delrob
NW Arkansas
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Planning first trip to Alaska for next summer and wondering what is earliest time that we should plan to arrive in Canadian Rockies (Banff) on way up.
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stageline
Tulsa Ok
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Joined: 12/01/2003
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delrob,
my wife and I are planning our first trip to Alaska. we are planning on leaving oklahoma in the last week or two in May, 08. I can't answer your question but i am going to watch for the answer.
Have Safe Travels,
Robert
Robert, Brenda & our dog Brandy
2002 D/A CC LB 3500
2000 5er Savana 35.5' W/3 slides,
360 Watt Solar Panels, 2000 Watt Inverter, 4.5 KW Onan Generator
toad Jeep Grand Cherokee
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delrob
NW Arkansas
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Robert,
I hope you mean May 2009, if not, you are running late lol. Do you, like ourselves, plan to come back in late August or early September?
Bob
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Dick_B
Palos Heights, IL USA
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When we took a land/sea cruise our Cruise Director said the best time to get to Alaska is mid-June. Bring your bug stuff; 100% Deet is the best.
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2003 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
Equal-i-zer Hitch
One wife, two bikes (both Electric Schwinn's with motor assist)
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cruiserjs
Aurora, CO, USA/ Mesa AZ/ openroad
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Canadian Rockies : May is questionable until mid-June. Banff often has snow in all 12 months but after mid-june it hardly will affect the roads except for a couple of hours. Rain showers - anytime.
John - ex resident employee of Banff Nat. Park
Colorado Cruiser
Cruiser CF29CK 5th wheel; 2001 Silverado 2500HD shortbed
wonderful lifetime travelling companion/spouse
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joe b.
Florida
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As John has said, after mid June to July the parks will freer of snow. In 2004 we stopped by the water falls in Yoho NP and the road was still snowed in the middle of June. In 2006 we stopped in late July and the road in to the falls was fine. In June, 2004, there was still snow, back under the trees at Whistlers Campground, Jasper area but lots of wildlife and a great stay we had.
Having elk walk through your campsite in the late evening was a common experience we had while there. The NPs of Canada are outstanding, IMHO, well run, staffed and located well. A real bargain for the price to get into them, in my opinion.
joe b.
South Florida, Stuart
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Driving a Dodge/Cummins
www.jbpacooper.com web site
http://www.picturetrail.com/jbpacooper Alaska 2004 - Alaska 2006 - Colorado photos
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delrob
NW Arkansas
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John and Joe,
Thanks for the posts. Joe, we enjoyed looking at your photos. We might leave a little later and plan to get into Banff around June 15 based on your input. We arrived in Yellowstone on May 25 (2 weeks after it opened)for a month stay a few years ago. It was cool and we had some snow but we would do it again (early) due to the amount of wildlife sightings and it not being crowded with people.
Bob
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cruiserjs
Aurora, CO, USA/ Mesa AZ/ openroad
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One other thought - Canadian schools (Alberta at least) do not start summer break until end of June - so fewer canadian travellers in the Parks - except on weekends.
John
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Nascarcruzin
Home is where the RV is parked.
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We were there, just this week.
Ronnie & Rebecca
Check out our journal: North to Alaska
Another website to view our trip to Alaska:
Adventure to Alaska
FMCA #388387
Full-time RVer's since 2004
Monaco LaPalma Workhorse chassis 37' 2-slides
 (Custom) (Custom) (Custom).JPG)
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snail
south west Florida
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Joined: 08/22/2003
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We are in Alaska now and have been since about mid June. We left South Florida May 27th. Our vote is to leave as early as you can arriveing in Alaska in early June. We met a few couples headed back to the states after visiting Alaska for a couple of weeks.They had had no problems. They were in Alaska before June 1st. Some facilities--camp grounds and fueling stations-- aren't open.
If you travel so you are in Alaska in early June--by the 10th- I think you will be ok. Not many crowds, some campgrounds and facilities may not be open but we camp along the road when nothing is open. It all depends on how long you want to be in Alaska and if cold weather bothers you. The crowds increase by late June and July then fall off by early August.
Good luck and enjoy. Whatever you decide you won't have problems.
DRIVE A 2001 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR WITH 330 HP CUMMINS AND TOW A RANGER 4X4. TRAVEL WITH SPOUSE AND PET TINKER BELL OUR CORGIE.
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