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With a trailer I would have flexibility in the schedule because you never know when a weather system will come in and then change your dates by delays. Or wash outs. The recent closure due to washout was an example. It is crazy looking at it again seeing the amount of material that did wash out from the hills and down the gullys. One culvert washed completely out and was sitting on the roadside.
I will be adding pictures of those as well when I grab the SD card out of the camera.
I would say that there is really no dead time to not go. I wouldn't go if I didn't have to go from about late Sept/Oct and March-May. September and October are when freezing begins again and daytime rains likely freeze. March through May is breakup. March at the southern sections and May in the more Northern sections. It is a daily basis judging, dead of winter is just depending on how much time between storms you have. Roads aren't a problem besides during and just after snow storms. Road is maintained well and they cater to the truckers that go through there. If Whitehorse wasn't there they probably wouldn't care much but it is so they take care of the highway till there. They don't take care of the hwy that well after Whitehorse. You do get the drifting if the winds pick up, but it is normally not to bad cause of the number of trucks. They don't slow down and they flatten them and their tailwind disperses them pretty well.
Naturedreams, I would enter at Portal crossing in ND and then take the hwy headed northwest to Regina. The road is a major thoroughfare and they take care of it nicely all the way. 110 KPH most of the way until Grande Prairie, AB. Then it is a little bit of highway to Dawson Creek and you head on northwards.
In winter is when you need to get the fuel stops planned. There are plenty of year round ones so it is just planning. I focus on the price when I fill and bring fuel cans to alleviate the price fluxes. I bring 7 - 5 gallon cans (I bought them in Canada as well since they don't have the annoying new EPA spouts) On the way this trip (I'm in Edmonton writing this) I filled up everything in Eagle River where fuel was 3.64 a gallon. I topped off in Tok at 3.86 a gallon (which is equal to 101.9/Liter Still cheaper then all the stops in Canada. I got all the way to Teslin (without touching fuel bottles) and filled up there they have a business card they give 4 cents a liter off if you show it. I didn't need to top off until the suburbs of Edmonton at 16 MPG.
Current Fuel list:
Border City, AK 4.59 Gallon (Cash 4.69 Cards) Still worth the stop it is cheaper then anything until Grande Prairie, AB or Abbotsford, BC
As of trip started on Thursday August 16th.
Beaver Creek 154.9
Destruction Bay 144.9
Whitehorse 135.9
Teslin 139.9 (134.9 with mention of business card with discount)
Watson Lake 139.9
Contact Creek 132.9
Fort Nelson was 144.9 per liter
Fort Saint John was 135.9 a liter
Dawson Creek 129.9
Grande Prairie 116.9
Edmonton 109.9
Pennies per liter make so much difference in price. It pays to really plan. The price per gallon at Fort Nelson is 5.48
Grande Prairie would be 4.41 per gallon so in my case with my truck 30 gallon tank and 35 gallon storage I saved over 65 bucks just there alone. Plus bringing the fuel in from Alaska at the cheaper price helped me avoid the higher prices across the border as well. Good planning pays off. I saved about 200 in fuel doing the jugs. If you are pulling a trailer as well it will REALLY pay off to plan right. I go the Alcan Routes every 3 weeks roughly for my commute. Occasionally I get a special plane ticket deal and fly.
But that is boring. I usually do rideshare deals, split the costs and do the bargain and my round trip is cheap and I get another fun journey.
Okie dokie. I kind of put it off for a while but, I have more pictures I'm pulling up.
Rancheria had a good size washout last year.
The washout really moved some ground around the area including delaying people for days who didn't know of or weren't prepared for more northern routes to get around.
Manual walking bridge for local construction and roadworkers.
The dreaded generator powered stop lights that are a 15 minute wait if you get it as it turns red.
The culvert that was flattened on one side and washed down the road 1000 feet.
And another good moment with good light to capture another cool shot.
A beautiful Bull Caribou crossing the highway.
Coming up through Montana on the Eastern Route up through Calgary to Edmonton. The rockies before Calgary after sunset.
When I was coming through from Saskatchewan into Alberta through Lloydminster. The provinces border splits the town in half.
When I went through further and further north the fall/autumn colors were coming in excellent.
By Teslin the colors began to show
Getting closer towards Whitehorse and the Yukon River Bridge area.
The wind was blowing about 60 MPH and creating rough white caps on Kluane Lake
Of coarse the best was for last.
The fall color was incredible in Alaska. Less then 100 miles from home in the Mat-Su.
With a trailer I would have flexibility in the schedule because you never know when a weather system will come in and then change your dates by delays. Or wash outs. The recent closure due to washout was an example. It is crazy looking at it again seeing the amount of material that did wash out from the hills and down the gullys. One culvert washed completely out and was sitting on the roadside.
I will be adding pictures of those as well when I grab the SD card out of the camera.
