Drive to Alaska

[CharlieNC]

Another retired buddy and I are starting to plan a 2018 hunt while we're still able, as we will both be pushing 70 then. A typical trip has been from NC, drive to SD for pheasant and then to NM or Co for big game. We enjoy the drives and have the time, and are considering the major leap to Alaska. Does anyone have experience doing this and words of wisdom? I'm sure its cheaper to fly, but we love the Western sceniery and new areas that would be missed.

 

[JRS]

That is a long drive

 

[swd]

Another option would be to drive to Bellingham WA and put your vehicle on the ferry and go up through the inside passage. You stop at many of the islands on the way up. Not cheap but spectular. I can highly recomend it.

 

[Mozella]

If I were doing this, I'd take the train to the North West, get on the Inside Ferry up to your starting point, rent a SUV, and take it from there. I took a cross country train trip not long ago and it was fantastic. Not too expensive either. I figured it was less expensive than the cost of driving when you figure in the fuel and motel costs. Plus, you get to drink on the train and those old-age afternoon naps are much safer on the train then when you're behind the wheel of a car doing 70 mph. I want to die in my sleep, but not by hitting a bridge abutment.

Be sure to reserve a sleeper FAR in advance. They sell out early. But if you can't get a sleeper, DON'T GO. You do not want to sit in an ordinary chair for a trip that long. The Amtrak web site is very good. Check it out.

 

[Steveb]

I live in British Columbia and have driven the Hwy a number of times. It is a good highway now and easy driving, just a long way. Check with CDN border people for transit with firearms. It used to be allowed to bring firearms in transit if they were sealed in a box however, I understand that has changed so be careful to check. Also, handguns are strictly controlled and again I don't know if they are allowed for transit anymore. Do not lie to the border people because they watch for Americans coming through with firearms and have no sense of ha, ha if you lie to them saying you don't have one and you do. Also, American concealed weapon permits are not valid in Canada because we are a different country with different rules!!

 

[DogBuster]

L O N G drive............

I'd take the ferry suggestions too........

 

[deepwater]

The Ferry w/ sleeper room is pricey, but the privacy and sleeping room is welcome. I would fly and rent car in AK for easiest trip....but you do miss out on some pretty country by not driving. Las time I rented and got a SUV with 5 miles on it! Brand new. Many different ways to do it, up one way and down another. Depends on time and money you want to spend.

 

[gme]

Drive! The road is supposed to be very good now, I drove from So Cal to Anchorage 40 years ago, back then the road was very rough in places, broke an axel on my Willys Jeep about 50 miles outside of Whitehorse (literally the middle of nowhere at the time) almost hit a moose, and had a half dollar size rock tossed through the radiator by a passing truck, take your time and stop frequently, lots of wildlife, the scenery is spectacular in places, met some very interesting people, wouldn't trade that experience for anything

 

[nakneker]

First of all congrats on your decision to consider going to Alaska, it's a magical place. I use to live there and traveled the highway in winter and summer. It's a long road but it's much improved and if you enjoy driving out West you will love the the drive to Alaska. You sound like you have plenty of time and if your traveling at a relaxed pace you will be treated to some of God's most spectacular creations, it would pay to plan your route through Canada to see some of the sights.

As far as hunting in Alaska it varies greatly depending on the animal you choose to hunt and whether or not you guide out. Some animals require a guide, Brown Bear (grizzly is the same bear just lives in the mountains), sheep and maybe Mtn Goat require a guide. You can still do a do it yourself hunt if your gonna try for Moose, Black Bear, Caribou or something like Blacktail deer on Kodak Island. You can opt for a drop camp where you fly out, do a float trip or just try and use the road system to do your hunt. Just keep in mind the farther out you go the less people you will encounter. I know seventy year olds who can out hustle 40 year olds but obviously your physical abilities factor into your options.

You can PM me if I can help. I rode a motorcycle to Seattle when I was 17 and caught the ferry to Juneau where I spent the summer, lived out in Bristol Bay in a small town called Naknek for three years and spent 6 months in Wasilla. I go back every four years, some times more. I'm headed to Yakatat in September. I know enough to get you headed in the right direction, definitely not an expert.

I admire your ambition!

 

[jepp2]

Does anyone have experience doing this and words of wisdom?

