Alaska Trip 2017

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by Excursion04

one more thought on our trip.
Do we need to take a spare tire with us? We have no storage room big enough to store one in case we decided to take one with us. I thought may be store it on the roof, which means installing some sort of roof rack. Any thought?

We didn't carry a spare for our all-summer trip with the 40' MH. As you know, the bigger MHs don't come with spares and since we were full-timers, we had no room to carry one and we surely weren't able to change one at our age - too heavy.

We did, however, change out all our tires in Oregon before crossing the border. (no sales tax in Oregon) They were 6 years old anyway. We had no tire issues or any other issues.

[Dale70]

Alaska 2017 --
We are planning to go also and would like to meet someone who might also be making the trip. We might go together part way/lots/little depending upon how we all get along and our styles of travel etc.

We will be leaving from West Palm Beach FL. We are semi-retired but will not be in a great hurry. We are roughly 65-70 and while we like to hike and such, our hikes will probably be limited to a few miles. We are not big on taking all the biggest or longest tours, seeing it ourselves is more our style.

I would like to hear from other who might be interested in traveling together for the trip. I would prefer someone in a diesel since the stops for fuel would be on a somewhat similar timeframe, but that is not 100% essential.

looking forward to hearing from someone, and then we can get into lots more details.
Dale and Su (yes no e on Su) Gange Palm Beach Gardens FL.

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by Dale70

We are not big on taking all the biggest or longest tours, seeing it ourselves is more our style.

Just this one sentence tells me you'd enjoy the trip better if you went by yourselves.

The Alaska trip is not difficult and you meet up with the same people over and over again because they're all going to the same places and there are limited roads to take.

If you read a lot of the trip on these forums you'll find that others agree that going as a group would be very confining. Not everyone has the same tastes for stops and siteseeing, RV parks or campgrounds or boondocking in awesome spots, how long to stay in one place, how many miles to drive daily, etc.

The only things you need to prepare for the trip is to purchase the 'Milepost', the TourSaver 2/1 coupon book (one glacier cruise pays for it and you'll want to do at least one), and Mike and Terri Church's 'Alaskan Camping' book which includes Canada and the Yukon. The Milepost is not good for campgrounds. The Church's used to live in Fairbanks and traveled back and forth all the time. They know every campground, RV park or boondocking spot along the way and give very detailed information with GPS coordinates. The campgrounds don't have addresses.

The trip is easy...break it up into point A to point B daily instead of thinking of it as a whole. The only difficult part for some is that it is a long one...especially from Florida. Consider crossing the Canadian border by the end of May and re-crossing around mid to late August. Then you can take your time doing the trip. Canada and the Yukon have a lot to offer. Don't just breeze through.

[Dale70]

Thanks twp gypsies.

I have the Milepost and the campground book already.

I am not worried at all about the trip, but just thought it might be nice to have some company, and discuss plans and thoughts and such, as we progress.
If it did not work out -- then fine, but we just might meet some people with similar thoughts and style.
We are pretty easy going people.

I hear you but am still interested in talking to others going next year.

thanks -- Dale

[Excursion04]

Originally Posted by Dale70

Thanks twp gypsies.

I have the Milepost and the campground book already.

I am not worried at all about the trip, but just thought it might be nice to have some company, and discuss plans and thoughts and such, as we progress.
If it did not work out -- then fine, but we just might meet some people with similar thoughts and style.
We are pretty easy going people.

I hear you but am still interested in talking to others going next year.

thanks -- Dale

Dale70

We thought about doing what you suggested, tagging up with another couple. We are retired just turned 65. We have 2004 Fleetwood Excursion Diesel. We plan on taking our time, no rush. I like to take long hikes, but wife is not big on long hikes. So we/I compromise. I just got a copy of milepost 2016, started layout our route. Out tentative plan is to leave St. Louis mid may. We are not big on tours and all touristy stuff. We love the wildlife. I can see ourselves making many stops just to see the surroundings.