I would say that there is really no dead time to not go. I wouldn't go if I didn't have to go from about late Sept/Oct and March-May. September and October are when freezing begins again and daytime rains likely freeze. March through May is breakup. March at the southern sections and May in the more Northern sections. It is a daily basis judging, dead of winter is just depending on how much time between storms you have. Roads aren't a problem besides during and just after snow storms. Road is maintained well and they cater to the truckers that go through there. If Whitehorse wasn't there they probably wouldn't care much but it is so they take care of the highway till there. They don't take care of the hwy that well after Whitehorse. You do get the drifting if the winds pick up, but it is normally not to bad cause of the number of trucks. They don't slow down and they flatten them and their tailwind disperses them pretty well.
Naturedreams, I would enter at Portal crossing in ND and then take the hwy headed northwest to Regina. The road is a major thoroughfare and they take care of it nicely all the way. 110 KPH most of the way until Grande Prairie, AB. Then it is a little bit of highway to Dawson Creek and you head on northwards.
In winter is when you need to get the fuel stops planned. There are plenty of year round ones so it is just planning. I focus on the price when I fill and bring fuel cans to alleviate the price fluxes. I bring 7 - 5 gallon cans (I bought them in Canada as well since they don't have the annoying new EPA spouts) On the way this trip (I'm in Edmonton writing this) I filled up everything in Eagle River where fuel was 3.64 a gallon. I topped off in Tok at 3.86 a gallon (which is equal to 101.9/Liter Still cheaper then all the stops in Canada. I got all the way to Teslin (without touching fuel bottles) and filled up there they have a business card they give 4 cents a liter off if you show it. I didn't need to top off until the suburbs of Edmonton at 16 MPG.
Current Fuel list:
Border City, AK 4.59 Gallon (Cash 4.69 Cards) Still worth the stop it is cheaper then anything until Grande Prairie, AB or Abbotsford, BC
As of trip started on Thursday August 16th.
Beaver Creek 154.9
Destruction Bay 144.9
Whitehorse 135.9
Teslin 139.9 (134.9 with mention of business card with discount)
Watson Lake 139.9
Contact Creek 132.9
Fort Nelson was 144.9 per liter
Fort Saint John was 135.9 a liter
Dawson Creek 129.9
Grande Prairie 116.9
Edmonton 109.9
Pennies per liter make so much difference in price. It pays to really plan. The price per gallon at Fort Nelson is 5.48
Grande Prairie would be 4.41 per gallon so in my case with my truck 30 gallon tank and 35 gallon storage I saved over 65 bucks just there alone. Plus bringing the fuel in from Alaska at the cheaper price helped me avoid the higher prices across the border as well. Good planning pays off. I saved about 200 in fuel doing the jugs. If you are pulling a trailer as well it will REALLY pay off to plan right. I go the Alcan Routes every 3 weeks roughly for my commute. Occasionally I get a special plane ticket deal and fly.
But that is boring. I usually do rideshare deals, split the costs and do the bargain and my round trip is cheap and I get another fun journey.
Great detailed information ... sorry it took me so long to respond... I never got out of Wisconsin in time and plan on an early spring trip. I will cerainly heed your gas advice since I will be trying to get the most of my milage that I can pulling a trailer I was happy you gave me where to cross the border also ... can't wait to get this started... intensifys the spring fever feeling
Yup bring as much fuel into Canada as you can. Customs will ask "Why do you have so much fuel?" I always politely replied. "I don't want to burden Canadians with the chance of running out in some of the remote stretches I will be traveling."
I used calculators but their formulas for saving money were alright. I found my formula went better. I got 16 mpg highway in my truck and made it from North Dakota to Alaska on 600 bucks with the higher fuel prices.
I use an app on my phone to figure out the prices locally. Then I figure things myself. I pulled a trailer once, and finding easier spots to pull into was key. Fuel jugs made it much easier to accomplish that. Keep things updated for us.
I am sorta concerned on the ease of pulling into a fuel station with a trailer. Last time I wasn't pulling anything. I can see how fuel jugs help out a ton with that. Worst case scenario is to just park and refill the jugs. BTW, smart thinking on getting fuel cans in Canada to avoid the PITA, EPA spout. I only had room for 1 jug on my summer trip and used it often, it did allow me to either bypass or partial fill-up at a couple of higher price stations along the way. Thankfully I was getting 20 - 22 MPG in the pickup, in Canada, and it had a 26 gal. tank. Unfortunately, I rarely had cell phone much less internet, so price shopping for fuel was rather difficult.
I am excited and anxious for you naturesdreams. I know you have been planning this for a long time!
Yup bring as much fuel into Canada as you can. Customs will ask "Why do you have so much fuel?" I always politely replied. "I don't want to burden Canadians with the chance of running out in some of the remote stretches I will be traveling."
I used calculators but their formulas for saving money were alright. I found my formula went better. I got 16 mpg highway in my truck and made it from North Dakota to Alaska on 600 bucks with the higher fuel prices.
I use an app on my phone to figure out the prices locally. Then I figure things myself. I pulled a trailer once, and finding easier spots to pull into was key. Fuel jugs made it much easier to accomplish that. Keep things updated for us.
