Alcan experts....need some help (Anchorage, Haines: motels, camping, pool)

[kjones1206]

We are leaving early november from anchorage to drive to an, as yet, unknown base in the lower 48. we will assume the route is the same until we get to montana, so we're looking at the alaska/canada portion of the route.

a few questions: 1 - is there a good place to stop between whitehorse and fort nelson? that seems like a really long drive for a winter day...

2 - is this route otherwise good?
anchorage - tok
tok- whitehorse
whitehorse-fort nelson
fort nelson - grande praire
grande praire-edmondton
edmonton - grand falls

we'd like to stay under 500 miles in a day, to allow time for stops w/ kidlets.

thanks!

[warptman]

Toad River is a little more than half way there and it is open year round. Just don't do the stretch at night from Laird River to Fort Nelson at night, this is one twisty section of the highway and there are lots of critters on the road.

[warptman]

How to Drive to Alaska in the Winter - ExploreNorth

[rotorhead]

I'll second that on the critters. There's a herd of bison along that route that like to hang out on the road and they're basically impossible to see at any reasonable distance in the headlights. Do your driving along that section in the daylight only, unless you have the worlds only buffalo-proof grill.

In November the daylight hours are getting pretty short, so plan accordingly. I've driven the section from Whitehorse to Anchorage in the winter, and generally it's pretty well maintained. That said, glare ice can be a problem and the amount of traffic along the road slows WAY down in the winter (even if the drivers don't). There are several long sections without any cell phone coverage (and most US cell phones don't work at all along most of the Yukon section of the Alcan) so help might be quite a while off if you turn turtle in a ditch. Pack warm clothes for everyone (as in ice-fishing warm) and make sure you bring along a basic survival kit, including good sleeping bags if you've got them.

BTW, there is a fantastic indoor pool/playground at the Canada Games Center in Whitehorse that stays open year-round. They have a kiddy pool that's kept quite warm and varies from about knee-deep to chest-deep (to an adult) along with a "lazy river" and a pretty decent water slide. The same complex also has a large indoor hottub and sauna, along with several ice-skating rinks and an indoor playground with play equipment for younger kids.

It's quite affordable and usually open pretty late at night, well worth a visit if you hit Whitehorse at any reasonable hour. We make the drive up from Haines a couple times a winter and always stop there, it's a big hit with the kids.

[BudinAk]

Ditto to all of the above. And, expect freezing weather, snow, and ice most of the way in November. Which probably means staying in motels...no camping. (unless ya'll are really rugged outdoorsy people) Pack along a few warm blankets, in case whoever is in the back seat gets cold along the way. Some parts of Canada (and Alaska) get downright frigid in the winter...subzero temps...
Get yourself a copy of the "Milepost"...very good info about the places along the way, complete (of course) with the milepost each is to be found at...

Bud

[warptman]

Bud, what's wrong with the Warptpost? lol.