We have contractors up there but this would allow us to reinforce the help we have already."
The Taylor Highway opened last week to the Top of the World Highway after having been closed for the previous week because of washouts, though the section into Eagle, Alaska never reopened, and still remains closed .
The section linking the Taylor to the Top the World closed again at 8:30 a.m. Friday, and repair crews were actually pulled back over the weekend, Bailey said.
The crews, she pointed out, have been going flat-out to begin with, and with weather conditions not improving, it was decided to pull them back.
"It was counterproductive for us to try and make repairs that were being washed away," Bailey said.
There's no estimate regarding when the link between the Yukon and Alaska might re-open, she added.
Meanwhile, the persistent rainfall has also forced the suspension of the search for a U.S. border security officer whose SUV was located in the middle of a flooding creek about 60 metres down an embankment off the Taylor Highway.
"We were concerned the conditions were putting our searchers in danger," Beth Ipsen, a spokeswoman for the Alaska State Troopers, said this morning from Anchorage.
She said the Department of Homeland Security, the department responsible for border guards, has at least one tracking dog on the search.
In mid-July, the troopers received a report of tire tracks leaving the Taylor Highway.
The vehicle belonging to Charles Collins was removed last week from O'Brien Creek, along the stretch of highway leading into Eagle.
RE: Heads up folks coming in and out of Alaska
Unfortunately Sue, I wouldn't count on the Taylor Hwy reopening anytime soon, earlier reports had stated there were many unsuitable stretches totalling 10 miles long which my guess is one of those places was the creek that runs parallel to the roadway which was reported up to it's banks and covered the roadway between the old Jack Wade Drudge and Walker Fork areas, not to mention the water table absorbed in those lower areas, and obvious the road also got unstable somewhere between Walker Fork and South Fork up in the hills as people were stranded at Walker Fork.
This Californian and his wife in a class C rig when I was in Tok told me he heard horror stories from others about the Taylor Hwy beyond Chicken driving in their bigger rigs with the no guard rails and roughness they endured, as he wanted to go Dawson bad enough as others told him the road was fine and just slow down when other vehicles approach you, but then tells me after the sharp turn curve at Little Chicken Creek he was never so scared in his life seeing all the other bigger rigs crossing paths with him he was so intimidated up in the hills and finally turned around at the DOT station at South Fork and headed back to Chicken... he said this stressing out on a road like that is not a vacation at all.
I driven thru the Taylor Hwy in between the two back to back rainstorms (never knew the second rainstorm existed), around 10 days or so before the road gave away.... I was geared up planning to take on the Dempster all the way to Inuvik however as rough as the Taylor Hwy was with the new rattling and creeking noises made on the rough unpaved roads despite the new aftermarket cab mount brackets welded on and new bushings on my old truck, I felt not as confident as the noises were still there driving all over Dawson, the Taylor Hwy told me not to go on the Dempster although I think I would have made it anyway, however the aftermath would be undetermined since the newer camper I have on it weighs 800 lbs more than the older one and who knows what another 900 miles of unpaved road could do to my truck.
The front axle weight is significantly heavier than it used to be, as I only made it to the 185km mark in 2006 on the Dempster with the old camper shell on it and turned around immediately when my steering was stressing on me for the first time, finding out the first cab mount buckled but made it back home ok as the stress went away for a while.
My alternate plan was whatever time I had left at a turnaround point on the Dempster should the road be too bad shape for my rig, I would at least go to Whitehorse and possibly the Cassiar Hwy if things went well..... Once I driven south on the Klondike Hwy for 5 miles past Dawson, all the creeking and rattling noises went away so I stayed on the paved roads and was fine throughout my alternate trip, I really never planned on ending up in Prince Rupert, however I am really glad I took the route cuz I ended up seeing much more.
Someone in Whitehorse asked me where I was headed and thats how I found out about the road closure but did not know the extent of or where the location(s) were on the Taylor, and called home as they all asked me if I planned on heading back on the Taylor and I said no way....My reserve time on the library computer started and logged on RV.Net and seen Alaska Dave's post here.
RE: Heads up folks coming in and out of Alaska
Interesting stuff. I surely hope the customs agent is found well.
