Having just arrived in Tok, AK the Alcan has been much better than anticipated. Joining it near Ft St John it’s been very good all the way to Whitehorse, Yukon. Even the warnings for the frost heaves can be ignored as we ran at 60-65 mph all the way. There were only 4 or 5 1/4 miles sections of gravel in this first 900 miles. Fortunately north of Ft Nelson they had plowed the 8+ inches of snow as it would have been rough going otherwise. We’ve had freezing temps for the last week. The first 20 miles out of Whitehorse is pretty bad and then from Burwash Landing to the AK border it’s pretty bad in spots, but they are well marked. You learn real quick if there is a white line across the road you need to slow down to 40 mph as that’s a section they are going to repair.
We are driving a 10 year old E450 30’ Class C with a V10 that’s getting 9 mpg. Fortunately it has a 50+ gallon tank as many of the places along the Alcan are still closed… some are not going to open ever. The road from the AK border to Tok is good with a few frost heaves. Fuel is less expensive in Alberta at $1.20/Liter and the most we paid was $1.50/L with the average closer to $1.40 Fuel in Tok is $4.05/gallon.
We started this trtip in Las Vegas 11 days ago and 3100 miles ago. We visited Bryce, Tetons, Yellowstone, West Glacier, Baniff, Lake Louise, and Jasper on the way up before getting on the Alcan. We have another 9 days to explore AK before turning the MH in at ANC.
We found the free 2012 Alaska Highway & connecting routes booklet more up to date and easier to use than the Mile Post book. There are not may miles markers along the Alcan so unless you keep up with where you are, it has way too much detail.
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edited 05/20/12 11:25am by Ivylog *
This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
Ivylog, this is great information. I sure appreciate you posting this. We plan to leave on May 27 (next Sunday) headed that way from TN. I was hoping to get some up-to-date info on the highway such as what you posted. Please continue to post updates until you get to your destination.
Howdy Ivylog & J37642,
Ivylog I am your neighbor from Toccoa, Ga.
I am in Pink Mountain, BC tonight and I agree the roads have been great. From Sweetgrass, Mt. to Edmonton, AB. the roads are like US interstates and ran at 60 to 65 mph. Speed on highways was 110 kmp which is 68 mph. From Edmonton to Dawson Creek hwy 43 is also 4 lane divided hwy and speed is 100 kmp.
Appreciate the info on Alcan Hwy west to Whithorse but I will go north out of Whitehorse to Dawson City.
jerryjo wrote: Howdy Ivylog & J37642,
Ivylog I am your neighbor from Toccoa, Ga.
I am in Pink Mountain, BC tonight and I agree the roads have been great. From Sweetgrass, Mt. to Edmonton, AB. the roads are like US interstates and ran at 60 to 65 mph. Speed on highways was 110 kmp which is 68 mph. From Edmonton to Dawson Creek hwy 43 is also 4 lane divided hwy and speed is 100 kmp.
Appreciate the info on Alcan Hwy west to Whithorse but I will go north out of Whitehorse to Dawson City.
Y'All have a great trip,
Jerry & Joanna
JerryJo, Sue Thomas stated that the ferry across the Yukon River at Dawson City started running last week but there is still 5 to 6 feet of snow on the Top of The World Highway in some areas if you are going that way over to Chicken and Tok.
Maybe check with Sue for the latest conditions.
Welcome to Alaska. Not sure what your interests are, but there are many music festivals along the way, starting next weekend. Usually includes free camping.
Most have the title "bluegrass festival" but music is much varied. No true "bluegrass ONLY" festivals up here. :-)
Gosh, I commute to work on the Alaska Highway's 30 miles north west of Whitehorse. It isn't all that bad. There are two hurly-whirly spots that will toss things a bit, but other than that I whip along at 70 mph or more in my car.
Those spots are well-marked and both are in areas where the ground is sinking so you go down a hill and then up a hill with the cookie-tosser dips being near the bottoms of the hills.
As for snow on Top of the World ... I learned that info from a Dawson City resident. They hoped to have it plowed this weekend.
This Alaska map with FAA webcam locations is a good resource http://avcams.faa.gov/gmap.php
No webcam at the border crossing on Top of the World (no airport there). There is a webcam at Eagle, Northway and Tok though.
Update:For some reason I cannot edit my first post so, the price of fuel in Tok should be $4.65, not $4.05.
The road for 10 miles before you get to Chistochina (90 miles after Tok) is bad with many gravel sections and rough spots but the road after almost makes up for it as it's as good as the first part after clearing customs before Tok. We spent the night 10 miles before Palmer at the pullout for the Kings River and I'd highly recomend it. Camped right on the river and enough free firewood to cook our steaks over.
We fueled($4.39) and dumped (free) at the Exxon in Palmer next door to the Fred Myers which has beer and wine. We are spending the night in Talkeetna as we have a flight seeing tomorrow at K2 on a 2/1 coupon as this must be leap year and the full moon. Anyone interested in two Alaska Tour Saver books with most of the discounts still in them (many do not start until June) PM me as we leave ANC on 5/30.
The road from Palmer was very good with one delay for construction. Shortly after it on the left there is a ice cream place with the best mocha shake I've ever had. Hopefully the WX will still be as good tommorow for our flight as it is today.
For more on our trip DW's blog
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Thanks for the road update, I'll be heading to Tok from Anchorage this morning, although I'm stopping for the day somewhere around Glennallen at an RV park I like. Wave if you see an Old Itasca missing the nose hatch towing a BMW along the road.
They re did most of the really bad road last summer between sutton and Glennallen, They were working on the cutoff road right up until it snowed last year, I'm sure they'll be back on that one soon.
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