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dannydimitt · 05-31-2013, 09:41 AM

Options for folks on 37 west of Houston or Burns Lake.If you are still in striking distance of those, turn and burn for Prince George.

If, however, you are in the Smithers and west area...

Smithers has a free RV area at the Safeway lot & wifi. There is also a campground down by the river that has services. Smithers is a nice place to spend a couple days, no doubt. Farmers Mkt os Saturday..good foods, sushi oh and a craft brewery. Not a pub..just the beer in bottles.

Hazelton..Ross Lake has some parking spots, by a lake. Old Hazelton has the Ksan campground. Turn right just thru New Hazelton...it's about 5k's. Skeena Bakery is worth the stop too...on your right in New...good, homemade stuff.

Kitwanga has a commuity cg (free)..go right, over the bridge and up the road..PAST the Cassiar CG sign, next left..past cafe and hey presto...

There is always Stewert/Hyder too..but pretty limited for stuff to do.

There are two rest areas west of Kitwnaga you can fetch up in. One 7ks west, the next about 40k's west.

There is Kleanza Cr Prov CG just east of Terrace. Also LakeElse Lake Prov CG..south on 37 at Terrace 4 way.

Terrace itself has Ferry Island...services. There is also Wal-Mart and CDN Tire for a parkig lot. Wal-Mart is 'signed' but never enforced. Plus..a simple explanantion will take care of questions.

Rupert has a ProvCG just a bit before town. There are some nice rest areas to hide out in and so on...Rupert is not so pretty in the rain, tho.

Kitimat...you can camp in several spots..Orange Bridge...1/2 way between Terrace and Kitimat..and here IN town just about anywhere or on the river.

If you need any RV stuff, Nor-Burd by CDN Tire, Terrace, has parts and a shop.Plus there is a moble guy, Sunset RV..Maurice, who is good, too.

Great info from another RV site today

dannydimitt · 05-31-2013, 10:36 AM

Last year, in early June both the Alaska Highway and Cassiar were closed due to flooding and washouts. By July floodwatch is usually over.

The washout on the Alaska Highway was near Rancheria; it was a four-day closure. At the same time the Cassiar and Campbell Highway were closed due to flooding so NO traffic was moving south or north, including the trucks that deliver fuel and groceries to the north!

In 2011, Hwy 97 had numerous slides due to rain between Prince George and Dawson Creek. The highway was closed for an extended period. Folks had to detour into Alberta or take the Cassiar northward.

In July & August, it transitions to forest fire season. The Cassiar has closed several times in past years due to forest fires along the north end of the highway.

Keep your eyes on the road reports and keep your fingers crossed.
Also keep your RV's pantry stocked with basics just in case you experience a delay.

AirsDream · 05-31-2013, 10:49 AM

Yes, last June (just before I got there !!!) when the Alaska Highway washed out, it washed out in three places. And as noted, it was a several day closure; we heard three days, not four - I think I got there on the fourth day, and it was sorta' kinda' passable. Some folks were stuck in their cars unable to go forward or back for three days before crews could get them out. Be prepared.

jornvango · 06-02-2013, 09:12 AM

Thanks! Great info.

We've been camping in Grand Teton NP (Gros Ventre campground) and are heading to Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone now for 2 days.
Then Cooke City (via Cody) for 3 nights and the 8 nights in Gardiner.

I'm trying to keep the blog updated but haven't had wifi now for about 10 days. Next big update with pictures is planned for when we'll stay in Gardiner.

http://www.vango.be

dannydimitt · 06-02-2013, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jornvango

Thanks! Great info.

We've been camping in Grand Teton NP (Gros Ventre campground) and are heading to Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone now for 2 days.
Then Cooke City (via Cody) for 3 nights and the 8 nights in Gardiner.

I'm trying to keep the blog updated but haven't had wifi now for about 10 days. Next big update with pictures is planned for when we'll stay in Gardiner.

Roadtrip RaKeT

Make sure to visit the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum in Cody !! The stuff thats in there is simply amazing ! Well worth the effort !! When you cross over Dead Indian Pass on the way to Cooke city , there is a nice little national Forest campground on the creek at the bottom of the grade.
Lots of Grizz in and around Cooke City. A camper was partially eaten by one summer before last a couple of miles east of Cooke.

