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| [GMCnet] alaska travel [message #293450] |
Tue, 05 January 2016 22:12  |
Burt and Faye curtis
Messages: 256
Registered: June 2012
Karma: 4
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Been seriously thinking about heading North to Alaska this spring/summer
and after reading past posting, I still have some questions. First, Ken H
took the Alaskan Maritime Ferry from Washington to Juneau, Al. Does the
group think this is better than taking the BC Ferries on the shorter hops
up to Prince Rupert and then the Alaskan Maritime ones to Haines/ Skagway?
Or just skip the ferries altogether and do the drive both ways. My thoughts
had been that if one takes the ferries, you at least reach Alaska, but the
ferry fares are as much or more depending on the actual cost of gas as
driving up.
Also, does the group think that campground reservations are necessary or
are there plenty of dry camp opportunities available that would eliminate
the need for reservations for the most part? And, any other advice for the
journey?
Thanks in advance,
Fay Curtis
1976 Glenbrook aka Tumbleweed
Kneeland, CA
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| Re: [GMCnet] alaska travel [message #293452 is a reply to message #293450] |
Wed, 06 January 2016 07:00  |
Kingsley Coach
Messages: 2691
Registered: March 2009
Location: Nova Scotia Canada
Karma: -34
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Fay
I have no real advice other than to tell you to factor in exchange rates at
the time you will be entering Canada. Right now the US dollar is worth
quite a bit more than the Canadian...but this changes.
Mike in NS
On Wed, Jan 6, 2016 at 12:12 AM, Burt and Faye curtis <
curtisunlimitedbandf@gmail.com> wrote:
> Been seriously thinking about heading North to Alaska this spring/summer
> and after reading past posting, I still have some questions. First, Ken H
> took the Alaskan Maritime Ferry from Washington to Juneau, Al. Does the
> group think this is better than taking the BC Ferries on the shorter hops
> up to Prince Rupert and then the Alaskan Maritime ones to Haines/ Skagway?
> Or just skip the ferries altogether and do the drive both ways. My thoughts
> had been that if one takes the ferries, you at least reach Alaska, but the
> ferry fares are as much or more depending on the actual cost of gas as
> driving up.
> Also, does the group think that campground reservations are necessary or
> are there plenty of dry camp opportunities available that would eliminate
> the need for reservations for the most part? And, any other advice for the
> journey?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Fay Curtis
> 1976 Glenbrook aka Tumbleweed
> Kneeland, CA
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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--
Michael Beaton
1977 Kingsley 26-11
1977 Eleganza II 26-3
Antigonish, NS
Life is too short to hold a grudge; slash some tires and call it even !
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| Re: [GMCnet] alaska travel [message #293455 is a reply to message #293450] |
Wed, 06 January 2016 08:44 |
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wally
Messages: 643
Registered: August 2004
Location: Omaha Nebraska
Karma: 5
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Burt and Faye curtis wrote on Tue, 05 January 2016 22:12Been seriously thinking about heading North to Alaska this spring/summer
and after reading past posting, I still have some questions. First, Ken H
took the Alaskan Maritime Ferry from Washington to Juneau, Al. Does the
group think this is better than taking the BC Ferries on the shorter hops
up to Prince Rupert and then the Alaskan Maritime ones to Haines/ Skagway?
Or just skip the ferries altogether and do the drive both ways. My thoughts
had been that if one takes the ferries, you at least reach Alaska, but the
ferry fares are as much or more depending on the actual cost of gas as
driving up.
Also, does the group think that campground reservations are necessary or
are there plenty of dry camp opportunities available that would eliminate
the need for reservations for the most part? And, any other advice for the
journey?
Thanks in advance,
Fay Curtis
1976 Glenbrook aka Tumbleweed
Kneeland, CA
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Sue and I went 5 weeks August thru the first part of Sept last year and I drove all of it. I could see where the ferry would take a lot of seat time out. On the other hand the drive thru B.C. was quite awesome scenery wise. Gas prices are even lower now. We planned nothing and totally winged it. About 1/3 was boondocking and one campground we got the last spot. The roads were mostly good with the exception on stretches where frost makes it impossible to keep a good surface. One thing to watch for is frost heaves, a long depression in the surface which if it just the right length you get launched out the other side. I learned to watch for those. The bad parts are less than 5% of the total and mostly close to the Alaska border. We went into Alaska on Highway 1 and out on hwy 5 tru Chicken and on to Dawson City. The ferry to Dawson City across the Yukon river was a trip. We did loose a windshield to a rock thrown by a truck but stuff happens. I got it replaced when we got home. It was a great time and we highly recommend it. Go if you get a chance! Posted some pics here.
http://wallyandsue.blogspot.com/search/label/Alaska
Wally Anderson
Omaha NE
75 Glenbrook
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| Re: [GMCnet] alaska travel [message #293456 is a reply to message #293450] |
Wed, 06 January 2016 09:02 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Faye,
I can't give you any advice about one ferry service vs another since the
one out of Bellingham is the only one we've used. But I will suggest that
you take advantage of the stops available along the way. Our only stop, as
you know from having read our saga, was at Juno. Everything we've heard
from others indicates that we should have gotten off at 'most every stop,
and even taken some of the "detours".
