We are seriously considering Alaska in 2010. We have flown up twice but we would like to drive it. Anybody care to share their thoughts on the more popular route or the less traveled Cassiar highway route? Thanks in advance, Big T
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Big T, We arrived in Fairbanks today, traveling from south Florida. We were in western Montana so we crossed into Canada at Roosville, north to Golden, east to the Ice Fields parkway, quick trip north to Jasper, to Hinton, north to Dawson Creek and the Alaska Hwy to Fairbanks. (with a side trip to Haines) On the return we plan to do the Top of the World hwy to Dawson Town, to Whitehorse, a day trip to Skagway, south to Junction 37 and down the Cassiar Hwy, then east to the Parks, Jasper, Yoho and Banff to spend more time, then beat a fast route back to Florida.
So far just over 5,600 miles on the trip. Had the oil changed in Whitehorse.
The Coutts/Sweetgrass crossing is good also, then north to Edmonton to DC and up.
joe b.
South Florida, Stuart
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Big T....I plan on watching this thread and hopefully we will get some good response. We are also planning for next year meeting up with friends in Lubbock for the Alaska adventure.
BigT wrote: Anybody care to share their thoughts on the more popular route or the less traveled Cassiar highway route?
Lots of Alaska bound travellers go north one way and south the other.
The Cassiar is a little bit rougher but not enough to miss the scenery.
If you are coming back in late July or early August it is always good to go south on the Cassiar so you can stop at Hyder to see the bears. The trip into Stewart/Hyder is spectacular with the bear glacier and the trip up to the Salmon Glacier is worth the time.
Here's a quick shot of the Bear Glacier
Check out going north one way and south the other.
I go up through Banff/Jasper, Hinton. Usually go up to Dawson City.
On the way back, go down to Haines and ferry over to Skagway. Takes about an hour. It's pretty esy to kill a couple of days in Skagway.
Then down the Cassiar. And back through Banff/Jasper.
And ditto Salmon Glacier. You drive along side of and above the glacier. Unlike any other that I know of.
* This post was
edited 07/02/09 12:52pm by Luke Porter *
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Definitely do the Cassiar southbound. The bears usually show up at Hyder mid-late August - depending on the salmon's schedule! The year we were there we saw bears on Aug. 12 at Hyder.
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We went up the Alcan, and back on the Cassier. If we go again we will do the Cassier both ways. We thought it was much nicer. Be sure to stop and see the bears in Hyder if you do Cassier.
Chuck
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We went this spring across Alcan going up, no problems, lots of animals. Wanted to come down Cassiar, it was blocked by a Mud slide for a week, so we went back Alcan, broke windshield and almost caught in a forest fire.
It depends what time you travel.. i personally would avoid the caravans and the crowds and go a different route each way. Cassiar we saw lots of bear right off the road; didnt see any on the alcan. We did drive later in the evening on purpose to see more wildlife on the cassiar. I would lean towards cassiar southbound because there is not as many "stops" and usually when you are coming back home, you are in more of rush than when starting the trip, so cassiar is perfect for this. Hyder is your best bet on the cassiar
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