Planning drive to Alaska

Most of Alaska’s violent crimes are committed against family and friends, not strangers. I wasn’t worried about it during my time there.

Firearms - if you know how to use one then carry one along with bear spray. A 44 magnum with hard cast lead bullets is the minimum useful caliber, 12ga shotgun with hard cast lead bear slugs is the best. Shotguns can be legally transported through Canada easily with a small fee and some paperwork at the border.

Your cellphone won’t work outside of the cities pretty much from midway through BC and north. Get a satellite messenger like a Garmin or Spot for emergencies.

 

I’ve traveled to Prudhoe Bay in 2017 then made it to Tuktoyaktuk 3 different times. I did it on my motorcycle. Basically most any car can make it if it’s dry, 4WD car or truck would be better. Your biggest concern will be tires. Start with good tires and take 2 spares. After being in both places I much prefer Inuvik/Tuktoyaktuk. On my YouTube channel I show places to stay, people, scenery, etc.

 

Perhaps I did get lucky, but considering the odds of being attacked by a bear are about one in 2 million I’d say I was more lucky I wasn’t struck by lightning.

I should note that I was also careful and it depends greatly on how and where you camp.

I mostly stayed in campgrounds to avoid these problems, some of which had bear lockers and was always smart about storing food and eating away from my tent.

If your ground camping in the middle of nowhere you are speaking from a place of experience so you know better, but if I were to do the trip again, which I’d like to with my wife, I won’t be ground camping and I won’t be bringing a gun

 

Your chances of getting hit by lighting are extremely high when you stand on top of pikes peak in a lightning storm. Your chances of getting hit in a house in Iowa are very low. My assumpion was you are "out in real Alaska " not in a state park. If you stick to the camp grounds (Iowa) your fine without protection. If you want an authentic Alaskan experience. Plan for the worst and be ready if that horrible moment comes.

Most locals who are killed by bears or moose are armed. It's not a bullet proof solution. But I don't want to look over at my wife in a moment of terror and think "I wish I had a gun"..

 

I haven’t read this entire thread but as far as bears go, I wouldn’t be too concerned. I’ve camped solo all the way to Tuktoyaktuk 3 different times, much of this was not in a designated campground. Many, many motorcyclist do this every year without issue. On the Dempster you will see many solo bicyclists camping the entire trip no problem. If your worried about the bears and murders you should stay on the couch.

 

You can look at it several ways. The “authentic” Alaska experience that requires you drive into the puckerbrush and throw a tent on the ground and be miles and miles from anything and anywhere, or the fact that you’re driving 1000’s of miles and with all those miles traveled you may not get “authentic” Alaska experience and may have to settle for the second rate “inauthentic” 90% of my trip is western and central Canada and I’m not trying to be John Wayne while I’m here, I’m trying to enjoy myself and much of that is the journey.

 

You can definitely bring a long gun or shotgun into Canada. Not sure about a pistol though which you’re more likely to accidentally leave in your truck.

 

I mean, sure, but then why is Canada (which is just like Alaska) very strict on guns? I don't think the bears get nicer on one side of a geopolitical line

If everyone was a bear snack anytime you left the house I'm pretty sure the whole country of Canada would be making a fuss about it.

 

From what my Canadian friends have told me it is not difficult for them to carry firearms for wildlife defense. In fact, they can carry short barreled shotguns that are illegal in the US without special ATF licensing.

 

I'd as well love to drive to Alaska, but I'd need 6 weeks off and I'd end up unemployed. I'm looking at a trip that I'd fly in for. There is a business that rents fitted Tacomas and 4Runners: www.alaskaoverlander.com/rentals

 

Canadian who owns guns here. I use them for hunting. Have never even considered carrying one for "wildlife defense."

The need for a gun is overrated here. I've spent a ton of time in Alberta, BC, Yukon, and Alaska with no gun. Many, many nights ground camping in bear country. Have run into many grizzlies, black bears, mountain lions and moose. Never had an issue. One particularly scary run in with a Grizzly but even with bear bangers and spray I didn't use them.

Sure you could be attacked by a bear, and maybe you could kill it, but chances are very high that both you and whatever wildlife you encounter will get through the situation unscathed.

Spend time researching what to do in certain wildlife encounters, and how to avoid them in the first place, instead of researching how to get your gun through Canada.

Enjoy the nature, respect the nature, and you'll have an amazing time. One of the nicest areas of the world. Don't let a gun be the deciding factor to visit or not.

 

Very different experience growing up in Fairbanks, hiking/boating/hunting/fishing/skiing etc., we didn't carry 95% of the time. Only times we did were when we knew we were going to be an attractive nuisance for bears (hunting, fishing in certain places), otherwise we maybe had bear spray, but mostly just made our presence known and stayed together. I do know people who have been (slowly) chased around their camp by a curious bear, and one who did get eaten, so there is risk there. Personally, was always much more wary of moose, keep a special eye out for cows/calves, and do NOT get between them.
As far as the Dalton Highway (aka the Haul Road) north of Fairbanks, I have not driven it myself, but when I've asked my dad about it, he recommended having two spares, and said he liked both of his vehicles too much to let me take either, so keep that in mind.

 

I took the Dalton in 2017 and a large portion of it was paved. They were prepping that last 50 miles before Deadhorse for pavement also.
No pavement on the Dempster.

 

I grew up in Nome. I guess that is different. But I respect your history. My God you guys have massive mosquitos inland. You probably could shoot flak at some of them.

 

Can be a whole different animal out towards the coast for sure. And yeah, the joke is always that a mosquito landed at Eielson AFB and they got halfway through fueling it before they realized what it was.

 

Holy shit that is funny...

https://www.ecowatch.com/arctic-war...arge-enough-to-kill-baby-cari-1882096019.html

 

A mosquito experience in the Arctic.

 

@Shelly98Nick , certainly is an interesting thread and thanks for all the posters posting their experiences .

 

I drove the Alcan highway to Fairbanks/Eileson AFB in April of 1980 in my Datsun B210 station wagon. Mostly gravel and some snow pack stretches back then. It was a blast. No real travel challenges that I remember. Roads all clear for most part. Found plenty of gas and stayed in hotels. I’ll bet it’s even better today!

 

is that typical? That right there is reason for me to only ever go in winter...