Are You driving to Alaska and need info? (Haines, Tok: work, move)

[RAMFEB31]

Hi Alaskarain, have they improve the stretch between Tok and Haines Junction? Last year, I've drove directly to Haines from Watson Lake via #8 to Skagway and the ferry. But in 06', I've played the host tour guide for my guest going all thru the major Alaskan cities, parks and other points of interest. That Tok/Haines Jct stretch was back breaker from all the frost heaves. I've made the mistake of removing the add on braking system from the car I was towing because those heaves were involuntarily triggering the system. About 1/2 way to Haines from Haines Jct, the car broke loose and went down the left side incline. I've blamed the frost heaves causing the base plate breaking off the car. Of course, I was more to blame. 1st for not inspecting the base plate mounting more often but mostly, I should not have remove supplementary brakes. Hind sight says, I should have just reduce the sensitivity on the system. That way, the breakaway system would have stopped the car. The Lord was with me that day, There were no injuries to anyone. Though it happen on a high built up section of the road, the car did not turn over and sustain mostly sheet metal damage. I was able to drive it out thru that 100 yard of scrub trees and bushes. And thanks to the Canadian gov't for making that built up portion a gentle slope, I was able to get it back on the pavement. (Actually, I believe the American Gov't and/or maybe the State of Alaska pay for this road upkeep.)

[brokencrayola]

I'd love to see a list and helpful hints as far as traveling to AK in the summer. I often wonder about things like distance between gas stations, is the gravel so bad that cars and windshields get messed up a lot, how much wildlife do you see along the way, is it a hassle going in and out of Canada after 911 etc.

[alaskarain]

Wow you got really lucky, im glad to hear no one got hurt.

The stretch between Tok and Haines Junction looked the same to me, but all the roads change dramatically because of the snow banks, and depth of the snow. In the winter there is places that looked like you could just stroll across a flat piece of land, but in the summer its deep, with flowing creeks. The snow is so white and the color of day is so grey it seems to create optical illusions on the eye. The stretch between Tok and Palmer is aweful in alot of places. Very narrow roads, sharp u's deep inclines and of coarse people drive like idiots on that road. I wouldn't advise anyone to piggy back a vehicle in the winter months who has to drive these stretches.

[alaskarain]

brokencrayola, you said "traveling to Alaska" but you didn't mention where from?

I have noticed alot of people here have cracked windsheild, I have had a few rocks hit mine, everyone of them was on the George Parks Highway, there is alot of big rigs that run this road from Fairbanks to Palmer, Wasilla and Anchorage.

I didn't have any issues at all crossing the boarder, they asked me typical questions, I showed our IDS and Passports and that was it, but you have to keep in mind when I crossed the boarder there was a convoy of us so they was moving us as fast as they could because the time we had to get across the Alcan was limited because of bad weather. The ones who had campers or RVsthey got detailed longer and was searched more thoroughly. This is a good site that might answer some questions

Information for Canadian residents travelling abroad (broken link)

I'll be more then happy to tell you what I can about the places your curious about.

I didn't see any wildlife at all once I left haines, I seen my first alaska moose in down town anchorage when I was looking at a house to rent. Being a photographer I have a eagle eye for spotting a critter, so now I see critters all the time from the highways, knowing their habits and routines helps find them, sometimes it just luck.

[warptman]

Tok to the border sucks. Its full of heaves. To me it hasn't changed from April 06 to August 07 when I drove it last. The road from the border to Haines Junction is full of heaves, too. But they've been improving it the past couple years. They are widening the road just south of Destruction Bay where the Highway rounds Sheep Mountain, this is going to be very nice when they get done with it. It was the part of the highway that I hated the most because you were right on the lake and it was full of narrow bends with semi's and RV's coming the other direction. They are putting in a new bridge that crosses the Donjek River and that will help, too as the old bridge is very narrow and has height restrictions. Overall the road has gotten much better over the past five years. They will never take care of the frost heaves, once they get it repaved winter comes along and so does spring making it bouncy again.

[RAMFEB31]

I've remembered encountering those frost heaves for the first time years back. Back in 1998, my 1st trip to Alaska, I've cracked 2 rims on my old 1978 RV. The 1st one between Seward and Anchorage and the 2nd one between Palmer and Tok. It seems this rig did not take to radial tires very well. If U recall, in those days, most tires were bias plys. What a disaster that RV turn out to be.
I've bot it from a private party in 97 where it had been sitting for over 10 years and had only 3100 miles on it. I've completely refurbished it specifically for this trip. The short of it was, I end up w/a bad starter in Fairbanks, a dead blocking diode out Seward (the main battery was not getting charged), the rear transmission seal started to leak badly by the time we return to Watson Lake, Yukon. Though the other 3 guys swore they would not travel w/me ever again, they have since mellowed and wanting to try again in 08. Actually, all of us had a great experience and a good time despite these little 'annoyances'. We've met a lot of nice, friendly Alaskans and Canadians. Each of us nearly limit out on the 'pinks' even though that was the year the Anchorage Daily on July 9th had a headline 'DISASTER' with regards to the salmon. That paper was one of my keepsake.

[alaskarain]

Ram,
its funny your story made me think of 4 men I ment in Valdez this past September. I was taking pictures of black bear pulling big salmon from a stream, the men was in a RV. One of the men had a camera just like mine and struck up a converation with me. He hadn't had the camera very long and was it to much camera for a beginner, it was a canon rebel XLI...anywho, as the conversation progressed I was telling them about some great places to go see there. They said while they was in Fairbanks the RV started leaking from the raditor, after they got that fixed they barely made it to anchorage and had a bad blow out. From Anchorage they was on their way to the musk ox farm in palmer when the rv started running hot, one of the hoses had busted. I guess they got it fixed and made it to valdez, as we was saying good bye, one of the men asked me if I was a natural red head, well the question kinda threw me but I answered him yes I am why? He said well I know I am alot older then you, but would you mind if I rubbed your head for good luck...I couldn't help but laugh and said sure. I knew right away what he was talking about it, for anyone who might not know a old wise tail is rub a red heads head for good luck..might have worked I didn't see then RV broke down on the side of the road when I was driving back to Anchorage

[saudimaher]

Thank you for your theme useful, it Alfdtni.

[travelmate38]

My tip for driving the highway..........don't do it during winter unless you must. Summer is much safer. You go through areas 200-300 miles at a chunk where there is nothing.

[bubba_212003]

Wow, what great information, thanks