ALCAN Drive 2011

Those are golden words to live by up here ... and it doesn't just apply to your vehicle!

Reminds me of the old Clint Eastwood/Dirty Harry line - "A man's gotta know his limitations."

Finally, if you don't mind my saying ... you are wise beyond your years IMHO! That will serve you well up here ... because Alaska is a wonderful land ... but she'll kick your butt if you don't respect her!

God's Speed for a safe journey for the remainder of your trip...this thread is awesome!

 

Are you taking the ferry from Homer? My sister lives in Homer. We were up there last summer. It's fantastically beautiful!! She and her family are here in Texas for Christmas but flying back on the 26th. They'll arrive home about the time you hit Homer. Fantastic people...let me know if you need anything while in Homer and they'll be glad to help.

Hutch

 

Thanks for sharing... someday I'd like to take that trip!

 

Merry Christmas jeverich! Stay safe on the rest of the trip - loving the report thus far. Makes me want to head to the mountains nearby to play in the snow...

 

Epic thread...

I drove across the US in 2000 with my First gen Taco, but it pales in comparison to this adventure....

Stay Safe Jake!

We're rooting for you!

 

I want to make it up there someday. But I will admit I simply don't have the brass cojones to do it in the winter. Props to you and stay safe.

 

Made it to Anchorage - I'll give an update in the AM...

Tired, hungry and ready for a drink. Just wanted to let everyone know.

Stand by to stand by,
jake

 

Glad to hear you made it into Anchorage. My wife and I made the drive from San Antonio to Anchorage seven years ago. It was a beautiful ride. I would love to do it all over again. Stay safe !

 

Welcome to our snow We have about 6 feet piled around our driveway at the moment.

 

Great news! Awesome job documenting your adventure and sharing it here. I think you have a following now. You'll have to keep us posted on how things go in Kodiak. Welcome to the Last Frontier.

TW can have it's very own version of "Deadliest Catch"!

Sincerely, Best of Luck with the new job!

 

Awesome thread. Sub'd

Who did you work for up in Port Townsend?
I did some temp work in P.A. on the Hood canal Bridge a couple years ago.

 

Jake, what wonderful memories you will have from this trip. When you get settled, buy the light kit you want (merry christmas) and I will send you a check or furnds via PAY PAL

 

don't be offended other members, no toyota here just wanted to be able to follow my god son and his adventure.

 

Those are the best flaps EVER. I have some off my old 60 and a couple left from an 85 4Runner that I will be retro fitting to my Taco

 

You definitely have to go with the Dakars. The first thing I did with my 98 Taco was new rear leafs. And now I am ordering them for my 08. It helps a ton with weight

 

This is incredible and inspiring. Puts some perspective on the great outdoors...

Thanks!

 

GOt to go to Humpys. The bloody mary bar is great

 

Pulled into Anchorage last night around 1830 - following a somewhat cursory "Christmas" dinner of pre-made sandwiches from a Chevron in Palmer. Quite celebratory, I must say!

In all honesty, the last day of the drive was one of the most trying in terms of road conditions and weather. Needless to say, I was surprised somewhat.

Departed beautiful Tok, AK around 10:30 - almost got stuck in the middle of town... Went to make a turn around and under-estimated the depth of the snow. Got stuck. Here I am, Christmas morning - hopefully stuck - for all the churchgoing families to see! Took a breath, collected myself - then started to work myself free. Took a few 'rock back and forwards'; managed to heat up the clutch pretty good (clutch packs smell horrible). I got out! Used the 'poor mans locker' trick of pulling out the Emergency brake a few clicks to equalize the torque across the rear axle.

About an hour outside of Tok - snow started falling and road conditions began to deteriorate considerably. A pang of desperation began to fester in my stomach after passing several CLOSED gas stations; especially when my tank was on the wrong side of the half full marker. Reached Glenallen on a quarter tank, and was able to fill up. Salvation in the form of expensive petroleum products!

The moose were apparently celebrating the holiday as well - they seemed to appear in droves all throughout the highway. Yes, they are big. No, the bull bar wouldn't do much to mitigate a collision with one. Slow down.

The distinct signs of human population soon began to assimilate over the horizon - sodium vapor light glow, planes, buildings...

Took some re-training to drive in traffic again. It's amazing how easily you forget that there are obligatory asshole drivers everywhere. I would say that the majority of those that I encountered driving the Alaska Highway this time of year had a mutual respect for their fellow motorists. Case in point - 10 people stopping to ensure that the Dodge was pulled out of the ditch in Watson Lake.

Well - off to get some breakfast and have the oil changed in the truck. MtGirl, I'll see if I can find the Sunrise Inn. Think I'm going to hang out in Anchorage for tonight again.

Not too many pictures from yesterday - it was somewhat of a "hammer down' day.