911 Alcan?

[av winans]

Has anyone driven the Alaskan Highway in their 911? Experiences and tips would be great.

Thanks

[DaveE]

There was an article in Excellence a long time ago about some 356's that did it.

[Canada Kev]

Most of the highway is in pretty good shape today. Most is also in pretty remote areas, but the people up there are friendly and eager to help someone in need. I've been only to Fort Nelson which is about 300 miles from the beginning (Dawson Creek). The whole highway from Dawson to Anchorage is probably about 2000 miles. There are likely areas that if you went a few metres off the road, no one has ever stepped there before. That's how remote some spots are. It is truly a unique feeling to be in places like that.

I wouldn't go through until after spring breakup is over. It gets pretty messy and dirty through April, and too far into the summer, its full of lumbering Winnebagos. After I say that, it IS the middle of nowhere on a really long highway, so its not like driving down any interstate on a long weekend. June is likely the best time, traffic and road condition wise. And gas is NEVER cheap, there.

If you go, take a lap top for downloads of pics or LOTS of memory cards for the camera. Good luck.

[JBunkley]

After writing the finest literary internet post of my career, suddenly and without warning I was kicked off of Pelican parts BBS for unknown reasons. So here's the short version of what I said;

I did it in 1997, the canadian border mounties tried to shake me down for $500 American.

The Alaskan highway is a very loose term for what you would consider a highway.

I went through eleven tires, each time hitting a railroad spike in the road. Curiously, there was always a freindly person who lived near the road who sold retreads.

Everything costs triple in Alaska. I paid Eight bucks for a beer.

I had the same idea as the guy in the book "Into the Wild" but I had no idea about him and I lived, obviously.

Potholes can be huge.

The Dalton is the scariest place I've ever driven and I've even driven in Italy! Methed out truckdrivers hauling three piggybacked trailers at over one hundred miles an hour sliding all over the road.

It was a whopping 17,500 miles there and back beginning in North Carolina. Alaska is a third of the way around the earth and is way bigger than you think. See a Buckminster Fuller projection of the earth to see what I mean.

I saw twenty eight bears in the wild that summer, every type of whale on the planet breaching, unspoiled wildnerness as far as the mind can see. So go, go now whilst you can still get out of the car and explore. Cross the Harding Ice field on foot.

The Alcan in a 911, yes, the adventure of a lifetime, definitely.

Shine on,
JB

"Go my sons, burn your books, Buy yourself stout shoes. Get away to the mountains, the deserts and the deepest recesses of the earth. In this way and no other will you gain a true knowledge of things and of their properties."

-Seter Severinus, 1571 A.D.

[t6dpilot]

Aaron, what the he11 are you planning now?! Now that would be a cool trip. It would make our Ditch trip look like a ride to the convenience store. It would be a great excuse to fab up some nifty tire racks for the 911 roof and put on a whole crap load of driving lights. Hhhmmmm, and raise the car and put on mud flaps, and... Build a Rally Bastard!!!!

[carrera turbo]

i have driven the alaska highway going on 11 times and it has gotten better since the first time i drove up in 89.

i for one have never had a problem with the borders, the canadians have always been very friendly and have never asked for money.

and the road is very good until you get to alaska then it gets a bit sketchy.

a friend and i drove up a 72 914 and loved the trip never got a flat and the locals are easy to deal with.

i stayed in toad river on that trip called ahead to the lodge told the keepers we where running late and they would be closed when we arrived.and the lady said she would slip a napkin under each door that was vacant and we could just enter the one we liked and pay her in the morning. nice people.

i would say take a full size spare if you can or put on a set of tires that are sold in canada so you can get a replacement if needed.

i recommend doing the trip if you can as its an awesome trip. i think the best time to run is September as the colors are good and the roads have less traffic.

cheers ed

[GH85Carrera]

There is a guy in the Porsche club that drives his 911 down from Anchorage every year. In 2008 he drove all the way to Charlotte NC. He drove all the way to San Diego the year before. For some reason he seems to win the long distance award every year. He wins a new set of Michelins every year.