Seattle to Alaska, could use a few tips and advice.

[Uncle Bill]

I have a quick question for "Bus Driver". If it is cold there in the mornings, what do you do for heat? Do you run a generator? Or, use the furnace? Mrs. Bus Driver, how do you handle no-showers? I have suggested to my wife that you just get used to sponge baths. Is that pretty much correct? Thanx, Uncle Bill

[BusDriver]

Sorry to hear about your delay, I always carry Immodium with us but sometimes that doesn't work if you have a bad enough virus, it has to come out one way or another.
Traveling is really hard on your digestive system because of so much sitting, different foods, water, etc. I'm sure the MD or RN told you clear liquids, then the BRAT diet. Banana, Rice, Applesauce, Tea in very small amounts every hour or so.

Enough of that. I think we have had power at almost every stop so we use the little electric cube heater and sometimes the furnace to help it along. We usually don't use the heater during the night, only in the very early morning, Mr. BusDriver uses a down comforter and I use a sheet and light blanket with my feet out and usually my window slightly open. We also have a generator with us but have not needed to use it yet. We use the shower sometimes but usually sponge bath. It's just something I got use to.

The Down Town RV Park in Watson Lake has the best showers of any campground we have been to and it was free, even has music piped into the bathrooms.

Hope you get on your way soon

[Smartstream]

Hi Joe and Nancy, we finally got underway and we are just leaving Meziadin Lake on the Cassiar Hwy. You can check our progress here http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...ml#post1466779

Internet has been sparse but we will post when we can.

[BusDriver]

We are in Fairbanks now for a couple of days.
Be sure to check out our blog.

[GettinAway]

Visited the blog again. You guys are great. Glad you had the rabies cert with you.
That's a pretty remote crossing up there, but I thought it was much more of what crossing into Alaska should be, compared to the crossing on the Alaska Highway. That one seemed more like a tourist stop.
When I took the ferry over, I was the only one on it. (Motorcycle) I was thinking, they are surely losing money on this trip. Then I found out the trip was free.. Ha

[BillB44]

Love the gaffers tape idea...but have read it's not water proof. That true? Will it hold up to the Alaskan downpours?

[OregonVista]

Originally Posted by BillB

Love the gaffers tape idea...but have read it's not water proof. That true? Will it hold up to the Alaskan downpours?

I have had gaffers tape up on my greenhouse ( same material I'll be using to cover the front of the AS) for the past 3 or 4 weeks and squirt it with the hose several days a week and it is holding great. The water doesn't seem to bother it.

We will be leaving here July 4th to travel to Dawson Creek pick up the WBCCI Alaska caravan on July 12th.

[BillB44]

Thanks, sounds waterproof enuf to me. Besides, you live in the Willamette Valley. Have a great trip--we'll be about a week behind you.

[Nelson428]

Hey, looks like y'all are having a great trip. I will start my adventure in a few weeks. I am still working so I will have to fly up to Whitehorse. This will be my 35 year anniversary to vacation in the Yukon. I will be looking for y'all in a few weeks.

Travel safely and enjoy

[BusDriver]

catching up on my blog, check it out

[Silver Goose]

Originally Posted by kcbwil

... I thought the Cassiar route to be the most interesting to me. However, in terms of topography, scenery, wildlife, and people both routes from Prince George to Alaska are worthy. ...

We will finally be headed your way this week and I wanted to thank you for the lengthy and detailed posts about the various routes, places of interest and some of the do's and don'ts. Following the Stampede in 2 weeks our route will generally be the one from Banff to Jasper to Dawson Creek following the Alcan to Fairbanks to Homer then around to Skagway. Our next destination being Vancouver offered several alternatives. Not being in a hurry, the Cassiar was an option I am considering and while it has been reported as a narrow truck route yours and other's comments here have helped me decide this is the way to go. I anticipate I will be on this road about late August or the 1st week in September. By then I assume most of the potholes will have been filled in. Will most campgrounds still be open then? I assume there is some date between September and October when many will be shuttered for the season. My other concern has been the availability of fuel. I have used the current edition of The Milepost to locate fuel stops along my route at approximately 100 mile intervals as the Expedition's fuel tank is only 25 gallons. Topping off at these intervals should insure I never get below 1/2 tank in case my planned stop is closed or out of fuel. We will be traveling with another couple with a Class-C towing a small pickup so we plan to carry a 5-gallon can in it just in case. Does this sound like a reasonable plan?

Cell phone? We expect to be traveling in Alberta, BC and the Yukon for approximately 3-weeks. I'm aware that using my phone will incur notable roaming charges. Is service pretty much non-existent in many areas anyway, the Cassiar for example? If so, how do you contact Good Sam road service if needed? Is hopping into my companion's pickup and heading to the closest town my best option?

I have enjoyed all the discussion, contributions and photos on this tread in the past months and hope to add a few of our own as we progress. Maybe we'll meet some of you in a campground or on the road. I'll be towing an '08 27' with red Expedition.



Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[Nelson428]

Silver Goose,

I will be looking for you. I will be in the Yukon mid July-Mid to Late August. Most campgrounds start closing mid September. Last year i was much later returning to the lower 48. I was able to find campgrounds that were open, even though I may have been the only unit there, but that was only in Alaska and the Yukon. Once I arrived back in Alberta I had no issues finding campgrounds full of travelers headed south. You will find that some will close 3/4 of the campground and keep 1/4 open for those of us that travel late. Cell service is not that dependable in the Yukon. As far as calling Good Sam Road Assistance you should not have any issues, you may have to hitch a ride into the nearest village or town, but, that's more than likely where the tow would come from. Late August and early September the weather starts to change, and the Autumn colors will be VIVID, so enjoy, and I will keep an eye out for you.


J Nelson Thornton

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by Silver Goose

We will finally be headed your way this week and I wanted to thank you for the lengthy and detailed posts about the various routes, places of interest and some of the do's and don'ts. Following the Stampede in 2 weeks our route will generally be the one from Banff to Jasper to Dawson Creek following the Alcan to Fairbanks to Homer then around to Skagway. Our next destination being Vancouver offered several alternatives. Not being in a hurry, the Cassiar was an option I am considering and while it has been reported as a narrow truck route yours and other's comments here have helped me decide this is the way to go. I anticipate I will be on this road about late August or the 1st week in September. By then I assume most of the potholes will have been filled in. Will most campgrounds still be open then? I assume there is some date between September and October when many will be shuttered for the season. My other concern has been the availability of fuel. I have used the current edition of The Milepost to locate fuel stops along my route at approximately 100 mile intervals as the Expedition's fuel tank is only 25 gallons. Topping off at these intervals should insure I never get below 1/2 tank in case my planned stop is closed or out of fuel. We will be traveling with another couple with a Class-C towing a small pickup so we plan to carry a 5-gallon can in it just in case. Does this sound like a reasonable plan?

Cell phone? We expect to be traveling in Alberta, BC and the Yukon for approximately 3-weeks. I'm aware that using my phone will incur notable roaming charges. Is service pretty much non-existent in many areas anyway, the Cassiar for example? If so, how do you contact Good Sam road service if needed? Is hopping into my companion's pickup and heading to the closest town my best option?

I have enjoyed all the discussion, contributions and photos on this tread in the past months and hope to add a few of our own as we progress. Maybe we'll meet some of you in a campground or on the road. I'll be towing an '08 27' with red Expedition.



Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

We are at the Copper River Valley center right now but just came up the Cassiar. We added Canadian coverage to our cell plan for like $15 or $20 for a month, not that it did much good. I don't think we had cell coverage anywhere along the Cassiar. Meziadan Lake did have decent internet access for $5 at the Provincial campground

[espradlin2]

I took my 1977 airstream to Alaska and towed it with a F150 ford truck, I took the top of the world Highway with no problems, it is paved on the Canadian side. On the US side I met only one truck.
I spent three months in Alaska and Northern Canada and did not have any problems with the roads nor cracked glass. I do have a tinted cover on the front window of my airstream and it didn't show any damage. Mud flaps were used to stop rocks from flying up from my back wheels.
Have a great trip.

[BusDriver]

We have rock tamers and not one new dent on the front of the Stream, we have been traveling since May 15th. This has been a fabulous trip so far.

check out our trip blog/journal, I usually post something 2 - 3 times a week.

Streamin with Joe and Buddy
Streamin with Joe and Buddy

[Uncle Bill]

We are back in the lower 48. Yes our trip was a very short one. I do not want to sound negative, so will keep this short. The scenery everywhere we went was beautiful when you could see past the trees. The animals were in short supply from what was expected. The roads were pretty good most of the way. (Montana I 15, Calgary, Edmonton, Alaskian Hwy., Tok, Anchorage, Seward, Homer, Denali, Fairbanks, back to Tok, Alaskian Hwy, down Cassiar, side trip to Stewart, Jasper, thru Calgary and back to Montana.) The worst roads encountered were the Yukon Alaskian last 75-80 miles, dirtand gravel...and, the upper 50-60 miles of the Cassiar. (paved, but very rough with a lot of pot holes and frost damage...no major repairs as of our passing...25 mph.)
A lot of rain, fog, low clouds in AK. No major damage to the truck or trailer, just a lot of mud which got watered down in the severe rains, encountered many times.
Lost one trailer tire on way up thru Whitehorse by separation inside causing it to loose air quickly and wearing very badly. Had some injector fowling which is being treated wiith SeaFoam and STP additive. (Getting better with less smoke at idle)
Diesel fuel cost in Jasper area is very expensive, about $7.50 per gallon, and then in Yukon at Beaver Creek running about $6.60 per gallon.
I will give details to individuals upon request via separate emails outside airforums(unkbill123@aol.com)

Uncle Bill

[xrvr]

For me a trip to Alaska on all paved roads would be a disappointment. If I had a trailer equipped for that type of travel I would be planning a trip now. Jim

[BillB44]

Just discovered your AK Blog. We are prepping for our own trip, leaving Aug. 3 from North Idaho. Keep on Streamin'...and writing and snapping pics.

[BusDriver]

We are having such a fantastic time here in Alaska that we are talking about coming back again next year. No pictures because I don't know how to add them. but there are plenty on our blog.

[Nelson428]

Where are you in Alaska? How much longer will you be there?


Nelson