Alaska BS thread

These are perfect. I’ll be taking this info with me. Thank you!

 

Today I saw a quicksand 3rd gen with black silhouette mountain range decals on it. It had an "ALASKA" license plate and cvt rtt. Guy and his gal waved to me as they passed me in my pyrite 2nd gen here in Virginia on I-66w.
That's a helluva cross-country country road trip one of y'all are taking!
Safe travels

 

Caribou kebabs

 

Spotted this guy today outside Wasilla

 

Anyone able to flash an OV Tune in the Anchorage area?

 

Hey all, going to be moving up to the Anchorage area in late November early December from Mississippi. I lived in Vermont for a few years so winter driving is not something entirely new to me. Is there any special considerations need to be taken driving the Alcan and AK roads in general that time of year? I'll be moving up in my Tacoma and my fiancé will be bringing our Forester.

Thanks all, hope to meet some of you at somepoint and very excited to me moving up your way!

 

Throw a bag with a change of warm clothes and a sleeping bag in the backseat for the winter. If you go off the road you will get wet and cold trying to get unstuck and if you don't it might be a while before help comes by. On the drive up get gas just about every time you pass a station because there's no guarantee the next one will be open, an extra gas can is a nice cushion just in case but not totally necessary.

 

I did the drive in 3 days over Thanksgiving from SLC to AK. Lots of the summer gas stations are closed, but enough are open to not have issues. I drove my Land Cruiser up and got 8mpg with a 25 gallon tank. I did buy a couple gas cans but didn't end up needing them. I'd recommend a jump pack if batteries are questionable, or at least jumper cables if you are driving them both up. The only other thing is to make sure the vehicles coolant is capable of -40 degrees or so should be fine, some coolant is mixed to only go down to -20 or so before freezing.

I had a sleeping bag I tossed in the truck and a small tool kit with some fluid.

Its a great drive, enjoy it! I'd get some radios to talk between each other, GMRS or FRS at least would be my recommendation there.

 

@bdbrown528 The roads (Alcan) can be fairly decent in the winter - from a road debris stand point. if you are considering it, I would put off replacing a windshield for any minor existing damage. it's always a roll of the dice on the Alcan as to weather or not you will take a rock to a windshield.

 

@bdbrown528 I should add, at least 75% of the road was snow free for me.

some good webcams out there too. https://images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/124.html

 

I would carry an empty gas can to where the pavement ends in Canada near Haines, Alaska aka Haines Junction, Canda. That is where you turn north off the paved road and might want some spare fuel in the vehicle. Agree you should never drive by an open gas station without filling up from there to Tok, Alaska. Once you get to Tok you should be OK filling up in Tok, Delta Junction, Glen Allen and metro Anchorage - is that Palmer-ish to the east of Anchorage on the Glenn?

Definitely have warm dry clothes, some food ( 24-48 hours) and a sleeping bag within easy reach of the steering wheel, not buried under a ton of crap. The wife and I usually have our JetBoil and some tea and sugar within easy reach just going from Fairbanks to Delta in the winter months. And unbreakable tea mugs. And a spoon. Car charger for your phones.

The Canadians I know are all very very nice people except for the 6 living A-holes in Canada that get pressured into working the Canadian border. Thou shalt not enter Canada with a handgun. Thou shalt not exceed the speed limit in Canada. Thou shalt not enter Canada with firewood for your campsite harvested in the United States. Should be a nice trip having all the potholes filled with packed snow, at least mostly.

 

Same here.
I am moving up to Anchorage. I plan to leave around Christmas.
Honk if you see me!

 

Going up to visit soon from sunny AZ. We will be in Anchorage Will have my wife and 3 kids ranging from 12-7. Any recommendation on must do's while we visit?

 

I really enjoyed the aviation museum:
https://alaskaairmuseum.org/


The lake full of float planes nearby has a couple of picnic tables that are a nice spot for lunch too.

 

If you've got transportation go on down to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center: https://www.alaskawildlife.org/

 

You guys like hiking? Flattop is very popular and in town, Wolverine is much longer, Near Point is cool and way less crowded.
If you have bikes biking "Bird to Gird" is fun when not rainy/windy.
AWCC is just south of Girdwood and has "Alaska" animals
Lake Hood - in town, can walk around in a couple of hours. Tons of planes.
Fishing? If soon could maybe fish Ship Creek for a lunker King, or Seward in ~1.5-3 weeks for snagging red salmon.
Take the train to Seward of north to Denali National Park (unsure if that is running this year)
Rafting, lots of options here from Denali, outside of Hope is some class 4/5 water, Valdez, etc.
Galcier cruises for sure, 26 glacier is my favorite if glaciers are what you want, Seward has some good day cruises as well, likely to see glaciers, bears and possibly whales and more.

 

Thanks for all the help and suggestions. We spent 8 day up there in your neck of the woods. You guys have a beautiful state. I have never seen so much water in my life.

 

Just added an FJ62 to the family. It needs some work but will eventually become our camping rig.

If anyone in the Anchorage area has a welder and would like to make a few bucks and get beer to help me weld in patch floor panels let me know!

 

Barbecue, you say? hmmm.....