I expect we'll hear some stories from folks presently stranded on the highway between washouts. Next year the stories will be enhanced with re-telling. And then few people will drive the very scenic route next year, which mean the folks who rely on tourism in Chicken in Dawson City will have a tough time of it.
We're leaving here in two weeks for Alaska. Had planned to take the ToW northbound. Still want to get onto the Dempster for a bit, so will either backtrack on the Klondike Highway or maybe wait to do that on the southbound leg if the highway has re-opened.
It's a shame the Alaska Hwy was paved north of Burwash. That area has so much muskeg & freezing/thawing. When the highway was gravel it could be re-graded to smooth the surface. In the 1960s and 70s it would take 8 hours to drive between Whitehorse and Beaver Creek and it still takes that because of the frost heaving!
RE: Love to see Pictures of Canada and Alaska trips
You're not the only one that likes to look at pictures!
There are more than 2,500 pictures on my webserver, mostly of the Yukon. Will have more of Alaska later this year as we'll spend two months in the north country exploring backroads & highways.
The Dempster Highway in the Yukon gets the MOST hits on my site.
Oddly enough, the page for the Nahanni Range Road in the Yukon is more popular than the Alaska Highway page.
And of course, the Cassiar Highway in British Columbia and the Campbell Highway in the Yukon are also popular.
Most hits on my site are from North America, but it is also very popular with European travellers -- folks from Germany, France, Switzerland and the UK. These folks tend to visit the pages detailing the more remote locations rather than the popular Alaska Highway. And these are the folks we usually meet when we're exploring the backcountry too.
We kept making excuses about why we couldn't go. Finally just went. And now we can't stop!
RE: Alaska trip preparation
Barbara,
Clothing: Layers works. It will reach mid 80's when in Alaska in July & August. Spare shoes, Good Rain Jackets. plenty of places to do laundry so don't over do it with clothes.
Truck/Camper: I'd suggest a solar panel on the roof and a couple 6 Volt Golf cart batteries (we put these between the truck box and the wall of the TC, ran a wire to the Converter) to make Boondocking easier. It was fun being able to just pull off Hwy and park for the Night... this is a Real Road Trip remember!! I took a 400 Watt Inverter to make 110 Volt AC power for the laptop. We didn't take a TV but used the Laptop to watch DVD movies (take plenty). Take a Hydraulic Bottle Jack (Truck Jack broke the first time I used it) that will work under your axles of the truck when you get a flat tire. I made a rock guard for the front of the truck (not all that sure it was needed but it was peace of mind having it) using 3/4 inch PVC pipe & 1/4 inch hardware cloth type wire fence held on with wire ties and foam pipe insulation to protect the finish of the truck. Had a hard time finding PVC fittings when in Canada for some reason so if this is what you'll want to do, bring the fittings at least. Sure helps to have an additional Spare Tire, more so if your truck is single rear wheel. The Dempster Hwy gave us our first flat tire.
Personal Items: Bring Mosquitos Products, we found it hard to find when they are out in full force. I liked the Mosquito Coils, we burnt them on the stove top to help keep them OUT of the Camper. They seem to find all kind of ways inside. Using the coils didn't give you that Sprayed on Sticky feeling each night when using Deet products. Take a good First Aid Kit. Maybe some additional seat padding, those bench seats get hard after an evening of sitting on them. Be sure to take chairs for sitting outside. Books... Books... Books if your a reader. Really good Camera with a Telephoto lens for those shy Critter photos.
Hope you've made reservations for Denali National Park Campgrounds. We stayed inside the park... This Park is a DO NOT MISS !! Take Mike & Terri Church's book on Alaska Camping, we found this far better than the Mile Post for us. Don't hesitate to do the Alaska Ferry service to some of the Islands. It will really add to the trips memories. Take your favorite Sign... for the Sign Post Forest. Send Emails back to friends and family to make them envious of your Wild Frontier Spirit. Stopping at visitors centers along the way for Internet Service.
Have a Blast!!!! Marv
RE: BC & Alaska Gas Prices
Keep in mind that in B.C. & Yukon prices can vary 2-3 cents between gas stations just a few blocks apart. A gas station on the edge of town or along the highway might be cheaper than the popular big station in town.
On the Alaska Highway, you often have to take what is available. Even so:
-- Contact Creek has always been lower priced in the past.
