Ribaco
Lakeville, ohio
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Joined: 02/15/2007
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Greetings,
Wife and I are planning trip to Alaska next summer and would like someone who has been there with a TC to advise us on what roads are like in mountains. The Mrs. helped with driving last trip coming thru mountains in Nevada she was a little uptight about the narrow road with little berm.
Are there any roads that should be avoided? do they have guardrails on major highways? or is this just something not to worry about?
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Windwalker55
Missouri
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Joined: 04/02/2003
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We went in the summer of 06. The roads aren't much different than here in the lower 48. You do need to slow down in a few areas, i.e. Tok to Whitehorse, due to the frost heaves. We really enjoyed having the truck camper cause it would fit into a lot of campsites the larger units wouldn't. Lots of areas along most of the highways that were used to obtain gravel for the roads and now make a nice level camping area for boondocking. We did take the Campbell Hwy and the Top of the World Hwy which are both dirt and pretty rough but would highly recommend them. They are the way the Alcan use to be. You need to get off the beaten path.
I have a journal of our trip in word format if you would like to have a copy send me a personal message with your email address and will send you a copy.
Have you got a 'Milepost' yet?
Larry
2001 Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
Hitchiker II LS 30.5
Alpenlite Laramie LS850 truck camper
One wonderful life partner, my wife of 40 years
"I want people to know "why" I look this way.
I've traveled a long way and some of the
roads weren't paved."
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skipbee
Glen Arm,Md. 21057 USA
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Joined: 10/29/2003
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I agree with WindWalker. We were in Alaska a couple of years ago with our TC and felt that it was the perfect way to see the sights. We overnighted in many of the NFS campgrounds. We also traveled up the Alaska Marine Highway (Ferry), that was a high point of the trip, saved a lot of fuel and wear and tear. Be sure to get the Milepost guide book.
* This post was
edited 12/13/07 05:59pm by skipbee *
skipbee
2004 F350 Diesel CC SRW 19.5" Rikson W/T 4WD
2005 Lance 1121 with a little less of everything
12' Porta-Bote alongside
All that glitters is not gold. All who wander are not lost. Wm. Shakespeare
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RRUGG
Newaygo, MI,USA
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Mountain roads on the Alaska are non-existant. The highest point on the highway is less than 5000 feet. Don't recall any on the Cassiar. The road through the Canadian Rockies runs between mountain ranges. Go, have fun, don't worry about mountains.
RRUGG
2008 Dodge 2500 QC 4x4 SB Cummins 6 speed auto 3.73
1997 Holiday Rambler 29FK travel trailer
2006 Summit 22RB travel trailer
2003 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport
Bob & Grace professional retirees
Good Sam life members
Camped in 49 states. Missing Hawaii.
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Seacraft Skipper
Lakeville, MA. USA
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Joined: 11/07/2003
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These fellars are all giving you good advise. The roads are pretty good, they are working on them all the time. You may run into some construction delays. You can camp pretty much anywhere you like. As they said don't go without the MilePost Magazine you can get it at Borders or Barnes and Noble or order it online, but don't go without it. The Marine Highway (Alaska Ferry System) is great. We returned that way on our last trip, stopping for two days Juno, Sitka and Petersburg and stayed NFS campgrounds. If you qualify purchase a Golden Age Pass. $10.00 I think but gives you half price caming in National Parks. Last thing there will be some periods when you are 100 mile from anything with no cell phone service go prepared. People are very friendly up there, we stopped behind a fellow with a flat tire just to protect him from flying stones while he change it and made a friend for life. Go and have a great time, if we hadn't been twice in the last 4 years, I'd like to go again. Great fishing, caught Halibut in the morning and had it on the grill that night, same with the Salmon. Goodluck
Bob
Seacraft Skipper
"Semper Paratus"
2003 GMC 2500HD 4X4 ExCab L/b Air lift A/B.
2002 Lance Lite 915.
1972 20ft Seacraft Sport Fish.
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rkortes
Citrus Heighs, CA
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Joined: 08/15/2006
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Seacraft Skipper wrote:These fellars are all giving you good advise. The roads are pretty good, they are working on them all the time. You may run into some construction delays. You can camp pretty much anywhere you like. As they said don't go without the MilePost Magazine you can get it at Borders or Barnes and Noble or order it online, but don't go without it. The Marine Highway (Alaska Ferry System) is great. We returned that way on our last trip, stopping for two days Juno, Sitka and Petersburg and stayed NFS campgrounds. If you qualify purchase a Golden Age Pass. $10.00 I think but gives you half price caming in National Parks. Last thing there will be some periods when you are 100 mile from anything with no cell phone service go prepared. People are very friendly up there, we stopped behind a fellow with a flat tire just to protect him from flying stones while he change it and made a friend for life. Go and have a great time, if we hadn't been twice in the last 4 years, I'd like to go again. Great fishing, caught Halibut in the morning and had it on the grill that night, same with the Salmon. Goodluck
Bob Nice post!! firing me up for my 09 AK trip!!!
Truck - 2005 GMC 3500 SRW Duramax/Ali
Camper - 2006 Arctic Fox 990
The Journey Is The Destination!
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cleary
Fairbanks, Alaska
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All of the above it true. We've been TCing around our state for 25 or so years. Come on up and have a great time. As others have said, be sure to get THE MILEPOST.
Chuck
2006 F-350, 4X4, Crew Cab, V-10, Torqshift, Dually. 2008 Okanagan 106UDB. Both 4-wheelers and snowmobiles. KL7AY Our website
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HarryWM
Wherever we are parked this time.
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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Ditto all the above except we did not do the Marine Highway. TC is without a doubt the way to go. We did it this past summer. AWESOME. Do not miss Dawson City YT and Top of the World Highway. Don't let any naysayers talk you out of any of this The Milepost mentioned above is a must have. It comes out each March. Also get Mike and Terri Church's book on Traveler's Guide to Alaska Camping. Great info on what to see and more importantly info on campgrounds. When you get into Alaska (maybe can get on line) get the Alaska Supersaver book (title is something like that). Costs $99.99 and contains thousands of dollars worth of 2 for price of one deals like on glacier tours, flightseeing, tours, all sorts of things. We saved $300 without even trying.
* This post was
edited 12/13/07 05:35pm by HarryWM *
Harry
With wife Carole 10 yrs fulltiming
Retired U.S. Army
2002 Carriage LS 37' 5er; 2006 Lance 1181
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SKP # 54751
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Harry's BLOG
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Rocky2
Ventura, Ca.
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Joined: 01/14/2004
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The discount coupon book can be purchased at Safeway and Carr's in Alaska and on line. There are coupons for Tok which is the first town on the Alaska highway. The real value of the book is to remove any question whether or not to do a particular tour or attraction. Our after cost savings ran well over $500 but the real value was just doing it. It is called the Great Alaskan Tour Saver . Find it at http://www.toursaver.com/ .
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Ribaco
Lakeville, ohio
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Thanks to all who posted, a great help to us, my wife is planning the trip and we do have that guidepost book which is very informative.
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