Maybe driving 5500 miles, with pets - opinions anyone? (Anchorage, Fairbanks: renting, how much)

[tigre79]

Howdy everyone! I’m new and have been lurking around, so I thought I'd introduce myself and hopefully get some of your opinions on what I've got in my head.

I'm 30, female, about to finish my masters in ecology, and took a trip up to Alaska this summer. I was at a conference in Fairbanks for a few days, then I stuck around on my own and drove around for 12 days, camping and hiking over a decent bit of the Interior and Southcentral. Met some interesting people and saw some amazing things, and I think I may have to try it up there for a while. I've only lived in warm places: Texas, NC, and now Florida. So I'm a little bit nervous about winter, but I'm going back up in March to see a bit of it. If I hate it I guess I'll make other plans. But I'm tired of the heat down here and really excited about the winter landscape and all the sports I've never gotten to do.

I'll come up with more questions about living there later, but at the moment I’m thinking through the process of actually getting there with all my stuff. It's a 5500-mile trip and I'll probably be doing it alone, with two dogs (who travel very well) and a 14yo cat (who doesn't). The plan is to get rid of most of my furniture, buy a small trailer for the rest and then sell that when I get up there. I have the trip mapped out for 12 days, driving 8-9 hours most days, and going through some scenic areas instead of taking the shortest route. It will almost certainly be at the end of May next year. I’m thinking about camping most nights, partly to save money but mainly because I like camping. The dogs will love it, but I'm not sure about the cat. He should settle down after the first couple days and he will go on leash walks so that should help. It's a lot to handle by myself. I've thought about inviting someone along and then they can fly back, but I like the idea of going on my own, and there aren't a lot of people who wouldn't drive me crazy after that much time in a car with them. I've been on long hauls a few times before, once with all the animals, but those were more like 1500 miles. This is a whole different thing. I do like the challenge of it, and I think it could be a great adventure. And I'm a pretty practical, low-maintenance person so I think I can do it okay. I'm mostly concerned about the cat, but he's in good shape for his age and I think he'll come through it not too much worse for wear.

All that said, I'd like to hear what other people think about this. I'm used to people thinking I'm a little off, but I'd really appreciate it if you guys would help me figure out whether there are important things I'm not considering.

[bongo]

We moved up here to Alaska over 10 years ago from New Mexico with a dog who travels well & the cat from hell! We went to the vet & drugged the cat during the day so she would not drive us crazy (yowl yowl yowl!!) while we were driving during the day. When the drug wore off at night & she started howling that was our clue to start looking for a motel. We used The Milepost for the northern part of our trip. It took us 8 days from New Mexico. We kept the cat in her cage, only letting her out at night in hotels with a kitty litter. Cats are notorious for freaking in strange places so although we are avid campers we would not risk that with our cat. It was nice to have a hotel room for all of us after a long day driving rather than have to bother setting up a tent, cooking out, etc. We could take showers, get to-go food, or settle the animals in the motel & go out for a quick dinner.

[akck]

I think camping out will be a problem. You're likely to hit snow on the trip and most camp grounds will likely be closed or snowed in. You'll need a passport and your pets will need a health certificate within 30 days of entering Alaska. It sounds like you have a good plan and if you were going later, camping would be an option.

[ak.nessa]

I wonder if there's a way to fly your cat up to Alaska, without you being on the plane with him. It seems like it should be possible. I flew my cat on Alaska Airlines and he did fine. It was a much shorter trip for him than if I had driven him. You will definitely want to create some type of safe enclosure for him if you are going to drive him up (if you have a trailer, maybe find a safe place to put him in there). I also recommend the herbal supplement "happy traveler." I have not used it on the cat yet, but it definitely made my dog very calm and relaxed, and it is much safer than sedatives (harsh drugs are hard on older cats). So...maybe you can have a friend put him on a plane for you AFTER you have arrived in Alaska, so you can pick him up immediately after he lands in Alaska. I think it only cost me $100 to fly my cat. It would have to be from an airport that has a 1 way trip to Alaska though. Hmmm hopefully that helps!

[tigre79]

Hmm, flying the cat is a good idea. I haven't done anything like that before, so it makes me a little nervous, but it may be less stress for both of us than 12 days in the car. I'll have to find out more about that.

I've checked with the places I really want to camp (Palo Duro Canyon, Grand Teton, Glacier, Banff) and they all say they have campsites open by mid-May. Snow on the ground isn't a problem for camping from my perspective, so as long as they're open and the roads are reasonable it's a go. And I'm thinking that reservations probably won't be a big issue since I'll be going before the bulk of the tourists. I'll stay in hotels a few times on the way, but there are some places I'm going out of my way to see and I don't want to be stuck in town and further away from what I went there for. And I'd actually feel more secure camping, since you can stay closer to your vehicle. My friend had everything she owned stolen from a hotel parking lot on her way here from California. I know that's rare, but it makes me nervous anyways.