I will testify in favor of taking the ferry at least one way. While
there's LOTS of beautiful scenery along the highway, it's a LONG road.
Round trip would make it about 4 times as long, IMHO.
What to do about the Alaskan State Bird (mosquitos)? Dunno. As you
probably recall from reading, we bought full body mosquito suits at
Cabela's because of my previous experiences during USAF trips flights into
Alaska (Fairbanks & Kodiak). For some reason, perhaps a combination of
leaving WA on 2 June and an usual climate in 2000, we encountered very few
pests. Staying out of the woods was reportedly part of the "cure" -- but I
hadn't spent any time there during the plagues I encountered in the
mid-'60's. Good luck -- do carry plenty of OFF.
Things have probably changed a LOT since we were there, but we never made
reservations anywhere and had no problem finding parking. They were very
lenient about where an RV could park. In fact, in Sewart, we, along with
many others, parked right on the bay, in downtown, in a large parking lot.
NOT on July 4th, the big footrace up & down the mountain day, but on July
5th+. Try to be there for that amazing event -- take binoculars.
Have fun!
Ken H.
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] alaska travel [message #293471 is a reply to message #293455] |
Wed, 06 January 2016 15:33 |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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The idea of using the coach on the return and saving the wear and tare
certainly looks like a good way to consider the long drive.
Being 73 now, I better consider doing it soon.
On Wed, Jan 6, 2016 at 6:44 AM, Wally Anderson
wrote:
> Burt and Faye curtis wrote on Tue, 05 January 2016 22:12
>> Been seriously thinking about heading North to Alaska this spring/summer
>> and after reading past posting, I still have some questions. First, Ken H
>> took the Alaskan Maritime Ferry from Washington to Juneau, Al. Does the
>> group think this is better than taking the BC Ferries on the shorter hops
>> up to Prince Rupert and then the Alaskan Maritime ones to Haines/
> Skagway?
>> Or just skip the ferries altogether and do the drive both ways. My
> thoughts
>> had been that if one takes the ferries, you at least reach Alaska, but
> the
>> ferry fares are as much or more depending on the actual cost of gas as
>> driving up.
>> Also, does the group think that campground reservations are necessary or
>> are there plenty of dry camp opportunities available that would eliminate
>> the need for reservations for the most part? And, any other advice for
> the
>> journey?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>> Fay Curtis
>> 1976 Glenbrook aka Tumbleweed
>> Kneeland, CA
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
> Sue and I went 5 weeks August thru the first part of Sept last year and I
> drove all of it. I could see where the ferry would take a lot of seat time
> out. On the other hand the drive thru B.C. was quite awesome scenery wise.
> Gas prices are even lower now. We planned nothing and totally winged it.
> About 1/3 was boondocking and one campground we got the last spot. The
> roads were mostly good with the exception on stretches where frost makes it
> impossible to keep a good surface. One thing to watch for is frost heaves,
> a long depression in the surface which if it just the right length you get
> launched out the other side. I learned to watch for those. The bad parts
> are less than 5% of the total and mostly close to the Alaska border. We went
> into Alaska on Highway 1 and out on hwy 5 tru Chicken and on to Dawson
> City. The ferry to Dawson City across the Yukon river was a trip. We did
> loose
> a windshield to a rock thrown by a truck but stuff happens. I got it
> replaced when we got home. It was a great time and we highly recommend it.
> Go if
> you get a chance! Posted some pics here.
> http://wallyandsue.blogspot.com/search/label/Alaska
> --
> Wally Anderson
> 1975 Glenbrook
> Megasquirt 455 port injection science project
> Omaha Nebraska
> Bob Stone hydroBOOOOST
> Greater Midwest Classics
> GMCES
> http://wallyandsue.blogspot.com/
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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| Re: [GMCnet] alaska travel [message #293476 is a reply to message #293450] |
Wed, 06 January 2016 16:30 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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I've had a lot of visits to Alaska and my personal feeling is that the trip to and from is much more exciting than being in Alaska itself. I found BC, and the Yukon to be totally amazing.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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| Re: [GMCnet] alaska travel [message #293488 is a reply to message #293487] |
Wed, 06 January 2016 21:28 |
dwayne jacobson[1]
Messages: 345
Registered: July 2009
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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I have a copy of his schedule for the trip and will email it to whoever
wants it. I had started to plan the trip as a rolling rally type. However
the attack of cancer on my body had me put the planning aside. We'll here I
am and a good possibility I will be in shape to do it starting mid to late
June.
