Taking a roadtrip from WA to AK this summer (Anchorage: hotel, college)

[Rance]

Keep in mind you cannot drive directly to the Arctic Ocean once you arrive in Deadhorse. You will have to contact the Caribou Inn and pay to get the little tour. The bus does stop at the beach and will let you out if there are no polar bears within a few miles. They say the splashing around will attract the bears if they are on the beach. I drove my friend from Sweden up there and she got to put her hand in the water was all. The only access to the beach is through BP's lease and there are gaurd shacks you won't be able to drive past and onto the lease.
From Coldfoot I made it to Deadhorse on 1/2 tank in a minivan. I carried 10 gallons spare gas and that got me back to Coldfoot where you can refill. Stop and see the sign at the Arctic Circle. The road was in excellent condition this last August. South of Coldfoot they were paving. North of Coldfoot had been dust controlled, and was well packed and graded, or chip sealed with lines painted and everything.

[Dusty Rhodes]

Originally Posted by FauteDeMieux

Yeah, I've already preordered the 2008 Milepost, and should get it around March. Although, I'm somewhat worried it may arrive a bit late in the planning stage.

As to pricey motels, yeah, that seems to be typical pretty much everywhere these days.

Thanks for the info about the glorified pepper spray, I'll have to look into it. If only to please my girlfriend, at any rate!

Just a suggestion mind you, but, there is a Kenai Fjords day cruise out of Seward, the word "spectacular" is inadequate, but, the same can be said for an awfully lot of Alaska. ie Denali park, by all means do a fly-by of the mountain, any outfit out of Talkeetna will offer these, just go to the airport and ask.

[FauteDeMieux]

@Rance

Yeah, I had read about having to book the silly little tour. I would just like to see it, maybe dip a foot in

How was the drive in a minivan? Several people have told me that without 4WD, I shouldn't even try. However, many others tell me the road is in decent condition and I've heard of several people doing it without a large vehicle.

I've also heard that it's essentially inevitable that damage to my vehicle will result from flying gravel. I mean it sounds like it's literally predetermined. What's your view on that?

@Dusty Rhodes

Yeah, of the paid tour type options, we definitely want to take some kind of iceberg/glacier/whale watching boat tour, a flight-seeing Denali mountain tour, and .... well, we're dead set on those for now I guess!

What can I expect to pay for a fly-by of the mountain? Just a general price range?

[warptman]

Only gravel you'll run into is where they're resurfacing the road. Here are a few links:

http://www.drivebc.ca/ for British Columbia roads

http://www.gov.yk.ca/roadreport/ Yukon Territory Road Reports

I've seen VW Rabbits on the road and Dodge Neons to Ford Focus' on the highway last summer. Even a couple on a Moped were on the highway. You'll be fine no matter what you drive.

[Rance]

Originally Posted by FauteDeMieux

@Rance

Yeah, I had read about having to book the silly little tour. I would just like to see it, maybe dip a foot in

How was the drive in a minivan? Several people have told me that without 4WD, I shouldn't even try. However, many others tell me the road is in decent condition and I've heard of several people doing it without a large vehicle.

I've also heard that it's essentially inevitable that damage to my vehicle will result from flying gravel. I mean it sounds like it's literally predetermined. What's your view on that?

@Dusty Rhodes

Yeah, of the paid tour type options, we definitely want to take some kind of iceberg/glacier/whale watching boat tour, a flight-seeing Denali mountain tour, and .... well, we're dead set on those for now I guess!

What can I expect to pay for a fly-by of the mountain? Just a general price range?

The road was fine and smooth. I think I did take one small pebble to the windsheild but no chip or crack. It was fine. Any sedan could have made the trip no problem. I think August is a good choice as the road has a chance to be worked on etc. Bring a camera, at least one spare, a small fishing pole, and one or two spare gas cans. And make a point to stop in at Chena Hot Springs on the return trip. It's take the stiffness outa ya after traveling.

[warptman]

As for Flightseeing:

http://www.flyk2.com/

http://www.talkeetnaair.com/

[icarian]

Rance,

Thanks for info on the Haul Road...I had heard the same as Faute. Most likely read said misgivings about traveling to Deadhorse from my old copy of the Milepost.

