in august we are going to set out on a journey across the us into canada and to alaska. we have 9 days to get there then my g/f will fly home and i am staying in ak to hunt and fish for a month before coming home. i was hoping to hear from some members that have made the trip and get some advice. the g/f said she wanted to camp along the way. atleast right up to the moment i mentioned bears. lol... she is pretty much scared of everything. lol...

so what kind of advice can i get? any websites have info on this type of trip? thanks

 

Here is my experience on a Sunday, when my exhaust manafold(sp) broke open, in the middle of almost nowhere, in Canada.

The only mechanic shop, and I mean the only one, would not fix it or work on it in any way, even though it was to just get me to the next big town where I could order a new one because " its not going to last and so we just won't work on it".
Well I knew it would not last I only wanted it to last one day. Thankfully I had some ear plugs with me.

Take a really nice tool kit and pieces of stuff that will let you jury rig something if something breaks, blows, or otherwise fails but you could fix "if you only had a piece of wire and a rubber strip..."

There are a lot of places to get things fixed, you just don't want to get towed too.

Big Jimmy

 

You have to remember there is alot less people in canada, so the towns are smaller and not as many towns or cities, especially when you get further north. Always carry tools and spare parts, like maybe a belt , rad hose, filters etc, just in case, this way you can fix alot by yourself. As for sunday work, Its not just canada, its like that everywhere,,, no one wants to work sundays,, hell everyone deserves 1 day off lol.. Anyhow, just carry a few things to even rig it together till you can get to the next city,,saves walking thats for sure

 

I camp all over the province of B.C. and I sometimes think of the bears but have never had an encounter. Keep your garbage in the garbage containers and not the rig. The biggest thing I have encountered is the bugs on the window they can get as thick as fur. You want to cary a few tools a good spare and a spare serpintine belt. Roads are all in good condition. Lots of beautiful scenery you will enjoy it.

 

Join a club like Good Sam or AAA and buy their Emergency Road Service policy, I think it runs about $69 a year. Saved me a $750 tow bill from Faro to White Horse in the Yukon Territory. There is a great Dodge dealership in White Horse, they sure treated me right. I have driven the Alcan to Alaska and back 5 times and that was the only time I had to be towed. You are in for a very interesting and senic trip. You will have to average 500 miles a day if you are going to make it in 9 days. We camped all the way up the first time in 1969. It took more than 9 days that time as the Alcan was still 1500 miles of unpaved hyway. Since then we have always had a motorhome of pickup camper. Check with Canadian Customs before you leave they have really tightened up of firearms. You used to be able to take long guns thru with you but now you have to have reason to take one such as going hunting in Canada. I do not know if hunting in Alaska will qualify as a reason for you to take a long gun thru Canada. They will absolutely not permit you to take a hand gun into Canada, not even hand gun ammo is permitted. There was an allowance for long guns for protection if you were going to go camping in remote locations but I do not know if that is still an option. You will have a great time. Also get yourself a Milepost before you leave, It will prove to be invaluable. Good luck on the trip. PM me if you have more questions.

FarmerJim

 

I just got back from Alaska this week. I went up and back on the Alaska highway. On my way back, I came down thru Canada to Winnipeg and turned south to ND. My total mileage was >10,000.

It would help to know what kind of camper/camping you intend to do. Nine days does not give you much time to set up any kind of camp. If you have a slide-in or tow-behind, you can stop at most any pull-off to save time but you wouldn't call that camping. The further north you go, the worse the bugs will get and the worse the roads will be. There are many stretches where you will be driving only 35 MPH (ever hear of "dips"?). There is a lot of construction going on right now so be prepared for a lot of stops, dusty gravel roads & potholes. You'll need to wash your rig regularly just to be able to recognize it. Oh yeah, be prepared to pay premium prices for diesel the whole way (I paid as much as $5/gallon - and was happy to get it!).

My turn-around was Fairbanks & Denali NP but the most interesting parks were in northern BC. I saw more wildlife along the highway in the Muncho Lake area than all the other places combined. A really neat stop for your GF would be to take in the "Frantic Follies" at Whitehorse, Yukon.

