Moving and Driving to Fairbanks in December/January (home, dangerous)

[6.7traveler]

Originally Posted by Gungnir

My Brain.

I live around 20 miles outside of Manley, rule of thumb is if it's -30F or lower unless it's an emergency don't go, -20F and above it's business as usual, -20 to -30 use your discretion. Problem is that at those temperatures there's no guarantee that anyone outside of Fairbanks will be moving on the road either, DoT doesn't go out at below -20F here or Minto they may run the Elliot/Dalton section by Livengood, and some roads south of Fairbanks, in town will probably be running mostly normally, but off truck routes, complete chance.

What it gets really cold (-50F and lower) then you can't guarantee that your vehicle will remain running, even if it does it can be stuttering and ragged. While where you start might be -40F if you drop into a hollow or valley it can fall to -50F or lower. If your vehicle does stop, then there's little guarantee you can get it running again, the engine will lose heat very quickly, oil thickens, batteries can't crank as hard against more resistance, and stalling out from cold leaves you in that cold spot, your heating package is just additional weight, and good luck getting a portable generator to run.

Also consider that someone coming to save your a$$ (if you have cell coverage) at those temps is also taking a risk getting there to save you, and hauling you back. If you have a well maintained vehicle, and you got stranded, then what makes you think that someone else in a well maintained vehicle can get to you safely?

Thanks, once we get to town we don't plan on driving on the really cold days as we set our own work schedule. But on the way up is there anyway to avoid driving in colder than -20, -30 if it gets colder than that for long period time? I have heard stories of people driving through -40 temps on the way up, is this not safe should I stop at a hotel if it gets below -20ish?

[warptman]

Don't drive between Fort Nelson and Watson Lake at night, lots of twisty turns and a lot of game on the road. No matter what time you get to Fort Nelson, plan on staying the night and get up nice and early the next morning. The hotels there have plug ins for your vehicle. If it gets too cold, keep your vehicle running all night.

[warptman]

Open year round lodges on the Alcan:

Jake's Corner, also open year round.
Continental Divide Lodge.
Teslin, Yukon.
Twenty miles south of Watson Lake is a place called Contact Creek, it claims to have fuel cheaper than Watson.
Toad River
Liard River Hot Springs,
Buckinghorse Lodge, BC.

[heathen]

Originally Posted by 6.7traveler

I have heard stories of people driving through -40 temps on the way up, is this not safe should I stop at a hotel if it gets below -20ish?

I think that really depends on where you are. The Alcan has sparse but regular traffic in winter, so I'd say the safe temperature margin is a bit lower. Personally, I'd say drive strictly daylight hours only if it's below -20, start looking for a hotel at -30, and don't drive below -40. When it comes down to it though, it's a personal risk threshold thing.

[riceme]

It's also good to be mindful that steel, hydraulics,... anything mechanical does not like extreme cold. Steel gets brittle and is more likely to fail (think of your front end and a sudden sharp turn, for example). Hydraulics just plain old hate the cold and will fail whenever they have a mind to. I am no electrician, but electrical is pretty sketchy in low temps too. When it's really cold the stereo, dome light, etc. in my Tacoma go haywire.

[Dakster]

I think that you will know along the drive at what temp your car starts acting funky and go from there as well. What riceme has said is very, very true. Steel can actually shatter at temps below -40.... Anyways, I tend to play it by ear and make adjustments as I go.

Warptman - Isn't the Northern Rockies Lodge also open all year 'round too?

I do agree that stopping in the evening is wise - What I have noticed is that places close earlier in the winter than in the summer so you may find a Hotel with vacancies, just no one around to check you in. So plan on waking up early and then early evening plan where you are going to stop.

I don't remember whether it is in this thread or not but I posted pics of the wildlife between Nelson and Watson on the road. EVERYTIME I have driven that route, there has been large animals on the road or at least very close to the side of the road.

[riceme]

Oh, the thread with the wildlife pictures is the one where we were trying to talk that noodlehead out of coming up here and freezing to death. Those are some good pictures. I'm pretty sure this guy saw them because I recall him posting about all the gear he was hauling up with him.

[Dakster]

Ahh.. That's right... Still wondering if he is on his way or not. It might just be another one of those that we never find out about.

[warptman]

Northern Rockies Lodge at Muncho Lake is open, left that out.

[riceme]

I don't know, Dak. It doesn't take that long to get up here. He was not prepared at all and honestly I'm a little worried that something happened to him. He posts from his phone and he has an AT&T phone, so...