North to Alaska

[mga60tw]

Using the Alaskan Highway,made it to Watson Lake from FT Nelson today 6/20. It is a little over 300 miles. We left at 8am and hit some very thick fog right of the bat for the next 40 miles. The first 200 miles are the worst. The roads are rough and the grades are steep. The next 100 miles are much better and you can do 55. There are still some rough spots but few and far between. Also gas and diesel are in short supply, so purchase at FT. Nelson and if you can't make it 270 miles to Contact Creek,(thanks Larry and Curley) cheapest fuel around just outside Watson Lake, diesel was 1.31 a liter, then stop at the other few places and pay the higher price. We stopped and got a great cinnamon roll at Testa River RV Park, Thanks Larry and Curley, Yum Yum. They do have gas and diesel but at 1.60 a liter.
We are thinking maybe we should leave later, because we have hit fog both times we left at 8.
We are staying at Tags for $25 a night with full hookups, cable TV but limited channels and free internet. It is a parking lot and the spots are close together but across the street from the SIGNS. Okay for the $$$
We keep hearing about the road into TOK and how bad it is. We won't be hitting that area for about 6 days. Please keep posting about the HWY and if they are getting it repaired.
Thanks, Tom

[new rver]

this will be helpfull. still in usa.now that grandson was born no holding back.reading all the post.very good.
safe travles bob,linda & missy

[mga60tw]

Larry and Curley where are you? We found the best cinnamon buns today at Johnson's Crossing Campground Services on the Alaska Highway 203 miles from Watson Lake. We waited on them to come out of the oven. To die for!!

[akadeadeye]

Could someone post some photos of the scenery along the Klondike Highway and the Top of the World Highway please? We are getting very interested for next year.

Don

[mga60tw]

Drove from Watson Lake to Whitehorse on the Alaskan Highway today. The sun was out for the first time in 2 days and the road was good. Only a few bad spots, some road workers fixing some pot holes, just slow down and you are fine. It was a 283 mile drive and places for fuel.
We ate at Johnson's Crossing Campground Services for lunch. They have very good sandwiches on homemade bread for 4.50 and the best cinnamon buns. The total for 2 sandwiches, drinks and 2 cinnamon buns was $21. We each had half a sandwich leftover, which we had for dinner and one big cinnamon bun for desert. We are staying in Whitehorse 4 nights and getting the oil changed in the truck. Then on to Beaver Creek, will keep you posted on that road condition. Don't worry about the Alaskan Highway from Watson Lake to Whitehorse, all okay!! Make sure you stop for 1 of those or 2 of those cinnamon buns!!

[new rver]

setting in edge wood inn and rv park montana. 34 $ full hook up and laundry.heading to the glacier np. than north all post great took in all info.
safe travels bob,linda & missy

[mga60tw]

drove from Whitehorse to Beaver Creek on the Alaskan Highway. The road from Haines Junction to Beaver Creak is rough and you will need to go very slow in some areas. But is not as bad as the Top of the World on the American side to Tok. I heard from someone who did it yesterday and it is 15 to 20mph for 60 miles. So none of the routes to Tok are good at this time. But I am glad I did the Alaskan Highway it really isn't that bad and if you take your time you will be fine.

tom

[scenic route]

Originally Posted by mga60tw

But is not as bad as the Top of the World on the American side to Tok. I heard from someone who did it yesterday and it is 15 to 20mph for 60 miles. So none of the routes to Tok are good at this time. But I am glad I did the Alaskan Highway it really isn't that bad and if you take your time you will be fine.

tom

I agree with Tom that the Alaska Hwy is probably the smoothest route. We, however, did the TOTW last Tuesday from Dawson City. It had been raining for almost a week in DC and the Top of the World Hwy, including Chicken, AK. Even with all the mud and pot holes, I would not have missed the DC visit(no, I didn't have the "Petrified Toe Drink" at Gertie's), the ferry ride(free) across the Yukon River or the scenic drive offered up by the TOTW. The mud was so thick, we lost a mud flap somewhere between the US border and Chicken due to the mud buildup and rough road. If anyone finds it, please forward to Riverview RV just south of Fairbanks...we'll be here for another week.

We had talked to some folks that drove up to Tok via the Alaska Hwy and then did the TOTW into Dawson City by toad...so that's a viable option if one doesn't want to miss TOTW and DC...it's worth the pain! We did stay in Chicken and to be fair, they did have a bad stretch of rain so it was a pretty soppy stay and the power generation at Chicken Creek left a lot to be desired...we couldn't run anything for fear of low power damage to the RV's equipment. Two miles south of Chicken, you cross a paved bridge and the road is paved with occasional loose gravel patches and few rough spots...but a VAST improvement the rest of the way into Tok.

The trip into Fairbanks from Tok yesterday was rainy, so we couldn't see much of anything...thought we would stop for awhile to let the weather pass. Didn't happen and we missed a few planned stops - but it was a pretty smooth ride. This is our second night of a planned 10 so if the weather holds(it's been sunny with a few showers), we'll use this as a base for some real back road sightseeing...may even get to Deadhorse if we can book a hotel/motel up there. Talked to a Texan that said it's really the last frontier(the Dalton Hwy.) as far as wildlife is concerned, so it's high on the to do list in the Jeep.

