I'm taking my step-father to tour Alaska the first of Sept.I've never been that far north RV-ING any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Tire chains ETC.I do have a copy of the mile-post.
You realize the this trip isn't just a sunday drive, and that you will probably put on 10,000 to 12,000 miles. and that most tourist things close about the 15 of September. If you drive you will probably drive 10 to 12 days just to get there. I don't want to discourage you, but just want to make you aware of what you want to undertake, so late in the year. I've been there and its a great place to see, but you need a lot more time. Its such a vast area that people trips orver several complete summers just to see the things that they plan to see. You can wander around for years and never see it all. I wish you luck.
Unfortunately, I'd say you timing will be off. Most campgrounds and tourist attractions close for the season up here no later than mid-September.
Trying to drive the Dalton Highway north of Fairbanks to Deadhorse in late September/October will be a crap-shoot weather-wise, particularly as far as getting across Atigun Pass in the Brooks Range.
We loose daylight fast in the fall up here in the north. Using Deadhorse in October as an example, we start the month with 11 hours of daylight, and finish the month with only 6 1/2 hours of daylight per day--and that light is flat light from the sun low on the horizon.
So, with few to no camping facilities and freezing temperatures, I hope you have heated fresh, black and gray water tanks--otherwise, you'll have problems using your RV's plumbing.
I'm not saying your September (and presumably into October) trip is impossible--it will just be very challenging, and probably not much fun. There's a reason most out-of-state RVers show up here starting in mid-June, and most leave no later than mid-August.
I second that to everything alaskan-rver had posted...
With addition reference to a planned trip during September, you will be dealing with a greater volume of commercial traffic at it's heaviest throughout the Dalton Hwy., and Alaska Hwy. particularly in the Central BC area north of Ft. St. John in the industrial gas areas... where these semis will be hauling many lowboy trailers with oversized permit loads escorted by pilot trucks upon moving their heavy equipment around getting ready for winter season, so dont expect to make time on these majority of two lane roads.
The Dalton Hwy. is not your type of road to make time on either, especially if significant rainfall occurs to where the road surfaces will get mighty rough...I seen more than enough semi truck aluminum radiators and fuel tanks get stressed out, having to be scrapped from truck drivers making time on that road.
Darkness sure does add up quickly losing 7 minutes a day in the Fairbanks area during September, and losing even more than that the farther north you are.
I seen snow stick as early as September 10 in Fairbanks, but the average snowfall to stick here is generally the first week of October, ground freezes solid for sure by second week of October.
September in Interior Alaska can be one of those freezing months or a warm indian summer phase, lots of weather changes in between as you just never know.
I personally will not take any RV all the way to Deadhorse anytime in the month of September for reasons stated above and as cold as it gets, you will not enjoy it.... however personally I would go as far as the Yukon River in an RV during that time of year.
Lots of hunters tend to travel the corridor during September too.
I would personally recommend no later than a mid August target date of reaching Deadhorse in an RV to make it somewhat enjoyable.
As previous posts had mentioned, you will need to have quite a flexible schedule for a long haul type of planned trip from NC according to the post we all read....Lots of hills and construction zones in between, and other elements that can slow travel such as rainy days, delays or temporary road closures can occur on any route in the far north due to weatherfronts.
The Dalton Hwy. (Haul Road) is open all year and yes a roadtrip to Deadhorse could still be done in September, best to be well prepared and haul extra equipment such as tires and fuel, warm gear for starters.
Best of luck on your September travels.
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Everyone is correct in what is stated above and I'm not sure I'd pick September as the month to do an RV trip.
That being said....whether it's snow in the upper half of the state or the tail end of summer further South, I think September is just about the most beautiful time of year in Alaska. If you can be prepared for the lack of services, the heavy commercial traffic and some cold (er) weather, it would be a great time to see some spectacular countryside.
CRL
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