alaska trip

[stankern]

I'm planning a trip to alaska this summer and wouldn't mind hearing from someone that was there last summer with a truck and camper.
What was the camping like and the condition of the highways.
rt stankern@tnt21.com

[stankern]

I'm planning a trip to alaska this summer and wouldn't mind hearing from someone that was there last summer with a truck and camper.
What was the camping like and the condition of the highways.
rt stankern@tnt21.com

[Ron in Colorado]

You have the perfect rig for an Alaska trip. When the big rigs fill up a campground there is always room for a slide-in truck camper. And, you "don't need any stinking tour"�. The tours can't stop at a lot of the interesting places because there are too many of them to get into a small pull-off place.

We traveled to Alaska from Denver June 2002. It was the best trip we have ever taken (5 weeks). The roads were surprisingly good. We encountered 150 to 250 miles of roadwork, which is muddy because these sections are kept wet to keep the dust down. We had no glass damage and only a couple of paint chips. The back roads may be a different matter. Fivers should have some protection on the front. Several units I noticed had a padded vinyl covering.

We entered BC at Eastport and then drove to Banff and Jasper on the way to Dawson Creek where the Alaska Highway begins. We went to Fairbanks, Denali Park, Anchorage, the Kenai (Seward Soldotna, Kenai, Homer, and Hope). We ended up in Valdez where we put the rig on the ferry system to Bellingham. The ferry is very expensive, we don't' need to do that again.

Our mileage to Valdez was about 5,800 from Denver CO.

There are some very nice campgrounds and some that are marginal. But, It is supposed to be an adventure, yes. If you want to boondock, Alaska allows you to camp anywhere it is not posted. Don't drive on anything that looks wet, check it out first.

[Paul Beddows]

Well, if you want to put it off til next year, we are planning a truck camper caravan to Alaska. It's free. www.natcoa.com

I am compiling a list paul@natcoa.com

[aktravler]

I live here, does that count?

You got good information on Ron's post. I would never suggest putting off a trip, you never know what next year will bring.

Let me know of any specific questions I can help with.

Enjoy your trip planning!

[Stan Birch]

We are in Alaska right now.

The Yellowhead Highway from Winnipeg to Edmonton is in excellent condition. The only problem area we found on the entire trip, is the stretch from Tok to Anchorage. There are a couple sections: one about 3 km, and a second about 16 km which slowed us down to 20 kph or less. Other wise the roads in Alaska are in fairly reasonable shape.

'Course, the Top of the World Highway from Tok to Dawson City is another story. It's pretty much a first and second gear road all the way, including 50 km of rough narrow gravel roadway between Chicken and The Can/US border.

[AKBrick]

I'm an Alaska dweller.
The Richardson Highway between Delta Junction and south to Galena have a bunch of frost heaves to look out for. Generally all of the highways are in good shape. Unless of course your on some of the gravel ones. Those are actually pretty good other than the flying rocks comming toward you from passing vehicles.
Currently there is some construction between Fairbanks and Healy that are slowing people down.
The Highways south of Anchorage to the various towns and scenic/camping/recreation areas on the Kenai Penninsula are all new and kept up very well. Frankly, I think that's where most of our tourist dollars are going. You won't regret your trip. It's very beautiful up here. The scenery changes drasticly from place to place because Alaska is so huge. I think I'm in a different country sometimes when we travel up here.
Have a wonderful and safe trip.
AKBrick