Had a very scary moment today...saw some Muskox at the University of Alaska, at their research facility. I don't know why, but the sight of those things really hit me as to where we are...MUSKOX, they live WAAAY UP NORTH! Like in ALASKA! As Frank Barone would've said "Holy Crap"! Let's see...that's like 850 gallons of fuel from home! Double Travel will make a fellow think in different perspectives.
It's OK, tomorrow we'll have a nice soak in Circle Hot Springs and again, all will be right in the world. This place is 'over the top' amazing. Safe travels, everyone. Bob

[ccc]

Not the Klondyke as we will do it on the way south, we came up the western route.

Here is the link to snapfish. One must register but it is safe!
There are other pics of our trip up as well.


A note from Charles:
Hi-

I thought you might like to see this Album!





I hope the link will work on this site.

CCC

[mga60tw]

Took the Alaskan Highway from Beaver Creek to Tok. It is rough in some areas but not to bad. I just slowed down and took it easy in the rough areas. I have heard that Tok to Anchorage will be rough in areas and there are areas that you have to wait to be escorted down the road. Wait can be up to 15 minutes.

[scenic route]

Originally Posted by mga60tw

I have heard that Tok to Anchorage will be rough in areas and there are areas that you have to wait to be escorted down the road. Wait can be up to 15 minutes.

That may be true...we drove down to Slana on 1 and then went into Wrangell - St. Elias NP and Preserve via the Nabesna while staying in Tok. The Tok Cutoff (1), at least the first 66 miles into Slana, is more 'whoop dee doos' in spots with some ever-present loose gravel patches that are not too rough. No construction was sited...cough. We didn't get any further than Slana on hwy 1. though.

For anyone going into Wrangell - ST. E. NP & P., the Nabesna hwy is pretty rough and crosses several wide streams that can be fast moving. The last 1/5 th of the road is not maintained, but it's also the most scenic...so a check at the Ranger Station at the Park entrance is a good stop for current conditions and a free CD that narrates you through the entire length of the park road from point to point...pretty cool if you have the kidneys for it. Saw our first Griz there on the way out of the park! Have Jeep/Will Travel Backroads! Bob

[ccc]

On our way in last month we did the Distruction Bay (Beaver Creek) to Tok road, yes it is slow going but slow is OK by far the worse road. But NOT a problem unless you must drive 55.
After that OK but some on the US side not so good but again not 55 but OK.
We drove virtually every Alaskan hwy while here and I am impressed on how good they are----considering the icy winters!

Today we are in a dry campground in Delta Junction heaed to TOK will spend the nt at Tok yea, it is only 100 miles but we are NOT in a hurry.

Then on to CHICKEN, there the pavemnet ends. We will ck conditons on the road out of Chicken to Dawson while in Chicken and decide. Want to do it but am not crazy either!
It was closed last week for a few days, terrible rains, and one DP went over the side and was destroyed, I SAW THE PICTURES last evening by a fellow camper who took the pics. Guy was dodging a pot hole and well you now know what happened, no one died but I understand some injury.

Pot holes on a road like that are the same as animals on the road, dont dodge them HIT them. That has been my driving philosophy for life.

Of course if there is plenty of room to dodge a pot hole you can miss it but big swerves are likely to cause a problem ----conditions dictate, that is what driving EXPERIENCE is about.

Full report to follow on what we find.

CCC

[scenic route]

We came over the Top of the World nine days ago in some heavy rain and road conditions were getting pretty sloppy...from the US border into Chicken was a slurry of mud with lots of pot holes that were getting bigger by the hour. In some places, we were doing about 10 - 15 mph and we were being passed by some DPs that acted like there were no pot holes at all. We ran into very few places that I felt traction was a real issue...go slow, the scenery is worth the trip. That said, we both feel that the TOTW is something what if you've not done, it's a must do. After you've done it, no need to do it again.

The Canadian side of the TOTW is in good shape...seal coated gravel or paved with an occasional rough loose gravel patch. Leave it to us (US) to neglect a real gem of a road until it is almost useless...we can and should be doing better. IT'S THE TOP OF THE WORLD HWY. for cry'n out loud!

I see you're planning to stop over in Chicken. At the time, it was in a slurry of mud as well. We stayed in Chicken Creek RV and the pull thru s were pretty much 'puddle less' but the power is produced by generator and not very clean. We signed up for 30A(no water or sewer connections...no big deal) service and had to disconnect for fear of damage to the RV's systems due to low voltage during our stay. To be fair, they are having a rough time due to all the rain they've had and DO TRY to accommodate your needs. There is also no phones at all there but if you go down to the office or cantina, there's wifi available. There is an ATM in the office as well. Chicken is well, Chicken...a little on the quirky side and is definitely on the 'last frontier' trail. Fun place to stop and check yore fillings!

The ferry ride(free)across the Yukon River was a thrill (for me) and we had fun in Dawson City as well. The weather was rainy for our stay and their streets are not paved, so rubber boots were the fashion statement for the week. We stayed at Bonanza Gold in DC and after seeing other CGs there, I think we made the right choice. After some of the CGs we've stayed in, the 50 Amp service and full hook ups were a joy to have. The laundry room was a little dirty but there were a lot of hikers/tent campers there at the time and with all the rain (for a week), their equipment was in pretty bad shape and they were there to clean/rest up.

Going south on the Klondike hwy. was pretty smooth on the way up with the ever present loose gravel patches along the way. Safe travels...Bob

[Hoghead]

CCC,

We are in Whitehorse leaving for DC Saturday. Looking at TOTW around Tuesday, so I am very interested in your report.

Scenic Route,

Thanks for the update on Chicken. Hope it drys out soon.