-- Yukon Motel in Teslin offers a 4 cent a litre discount to RVs that stay in the cmapground (which is a nice spot).
-- the gas station on the corner of the Haines/Alaska Highway in Haines Junction YT has always been more expensive than the other stations in town and they don't display their prices with a highway sign.
And the gas station at the junction of the Dempster/Klondike Highways was much more expensive (5 cents per litre last time we went through) than the spots closer to Dawson City in 2008. But years previous it had been less expensive.
In B.C., we'll stop at Husky Stations whenever possible. Always have good prices compared to others and always good access to the diesel pump.
RE: Travel to Yellowknife
Ok, now I see your perspective that clarifies what you mean...I had no idea you were planning to travel the Cassiar Hwy. on your counterclockwise loop route back to Prince George...
I agree that would be out of the question to turnaround there as that would add on an extra unnecessary 900 plus miles on the trip just to make it to point B (Alaska Hwy/Liard Hwy BC 77 Jct) versus driving direct for 170 miles to the exact same location.
I do know for a fact when checking Yukon Road Conditions on their website, their information on certain areas of highways are not always accurate and sometimes under exaggerate when they state "rough spots between km post here and there" when it should state "too rough to handle for any vehicle with less than six axles equipped"....Here's an example on how the Far North remote highways can change without notice :
My original trip plan in Aug 2008 was to take on the Dempster Hwy. all the way to Inuvik before returning to the Klondike Hwy. and proceeding to Campbell Hwy. from Carmacks and make way to Watson Lake and then stopping in Fort Nelson before proceeding to Northwest Territories....
The Yukon Road Conditions did state rough spots in various locations along the Dempster and Campbell Hwys. and all that, but by all means the status of the roads were "OPEN"....Here in Interior Alaska we had record rainfall all summer in 2008, and for the month of July I was monitoring the weather everywhere along my planned routes and the Dempster Hwy. was getting hammered with rain too, seeing the doppler and other weather patterns thru there...I only traveled 200 km on it before back in 2006 and knew that stretch, however I caught some CBC article about the Mayor of Inuvik blasting the Yukon Road Maintenance Transportation Dept. for not maintaining the Yukon section of the road as portions of it were an extreme problem and the worst conditions the locals had ever seen it since it's existence, the article even stated the locals were changing flat tires at a 3 to 1 ratio than they were normally used to as portions of the Yukon side of the road is not maintained enough....The final straw for me to completely cancel the Inuvik trip was when I first seen this RV.Net site as I found a topic on Dempster Hwy. (thru Yahoo search) and someone posted that their travel trailer broke an axle and they were stranded at Eagle Plains for 5 days so far.
I took on the challenge of travelling the Campbell Hwy. to Watson Lake, locals in Carmacks tell me the road is good, a little rough in a couple areas on the other side of Canol Road...After leaving Ross River and passing Canol Road Jct. to start on the East Campbell portion, I drove 2 miles and had to turnaround cuz the road was extremely rough and very narrow while my camper rig was all over the roadway driving at only 10 mph, (worse then the 60 mile Chitina to McCarthy AK road I endured) so yeah that cost me an extra day of vacation and travel time along with an extra 260 miles of driving I did not count on.
As I was at Liard Hot Springs two days after that, I was talking to a trucker that told me good thing I turned around on the East Campbell Hwy. and cancelling the Inuvik trip as normally his rig would go thru a set of tires after three runs on the Dempster, he needed 14 tires replaced on one round trip by the time he made it to Inuvik and back said it's the roughest he's ever seen and hauled many trips on that stretch...
He also told me his buddy was on East Campbell Hwy. and gotten buried in a muskeg mudhole driving his semi just two weeks prior and they dispatched an excavator to the location and got the rig out...The Yukon Road Condition Report never disclosed anything to this extreme other than "rough spot but open" but yet this trucker sure disclosed it.
I certainly want to help all travellers and to be aware of what I experienced in that Liard Trail Hwy. region of NWT on my way to Yellowknife, and thats why I posted all the long comments so that travellers can weigh their options and be aware of any major road hazards that can exist, especially on more remote Far North roadways that a "road report" doesn't disclose.
I see the real purpose of this site as were all watching out for each other.
RE: Best Alaskan destinations.
Suggest you do the typical "circle route" with side trips to the sights you think you'd enjoy.
