anyone ever roadtrip from Seattle to Anchorage?

[vash]

wife wants me to plan an epic road trip. thinking of throwing a massive curveball at her.

drive the Alcan highway through the wilderness..camping and fishing. then party in anchorage, put the truck on a ferry and float back to Seattle...then drive back to the bay area.

i need to figure out the cost of the ferry. website is confusing. the $$ may schitcan my plans. seems like a great adventure. nice to need our passports on a car trip.

anyone do this? think i will destroy my truck?

[trekkor]

I'd do it.


KT

[Bill Douglas]

Woo hoo. What a trip. Lobster, fresh fish. That's what I would like to do.

[recycled sixtie]

Notes from when I did it in a 60's Parisienne in the 60's.
It takes a long time.
-Gas is expensive the further north u go..duh.
-Gravel roads = possible flat tires. Use tires with tubes in them.
- The locals used to fix up a rubber mat beneath the gas tank because gravel would get thrown from the wheels onto the gas tank. Prevented gas tank from being punctured.
- Cracked windshields were common.
We went from Toronto to Whitehorse Yukon.
Worth the drive

[look 171]

I hear its all paved now. We were up there a couple of years ago and I saw a bunch of vehicles from the lower 48, a bunch of little cars like the Ford Focus or Fit. If they can make it, your Toyota or Subi should. The neighbor's next to my folks did it in the late 60s and again in the mid 70's. Back then it was wild with many unpaved roads so they carried extra parts. I am looking for a 4 runner now and plan a trip in a few years when the kids are a bit older. My wife isn't too thrill about it after our Canadian road trip this past summer.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Notes from when I did it in a 60's Parisienne in the 60's.
It takes a long time.
-Gas is expensive the further north u go..duh.
-Gravel roads = possible flat tires. Use tires with tubes in them.
- The locals used to fix up a rubber mat beneath the gas tank because gravel would get thrown from the wheels onto the gas tank. Prevented gas tank from being punctured.
- Cracked windshields were common.
We went from Toronto to Whitehorse Yukon.
Worth the drive

There is a book on how to prep for the Alcan Hwy. A rubber mat was suggested. My neighbors told me the locals do not do this because if a rock is caught between the tank and something, it will wear a a hole in the tank due to the long miles over rough roads.

[varmint]

The only unpaved stretch left is between the border and Tok. That doesn't mean the rest is a cake walk.

I've done it twice. The last time I never went back south. When I get home I'll write some less obvious tips.

[varmint]

The book is called "milepost". It's a mile by mile directory of every gas station, motel, mechanic, restaurant, fishing hole, on the route.

[varmint]

P.S. don't take a vehicle you love up the alcan

[gatotom]

A more sane trip is to come up to Bellingham, WA and park your ride and take the Alaska ferry up. You get to see whales and orcas, camp out in your tent on the deck. When you get to Alaska go whereever you want and when done take the ferry back or fly back to B-ham.

Easier on your rig and your body, to drive up you should take the whole summer.

[LWJ]

That same trip is on my radar. Wife hates the idea. Keep us posted. It is very doable.

Larry

[varmint]

canadian border guards are dick holes. if you've ever had a dui be prepared to cough/bribe/cough pay an extra fee. you are allowed a personal long gun and a handful of ammo. so make the most of it.

there all kinds of neat pills in canadian pharmacies you can get without a prescription.

consider joining a lodge. things like the elks, moose, vfw are still very big up here. they are often the only good place to eat in these little towns. and knowing the secret handshake could help if you break down.

there may be only five cops on patrol in a region the size of virginia. but there are only six roads. so the odds aren't good. girdwood is a notorious speed trap.

all the roads are two lanes. if you're blocking more than five vehicles the cops will ticket you.

an old timer told me the bull moose consider motorcycles mating rivals,and will attack. i now suspect he was bull****ting me. but you never know.

a really good way to irritate the local citizens is to leave trash around. all that stuff about garbage attracting bears is true.

thieves roam the better known campgrounds stealing generators and such.

you will take a rock through the windshield.

the stories of eagles carrying off chihauhuas are true.

there is a strong bit of pay for play in the milepost. but it is still indispensable.

tourists see a moose, stop their rv in the middle of the road to take pictures. and then are surprised when they are rear ended by a log truck. happens a dozen times a year.



write if you get to the kenai. i'll buy you a beer.

[pete3799]

Don't forget to pack a blunt axe.

[vash]

awesome varmit..

you should be a tourist specialist!! thanks..just found out my wife signed up for summer school..

[wdfifteen]

A bucket list goal is to make it from Ohio to Anchorage and back in my '47 Dodge truck.

[9dreizig]

Vash, my best friend ( and your potential future hunting buddy) who lives in Anchorage has done it many times.. In fact his two daughters have done it (once with him and once with a girl friend, the other did it by herself).. Varmit is correct that the Milepost is essential.. I hate to disagree with him on one point,, I think it's 100% paved now and isn't nearly as tough on a vehicle as it once was.. On my bucket list as well (both the ferry and the drive)

[Laneco]

We had a young lady who worked a couple of years ago for us in Denali who drove from somewhere in the southeast, to the park. She had this little ratty Ford Escort - probably a $400 car at best. All of her friends told her DONT DO IT! The car will BREAK DOWN AND LEAVE YOU STRANDED!!!

When she crossed into Alaska, she stopped at the sign and took a picture and sent it to all her friends with the message "NYAH NYAH NYAH - I made it!" The fuel pump was so bad that by the end of hte summer, the car would only go about 40 mph. I convinced her to have it fixed before she drove home in the fall (September). She did and made it home.

My advice? Life is short - enjoy the drive. You plot an epic adventure and I wish you the best! If I could take the time, I'd do it too!

angela

[vash]

Originally Posted by 9dreizig

Vash, my best friend ( and your potential future hunting buddy) who lives in Anchorage has done it many times.. In fact his two daughters have done it (once with him and once with a girl friend, the other did it by herself).. Varmit is correct that the Milepost is essential.. I hate to disagree with him on one point,, I think it's 100% paved now and isn't nearly as tough on a vehicle as it once was.. On my bucket list as well (both the ferry and the drive)

let's do this!!

i am seriously researching this. my wife is suspicious that this will develop into something hunting related..but no. this will be 100% "couples skate"

i am infatuated with Alaska. and the north in general.

[Laneco]

I, too am very much infatuated with Alaska.

There are two camps for people who go to Alaska. Those who will never go again and those who think about going back every day...

Me? Every day...

angela

[afterburn 549]

Make sure you Take this drama board with you all.......Cant you MAKE any decisions ?
ANY?
Geeesh