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Alaska Trip

Yahoo Message Number: 11790
We are in the early planning stages of a trip to Alaska (our first) next summer. I know a number of you have made the trip, so I am asking for some advice/comments.
We are planning to take the ferry from Bellingham to either Haines or Skagway about mid June. My concern here is I have a 40 foot 03 Intrigue with the ISL 400, that's the one that hangs so low below the chassis. I have already had to replace the oil pan and have since had the skid guard installed. Does anyone know if there is any problem getting the coach on and off the ferry with this minimal ground clearance?
We were planning to drive back around the middle of August; however, it is my desire return in one piece. I have heard some interesting stories regarding the drive south and some of the surprises along the way. Taking the ferry for the return trip is a consideration, but I think I would prefer to make the drive.
Our plans so far is to position the coach in Fairbanks and take side trips by other means. Visit Denali with the coach and then to Anchorage. Does anyone have any must do's or musn't do's?

I appreciate any inputs.

Thanks
Chuck

03 Intrigue 11673

Re: Alaska Trip

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11791
No Suggestions, but I'm putting together a two rig plan leaving after the Life of Wheels Program in Moscow, Idaho 1st part of July. I have a couple of past itineraries to use as my template for travel plans. Is the ferry ride quite expensive?/ I have not considered that option, yet...
Lee in Portland

Re: Alaska Trip

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11794
Dear Lee,

You may know about some of these sights but I thought I would pass them along from when we took a MH trip a few years ago. We used the Alaska State Ferry System but had a rented a 26' Class C for about 3 weeks.

When you first look it is expensive, BUT the ride we took was outstanding for watching wild life [Eagles/Orcas etc] and most important it got us into areas that you do not see normally.

We went into Cordova and was about a 6 hr trip. The Ferry left from Whittier. We drove from Anchorage area, loaded the RV on a flat bed rail car and rode to Whitter, not far but no highway from Anchorage at the time, I think that has changed.

Cordova is a big canning area,a few nice restaurants and shops, has a camp ground, great and helpful people, and also a Coast Guard base. We stayed 4 days due mostly to the ferry schedule and went back into the interior woods about 50 miles to the million dollar bridge. It was built around the turn of the century by Kennecott copper. Almost adjacent [very short hike] we also saw Childs Glacier [some 300 ft high and 10 miles deep]. It was just across the river from us. We were at an Alaskan State park. The river was only about 200 yds wide and was glacier was caving...dropping huge ice chunks into the river. The state park had a couple as volunteer that were great.
The best thing was the that there were only about 10 people watching and enjoying the day... [6 of which were locals]visitors...just an unbelievable natural experience.

My recommendation is to look into the ferrys...it is worth the price and you have a chance to see areas of Alaska that are not heavy tourist spots. I would book very early however...You're MH will compete for space with the trucks and supply vehicles into remote areas.

Also if your near the Kenai Peninsula on July 4th check into the events at Seward [there is a campground]... a great time and great foot race up and down a mountain...major fun to watch.

You may want to go over to Homer while on the Kenai, they have a great museum and has a section about the Exxon Valdez oil spill. It even includes actual recorded communications from the ship during the disaster. Very interesting.

Dean Ansley
04 Allure 40'

--- lcasebeer@... wrote:

Quote
No Suggestions, but I'm putting together a two rig
plan leaving after the

Life of Wheels Program in Moscow, Idaho 1st part of
July. I have a couple of past

itineraries to use as my template for travel plans.
Is the ferry ride quite

expensive?/ I have not considered that option,
yet...

Lee in Portland

=====

Dean Ansley

Home Office 949-733-3232

E-Mail ansleyd2001@...

Re: Alaska Trip

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11798
Dear Dean,

Your previous visit to Alaska sounded terrific; This is something we'd like to do in 2006 tho'it's a long hike from Key Largo Florida where we have a home.
Is there any way we could get more info from you. We find planning a trip to Alaska via RV is a bit intimidating, especially considering the distance from the East Coast.
Probably require 2 stages for us; the 1st to California or Washington; and thence to Alaska.

Any thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated.