We spent a couple of weeks there last summer. no trouble with them on that trip

The trip over Beartooth Pass is FANTASTIC to say the least .

Gene · 06-02-2013, 12:55 PM

I believe Beartooth Pass has limits on RV's, or maybe should. Check with highway dept's before going that way.

Gene

dannydimitt · 06-02-2013, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene

I believe Beartooth Pass has limits on RV's, or maybe should. Check with highway dept's before going that way.

Gene

There is a man camp "plow shed" on the right side of the road on the south end of the pass "down toward the bottom" you could stop in there and ask if you had doubts.
There will be huge amounts of snow that they have blown , dug and plowed
to make a path across the top to drive on, but there will be mostly all dry pavement with wet spots during daylight hours after the sun has been up 3 or 4 hrs.
had no problem at all when we crossed it northbound pulling our 1966 24 ft Airstream behind a 91 Dodge 2 wheel drive Ramcharger. Go slow, use the transmission to hold back and use the brakes very sparingly and you will make it fine !
Enjoy the view !!!
PS the road IS paved

Hi Gene ! have you made the move to Grand Junction yet ?

Gene · 06-02-2013, 02:19 PM

I looked for info on any RV restrictions on the Beartooth Hwy and first found this study into everything but RV's: http://www.itrr.umt.edu/Research2013...mmerReport.pdf

Kind if interesting, though I didn't read much of it. A fairly substantial minority of people were stressed by the mountain driving and lack of guardrails, but that is true of any challenging mountain highway. Another website said 18 miles of the highway had 9' lanes, so passing another 8 1/2' wide RV can be stressful, but we have many roads in the mountains like that in the west.

It appears there are no RV restrictions but the road is best traversed by experienced mountain drivers and those without acrophobia (fear of heights). North to south avoids a very long downgrade which will test brakes. Always downshift on downgrades, but with 10 miles down, you still need use the brakes too. It is obviously not for everyone.

We've never been since with all our trips to the Yellowstone area, it just didn't fit into our plans. As an aside, I understand Independence Pass in Colorado (between Aspen and the Leadville area) is now RV restricted.

Danny, we aren't sure where we live. We are remodeling the new house and staying a but more in the old one to sell it ourselves. Right now we are in the Safari near Ouray resting ourselves. I'd like to get a contract on the old one, but the time to remodel is best when we are not settled completely in the new one.

Gene

dannydimitt · 06-02-2013, 03:04 PM

Gene, We first traversed Independence from east to west back in 61 in a 57 country sedan Ford , 6 cyl 3spd overdrive , pulling a 58 or 59 skipper 16 ft camp trailer w no brakes. The road was ALL dirt and gravel back then but for
a couple of miles before Aspen . I have a picture of the rig that mom Took while Dad was changing a rock cut tire on the trailer near the top of the pass. If I knew how to transfer it to this site I would do so . Is the restrictions on the pass now for huge motorhomes or what ? It's not a bad road other than some tight spots on the west side.
Douglas pass North of Junction has some much steeper grades , especially the swithbacks on the south side and it's not restricted for anything. Even permit loads are not required to run pilot cars on it ! Maybe it has something to do with there not being near the amount of tourister traffic on it ? Been across that one a lot in 110,000 pound cranes and would always pull off on the top and have a shot of mud out of a thermos to get ready mentally for the down grade . Spent a couple of days in Ouray last summer , the San Juans have been and will forever be our must go to place since I first spent time there in 75 . NICE !

dannydimitt · 06-02-2013, 07:19 PM

Sergeant Preston Of The Yukon - Ghosts Of The Anvils (for the hearing impaired) - YouTube

a blast from the past 1955 that is

Gene · 06-02-2013, 08:25 PM

Danny, no vehicles over 35' on Independence Pass are permitted. I think it is because of the tight curves and very narrow section on the west side. We slept up at the top many years ago in a Microbus. The parking area is very big, but after it was dark a camper pulled in and parked right next to us. He was probably afraid of werewolves up there.