One other question: I have a few firearms and don't want to hassle with any of that going through Canada. The handguns I'd have to ship, but I'll go ahead and ship the rifles too. But I'd rather not drive all the way across the country completely unarmed, even with my dogs (especially since it'll be obvious I've got all my stuff with me). So I was thinking about waiting until I got up to Helena to send them off, either through UPS (unless their policies have changed) or Alaska Airlines cargo. I have a friend who works for an FFL who can advise me somewhat, but does anyone here have recent experience shipping handguns? I didn't see anything on the Alaska Airlines cargo page about prohibiting guns, so that may be the better option, since UPS is sometimes funny about that sort of thing from what I've heard.

[steph937]

They can ship cats on passenger planes without the owner however be very careful because they ship the animal in the cargo space and there is no heat down there so if you're moving the kitty up in the winter it will be dangerously cold down there for any animal. I moved up here the day after Christmas two years ago and travelled with my very crazy cat. I had to drug him pretty stiffly and we flew up from Alabama. He did just fine and settled after take off. I could get up and take him to the restroom to check on him. He was never completely knocked out and the flight from Seattle to Anchorage was pretty empty so I could spread out some and not worry if his howls bothered anyone (the plane was so loud that even if he did howl, no one would have heard him.) I doubt we could have made it by car especially in the winter but that's just me. My husband and I do plan on moving back to the lower 48 in the next year or so and we will be renting a motorhome for the journey so that we and the cats (3) and dogs (2) will have room to roam and freedom to stop when we like. I'm not sure how that will go but I think as long as our cats have room to roam and places to hide, they should be alright. Good luck with your trip!

[tigre79]

Hey thanks, Steph. I'll check on the temperature issue. I'm at least as concerned about the heat here in early June as I'd be about the cold up there. AA says their cargo bay is temp controlled to 50-70F, but I don't know if I can use them all the way up since they'd probably have to transfer to Alaska Airlines.

I had to drug Bill (the cat) on the way out here from Dallas, but I'm not sure how much it really helped. He still freaked out, he just moved a bit slower. He got better over the course of the trip though. I don't think I drugged him at all the third day. AA says they won't accept sedated animals in cargo (and that's probably a good thing), so he'd just have to make do.

Edit: Delta also is temp controlled. I think it would be better if I could get someone to fly up with him, though that may not be doable simply due to the cost of the ticket up there. My mom may want to come up though and I think she'd be willing to escort him.

[tigre79]

Hoorah! My mom said she'd love to come up after I get there and will bring the cat along. So now I just have to get him to Dallas, which shouldn't be all that bad.

[Montana Griz]

Tiger 79.................

I am a senior male who has driven R/T to AK 5 times over the last 20 years. Also have flown up 3 times and have taken the Ferry System --w/ a PU & Camper--(AK Marine Hwy System) once. I have spent time in AK in May, June, Aug, Sept, Oct and Nov. I also have close friends that live in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Soldotna, McGrath and Kodiak...and they have kept me informed as to various aspects related to "Year-round" living in AK. Thus I feel somewhat qualified to voice my opinion(s) to a 30 yr old (obviously intelligent) young lady from Tampa. (Congratulations on your Masters)

Basic Questions: Being from the southern US: 1/ Have you truly explored what it will be like living several winter months with as little as 4 hours of daylight/per/day; Ice Fog; multiple days on end when there is NO sunshine, due to constant over cast, clouds and weather fronts that come in off the Gulf of Alaska with all their moisture!!

Your trip up to AK this past summer exposed you to "the good-time" to be there. Please do your 'home-work' as related to living there 'year-round'.
If, after your forthcoming trip in March, you still think you want to move up there, I offer the following as "food for thought".

Things to consider about YOUR proposed trip (as you now have it tenatively planned):

1/ The age, type, condition and size of your vehicle.
My recommendations: A 4WD SUV OR Enclosed PICK UP that would have room for TWO "dog travel crates" and a "cat travel crate", as well as the "stuff" you want easy access to over the course of your trip. The trailer you mention should contain "stuff" that you won't need until you get to your destination. Without question you should have: 2 spare tires and wheels for the Towing vehicle and two spares for the trailer; a "Tow Strap; extension mirrors on the tow vehicle: (and other various automotive 'stuff'...items that may be needed on this type of trip.)

I now realize I could go "On and on" with this, so....I'll close with the following thought.............

I strongly suggest that you DRIVE UP TO ALASKA for your trip in March.......
that experience alone will answer many, many questions and be in-valueable in many ways. Good Luck!!

[akck]

I'm sorry, I mis-read your post and thought you were driving up earlier than May. There should be camping open in Canada and Alaska in May. You might hit snow at higher elevations, but should be able to work around it. I think you can get by without reservations, so if you decide you don't want to camp that day, you can find a place with vacancies at your next stop. When my FIL drove up, he would check his Milepost and call ahead the next morning making a reservation (July, so more tourists). By all means make reservations for your side trips as some places may not be open.