Faute, as far as the ALCAN, it is a great road for as little population as it has along it. Drove part of it last December from Haines and also drove it from Washington State to here this past June.

Last summer, there was very little construction and we probably averaged 60 to 70 mph throughout the trip. The bane of summer driving the ALCAN is RVs. If you have one, you'll have company and not mind it. If you are in something that cruises faster than 45 mph, it might get mildly annoying seeing the next RV caravan

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by FauteDeMieux

@Glitch

Thank you for all the incredible information. I yanked out a map and checked everything you said out, looks like everything is pretty centralized on Anchorage and Fairbanks, so having a couple of home bases for the whole trip is pretty appealing.

I've also read about the drives you suggested, and they are pretty much part of everything else you've suggested - I love how everything is on the way to something else.

As to time of year - we plan to spend maybe 4 days driving up to the north slope, so most of our time will be spent in S. central AK. Would it therefore be advisable to come earlier? We'd much rather have better weather in and around Fairbanks/Anchorage. How about arriving in July and then driving the Haul road in the last week of July, or maybe the first week of August? Or is necessary, if we want to enjoy good weather, to arrive in S. central AK in June?

As to road conditions on the Haul road, I know it's gravel, and slate gravel at that, and plan to bring two spares. I also plan to duct tape double layers of bubble wrap across the bumper and hood in an effort to mitigate flying slate-shrapnel. I've got some experience with limited services, this summer my girlfriend and I drove Mexico 1 from Tijuana to Los Cobos in Baja and back, some 2000 miles in all. This will not be the centerpiece of our trip, but I'd hate to pass up an opportunity to drive to the Arctic Ocean, and see everything on the way!

Alaska is an incredible place. I have lived here for 16 years and I am still awe-struck by the gorgeous scenery around me. If visiting the north slope is something you really want to do, then you definitely picked the best time of the year - August. Not many people make that trek, not even I during August. It has been something I have been planning to do for a few years now but have not had the time.

The "summer" that far north only lasts a few weeks. Rance described the typical north slope conditions very well, and also has more recent knowledge of the road conditions than I. I have only been on the Haul Road during the months of November, December, and January, so my perspective is different. I am sure you will do fine, just drive carefully and bring along some extra gas.

The north slope qualifies as a desert since less than 10" of precipitation falls annually, mostly in the form of snow. So you should have lots of very long clear sunny days while you are there. Temperatures should be in the 35°F to 45°F range. You may even spot a few grizzlies on your trek through the Brooks Range. Just be sure to keep a respectful distance and don't try to feed them.

July and August is when most of the rain falls in the summer in south central Alaska, but it isn't really "rain", just a light drizzle. The skies will be overcast, but you can stand outside for 10 minutes and still not get wet. Personally, I wish it would rain hard and then be done with it so we could have more sunny days. Unfortunately, that isn't how the weather patterns work here. We don't let the weather deter us from having fun in the summer.

If weather in south central is more important than your visit to the north slope, then June would be the best month. It is our warmest month with typical temeratures ranging from 65°F to 75°F, and usually doesn't rain as much as it does in July or August. It is also the peak of our tourist season.

Oh yea, I almost forgot, don't forget to stop at Gakona and take a few pictures of HAARP.

[Dusty Rhodes]

[quote=FauteDeMieux;2322534]@Glitch

I love how everything is on the way to something else.


LOL, the only state with fewer miles of paved roads than Alaska is Rhode Island.

[FauteDeMieux]

Originally Posted by warptman

Only gravel you'll run into is where they're resurfacing the road. Here are a few links:

http://www.drivebc.ca/ for British Columbia roads

http://www.gov.yk.ca/roadreport/ Yukon Territory Road Reports

I've seen VW Rabbits on the road and Dodge Neons to Ford Focus' on the highway last summer. Even a couple on a Moped were on the highway. You'll be fine no matter what you drive.

I'm not worried about Alaskan/Canadian roads in general, I know those will be perfectly fine; my only road concern was with the Dalton Highway and a 800 mile roadtrip on gravel roads with a mercury sable

Thanks for the links!