Fort Wainwright questions (Fairbanks, Valdez, Haines: transfer, safe, food)

[floridagirl0808]

Hello everyone. My hubby has orders to go to Fairbanks and I have a few questions. We have to be there at the beginning of Nov. So to start with normally how cold is it there about that time? We were wanting to either drive the whole way or maybe take the ferry. But I haven't seen a ferry schedule past the beginning of Oct. Would it even be an option to do either? We also will have an 8 year and a 50 pound dog. I really don't wanna fly as I don't want to ship my dog lol. I do know we have to have a health certificate with in 30 days to get threw Canada for my dog. She is also chipped so that should help.
I hear there really isn't many gas station in Canada on the way and driving a V8 F150 worries me. Does anyone know if that has changed? Or if any of them would be open late Oct.? Should I winterize my truck before we get there? What would it take to winterize my truck? I bought all weather tires that handles dry,wet and snow but they aren't studded. Would that be good tires to keep?
To be completely honest we are from Florida (hints the username lol) and Fort Sill,OK is our first duty station. So any advice on the trip and what to expect would be really nice. Thank you in advance!!!

[roadfamily6now]

Originally Posted by floridagirl0808

Hello everyone. My hubby has orders to go to Fairbanks and I have a few questions. We have to be there at the beginning of Nov. So to start with normally how cold is it there about that time?

Normally, it's below freezing. One year we drove back up from Montana and landed in Delta Junction (100 miles south of Fairbanks) and it was -30 on Halloween!!! It was freaken cold! So, it's not unusual to have very cold weather early on in the winter.

We were wanting to either drive the whole way or maybe take the ferry. But I haven't seen a ferry schedule past the beginning of Oct. Would it even be an option to do either?

You can take the ferry even in the winter but the schedule is limited. You can ferry from Bellingham Washington to Haines, Alaska or maybe even get as far as Valdez or Whitteir, Alaska. I'd choose Valdez because it will be the most direct route onto Fairbanks for you.

We also will have an 8 year and a 50 pound dog. I really don't wanna fly as I don't want to ship my dog lol. I do know we have to have a health certificate with in 30 days to get threw Canada for my dog. She is also chipped so that should help.

I know that Alaska Airlines has heated cargo so flying dogs is safe and a flight from Seattle to Fairbanks is about 5 hours.

I hear there really isn't many gas station in Canada on the way and driving a V8 F150 worries me. Does anyone know if that has changed? Or if any of them would be open late Oct.?

The summer tourist gas stations might be closed up by Nov so there will be fewer gas stations but you should be fine. My biggest suggestions for people driving the AlCan in the Winter are; 1. Always get gas at the every open gas station you see. 2. Always fill your tank full.
if you have gas guzzler, carry a couple of extra gas cans with you (full!). You just never know if that one gas station that should be open really is.

Should I winterize my truck before we get there? What would it take to winterize my truck? I bought all weather tires that handles dry,wet and snow but they aren't studded. Would that be good tires to keep?

Yes I would get your truck winterized before you come up. I'm sure others will pop in here and give you specifics on that. Sounds like all-weather tires will be good. Do you have a 4x4 or just 2 wheel drive?

To be completely honest we are from Florida (hints the username lol) and Fort Sill,OK is our first duty station. So any advice on the trip and what to expect would be really nice. Thank you in advance!!!

We have drove the AlCan as a family (2 - 4 kids, dogs, cats, you never know) 9 times. We have done it in 9 different vehicles in all types of weather and seasons. We have not yet taken the ferry but I have heard it's really great.
Good Luck to you and your family. I personally LOVED Fairbanks. I hope you do too.

[AlaskaNana]

Have driven to Alaska several times, with kids and dogs. As LATE as you are going not only are OPEN gas stations going to be far between, but so are sleeping facilities and food. It is doable but keep extra gas with you and on stopping early. Fill up every chance you get BUT NEVER let it get below 1/2 tank. Get a heat plug installed before you set off. Haven't been to Wainwright, stationed at Elmendorf, but the roads the same until Tok. Have also flow with my dog and its really not a hassle. So the choice is yours. Personally, I prefer not to drive that late in the year but I know of others who do it on a regular basis. And carry chains or studded tires, preferrebly tires as you WILL be using them. We used chains the first trip and I would NEVER use them again for that kind of trip. Keep us posted. Oh yeah, make sure you ALL have winter clothes, boots etc. We only got some for the kids figuring the USAF would issue ours, we were both active duty, so we would wait. BIG mistake, we hit snow --in Oct-- in Canada and froze until we broke down and bought gear for us.

[floridagirl0808]

Thank you for the response. I have a 2 wheel drive :-(

[stiffnecked]

If the Army is paying for the trip take the ferry at least as far as Haines. It's not a bad drive from there and plenty of places to get gas along the way. Just make sure before you leave Washington State to stop and get a set of studded tires mounted on your vehicle. You'll need them once you get there and they'll be cheaper down south.

[AKStafford]

I've done the Alcan between Alaska & the Pacific Northwest 6 times, all in the winter. Never with studs, but they do help.
There's enough fuel stops to make the trip, but fill up in Watson Lake, Whitehorse, Haines Junction, Beaver Creek & Tok.
My biggest suggestion is to get The MILEPOST: Alaska Travel Guide and Trip Planner. It's the essential guide to the drive.
Have warm clothing, food & water. And if you can, 10 gallons of fuel may save you a night along side the road.
The road is much less traveled in winter. You can go 6 or 7 hours without seeing another car. Cell phone cover is non-existent for a good chunk of it.

[AlaskaNana]

Originally Posted by floridagirl0808

Thank you for the response. I have a 2 wheel drive :-(

Is it atleast frontwheel drive? That really helps. You might want to put messages up on CL and bases looking for others transferring at the same time. We travelled through Canada with a family form Fl going to Wainwright, we were coming from Cali. Just happened to run into them at the border. Good to have company, especially in the winter. Just a thought.

[roadfamily6now]

Originally Posted by floridagirl0808

Thank you for the response. I have a 2 wheel drive :-(

if you are not accustomed to driving in the snow and ice, I really suggest you consider getting a 4x4 truck or some other vehicle. A 2wheel drive truck, in my humble opinion, is pretty much worthless in Alaska. Sorry

[roadfamily6now]

Originally Posted by AKStafford

I've done the Alcan between Alaska & the Pacific Northwest 6 times, all in the winter. Never with studs, but they do help.
There's enough fuel stops to make the trip, but fill up in Watson Lake, Whitehorse, Haines Junction, Beaver Creek & Tok.
My biggest suggestion is to get The MILEPOST: Alaska Travel Guide and Trip Planner. It's the essential guide to the drive.
Have warm clothing, food & water. And if you can, 10 gallons of fuel may save you a night along side the road.
The road is much less traveled in winter. You can go 6 or 7 hours without seeing another car. Cell phone cover is non-existent for a good chunk of it.

Don't forget Toad River for Gas!! That was our downfall one trip. We only got $20 there, did not top off our car. We actually ran out of gas at 2am in the middle of no where at -20F! Luckily we were just 6 miles outside of Watson Lake and all turned out okay.

[floridagirl0808]

Thank you everyone for the advice it is really helpful. I wish my truck was a 4x4 or at least could sell it (still owe on it :-( ) We were thinking about taking the ferry if it was "approved" by the Army.

At the risk of sounding dumb *AlaskaNana* what is the CL? :-/