Many folks drive north on the Alaska Highway to Whitehorse, then north to Dawson City on the Klondike Hwy. From Dawson City head back towards the Alaska Highway over the Top of the World. From Tok AK, there's only two ways to go ... towards Fairbanks or towards Anchorage. Whichever you choose, you can continue on the loop to the other. Then southbound at Tok, continue south on the Alaska Highway to Whitehorse. Continuing south on the Alaska Highway, turn south on to the Cassiar Highway, the junction is just north of Watson Lake. Cassiar to Hwy 16 in B.C., over to Prince George and then pick your route home, either through B.C. or Alberta.
Worthy sidetrips commonly taken by RVers are the Dempster Highway (near Dawson City), the Dalton Hwy (north of Fairbanks), Kenai Peninsula (south of Anchorage), Valdez (south between Anchorage & Tok) and of course many visit Denali National Park between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Southbound on the Cassiar late in the summer or early fall, a sidetrip to Stewart and Hyder will give you the opportunity to view grizzly bears at the Fish Creek viewing area and also to visit the Salmon Glacier, which is a stunning view.
Either the Dempster or the Dalton will take you north of the Arctic Circle. Gravel road, and can be rough depending on recent weather conditions.
There are numerous opportunities along the way for fishing & hiking. Kluane Lake in the Yukon has great lake trout (I remember a 40 pounder being extracted from that lake).
Another good sidetrip is from Haines Junction in the Yukon, travel south to Haines AK. Then take the ferry from Haines to Skagway (one hour trip, about $200 for 40' of rig), and then north to Whitehorse area. The highway from Haines Jct to Haines AK is beautiful, as is the drive from Skagway to Carcross.
This would mean missing the highway between Haines Junction and Whitehorse, but the scenery is average on that bit of Alaska Highway and cannot compare to Haines, Skagway and the ferry ride.
Lots of opportunity to boondock. Yukon's territorial campgrounds offer drycamping for $14 a night and that includes firewood. The sites are rustic and many are lakeside with beautiful views.
RE: Tire damage on gravel roads
Yes, that shale rock on the Dempster can be wicked. A little piece can get in the tread and work it way through the tire. The flats we had on the Dempster (one in Inuvik and one upon return to Dawson City) were slow leaks and in both instances a piece of shale was removed by the repair shop.
Then there was that fellow with the van that we encountered north of Eagle Plains southbound. Pouring rain out. He was driving on a flat. As we passed, we pulled alongside and asked if we could help change a tire as he had numerous spares on his roof. Turns out they were all flat, he was fed up, didn't want any help. We even offered to take one of flats to Eagle Plains for repair and then have someone drive it back to him. Hope. Nada. He still wasn't at Eagle Plains twelve hours later in the morning ...
RE: Tire damage on gravel roads
Sorry but you won't find much that's better than the Marathons and there is no real reason gravel in the Yukon would be any tougher than gravel anywhere else. .
Oh yes there is! The dempster is 'paved' with what i call shattered shale. It is basically trianglular 1/2 inch pieces about 1/4" thick! Those points play havoc once they get between the tread and gradually work their way right thru' the tread! -
Quite often it takes several miles. When we went to Inuvik we had a flat on the way back - just north of the estart of the road. Put on the spare and stipped at the intersection to get gas and have the tire repaired. While pumping gas - 2 more went flat!! The service station there fixed them all and we left the next day (cg right there). Had 2 more flats on the road later. ALL had the triangles penetrated thru' the tread. I really think Bare tires would be better - except for the possibility of mud if it rains while on that road!
John
PS Every body that gets close SHOULD experience the Dempster Highway in spite of the POTENTIAL problems Life would be pretty dull without those!
John
RE: Protecting pipes from rocks
I was motivated to write today after reading the responses to your original message. I was astounded to read the responses dismissing gravel problems as insignificant....
I don't think anyone's saying that gravel doesn't cause damage. The example you listed focuses almost exclusively on damage done to a TOAD. I'd guess that the author of the post you quoted probably:
1) Drove several hundred miles on gravel roads.
2) Drove pretty fast
3) Had a stiff mudflap at the back of the RV, which probably dragged the ground on occasion and kicked up more gravel.
