Arctic Travel - California to Arctic and Back in Winter

Glad to see that you made it. Awesome trip!

Thanks for sharing!

 

Awesome pics, awesome trip. Have a safe drive home. This is one of my bucket list drives.

 

Awesome!!

 

This is one of the coolest threads ever.

 

I‘m now suffering from vacation withdrawal syndrome...

Anyway, let’s have a talk before I post more pictures: I did Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay in a day. Return trip: I stopped at ColdFoot for few days. Saw northern light but the camera died...too cold.





Atigun pass

Reindeers running away:



MuskOx:


The Drive: I will now categorize the drive from Whitehorse to Prudhoe Bay as treacherous (Note: southbound to WhiteHorse from Fairbanks was a breeze). The ice road is sleek and it helps to be heavy(which I was not). There are grades as steep as 12% and some even have turns in them! One application of brake and you are on the side in no time. For reference, this road is nothing like driving when it snows in Reno, Tahoe(Donner pass) and NY. It is completely different. After slipping at Cache creek, BC earlier on the way up north, I devised a road test. I call it “The Brake Test”. The Brake Test is simple. Pick a neat little spot on the road, make sure no one is behind or ahead of you. Slow down to 20 MPH and start braking gently at first and then if it grips, as hard as you can. Now if the ABS kicks in(which it will), count the times the wheel locks and let’s go. My method involved going around 45 MPH if the ABS kicked in 3 times. 35-38 MPH if ABS kicks in 4 times and possible use of 4x4. Dalton had stretches where the ABS went off 6-8 plus times...went 4X4 there. This was also the only stretch I used 4x4. I was on 4x2 all the time. I averaged 40 MPH the entire section of Dalton hwy. So, the drive was long and tiresome. It helps to know that there is enough traffic in either direction at all times.

Difficulty level: Depends on time of the day and in general, weather. Mostly between difficult and dangerous(if you feel it is easy... wait until you have to make a turn or stop!). Dalton had few treacherous spots as well. Again, this can all change depending on weather...Most pick ups that operate in that area are on 4x4 at all times(even doing 65 MPH). A local mechanic that was on Dalton to fix a broken rig told me that every pick up that operates there are on 4x4 at all times and at all speeds.


Worst driving conditions encountered:

City: Fairbanks- The entire city was a glass sheet. I went out on three different occasions in Fairbanks and saw three accidents. So even the locals were having difficulties. I was on 4x4 the entire duration. Even taking off at signals was not possible on 4x2.

Highway: Dalton, 50 miles before Prudhoe Bay I had to go through whiteout condition for 8-10 miles or so. After that, the road had some gravel stretches...I hit 65 MPH there!!!!

Note: There are about 5-6 cars on the side of road between Canada border and Whitehorse,YT. They were there when I went up North. So, accidents do happen and cars cannot be recovered...it seems.

Things that broke or stopped working on the truck:

1. Leer camper shell: the passenger side lock on Leer cap stopped working when it got below -15. Fortunately it stopped working when the lock was open and I was able to at least close the latch.
   
2. 3M stick a stud on Fia grill cover let go somewhere on Dalton.
   
   
3. Windshield antifreeze rated at -40 was frozen solid on Dalton hwy. Let’s just say it was very cold. So, no wiper(did not need it) or wiper fluids.
   
   
4. Windshield has one big chip and about 10-15 mini dots…
   
   
5. Damage to Paint and body: The whole lower door plan is pretty much toasted. There are about 100-150 white spots(on each side) from the tire picking up the rocks and throwing it on the panel. Have running boards would have prevented this 100%. So get a running board or a rock guard.
   

Additional things to take:

1. Make sure you take two keys for the truck. One key to leave the truck running below 30 degree and other to lock it while you go to sleep(@hotels) or restaurant etc.
   
   
2. Get one of these:

Tip:

1. Get Milepost book. I had one that did help...
   
   
2. Most gas stations and attractions are closed in winter especially during Christmas weekend nothing is open. The longest stretch between gas station was between Fairbanks, AK to Haines Junction(on route to Whitehorse, YT however you can refill at Tok,AK). This is closely followed by route between Whitehorse, YT to Fort Nelson, BC( fill up at Watson Lake ~300Miles). I had 6 five gallon tanks to keep 600 miles range.
3. No restaurants between Fairbanks and Whitehorse open between Christmas( probably New Year’s weekend as well).
   
   
4. Install running boards in addition to all other modification. This is how mine looks now without one:
   
   
5. Second spare? I did not have one and I do not believe it is needed. Well, if you are driving a car, then it is a must. For my truck weight, BF Goodrich A/T's are tough to pinch at speeds I was traveling. 25K miles on them now and this is how it looks:
6. Washer fluid to clean headlights needed between Williams Lake, BC to Hope, BC. The temperate here is warm heading south and my headlight would become useless every 45 minutes or so. The wash from opposite lane was no high that the entire headlight would covered with mud. I had to clean it every 45 minutes. This was true on the way up as well. Having additional fluids to clean between these stretches helps.
7. Subscribe to http://511.alaska.gov/alaska511/mappingcomponent/index. This is how the alert looks( this was on the day I started)
8. Note: this is a not vacation. This is an expedition. Leave your kids and pets at home. See if you can drop "The Wife" as well...
9. Communicate with trucks on Dalton at all times. CB -CH 19