My wife and I drove to Alaska from CO in 2010 pulling a popup tent camper. We took 9 weeks for the entire trip. Took us 6 1/2 days to get to Fairbanks. We left May 15 and we were on the early end of the season with many campgrounds either not open, or just opening. Got to see lots of bears as they had just come out of hibernation and were eating grass on the sides of the road.

The Alaska highway is in great shape and easy to drive. Seemed like and adventure on the way up, and just a drive on the way back. Amazing the difference in once we knew what to expect. On the way back the campgrounds were very full. Since I don't know when you will be traveling, I don't know if accommodations will be open or closing. You may need to check this out so you have a place to stay. Until you get to Dawson Creek (start of the Alaska highway) it is just normal driving. Get a copy of Milepost as it is very helpful to point out things you would otherwise miss.

I will include 2 pictures. The first is Mile 0 in Dawson Creek, the second is coming into Haines Junction (show what the highway looks like).

 

[CharlieNC]

Thanks for the great feedback, I see great memories there. Time for serious discussion with my buddy.

 

[Jerry Head]

Another retired buddy and I are starting to plan a 2018 hunt while we're still able, as we will both be pushing 70 then. A typical trip has been from NC, drive to SD for pheasant and then to NM or Co for big game. We enjoy the drives and have the time, and are considering the major leap to Alaska. Does anyone have experience doing this and words of wisdom? I'm sure its cheaper to fly, but we love the Western sceniery and new areas that would be missed.

 

[Jerry Head]

Wife and I just did that trip last fall. GREAT trip. Worst road by far is between Tok Jct and Glennallen. Extremely rough road here. So much so when we headed south we drove to Haines and took the ferry to B.C. REST of the roads thru Canada and Alaska were good. Plenty of services and fuel. Former 40 year Alaskan. When even I say a road is rough it IS rough. Paved all the? Yes

 

[onelastshot]

My one suggestion is to bring an extra full size spare tire. When people say rough roads they mean it. And tire shops can be hours away.

 

[JRS]

The OP has a 3500 mile drive to reach mile zero on the AH

 

[hogpatrol]

Alaska publishes some informative guides on traveling in the state. Also it has a website that you can sign up and receive news and highlights about goings on around the state.

https://www.travelalaska.com/Planners/Planner.aspx

http://www.bellsalaska.com/

 

[Barlow]

We flew to Anchorage and rented a camper for 10 days back in 2005, and are thinking about doing it again, it was awesome. My brother and his wife drove from northern Wisc, to Alaska and back a couple years later. He said he was glad he did it, but would not do it again. Barlow

 

[hogpatrol]

We flew to Anchorage and rented a camper for 10 days back in 2005, and are thinking about doing it again, it was awesome. My brother and his wife drove from northern Wisc, to Alaska and back a couple years later. He said he was glad he did it, but would not do it again. Barlow

Any long trips I took by car were great going but coming back was a chore.

 

[falconpilot]

Don't know how it is now..I drove it in 92..you must have spare tire, maybe two..advise a extra gas can or two...once you leave Ft. Nelson, BC, it's a LONG way between gas stations! I can't wait to drive this drive again..it wasn't all paved when I drove it..about 1/2 and 1/2...it was the drive/trip of a lifetime!

Beware of the frost heav's!!!!

 

[jds holler]

I did it in 1977 at the age of 20. Left Oregon in June to go up, and finally headed south from Fairbanks coming home in September. Trip of a lifetime. Drove over 10,000 miles on the trip, an lived in my 1973 F150, short wheelbase pick-up with a cab-high canopy. My only companion was my bird dog Sue, and whoever I met along the way, which were many fine folks.

It was one of the best and most memorable experiences of my life, and I thank God above that I did it. My best times started after I reached the Yukon Territory, and that's when I really started feeling the sense of the wild north country. The Alcan Highway was almost completely un-paved at that time, and in June was HORRIBLE. It was a given that your vehicle was never gonna be the same again.

From what I see and hear, things are very different now, and many places are more accessible and of course populated. I had the opportunity to stay there, and my life would have been very different if I had -- but it wasn't to be.

I could still go on for hours and bore anyone with the things that I did, the people I met, and the times that we had. It was the perfect trip for a kid who liked to rough it. Maybe you guys are a couple of kids like that, even though you're pushin seventy. jd