That would be a dream come true.
Best regards for 2016.
Dwayne and Sharon Jacobson
White Rock BC
77 Kingsley
On Jan 6, 2016 6:33 PM, "Terrance Boyd" wrote:
> Hello,
> In the early 2000's we went on the Alaska rolling rally organized by Dave
> Ireland, it was SUPER. He had everything planned, places to stay, things to
> see.
> It would not hurt to contact him. I think he would be a great help.
> Terry
> On Jan 6, 2016 2:31 PM, "Bob de Kruyff" wrote:
>
>> I've had a lot of visits to Alaska and my personal feeling is that the
>> trip to and from is much more exciting than being in Alaska itself. I
> found
>> BC,
>> and the Yukon to be totally amazing.
>> --
>> Bob de Kruyff
>> 78 Eleganza
>> Chandler, AZ
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
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> _______________________________________________
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| Re: [GMCnet] alaska travel [message #293489 is a reply to message #293450] |
Wed, 06 January 2016 22:13 |
Sandra Price
Messages: 709
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Bob and I drove rt twice--once via the Alcan (up in July and back in August
'05--frost heaves mostly well marked and some waiting in construction
areas) and once on the Cassiar (up in May (roads not thawed, good running)
and back in July '08 (roads in bad shape due to warming and traffic).
Wouldn't take the Cassiar after end of May.
We stayed at RV parks all the way without advance reservations. We loved
the drive, the scenery, the wildlife, the adventure, and the different
people we met along the way. We considered taking the ferry, but decided
not to because of the cost and the fact that we had our dog with us and
understood that we could only take her out for potty breaks four times a
day for only 15 minutes at a time.
We are ready to do it again. Go!
Sandra and Bob Price
On Jan 5, 2016 10:13 PM, "Burt and Faye curtis" <
curtisunlimitedbandf@gmail.com> wrote:
> Been seriously thinking about heading North to Alaska this spring/summer
> and after reading past posting, I still have some questions. First, Ken H
> took the Alaskan Maritime Ferry from Washington to Juneau, Al. Does the
> group think this is better than taking the BC Ferries on the shorter hops
> up to Prince Rupert and then the Alaskan Maritime ones to Haines/ Skagway?
> Or just skip the ferries altogether and do the drive both ways. My thoughts
> had been that if one takes the ferries, you at least reach Alaska, but the
> ferry fares are as much or more depending on the actual cost of gas as
> driving up.
> Also, does the group think that campground reservations are necessary or
> are there plenty of dry camp opportunities available that would eliminate
> the need for reservations for the most part? And, any other advice for the
> journey?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Fay Curtis
> 1976 Glenbrook aka Tumbleweed
> Kneeland, CA
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] alaska travel [message #293493 is a reply to message #293450] |
Thu, 07 January 2016 01:08 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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I have been to Alaska many times by boat and by air. I even did it once in January. Across those trips I stopped or visited all the usual places like Juneau, Skagway, Whitehorse, Teslin, Tok, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Coldfoot, Arctic Circle Hot Sprigs, Chicken, Dawson, Watson Lake, Ft. Nelson, Seward, Homer, Valdez and many other places along the way.
What I missed out of all of those trips was all of the sights on the ground or on the shore. Flying over at a few hundred or a few thousand feet, or sailing by, I missed almost everything available to see and experience on the ground.
I have never driven it and I have really missed a lot. I started to drive it two years ago but that got cancelled.
So I recommend that you forget the boat with one exception. Take the 19 mile hop between Skagway and Haines if you want to drive up that road to the Alaska Highway. It is something like 400 miles to go between the two on the road.
Enjoy your trip. I wish I was going.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] alaska travel [message #293516 is a reply to message #293450] |
Thu, 07 January 2016 14:54 |
Kirk
Messages: 80
Registered: April 2008
Karma: 0
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Member |
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As residents of Anchorage for 25 years we drove the Alaska highway several times, it's just a "long" drive in the country; about 50 hours drive time across Canada. Don't pass a remote gas station without topping off. As noted beware of "frost heaves" in the roadway. In gravel construction areas slow way down and flash your headlights to avoid rocks thrown from oncoming trucks and vehicles. We never took the ferry. Also we never drove the Cassiar highway because we liked to spend a day or two at the Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park in B.C. on the AK Hiwy.