[Stripe34]

We will be heading up that way also, but in 2018. Will be looking for the same sort of loose / casual associations with others on the road at the same time. We can text msg back to you when we hit a section of bad frost heaves, or find a great boondock spot, etc.

[t55watson]

Originally Posted by Dale70

Alaska 2017 --
We are planning to go also and would like to meet someone who might also be making the trip. We might go together part way/lots/little depending upon how we all get along and our styles of travel etc.

We will be leaving from West Palm Beach FL. We are semi-retired but will not be in a great hurry. We are roughly 65-70 and while we like to hike and such, our hikes will probably be limited to a few miles. We are not big on taking all the biggest or longest tours, seeing it ourselves is more our style.

I would like to hear from other who might be interested in traveling together for the trip. I would prefer someone in a diesel since the stops for fuel would be on a somewhat similar timeframe, but that is not 100% essential.

looking forward to hearing from someone, and then we can get into lots more details.
Dale and Su (yes no e on Su) Gange Palm Beach Gardens FL.

My wife and I are a bit older than you (mid 70) but I too like to hike and she doesn't. We made the trip in 2009, Alaska 50th birthday, and will be doing it again in 2017. This time we will be driving a pickup and towing a small (21') TT. I have always had older MH's and the wait for parts if you have a breakdown is about a week. Ask me how I know.
If you want to hookup with us just give me a shout during the Winter or even when on the road during the trip. t55watson@gmail.com

[Bagger97]

Keep an eye on the exchange rate and buy Canadian money thru the web when the rate is good. We bought our money 8 months in advance, gave us more buying power while in Canada.

[Superslif]

Watch your bank, they may say they will exchange US for Canadian for par, but I found out they charged a 10% "fee". We took $300 to cover this and that. While in Dawson City Yukon Diamond Gerties (Casino) exchanged some more for $125C per $100 US when the rate was running 128. We did a lot of Provinical park campgrounds, spew kept a good supple of small bills.

[megehrs]

We live in Alaska in the summer and N.Idaho in Fall and spring. Dead winter will be in AZ or TX. We drove the Alaska Hwy twice this year. Couple of tips I can give you....use credit cards for anything you can. Your credit card company will get the best exchange rate. It was .77 to the Canadian dollar all summer. If traveling thru Dawson Creek, there is a WalMart right when you enter town. Good for everything, especially local produce. Don't stay in Dawson Creek. 60 miles up the road just past Fort Saint John is the Coffee Creek RV Campground. Absolutely the best, cleanest bathrooms on the entire trip. Water hook up is heated so it is a year round facility.bathrooms are not community..private..and amazing. Near new facility. Plenty of space. We towed a toad behind a 34 ft dp. Only 27.00 a nite in American funds. 35 cdn. They don't charge enough. Stop for diesel at Contact Creek Lodge, Dinty And Richard own and operate it. It is 45 miles south of Watson Lake. They get new fuel every Thursday. Their fuel is 20 cents a gal cheaper than up the road at Watson Lake. Nothing impressed us in Watson Lake. Stay at Pioneer RVPark in Whitehorse. They do EVERYTHING. Tours from there to Skagway if you have the time. They changed money at .80 per cdn dollar. Cost 28 a night American. They have an RV Wash. They a mechanic and I got my oil an filter done for half of what it was inAlaska, plus the exchange rate helped too. They give you 4 or 5 cents off in fuel if you stay over nite. Very nice people. Family operation for 10 years. Very reasonable souvenir prices too. Don't buy anything at Border Town, AK. Fuel is a dollar cheaper in Tok. Have a good, safe trip. We still have our windshield. Going back up for summer in May. 😎

[AKOne]

Forget trying to stay on a schedule, certainly my opinion. In Alaska you will have available National Forest, State Parks and private campgrounds. Many boondocking opportunities including National Forests. So reservations are not a must. The exception as others have mentioned is Denali National Park, without reservations not likely you will get in. But, there are a few private CG's close by. If you want to spend the 4th of July in Seward (very popular) reservations will be a must. There will be little or no boondocking there. Kenai during the salmon run, gets a little on the crazy side. Reservations is a good idea. You cannot bank on boondocking at Fred Meyer or Wal-mart. They are a first come, first serve and you would not believe how many RVs are jammed into those parking lots. Most rigs will have Alaska plates on them. None of this is to discourage you go visiting these areas, just a heads-up as to what to expect. Expect some roads to be rough. Of particular note is the Tok Cutoff, it will beat the H out of your coach.

