Alaska

[halfprice]

A bucket list trip for me. I figure a 2 month trip if not more. I want to do this trip in 2022. Probably a mid May or June start and be done when we are done

Also agree that caravaning would be good mainly for help with unexpected problems and repairs and also just for the fun of sharing the experience with others



Thor group caravan. Let's go

Jerry

[The Gritz Carlton]

Very interesting read with lots of information for the "first tripper".


https://calledtowander.com/rv-trip-to-alaska/

[ducksface]

I'd be in for a semi-caravan to Alaska.
It's a trip, we take trips.
Maybe the ferry for us and meeting you on the trail.
Us diving a lake at 11,000ft altitude will break us off for a day, someone visiting a dog shelter or petting a moose will break them off.
I'd hope it would be like the vintage pan America rallies... We'll all find each other at camp that night, like we did at the socal meeting.

[yukongrant]

We would not be part of the caravan. But would be really happy to help out with planning or emergencies. We live in Whitehorse. And it's "only" a 5 hour drive in any direction to get to the Yukon border. And we would be more than happy to make that drive to help out if needed. (We've done it several times over the years.) So anything Yukon, we could help with.
We'll be going down and back up the highway again next summer. (It's a yearly adventure for us.) And could take pictures and gather info for you to help you plan if you want.
You're getting really good advice here. One more tip - just to save any stress - make sure you have a good roadside assistance plan - especially unlimited towing. We've never had to use ours and have driven the highway probably 20 times over the years. But it sure reduces the stress when you hear strange noises.

[halfprice]

Originally Posted by ducksface

I'd be in for a semi-caravan to Alaska.
It's a trip, we take trips.
Maybe the ferry for us and meeting you on the trail.
Us diving a lake at 11,000ft altitude will break us off for a day, someone visiting a dog shelter or petting a moose will break them off.
I'd hope it would be like the vintage pan America rallies... We'll all find each other at camp that night, like we did at the socal meeting.

Bill,
That's how I see it. Nothing structured. Meet up at campsites and go sightseeing together or independently. But stay together loosely to help each other if needed and to throw sightseeing ideas.

And of course to help eat Nadines Korean bbq

Jerry

[ducksface]

Yeh I'd drive 100 miles or lose a day to change a tire or push a slide in for someone if needed.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Same here...I've posted that before...anyone needing assistance in the ATL...one call, that's all!

[Popfla]

My son lives in Talkeetna, AK. That's his place in the lower left, circled in red. That little hill in the distance? That's Denali.

Sure looks beautiful to me.

[ducksface]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

Same here...I've posted that before...anyone needing assistance in the ATL...one call, that's all!

OK, since we're doing this:
I'm good from Gallup to Kingman if it's a real need. A long ride home to Kansas for the non hospitalized spouse in a wreck, that sort of thing.

Winslow to Kingman I'm good for more like, wrecked in a ditch and need ride around to get life handled, rental car, a room.

Local to the grand canyon I'm good for lots more.

[Mag]

A couple of years before we purchased our MH my wife and I went to Alaska with a group of friends. We boarded a large boat and went North to Alaska for a long week. Saw some of the nicest scenery, some you can't see from land, like the face of glaciers, met a lot of nice people on the way, got a little look at all the places we stopped, had great food and great company. Not sure it was less expensive as driving there but it was very enjoyable. Just thot I'd add that as an alternative to driving.

[ducksface]

I've done the inside passage cruise, wife has done it two or three times.
I went Scuba diving with migrating salmon outside of katchikan(I think) . Almost got beat to death in five feet of water.

It's a nice cruise for those who don't normally cruise.
Calm water guaranteed, plenty to see.

I took some small old ship on purpose because it could go where some couldn't and was somehow grandfathered in to some glacier proximity that others weren't.

[halfprice]

Cruised inside passage for our honeymoon almost 17 years ago.

2018 we did a 3 week cruise. Started in Japan, 4 ports, Russia 1 post and finished in Alaska with 4 posts. Long cruise, beautiful sites.

