cewillis
Tucson, az, usa
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Joined: 01/24/2005
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TenOC wrote:
I think it takes 24 hours to get "clearance" to go to the Arctic Ocean.
Not when I was there. Show up for the tour bus, pay the fee, and you're in.
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kmessinger
Bay area but NOT San Francisco or Berkeley
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Joined: 01/13/2008
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You left your camper and joined the tour bus at Deadhorse?
Thanks,
Keith
The excellent adventures of Keith and Debbie. Observations about life, at home and on the road in our 2008 Sportsmobile Sprinter.
(Warning: Occasional sharp turns to the right.)
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robanddi
Burton TX USA
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Joined: 08/11/2003
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We have been north of Arctic Circle several times but always on someone else's wheels (or wings). This year we drove pickup to Yukon River Crossing and had lunch. Drove back with very short side trip to a friend's cabin (only a mile toward Manley Hot Springs on Highway 2). On the return trip just past junction of Elliot and Dalton highways we had a flat!
We changed it in the middle of the road as shoulder was pretty soft. Three trucks stopped to see if we had everything we needed and one guy stayed until we got the spare mounted (actually he helped put the spare on) to make sure it had air. Ended up getting 4 new tires at Sam's Club when we got back to Fairbanks. (We calculated we had just under 40,000 miles on tires - driving and towing. They looked okay but failed the penny test.)
Now the $64 question is did we get the flat because of the haul road or the sidetrip to cabin. We don't know the answer BUT earlier we had talked about taking the DP and toad to Coldfoot later this summer and I have no desire to do that now!
Diann
Robert & Diann
2001 34' Foretravel U270
2004 Avalanche
Burton TX
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mybrandsam
Tallahassee
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Joined: 02/09/2008
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mybrandsam wrote:Has anyone driven from Fairbanks north to Coldfoot or somewhere north of the Arctic Circle? I know there are lots of tours that go north, but we wanted to just take our truck (leave the 5th wheel in Fairbanks) and drive up there and come back. How are the road conditions?
Thanks, we're in River's Edge for four days. Anyone else here?
Lori
What does it say about a person who responds to their own post? Anyway, we drove our formerly black truck up to the Arctic Circle today, had a picnic and came back. (11 hours round trip) The truck was totally covered in mud. The road was muddy, bumpy, and a helluva lot of fun. We saw three bears and a moose.
Lori (again)
2008 Dodge 2500 Mega 4x4 Turbo Diesel
Fifth Wheel-Pilgrim 272BH
[URL=http://
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cewillis
Tucson, az, usa
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Joined: 01/24/2005
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kmessinger wrote:You left your camper and joined the tour bus at Deadhorse?
Thanks,
Keith
Yes -- only way to get to the ocean from Deadhorse, except working in the oilfields.
I'm talking about the tour van from Deadhorse, that goes around the oil fields, and to the ocean. It leaves from one of the hotels in Deadhorse.
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obgraham
WA
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Joined: 08/30/2005
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Drove the road a couple of years ago in a rented SUV. Got to Coldfoot, didn't like the looks of the motels there, so called up to Wiseman for a B&B. Stayed there overnight -- highlight of our trip! Next morning the road was a mudslide up at Atigun Pass so we headed back. I thought it was a great drive!
I think you need good tires -- the shale bits are really sharp.
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dirtengineer
Alaska
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Joined: 09/18/2007
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dirtengineer wrote:I flew over it about a year ago and it looked mostly paved all the way to the Yukon River. Gonna drive up to Atigun Pass area in about a month and a half if you are planning to go after then I can give you a trip report.
We drove all the way up to pumphouse 4. We saw a tour bus going North at the South end of Atigun pass, so you should be able to make it. We also saw a few fifth wheels and a lot of class C motorhomes and Truck Campers. It is unpaved for about 1/3 of it. I would bring an extra spare for both your 5W and TV. We blew a tire. Lots of truck traffic, so there is help if you need it, but no services to speak of North of Fairbanks. Just a couple of small gas stations and restaurants - very pricey.
Good luck.
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