I don't normally tow a toad, but I did tow a small enclosed utility trailer in my first trip up here (which included a 900 mile round-trip up the Dempster Highway to Inuvik). The gravel encountered on the entire 10,000 mile trip sandblasted and pitted the snot out of the trailer tongue, front stone guard, and both mudguards on the trailer--but no damage done to our class C's pipes.
The original poster asked about protecting PIPES from gravel damage. I've yet to hear of gravel breaking off anyone's holding tank dump connections or poking holes in propane lines.
So, my advice to anyone coming up and planning to explore some of the long gravel roads would be to focus their rock-protection efforts on whatever they might be towing. Frontal glass (windshield and cab-over bunk windows) are the other vulnerable area, but they are hard to protect (on the tow vehicle), and just as likely to get broken from an errant rock on asphalt as they are on a gravel road from a passing vehicle.
RE: Gas availability in Yukon / Alaska
We had no trouble, and our range was about 250 miles as well. We only saw one road that was iffy, and it had a big sign saying it was 250 miles to the next gas. I think that was the only paved road we didn't take in Alaska. Not sure if it was even in Alaska, but it was near the border of Alaska.
That sign, or at least one like it, is at the south end (beginning) of the Dempster Highway. Also may be one as you are leaving Inuvik, southbound.
If you are tempted to make that magnicent drive, and extra can of fuel is a comfort! If you have you probably will not need it. If you need it and don't have it ?????
John
RE: Gas availability in Yukon / Alaska
If you are planning to do the standard Alaska Hwy one way and the Cassiar Hwy the other, there is no need for extra fuel. The longest stretch on the Alaska Hwy is about 100 miles give or take. It can be about 160 miles on the Cassiar Hwy (Bell 2 to Kitwanga) if you don't take the side trip in to Stewart, BC. Then it is about 100 miles again.
With so many of the road houses closing, I tend to top off my tank more often than I did in the past. The prices tend to be better in the towns than out on the road. But I try to stop at the open road houses to try and help keep them open for the future.
Some travelers will take a can or two extra but I have never seen the need in out 12 RV round trips to/from Alaska. The Yukon brings in their fuel from Alberta, just as we do in the upper states of the US. Canada is the largest petroleum supplier to the US, followed by Mexico and then the Middle East.
Drive on the top half of your tank and you should be fine. I have a 34 gallon tank on my Dodge and get about 15 mpg. But I seldom pass up a chance to add a bit of diesel to my tank whether it is below a half or not.
If you are going to do some of the more remote drives, such as the Dempster, etc. then a can or two might be nice to have along.
cross Canada drive and camp
I'll have about 3 weeks in June to drive and camp across Canada, from north of Syracuse, NY to Sumas, Wa. I know that's not a lot of time, but it's all I'll have for now. The 'straight-line' distance is about 3000 miles, 4800 km, which is roughly 10 days of moderate driving.
I would like to extend that to ~3 weeks by traveling 'back roads' and camping in dispersed, non developed areas (boondocking).
For example, I've driven and camped the roads on Kodiak Island and the Denali, Dalton, Top of the World, and Campbell highways. Those are the kind of roads and places I'm looking for (in the available time). Unfortunately, that does not include the Dempster on this trip. But maybe the Cassiar would work out.
So that's my question. Can you suggest some interesting roads, and off-the-beaten-path areas to camp. Most interested in west of Thunder Bay. One other restriction, I can go about 450 mi, 700 km, between diesel fuel stops.
I'm also using the Canada link at this excellent resource.
Many thanks.
RE: Denali Hwy ???
The Denali Hwy has been one of our favourite scenic drives. We've done it only once in 1993 and thoroughly enjoyed it. Plan to drive it again in 2010, pulling the fifth wheel.
It was an easier drive than the Dempster and Top of the World.
http://suethomas.ca/Alaska.html#Denali_Highway
RE: Denali Hwy ???
Don't sweat standing in line at Denali NP. Lines are usually minimal if any.
As far as the Denali Hwy, it's almost 100 miles of dirt road. Typically the eastern half (from the river crossing to Paxson) is better maintained than the western half (from Cantwell). We take our motorhome down it typically a few times a year to go ATVing. Like most dirt roads up here, it's dusty when dry, washboarded on occasion, but typically capable of supporting speeds of 30-35 mph. The conditions you encounter will vary greatly depending on when the last time they sent a grader down the road to maintain it.
