VernM wrote: I have a friend who has lived in Alaska for many years, both in the cities and in smaller communities. He wrote in his last message to me that the price of fuel will go up $2.00/gallon to over $7.00 as soon as the barge arrives with new fuel for the year. He adds that prices of everything else also are already affected and rising quickly. It is even harder on the folks that live there who have limited job opportunities at all times and those are now drying up too, he says.
To be clear, your friend lives in a village that is not on the road system. All supplies needing to be barged in seriously raises the cost, but, those type of costs are "normal", for them (relatively speaking, of course- prices like that have always been common in the bush)and has nothing to do with RVers planning their travels.
Unless, of course, they plan to barge their rig or run a boat up the rivers or coast.
Ain't THAT the truth, Mike! I can't win - if I hadn't been frugal at fifty, I wouldn't even be able to think about it now. And my rusty old transmission is jammed in low and just won't shift gears.
Jack
PS - If I lived on the Wind River - used to flyfish for trout upstream from Riverton years and years ago - I wouldn't even need an rv, let alone be tempted by Alaska. Unless it's changed since the seventies, it's one of the lovliest places on the planet. I've been to Alaska, at a fishing lodge on the Nuyakuk River(a gift from a wealthy customer in 1976), and didn't see anything as pretty as the Rockies. Better fishin' though!
You need to go where the Mountains meet the sea.
The rockies are beautiful, but there's something about snowcapped mountains with waterfalls tumbling into the sea. You can't find that in the Rockies.
The interior (Alaska away from the coast) would not be so special on one's first and only trip, (beautiful in it's own harsh way though), if you are from the Rockies. We moved there after 9 years in CO.
*Note: Taking nothing away from the Rockies, the world has amazing places beyond there though. Folks would have not so nice memories of CO, MT and WY if they stayed in the eastern sides of the states.
Big Katuna wrote: I don't mean to sound cold or elitest. It is 2000 miles from Seattle to Fairbanks. A trip to Alaska is an adventure and holds a fair amount of risk .
What "fair amount of risk"?
It's not 1950 anymore, how about clarifying what you mean.
Thousands travel up and back every year winter and summer, we have done both and find no "real" difference than traveling in the lower 48.
The risks are probably the same for remote parts of the lower 48.
I was thinking of the "danger of distances". When you are 10 minutes to a hospital, appendecitus or even a heart attack is not that big of a deal. If you are hours away from a competent medical center, its another story. Spotty cell service adds to the problem.
A mechanical malfunction can take on complex dimensions. As I mentioned, my cousin spent an extra unplanned month in Alaska when his diesel failed, mostly waiting for parts.
Have pets, few vets.
Giardia?
And in some places just pulling off the road in a 30,000 pound RV can be an adventure.
Not to mention hitting a large furry mammal at night or running into a Grizz.
alaska511 wrote: It will be interesting to see how much this slows the tourism and campers from out of state.
Well alaska511, it doesn't seem to have slowed the tide too much up here in Fairbanks, yet! Santa Claus RV park is filling up and Riverview RV Park has several units in it. River's Edge here in town is opening up this week and I expect it too will have it's share.
As it has been said, fuel won't ever be any cheaper and all you're doing is getting older. So strike out while you can folks because you don't know what tomorrow holds. You can make up the difference in other areas. We are planning several in-state trips (can't go Outside for job reasons) but our in-state trips are equivalent to your multi-state ones down there!
Hey traveler! Long time, no talk. I haven'y posted in a LONG time, sold the TC and the HD, bought a TT and a half ton
Yeah I was up your way 2 weeks ago, and it all seemed pretty normal. I will start my normal trips to the Peninsula this week, and we will see how busy it is there. Usually a zoo of tourists. I will report
Hey traveler! Long time, no talk. I haven'y posted in a LONG time, sold the TC and the HD, bought a TT and a half ton
Yeah I was up your way 2 weeks ago, and it all seemed pretty normal. I will start my normal trips to the Peninsula this week, and we will see how busy it is there. Usually a zoo of tourists. I will report
So ya came all the way up here and didn't even let me know ya was in town! Just kidding. We will be down your way in a couple weeks (June 4th - June 7th) IF we can get anyone down in Wasilla to answer the dang phone! We've been trying to reach Big Bear RV Park in Wasilla for three days now! We will try one more time tomorrow and then move on to another park.
"There's no such thing as too much tow vehicle!"
Wes, Linda, & kids
"Tow Twuck" - 2008 Ford F350 DRW CC LB 6.4 Powerstroke
"Cougar" - 2006 Keystone Cougar 289EFS Fifth Wheel Our Website
Big Katuna wrote: The fuel costs a thousand or so more. If you can't afford the difference, you shouldn't have been planning to go in the first place.
I think you have it all wrong. many people with children plan on summer trips and save all winter long, then the price goes up every day like it has for gas, and the family has to change their plans. It has happened a lot in the last few weeks, and you are saying they should not have planed in the first place?
We're not going this year even though we had been planning.
There is a difference between what one can spend and what one is willing to spend.
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