• Announce yourself when crossing Roller Coaster, Atigun and any others major landmarks. You can announce yourself as "4 wheeler north bound committing to Atigun North bound".
• Opposite lane traffic and wide loads: Pilot trucks will let you know if there is a wide load coming your way. Keep in mind these trucks use momentum to climb these grades which otherwise is almost impossible. Even my truck cannot take off from dead stop on smallest of the hills(I had to use 4x4 when I stopped to take pictures of the Red truck crash below). So, let the trucks have their way and slow down or stop.
• Overtaking and letting others overtake: If a truck is behind you, communicate that you intend to let him go and ask if there is a pull over or a straight stretch. The trucker will guide you and safely overtake.
• Passing Grader or Dozer: If you have to pass a grader or dozer, announce yourself that you intend to do that. Something like "DOT, 4 Wheeler coming up on your left". They will acknowledge it and then you can pass. In the end, lets not be an "ass". This road is meant for some serious business and we have to respect that.

This happens to best of them. Apparently a North bound trucker hit brakes and swung the trailer sending this unloaded truck off the road. This happened at MP 86 or so overnight.
The steer axel tore apart like a tin can.

 

Wow! Glad you are back; all is good. Thanks for sharing. What a great experience.

Happy New Year!

 

I'm a truck guy at all the way...I have never owned a car but I now have a Ford F350 Dually and this Taco. Jeeps do not count as cars BTW. Anyway, something about big rigs that gets me going..
Look at the lift on this truck
At Prudhoe BAy

The steers have to be 465 22.5 michelins on that Red semi...I love those rigs.

 

Sounds like quite the adventure! Here's one that you can check off your bucket list when it's done!

The muskoxen were a bonus too. Thanks for the pics!

 

This is at ColdFoot:
Almost all the trucks on Dalton are long wheel base unlike the short and low profile crap that operates here in SFO Bay(the worst offenders are the gas tankers ...clearance issues blah blah...IDFC).
This was idling for two days at Coldfoot.

I'm more of a Peterbilt guy but this Kenworth with long wheel base will do just as good.

 

Ha, talking about wild life. I saw Arctic fox as well, the bugger ran away before I could focus the LED light bar on him.

 

This is a great thread to follow. Seems like a great trip to do some time.

 

At Coldfoot camp:




Awesome breakfast at Coldfoot camp:

 

This is the biggest exhaust stalactite I have seen on a truck

 

Probably the most interesting thread by an OP I have ever seen here

 

Do you have a full map of the route you took? Or did you happen to maybe use a tracking app on your phone? Love to see a full map, and even elevation profile if you've got it.
Very impressed OP. I would LOVE to do something like this. Maybe in a few years once I've got my career a little bit more underway and stable I can attempt an adventure hopefully even close to this degree.

 

Great pics! Glad you're in one piece. What an amazing trip.

 

Things change very rapidly during winter and not everything goes as planned. It's also why your truck needs to be fully self sufficient. Besides bedding, a small kitchen set up, even a crude counter top table to mount necessary things will do.
I skipped the second spare for 30 gallons of fuel. Also, BUY MILEPOST book. This is a MUST HAVE.
North bound:
Trip 1- SFO Bay to Ashland, OR (was stuck in snow storm for 9 hours).
Trip 2 - Ashland, OR to Hope, BC - if you ask me, this is where the real challenge starts. It seems like you are exiting hwy and entering back roads(unfortunately that will be the same everything north from here on). You can cover 550 Miles on a good day with 12 hours of driving.
Trip 3 - Hope, BC to Prince George, BC - snow storm and two "skid events". Covered very less miles.
Trip 4 - Prince George, BC to Fort Nelson, BC
Trip 5 - Fort Nelson, BC to Whitehorse, YT
Trip 6 - Whitehorse, YT to Fairbanks, AK

I stayed for a day servicing and touring Fairbanks, AK before attempting Dalton. I was on Dalton (Prudhoe Bay and Coldfoot combined) for 3.5 days. I then went to Fairbank, AK and then to Denali. I spent a total of 8 days in AK before my drive back.

South Bound:
Trip 1 : Fairbanks, AK to Whitehorse, YT
Trip 2 : Whitehorse, YT to Fort Nelson, BC
Trip 3: Fort Nelson, BC to Prince George, BC
Trip 4: Prince George, BC to Seattle, WA
Trip 5: Seattle to Norcal.

More pictures to follow....

 

RE: Canopy latches. for the rear latches, pick up the rubber condoms that go over the latch handle. Without these, here in the snow, you'll be replacing those locks every year. The road grime gets in them and they are toast.

 

Awesome trip! I've lived in all the BC places you stopped in. What did you think of the Fraser canyon between cache creek and Hope? It's an amazing windy cliff of a road!

Nothing compared to the glaciers and mountains of AK though... I want to make it up to prudhoe bay so badly! Your thread is inspiring

 

I like the road but not when I have to cover distance. Perhaps, when I go on vacation to Hope, BC and I happen to have Lotus exige....thing will be a lot different.