As the highway is an area largely open to hunting, I wouldn't expect anywhere near the wildlife viewing opportunities you will get in the National Park. Most of the lakes along the road are shallow (meaning not particularly good for shoreline fishing)--but you might have better luck in the Tangle Lakes area at the east end of the road. Having access to an ATV and/or boat will greatly open up your fishing opportunities.
If you are up here in late August or early September, the Denali Hwy gets fantastic fall colors. There are a few established primitive campgrounds along the road, but also about a thousand additional places to boondock. For the best views and fewest bugs, camp on exposed ridgelines. During hunting season (I don't know the exact dates, but mid August into September) you will have a lot of residents boondocking out there--otherwise, it's usually quite open.
If you want to see wildlife, take a tour into the national park. If you want southern Dempster-like scenery and solitude, do the Denali Highway.
Denali Hwy ???
My wife wants me to take her to Denali NP on our trip north this year. I have avoided it in the past,since I retired from the Military I have a real adversion to standing in line.However she says I can poke around on the Denali Hwy if I take her, as a reward,maybe do some fishing and camera hunting. We have travelled the Dempster and Top of World route, so my question to those in the know, is .the Denali compearable to these two for traveling?
RE: Milepost-Best price?
I tend to agree with other's comments that the Milepost has become so large physically, that it is difficult to use. It may have reached the stage, that it needs to be divided into two, the Milepost and the Milepost Supplement. Much the same as several of the campground directories have done, such as Woodall's, etc.
In going through some of my earlier editions of the Milepost, When the Wallace brothers, the original owners of the Milepost, were using a winter address in California and then when Henning bought the business and was using a Juneau address. Not too sure when the Anchorage office was opened, but a long time ago. The Milepost, like Topsy, has expanded the coverage area and has grown and grown and grown.
It is also my opinion, that one of the major changes that has occurred to the Milepost over the years is the use of Milepost "employees." I believe the "field editors" that Kris speaks of, are those individuals that "sell" advertisements for the Milepost. These being salaries, based upon a commission of sales, puts these people is a conflict of interest situation in my opinion.
I also wonder how often the owner, William "Billy" Morris of Georgia, and/or Kris Valencia, the editor from Anchorage, drive their RVs over the Alaska Hwy and check out "their" publication. Nothing in the Milepost indicates that any of the senior management, regularly drive the Milepost routes.
From an editorial standpoint, the massive information in the Milepost is probably seen as "good", but from a users stand point, for myself anyway, it has become information/advertisement "overload".
I would like to see an edition of the Milepost be done in a GPS type format so that the program could be run on a computer. Last year a digital version was available and was a start, but it was just a "digital" copy of the paper version. Something like the Streets and Trips program of Microsoft, would be wonderful to have on the trip, except it would only cover the routes that most people use to get to/from Alaska. Perhaps even an "e-reader" version of the publication. The future of paper books, is becoming questionable, all across the spectrum. I would love to have a copy of the Milepost on my Kindle and sure others would like one for their Nook, Sony or the new iPad.
For anyone not familiar with the "then and now" versions of the Milepost, here is a photo of the 1962 edition, 160 pages, laid on top of the 2009 edition, 800 pages. The information covering the Alaska Hwy and around Alaska, has changed very little in the years. What has changed is the increased coverage of other northern highways. I would guess that the vast majority of Alaska visitors will never drive the Haul Road, the Dempster Hwy, the Deh Cho Route, etc.
It would not be at all difficult to drive the Alaska Hwy today, using the 1962 edition, just changes in business names and fewer businesses would be open. Of course the Alaska Marine ferry system didn't exist then so wouldn't cover that. (some of the original highway no longer exists either)
But like I have said, I do buy a new edition of the Milepost yearly, whether we are going to Alaska or not, just good reading.
The cover of the 1962 was taken on the Kenai, hence the pavement.
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL621/2555455/18536416/385237826.jpg
RE: Where to start? Rv trip from Vancouver to Inuvik
And look at Google Earth "Street View". The Dempster is now available for viewing. They did the video in September 2009.
This is the Arctic Circle turnout ...
http://suethomas.ca/images/Dempster/GESV_ArcticCircle.jpg width=700