Doing 7 day cruise with 3 day Denali this May.

After that Ill be done cruising Alaska. I want my 2 month rv trip

Jerry

[Judge]

Originally Posted by halfprice

A bucket list trip for me. I figure a 2 month trip if not more. I want to do this trip in 2022. Probably a mid May or June start and be done when we are done

Also agree that caravaning would be good mainly for help with unexpected problems and repairs and also just for the fun of sharing the experience with others



Thor group caravan. Let's go

Jerry

We are looking at the same time (heading up there in May / June) in either 2022 or 2023.

Maybe the beginnings of a caravan!

[halfprice]

Originally Posted by Judge

We are looking at the same time (heading up there in May / June) in either 2022 or 2023.



Maybe the beginnings of a caravan!

Might have to plan it

[ducksface]

Maybe we could find a caravan that's already being organized and become a subset
AAA or Sam's club or united catladies....

[Grizz]

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away... (2006 to be precise) we decided to take our dream vacation to Alaska. Hmmm how to do it? Well rent an RV of course. Now I had never even been in an RV much less slept/lived in one. But what the heck, how hard could it be to live/drive one around Alaska for 5 weeks? So I did some research and Made reservations to rent one from Great Alaskan Vacations.

We flew into Anchorage and they picked us up at the airport gave us an orientation video and the keys to a brand new 29' Winne Chalet class C (no slides). And off we went!

I'll just say it was the most excellent vacation of our lives! I made no reservations except for the ferry to Sitka and 3 nights at the Teklanika campground in Denali. Other than that we just winged it. Again did I say it was the most excellent vacation in our lives! Went to the Yukon, Dawson City, Whitehorse, Traveled the Top of the World Highway to Chicken. Haines, Haines Junction, Skagway, Tok, Fairbanks, Chena hot springs, Homer, Seward, and everywhere in between!



I will be back. Its on the itinerary for our full time adventure that will begin shortly! Can't wait.

[2015axis]

Originally Posted by ducksface

I'm going to give you a perspective you might not get from others regarding Alaska.
It's far far far too many miles of green walls and blue ceiling and not anything else to see, dotted by the most miserable little towns.

Ultimately there just isn't much there, high priced food and fuel, not the most sophisticated of company or culture.
There's someone on this forum who told of renting what looked like sad ststionary rv's with serious blacktank problems for $350 a night as airbnb. It's kinda the climate we found. Maybe someone will have a link....

We're from the vast vastness of AZ, UT, NM, NV and SE SoCal where counties are often bigger than the state of Maryland, so a long view to the horizon and big mountains aren't a care for us, so it might be us and not Alaska, or it might be we don't do the rose colored thing.

We of course hear and read differently from almost all others, but it just wasn't worth the drive for us.

If someone says it is worth the Travel, get specifics from them.

But

It's almost an obligation to go.

Can I ask what year your traveled to Alaska and what year..

[2015axis]

Grizz, I’ve lived in AK for 55 years. (Spend winters in NV) look me up your next trip I’ll be glad to give you some travel tips..

[Grizz]

Originally Posted by 2015axis

Grizz, I’ve lived in AK for 55 years. (Spend winters in NV) look me up your next trip I’ll be glad to give you some travel tips..

I sure will! Thanks.

[dugdale]

I have lived in Alaska for 54 years. Mostly Anchorage, but I did live in Juneau for 4 years. After retiring I had a winter home in AZ, but recently purchased a home in Ponte Vedra FL were one of my daughter relocated to. I still have my primary residence in Anchorage and will be spending summers in AK. Two years ago my wife and I drove the AK highway all the way to AZ and had a great trip. In April 2018 we purchased a motorhome in Phoenix and drove it home to Anchorage. Great trip both times and beautiful scenery. I worked in the hotel/tourism business for 38 years. In all my years I have never heard anyone complain like the one I just read about a highway trip to Alaska or a cruise.

In my years in the hotel business I have met people who want to be miserable.