 

One thing you have to remember the canadian gallon is bigger than the american gallon. Can gallon = 160 ounces American gallon = 120 ounces Easy way to figure out is,, 5 American gallons = 4 canadian gallons so lets say 3.00 US gallon x 5 = 15.00 US dollars,, now divide by 4 canadian gallons = 3.75 US a canadian gallon.. plus the american dollar is worth about 13 cents more up here to,, so the price isnt that different,, I am not saying our fuel is cheap, but its not that much different really. Where i live at, diesel is 96.9 cents a litre, 4.54 litres in a canadian gallon works out to 4.40 canadian a gallon.

 

well we have decided not to take my travel trailer. we are going to stay in a couple of hotel/motels along the way then we will be staying in a nice place overlooking cook inlet. my buddies have a 31' travel trailer there and we cant see the need to have 2. also saving on fuel.

thanks for all the comments. really appreciate it.

 

The Alaska Highway is not as bad as some will tell you. It's all paved w/ exception of construction areas here and there. I would take 2 5-gal fuel cans, an extra spare, several spare fuel filters (at least two, I had to change one on the way and another shortly after leaving Tok). Guns are a no-no in Canada for us US folks. I had to have mine shipped up here. Buy the "Milepost" book for the Alcan. It has a lot of details on the route. Expect some rock chips and steep grades in several areas, especially when crossing the Canadian Rockies. Watch out for wildlife, especially around Northern BC and the Yukon. I would definately recommend against driving the Alcan at night. If you do, your asking to hit a moose or bison. Fuel isn't cheap. Top off the tanks in Edmonton, Dawson Creek, Ft. Nelson and Whitehorse. If I remember right, they were cheapest for fuel. It is a beautiful drive and one you'll never forget. I loved every minute of it. I live in Anchorage, so if you PM me I'll give you my number in case you have any problems. Alaska is beautiful! Have a safe trip!

 

that's really nice. thanks ctdinmt.

pretty much plan to drive durring the day. i dont want to miss anything. once in ak we are going to valdez first then to seward. my buddy will be captain on a halibut boat then so we will be going out with him. then we are considering a day cruise to view the glaciers and wildlife. when the g/f goes back to cinci, i will be getting ready to moose hunt. we'll be driving up into the interior and hunting near the tanana river not far from delta junction. when our tags are filled or season ends we will be running back down to soldotna to begin excavating the property for a cabin in the spring. this is just going to be an amazing trip. i cant wait. thanks for all the advice. i really enjoy hearing about others experiences on this journey.

 

I would recommend getting a copy of the Milepost. It's got tons of information regarding services,scenery, etc. I've still got one from 1982. Other advice, take your time.
Enjoy The Ride.

 

crazy horse, we ordered the mile post. had to have that. i rememeber my grandma telling me about their trip across canada and all through alaska 30 years ago or so.

we are taking our time. my buddies left mi at 2pm on a tuesday and on friday around 4pm they arrived in soldotna alaska. not us. lol... i want to see everything.

will check out the links in your sig.

 

OUTDOORSMAN, you may want to check out the Cassiar Hywy (HYWY 37) for the trip back down. I don't know whether you are going east or west once you get down to the "Lower 48". The Cassiar comes into the Alcan just west of Watson Lake. Less traveled and more remote than the Alcan but the scenery is good. Here is another link for Current Border Information also. Here is a link to British Columbia Road Conditions.

 

O.D.M.

Just flew back from Kenai yesterday. Been going mainly for the Sockeys on a flyrod for the last 10 years. The place gets in your blood! We now own two vehicles up there, my bro just bought a lot with a little cabin in Sterling, and we are looking for a boat.
Moose should be no problem, as we could have collected several with the van. The day we were leaving, a grizz got 8 chickens and 2 turkeys at the lodge we rent. They just might be extra hungry this year, as the fishing on the Kenai was so bad, they shut the river down yesterday. Be heads up, especially with your g/f along. There are times when gals drive the bears crazy. (like they don't do that to US!) Someone wounded one on the Russian, which makes for a mean one too.
Best sporting goods shops are the Trustworthy Hardware and Ken's. Both in Soldotna.
We did two Halibut charters out of Homer, and if you want to PM me about anything, holler.
Mike

 

haulinbut, hope you hit the sockeyes. we are not really worried but maybe concerned? about the salmon run and the summer weather. lol.. bears being extra hungry and the last day call letting my buddies know they have to work on the river. ugh!. really dosent matter i guess.the trip is going to be awesome.

thanks for all the links crazy horse. the ones in your sig are great.