Haines to Anchorage in October? (Fairbanks, Tok: to rent, motels, home)

[Crossfire600]

We are planning our trip to the Anchorage area and my wife received a message from someone about not driving from Haines to Anchorage any later than mid October due to snow and storms. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this? We want to leave the third week in October, take the ferry from Bellingham to Haines then drive from Haines to the Anchorage area.

[warptman]

You'll be fine! Come on up and enjoy the trip. You never know what the weather is doing this time of year. The past few years freeze-up has been coming later and later in the year.

[Crossfire600]

Originally Posted by warptman

You'll be fine! Come on up and enjoy the trip. You never know what the weather is doing this time of year. The past few years freeze-up has been coming later and later in the year.

Sounds like a plan to us..

Do they keep the roads plowed and ashed up there?

How's that for a Cheechako question

Down here in PA they keep them well maintained during snows...

[warptman]

Canadian side does a better upkeep on the highway than the Alaskan side. You might run into a snow storm or two, they have plow trucks that are out within a few hours of snow and they do a good job on keeping it clear. The highway is vital to the Alaskan side and Canadian, it's open year round. Are you driving down the highway after you're done with the drive to Anchorage? Or are you moving to Alaska?

[Crossfire600]

Originally Posted by warptman

Canadian side does a better upkeep on the highway than the Alaskan side. You might run into a snow storm or two, they have plow trucks that are out within a few hours of snow and they do a good job on keeping it clear. The highway is vital to the Alaskan side and Canadian, it's open year round. Are you driving down the highway after you're done with the drive to Anchorage? Or are you moving to Alaska?

I thought they would keep the roads as clear as they could considering that road is one of, if not the only, major artery

We are moving to the Anchorage area. We originally planned on Juneau but the housing is very high and there are more area's to play in around Anchorage. It appears that we will close on our home Sept 19th and be outta here soon after that...

[starlite9]

The pass that you come out of into Alaska at the Haines end does get a lot of snow. Have made the trip from Fairbanks and back a number of times in the winter. If the road is closed due to snow, at best it is only for a day or so and if it is, just plan on staying a day or two in Haines , plently of rooms in the winter there. More than likely you will have no issues in the drive, just have snow tires on, studs is even better. Take a good camera because there is lots of neat things to take pictures of. The Ferry ride is a very enjoyable one, getting a cabin is well worth the money for a place to hide out now and then to take a nap or whatever. But do carry the normal winter survival gear that you are suppose to carry in Alaska during winter, although most don't...

Enjoy the trip!

[RAMFEB31]

I've been on the road out of Haines a quite a number of times but never that late in the year. During the Summer months, the drive is really great and, as mentioned, a scenic route. There are lots of up and down and plenty of gentle curves on the road between Haines and Haines Junction. There are ample places to pullout to rest or just to take pictures. You hit the summit fairly quickly out of Haines where there is such a pullout for onlookers. Though they may have improved the road between Haines Jct and Tok since, 2 years ago, I've distinctly remembered those horrible and frequent frost heaves on the roadbed. So be prepared for them. A minimum of snow tires are a must. And a 4 wheel drive quite desireable. Are you taking the Tok cutoff to Anchorage? Be ver-ry, ve-r-r-y careful on this mostly 2 lane road, hiway #1. There are lots of blind curves, sharp turns and quick climbs.
There is a couple of Haines locals, flyers or former, who regularly post here. I am hopeful they will give you some sage advice. As you've seen some of the other posting, bring survival gear like water, food and, since you are driving a car, a 1st aid kit and, of course, nice warm cloths. I am sure you have not forgotten maps and maybe, a GPS device. If you read some of the earlier posting, you will know not to blindly rely on your GPS. Just remember, out Haines, because of compatiblity issues, your cell ph may not work even if there are towers, which there are some, sparely sprinkled on the way.

GL on your trip. May the Good Lord look after you both.

[warptman]

Crossfire, make sure no on in your trip has any prior convictions especially DUI's, the Canadians will give you trouble letting you into the country. Might look into it.

[warptman]

Most of the Tok Cut-Off is repaved now, Ram. Its pretty nice now. They've been working on it the past year or so.

[fedrick]

The tours in Denali will be closed by October. There might be some snow flurries by then. It can be in the 30s in October, especially in the Interior, such as Denali. Most of the tourist attractions with shuttlebuses, campgrounds, and tours close down after Labor Day, the first weekend in September. You will be travelling through Southeast Alaska along the Inside Passage on the Alaska Marine Highway, and it stops in Skagway, which is several hundred miles south of the rest of Alaska. You would need to catch the Grey Line of Alaska bus from Whitehorse to Anchorage, or fly from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, to Anchorage. Anchorage is more than 200 miles south of Denali and you would need to rent a car to get there. The trains do make the trip year-round, but you would not have any transportation once you arrive at the Denali NP train station. I have taken the ferry from Bellingham, WA, to Haines, Alaska, the last week in September, arriving in Haines on October 1st. I drove my car and it was subfreezing weather as I drove through British Columbia and the Yukon Territory to Alaska's border and then onward to Anchorage. No campgrounds in Canada were open and neither were any motels.



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