Our rig is a 2002 36 ALLURE.

Jeff & Lisette

Re: Alaska Trip

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11828
Betty and I went solo to Alaska in 2002 for 3 1/2 months trip.

For local + tourist Info., road conditions, construction locations, etc. www.bisonusa.net/alaska; www.state.ak.us; and
www.akferry.com.

Northward, we drove up thru Canadian Rockies: Lake Louise to Jasper Park: SPECTACULAR. We traveled parts or all of the Alcan, Cassiar, Hyder, Top of the World, Denali, down to Homer, To Valdez, and Inside Passage betw. Haines - Prince Ruppert with stops at Sitka and Ketchikan.

FERRY: Inland Passage Ferry cost approx.$2000 for 36'RV+ Toad including the 2 stopovers. Disconnect before you board.
Ferry workers are expert at loading ANY vehicle. For us there were 3 men, one in front, one at coach rear, and one at your window relaying exactly what you must do.

Through our experience we learned:
1. Road construction, weather permitting begins in April-May....We encountered LESS ROAD WORK later in the summer...esp. Aug.-Sept.
2.Mosquitoes are less prevalent toward at end of Summer, July-Aug.- Sept.and were not a problem.
3.Fall colors enhance the beauty in Sept.
4. We were asked for PASSPORTS entering Canada...
5. We received different opinions questioning other travelors about road conditions...

An opinion about the same road would range "terrible..not bad..just take your time...not as bad as we expected".
Locals will tell you the roads are either "good", or "under repair". They drive them daily.

We observed the roughest roads are those through Canada, esp. in the upper Yukon Territory.

Large Road Construction is underway Between Haines Junction and Burwash. Check the above WEBSITES + Links for uptodate road info.
6.Roads WITHIN the state of Alaska generally are in good condition.
Frost heaves : are, for the most part, visible or are marked with signs...LOOK for WAVES in the centerline....esp. betw. Anchorage and Valdez; and betw. Chicken and Tok.
Cassiar Hiway: Approx. 150 of its 500 miles is gravel and some portions of the roadbed are elevated. Beware: rain makes the gravelroad slippery. See below comments.
Power Washes are available (egs. Whitehorse, Tok, Hyder)to remove the mud and gravel.

Our 2002 Honda CRV developed a GROWL sound when driven....caused by mud accumulating on AWD / ABS sensors located on inner aspect of wheels below the axle.....remedied by power washing.

7. Road condition/opinions are SUBJECTIVE... "glass half full / empty" mentality applies here.
a. The fact that a road is gravel does not mean it should be avoided...
b. Some gravel roads are better driving than some blacktop.
c. Gravel roads are easier to maintain than blacktop....a grader quickly smooths their chuckholes.
d. Calcium Chloride is used to hold down dust on dry graveled roads.
e. HOWEVER, Calcium Chloride creates slippery conditions when wet with rain...BEWARE/Slow down! Or wait 24 hours til dry.
f. Windshields: We had 2 dime-sized chips, one in gravel, one
driving on blacktop; we had the chips repaired. g.Tires: No flats/problems.

Keep in mind that the RV Caravan companies travel these very same roads May - September. Caravan companies depend on their customers to pass on positive comments. We found that tour wagonmasters in Whitehorse willingly shared their advice/info with us.
Drive slower, using caution in general, slowing down for frost heave areas and gravel roads, just as you would in the lower 48.
If anyone is looking for reasons to not go, they'll likely find them.
This trip/area allows you to observe the animals and pristine beauty surrounding your vehicles.

In our opinion, it's a trip of a lifetime. We hope to go again after completing our current tour of the lower 48.
Don, 36'Allure, 30580, 2002 CRV.

=========================================================

Re: Alaska Trip

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11829
Chuck:

At Whitehorse (neat town) we stayed at Pioneer RV Park (many RV Caravan groups stay there). They offer a 1 day trip to Skagway for $99/person. A tour Co. stops by the RV park to pick you up. Its a combo. bus + Old Railroad car down to Skagway. Its very scenic over White Pass via RR and convenient. Tickets available at the RV office.
FYI: we counted 66 RVs at the Whitehorse WalMart at 9:00pm one evening. Many stayed for several days.