Oh that is a concern for me since I'm a newbie with hauling a trailer but will start a journal and update here when I start my journey... just in case I need a rescue ... I hope I'm just kidding LOL
I only had internet in about 4 places with my phone. Edmonton, Calgary. I did have service almost all the way though. of coarse not in the distance spots up north. I had a Canada friendly phone plan. But if you need service when you get to a Walmart on the route they have prepaid Canada phones for 29 bucks. Nifty deal there for service. Rogers wireless was the one I noticed most.
Yeah use online maps. But your route is pretty simple for me since I traveled it so much. Get your fuel in Minot, ND before leaving north to the Portal crossing. Then ride on towards Moose Jaw and then north to highway 11. Bypass Regina, it is a tight hassle of a city to pull a trailer to.
Then you will have to go through Saskatoon. It isn't bad. You will only have about 1 tight mile to drive through after you cross the river Circle DR is a commercial area but you will turn right back onto a highway and be good again. There is a Flying J truck stop just past the intersection of Hwy 11 and Marquis Dr. Marquis DR goes right back to the Yellowhead HWY toward Edmonton. Easy off and easy on. A boring uneventfull drive towards Edmonton from there. The Battlefords are some scenery, but mostly typical farmlands.
Edmonton you just follow the signs saying Yellowhead HWY. And continue through town. Spruce grove off of 16A has all you could need with easy return to the main HWY route. Top off at Whitecourt after town there is a Casino with easy off and on and last low price place. The prices start to steadily climb. Make sure you top off in Grande Prairie. British Columbia has their Harmonizing tax that forces prices up right off the top.
Grande Prairie make sure you take the bypass, Keep going on the highway till the end. It will come to a stop and you take a left. It is a little 2 lane road "Range Road 63" And it will take you to the edge of town. Driving through town is difficult enough in a regular car.
With a trailer for note, The only MAJOR grade to deal with is just before Taylor, BC. It is a good 4 mile decline down to the bridge over the Peace River. Quite a view and gorge. But do have caution there. Cars will be wanting to pass and drive crazy through there. Double check your trailer brake connection and such.
I only had internet in about 4 places with my phone. Edmonton, Calgary. I did have service almost all the way though. of coarse not in the distance spots up north. I had a Canada friendly phone plan. But if you need service when you get to a Walmart on the route they have prepaid Canada phones for 29 bucks. Nifty deal there for service. Rogers wireless was the one I noticed most.
Yeah use online maps. But your route is pretty simple for me since I traveled it so much. Get your fuel in Minot, ND before leaving north to the Portal crossing. Then ride on towards Moose Jaw and then north to highway 11. Bypass Regina, it is a tight hassle of a city to pull a trailer to.
Then you will have to go through Saskatoon. It isn't bad. You will only have about 1 tight mile to drive through after you cross the river Circle DR is a commercial area but you will turn right back onto a highway and be good again. There is a Flying J truck stop just past the intersection of Hwy 11 and Marquis Dr. Marquis DR goes right back to the Yellowhead HWY toward Edmonton. Easy off and easy on. A boring uneventfull drive towards Edmonton from there. The Battlefords are some scenery, but mostly typical farmlands.
Edmonton you just follow the signs saying Yellowhead HWY. And continue through town. Spruce grove off of 16A has all you could need with easy return to the main HWY route. Top off at Whitecourt after town there is a Casino with easy off and on and last low price place. The prices start to steadily climb. Make sure you top off in Grande Prairie. British Columbia has their Harmonizing tax that forces prices up right off the top.
Grande Prairie make sure you take the bypass, Keep going on the highway till the end. It will come to a stop and you take a left. It is a little 2 lane road "Range Road 63" And it will take you to the edge of town. Driving through town is difficult enough in a regular car.
With a trailer for note, The only MAJOR grade to deal with is just before Taylor, BC. It is a good 4 mile decline down to the bridge over the Peace River. Quite a view and gorge. But do have caution there. Cars will be wanting to pass and drive crazy through there. Double check your trailer brake connection and such.
Great information ... thanks... I'm having special trailer brake controllers installed. I had rented a small trailer back when I was remodeling my only bathroom and used a portable device that hooked up to the cigarette lighter... worked great but with this journey I believe the full installation is in order. I believe a smaller trailer will be better but keep in mind that I will be living for a while in this trailer too... so many last minute details but yes I have been planning for a very long time so anxiety should not be too bad... yeah right LOL... enjoy the day..
Darn, I lost my 3rd SD card which had my other photos with the Bison on the road, the Elk between Haines Jct and Whitehorse and many more good lucky shots. I'm bummed. I'm going to keep searching though. I was wanting to get the picture of the Gorge down to Taylor and the Peace river. To give you a picture of the hill. I'll keep searching.
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Continued
I was happy you gave me where to cross the border also ... can't wait to get this started... intensifys the spring fever feeling
... I hope I'm just kidding LOL 