Traffic in Anchorage and north and south can be heavy. Particularly south heading to Turnigain Arm. Do not expect much by way of campgrounds in Anchorage. None too desirable. Cabela's is a good location with a fueling station about a quarter of a mile away with wide island access, air, potable water and a dump station all at no charge. Costco is also close by.

The popular destinations are worth visiting, however, there are countless places in between those destinations that are absolutely spectacular. Keep in mind, Alaska is nearly two and a half times the size of Texas, so you will not run out of places to go and see. Especially if you consider taking in charter air tours, ferries, backpacking, tour cruises, etc.

Be sure to do your homework before crossing into Canada. Know with to expect if traveling with pets, produce and guns. Found Idaho a very easy crossing point. One last note, in Canada, one of our favorite boondocking spots is Muncho Lake. Well worth a nights stay. Expect a memorable trip

[wingnut60]

Excursion04,
As to spares--we just returned from the trip, DFW to Fairbanks, to Anchorage and return.
3 couples, 2 fivers and a MH/toad--28 tires, no flats, no blowouts. Just be sure what you start with are in good shape. Made same trip in '12--everyone took spares, never needed them.


Probably won't mean a lot next year, but here is list of where we stopped for fuel and prices:
Diesel prices 2016 trip

Surrey, BC Esso $1.149L
Pr. George Esso 1.049
Vanderhoof, BC Gas Bar 1.059
Smithers, BC Chevron 1.059
Jct Cassiar Hwy/Alcan Ind? $1.339
Rancheria, YT Ind? $1.359 Golden Nugget RV Park
Whitehorse, YT Gas Bar $1.045
Tok, AK Ind $2.669
Fairbanks Sams $2.519
Fairbanks Sams 2.519
Palmer, AK Fred Meyer $2.469
Soldotna, AK FM $2.619
Anchorage Costco $2.359
Tok Ind $2.779
Haines Napa $3.209
Whitehorse Gas Bar $1.049
Ft Nelson Fas Gas $1.119 Dinged CCard for 4 identical charges—Cap One caught it immediately
Ft St John PetroCan $1.059
Pr George Chevron $1.019
Jasper PetroCan $0.969
Canmore PetroCan $0.949
Gt Falls Smiths $2.259
Sheridan, MT Sinclair $2.339
Ennis, MT Exxon $2.349
Evanston, WY Smiths $2.449
Aurora, CO Shell $2.119
Dumas, TX WM $2.129

Canadian prices are in Litres—just multiply by 3.8 to approximate gallons.
14,042 miles, 27 fuel stops. You can see what an aux fuel tank does to ease the fueling stops.

Another item to start thinking about--Credit Card exchange fees--look around for one that doesn't charge the foreign exchange fee, we used Capitol One. This can be as high as 5% with some cards. Did not hurt that most of the time we were in Canada, the exchange was around 1.3 CDN to 1.0 USD. Or, every CC charge in Canada came in at about 0.70 US.

Joe

[Dale70]

Thanks for the info -- some useful comments even if I have read a few trip reports and blogs.

[S Bradley]

Using credit card in Canada?
We had an issue useing credit cards in Canada, actually two.
First, our credit card number was used to make charges after returning home to Alaska. We had to open a fraud case and replace the cards.
Second, when chargeing for fuel in Haines Junction the charge will show up on the credit card as Whitehorse because that is where they process the charge.
It's not really a problem just don't think it is a fraudlent charge, and stop payment.

Keep all your receipts and match them with your statement.

You will need some cash in small denominations to pay for camping in at the Provincial campgrounds. The exchange rate at our bank is reasonable, unless you exchange back to U.S. the two exchanges doubles the cost at that rate it's not worth doing.