Canada has great campgrounds, often with firewood supplied. It's also easy and normal to dry camp along the AK Hiwy, there are plenty of clearings along side the road. There are Wal Marts in B.C., Whitehorse, Y.T., Fairbanks and Anchorage; maybe more since we drove it.
Anchorage RV Parks are full of locals and travelers in the summer and timing those reservations are difficult. Anchorage has all the big box stores and fast food, it's "everywhere USA". There are great museums in Fairbanks and Anchorage and plenty of tourist "opportunities". "Alaska Salmon Bakes" are a favorite as is Reindeer sausage. In our view Alaska is all about the trip, the vistas, the people, the fishing and the rural towns and villages.
You will need the "Milepost" magazine, a mile by mile guide. www.themilepost.com/ Happy motoring, Kirk
Kirk & Eloise Yeager -
Motorcyclists/RVers/Dog Lovers -
77 Royale 455/TBI/3:55 -
49ers - N. Nevada -
NdnKirk at Gmail dot com
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| Re: [GMCnet] alaska travel [message #293518 is a reply to message #293516] |
Thu, 07 January 2016 15:57 |
Sandra Price
Messages: 709
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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"Milepost" is important because it let's you know what to expect all along
the way. Helps to let you know where you can get gas. Depending on the
time you go, some places may not be open, especially if you go up early,
say mid to the end of May. Same could apply mid August on going home. It
can start to snow and freeze about that time and some stations/cafes may
close earlier.
You WILL see some unexpected sights, so enjoy the trip and the surprises.
Sandra
On Jan 7, 2016 2:55 PM, "Kirk" wrote:
> As residents of Anchorage for 25 years we drove the Alaska highway several
> times, it's just a "long" drive in the country; about 50 hours drive time
> across Canada. Don't pass a remote gas station without topping off. As
> noted beware of "frost heaves" in the roadway. In gravel construction areas
> slow way down and flash your headlights to avoid rocks thrown from
> oncoming trucks and vehicles. We never took the ferry. Also we never
> drove the
> Cassiar highway because we liked to spend a day or two at the Liard River
> Hot Springs Provincial Park in B.C. on the AK Hiwy.
>
> Canada has great campgrounds, often with firewood supplied. It's also
> easy and normal to dry camp along the AK Hiwy, there are plenty of clearings
> along side the road. There are Wal Marts in B.C., Whitehorse, Y.T.,
> Fairbanks and Anchorage; maybe more since we drove it.
>
> Anchorage RV Parks are full of locals and travelers in the summer and
> timing those reservations are difficult. Anchorage has all the big box
> stores
> and fast food, it's "everywhere USA". There are great museums in Fairbanks
> and Anchorage and plenty of tourist "opportunities". "Alaska Salmon Bakes"
> are a favorite as is Reindeer sausage. In our view Alaska is all about
> the trip, the vistas, the people, the fishing and the rural towns and
> villages.
>
> You will need the "Milepost" magazine, a mile by mile guide.
> www.themilepost.com/ Happy motoring, Kirk
> --
> Kirk & Eloise Yeager -
> Motorcyclists/RVers/Dog Lovers -
> 77 Royale 455/TBI/3:55 -
> 49ers - N. Nevada -
> NdnKirk at Gmail dot com
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] alaska travel [message #293563 is a reply to message #293450] |
Fri, 08 January 2016 19:57 |
Tom Whitton
Messages: 235
Registered: February 2004
Location: Paducah, KY
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Hi Dwayne,
Hope you make the Alaska trip this year.
We drove a 24 foot Champion motor home to Alaska in 1977 and would like to do it again in the GMC.
I would appreciate receiving a copy of the Alaska Travel schedule that you have.
Tom Whitton
26 ft. updated GMC
Paducah, KY
Message: 8
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2016 19:28:34 -0800
From: Dwayne Jacobson
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] alaska travel
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
I have a copy of his schedule for the trip and will email it to whoever
wants it. I had started to plan the trip as a rolling rally type. However
the attack of cancer on my body had me put the planning aside. We'll here I
am and a good possibility I will be in shape to do it starting mid to late
June.
That would be a dream come true.
Best regards for 2016.
Dwayne and Sharon Jacobson
White Rock BC
77 Kingsley
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| Re: [GMCnet] alaska travel [message #293660 is a reply to message #293450] |
Sun, 10 January 2016 02:43 |
Gadabout
Messages: 124
Registered: March 2013
Location: Edmonton
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Hi Fay,
There was a group planning a trip this summer, I resurrected the thread for you to take a look at.
My wife and I may make a similar trip this summer.
Let me know if your going, perhaps our paths will cross.
Carl Harr : Driver NASCAR Pro Series #2
1978 Gadabout-Restoring
1978 Palm Beach
1976 Glenbrook
Prevost Featherlite H3-45
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