Gene

Goal15 · 06-02-2013, 09:32 PM

20 years agp when the kids were young we camped at Buena Vista KOA in a rental pop up and left it there while we drove the Cherokee over Independence and back in one day. The West side pretty much took care of my white knuckle driving desire forever. Never have a 12 and 10 year old boy brrn so quiet for so long

jornvango · 06-07-2013, 11:19 PM

We made it to Gardiner today.
We camped in the national forest outside of Cooke City the previous 3 nights (Lulu pass), no grizzlies. The campgrounds there only open mid June (including the nearby ones in Yellowstone around Lamar valley) so we didn't have much choice. Lulu pass has 2 developed free sites so that worked out great (no other people in sight). Great scenery.

We drove the Beartooth highway w/o the AS; great road.
Also the Chief Joseph highway towards Cody is nice, but no match for the Beartooth.

Now 8 nights Gardiner and hopefully a chance to update the blog with pictures.

borealis2013 · 06-09-2013, 03:25 PM

After driving 9,000 miles from Arizona, I finally made it home to Eagle River, Alaska, with my AS. For those in transit to Alaska, I found driving the Alaska Highway through most parts is very good in comparison to northern standards. Those who are used to well maintained interstate freeways may find the road a challenge. The section in the Yukon Territories between Whitehorse and the border is full of frost heaves and potholes. If you follow the posted recommended speed limits and pay attention to the warning signs, you'll do well. In Alaska, the section between the Canada/Alaska border and the town of Glenallen, if your destination is Anchorage, is also a roller-coaster ride with lots of pavement breaks caused by winter's frost heaves. If you make it to this Last Frontier state, WELCOME to the Land of the Midnight Sun!!

jornvango · 06-22-2013, 12:49 PM

Update: We've been stuck in the Canadian rockies these past days.
We were in waterton lakes NP when the bad weather arrived and were evacuated from Crandell campground there in our 3rd night (we stayed the night, together with a bunch of other RVers at Walmart in pincher creek).
We drove around via crowsnest pass into Kootenay NP where we spent 2 nights with all roads here closed.
Now we're in Golden and going to try and drive to Lake Louise to stay for 2-3 nights, and then hopefully the icefields parkway will reopen and we can north through jasper and into Dawson creek.

We just saw pictures of conditions in Banff, Calgary and the roads: bad!

borealis2013 · 06-23-2013, 10:18 AM

Just saw news video of the flooding in the Canadian Rockies and thought of you. Hope the rest of your adventure up the Alaska Highway goes well. Also, do take your time along the stretch of road just before Muncho Lake, BC, where it winds through Stone Mountain Provincial Park. This is the habitat for the rare Stone Mountain sheep that can be seen along the highway. There are some beautiful rams here (I know you like photography), and the newly born lambs are wonderful to watch & photograph as well! Be well, be safe!!

Len n Jeanne · 06-23-2013, 02:04 PM

Stay safe-- and check those highway reports! You'll have some good stories to tell about the big floods of 2013. Over 75,000 evacuated from Calgary alone.

jornvango · 06-26-2013, 07:09 PM

We made it to Dawson Creek, BC, Canada.

Luckily the roads in the Rockies reopened quickly.

borealis2013 · 06-27-2013, 12:49 AM

You will begin to notice fewer fences as you travel north. We're having a heat wave here in Alaska with Fairbanks breaking record temperatures above 90ºF and 100º unofficially in some areas. Please bring some needed rain! Have a safe drive and enjoy the Canadian wilderness, especially the area through Muncho Lake.

dannydimitt · 06-29-2013, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jornvango

We made it to Dawson Creek, BC, Canada.

Luckily the roads in the Rockies reopened quickly.

WoW ! We must have come through the Canadian Rockies just in front of the storms. Lake Louise and all the rest of the beautiful mountains were free of clouds and perfect for picture taking .A few sprinkles on 40 near Grande Cache Alberta and heavy rain for a spell between Dawson Creek and Ft Nelson. After that it was clear through Muncho Lake "awesome" up through Watson Lake , side trip to Sgagway , then to Dawson City . Top of the world through Chicken to Fairbanks. Fixin to head for Denali this morning .
Hope you have encountered great weather for awhile now !