Denali tours: There are 2 means to tour Denali Park. One is a private tour company while the other is by Park service bus. There is but ONE road BOTH use. The fee for the Park bus is 1/3 the other's tour fee ($23 vs $74 per person) in '02.

Oil Pan: I believe you can raise your coach height by holding down the RAISE button; BUT, do not know if your PAN will also raise?? I raise my 2000 coach to avoid the sidewalk to enter my side yard.
Other forum members can advise here.
Good Luck... Don 2000 Allure, 30580 + '02 CRV

===================================================

Re: Alaska Trip

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11845
Dear Don,

Many, many thanks for your views regarding travel to Alaska. I appreciate your thoroughness in evaluating the road conditions and your overall analysis.
We will make the trip during summer, 2005 or 2006. We MIGHT do it in stages i.e. 1st stage from the Florida Keys to Washington; 2nd stage to Alaska via ferry OR Alcan hwy. In any case your info is tremendous help.

Incidentally, we also have an Allure, 36'(2002).

Jeff & Lisette

Re: Alaska Trip

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11878
We too are considering a trip to Alaska in 2005. We live in Jacksonville, FL and are thinking of heading out to the Northwest sometime in April with plans to cross over into Canada mid May.
Depending on what activities we deside to do, planning on starting our return in September.

This will be our first trip to Alaska also and we are somewhat intimidated by the unexpected and the reported bad experiences.
While we are planning to do this solo, we hope to maybe pair up with another coach along the way to make the trip. I do not want to be tied to a tour group on a schedule and would rather take my time to enjoy the adventure.

Of course this may all be a mute point if my coach get damaged while parked at LazyDays in Tampa. This past week we went to LazyDays for some service and extended warranty work. On Friday we decided to leave the coach there and return to prepare our home for what looked like a direct hit by Jeane. I got up this morning and find that the storm has shifted westard and is heading toward Tampa. Just my luck. Hopefully, there will be no damage.

Look foreward to reading and sharing more information on traveling to Alaska.

Jim & Barb Hughes
Jacksonville, FL
2000 Allure #30511

Re: Alaska Trip

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11895
Don:

Many thanks for the Alaska information. You put it together so well, who needs MILEPOST?
I'm still a bit concerned regarding the oil pan scraping getting on and off the ferry. I have raised it on different occasions to get over humps and curbs, just not sure what kind of clearance I need for the ferry. I'll be giving the ferry people a call.

Thanks again,

Chuck

03 Intrigue 11673

Alaska Trip

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 38922
I am planning a trip to Alaska this summer and need info on what can be taken across the border, especially food items. I have read messages about the subject but can not find them. Can anyone point me in the right direction. Thanks
Fritz Gillespie 1998 Allure 30223

Re: Alaska Trip

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 38924
Driven it 20 times, the only thing involving food they fool with are fresh fruit and vegetables. If you have any pets or guns both of them will be problems for you. You will need current shot records for pets, and any pistols will be sealed with a lead seal. I think rifles are not worried about.

Mark
4076

Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.

Re: Alaska Trip

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 38943
Fritz

We made the trip in 2005 and the rules are different for each province. So it depends on where you cross the border. SOme of the crossings will hit you for certain types of meat. The US rules can just as bad on the trip back. Decide on where you plan to cross and you can either go on line or call the boder patrol to get the latest information.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: fritzgillespie
I am planning a trip to Alaska this summer and need info on what

can

Quote
be taken across the border, especially food items. I have read > messages about the subject but can not find them. Can anyone point

me

Re: Alaska Trip

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 38944
We went in 07 and the only crossing we had an issue was the US in Montana. They wanted to take the meat we had bought in Alaska because we had repackaged it to save space, thus there was no label on it. We talked him out of it, but I was surprised we did. The liqueur and tobacco rules are per person. I have had people tell me if the bottle is open, it's for your bar and they have let it go even if over limit. Arbitrary.

ddtuttle

(aka Billy Byte, trusty hound)
2000 Allure #30443