The ultimate Alaska vacation... (Nome, Circle: ferry, best areas, areas)

[Xa'at]

Yes, unfortunately Western Alaska got left off the route because of lack of roads, and Northern Alaska got left off because of lack of roads Google wants to let me drive on!
Driving the haul road is high on my list of things to do before I get too old though. Maybe in a year or two when things have settled down a little.

[warptman]

Haul road would be fun. I've only got half way to the Yukon north of Fairbanks. One summer I seen the headwaters of the Yukon in the Yukon and the mouth at Kotlik and Alakanuk, that was cool. Drove over it in the Yukon and flew to the mouth later that summer for work.

[Xa'at]

I've been swimming in the Yukon river, outside of Whitehorse. Really a beautiful area.

[warptman]

Marsh Lake south of Whitehorse

[barnacle9]

Thanks for the great itinerary!!!

I have always thought something like this would be cool:

From Los Angeles, Bay Area, etc.

- Ride Amtrak Coast Starlight to Seattle, connect on bus to Bellingham
- Ferry to Juneau, then Whittier (not always possible)
- ferry to Cordova - camp, hike, fish, kayak, etc. - fish early kings/reds, make a few bucks
- ferry to Valdez or Whittier, train from Whittier or hitch from Valdez - Anchorage
- fly to Bristol Bay, fish reds - Late June- late July -make some money
- Anchorage, then Kenai - drive to Homer, or ride train to Seward
- Kayak out of Homer or Seward, spend a few days camping in the area, back to Anchorage
- Train Anchorage to Fairbanks, stop at Denali, others
- Explore, go north with rental car or hitching, back around Fairbanks
- drive/hitch South on Alcan - done

Obviously missing huge parts of Alaska, but kinda cool, perhaps on a working-as-you-go budget

[warptman]

I'll just drive...........

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by barnacle9

Thanks for the great itinerary!!!

I have always thought something like this would be cool:

From Los Angeles, Bay Area, etc.

- Ride Amtrak Coast Starlight to Seattle, connect on bus to Bellingham
- Ferry to Juneau, then Whittier (not always possible)
- Train Whittier to Anchorage to Fairbanks
- Explore, go north with rental car or hitching
- drive/hitch South, hit Denali and several other places
- fly to Bristol Bay, fish reds - Late June- late July -make some money
- Anchorage, then Kenai - drive to Homer, or ride train to Seward
- Kayak out of Homer or Seward, spend a few days camping in the area
- back to Whittier, ferry to Cordova - camp, hike, fish, kayak, etc.
- Cordova to Valdez, drive/hitch Alcan South to Vancouver, etc.

Obviously missing huge parts of Alaska, but kinda cool, perhaps on a working-as-you-go budget

That would be cool indeed. There are one or two sections of my intinerary that could be done via train... I believe there is a train to Fairbanks from... somewhere. I forget.

[barnacle9]

I suppose it would be responsible of me to mention that the itinerary I just posted, with fishing jobs/hitching, etc. would not be realistic for many people.

There is no guarantee of any fishing job, ever, even for the experienced.

Also, hitchhiking in Alaska, while likely easier and safer than most areas down South, comes with inherent risks and uncertainties.

This is the sort of thing I would like to do, but I have experience, I know people, and it would still be a risky venture . . .

nevertheless, what an adventure!

Please do not attempt this unless you have some good, concrete reasons for believing you can pull it off!!!!

Note: I am now editing this post to tell you that I edited my earlier post, changing the itinerary. Xa'at quoted the original version. or, who really cares? :-)

[RayinAK]

The ultimate AK vacation for me would include:

1. Gold detecting in Nome
2. Deer hunting in Kodiak
3. Metal detecting in some of the old Japanese and American WWII campsites
4. Some metal detecting around the old campsites used by the Richardson Highway's work crews back in the early 1900's
5. King salmon winter fishing off Homer
6. Moose hunting in September
7. Gold detecting around some of the mining claims near Circle
8. Staying at a remote and comfortable log cabin for a week or two, near a lake I can land an airplane, where I can fish, hunt. Also, where I can enjoy some good food, and relax by the fire as I zip some Southern AU cabernet red wine, accompanied by my wife No traffic, no noise except for the noises we make, not other people around, no telephones, no computers, TV, etc.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

The ultimate AK vacation for me would include:

1. Gold detecting in Nome
2. Deer hunting in Kodiak
3. Metal detecting in some of the old Japanese and American WWII campsites
4. Some metal detecting around the old campsites used by the Richardson Highway's work crews back in the early 1900's
5. King salmon winter fishing off Homer
6. Moose hunting in September
7. Gold detecting around some of the mining claims near Circle
8. Staying at a remote and comfortable log cabin for a week or two, near a lake I can land an airplane, where I can fish, hunt. Also, where I can enjoy some good food, and relax by the fire as I zip some Southern AU cabernet red wine, accompanied by my wife No traffic, no noise except for the noises we make, not other people around, no telephones, no computers, TV, etc.

Sounds like fun... I have to admit the first time I read it I thought it said Cold detecting in Nome. I was going to say, "That shouldn't be too hard"!