Going To Alaska???????

[robbie]

If you are driving to Alaska stop by our place for a visit. We are 1/2 mile off the Alaska Highway when you are heading north. In Watson lake, Yukon. We have been to Alaska many times. We just bought a 2008 toyota Tacoma access cab 4 x 4. Now has 450 miles on it and a cracked windshield already. Will be looking for a camper. We really like the four wheel campers.
If you have any questions about roads, fishing, camping, places to see, and things to do up here feel free to ask away.
robbie

 

[chnlisle]

Thanks for the offer Robbie and welcome to the best site on the web.

 

[LOG]

We'll be coming through Watson Lake around the second week in August. I am always interested in good places to fish.

As far as the windsheild goes, I don't see many Toyota p/u's without cracked winshields mine included.

 

[Buzz]

The first time I drove up I lost only one headlight. I'm still surprised that the windshield didn't go. Next trip I plan to have more protection on the front of the truck.

I will be leaving for AK next month. Last time (in 2000) I drove from Austin, TX to AK in four and a half days. I'll be taking more time to enjoy this trip. Might even stop to read some of the signs and take in the sights when I get into your neck of the woods.

My wife told me that I could stay away for three months this time. My plan is to do a few back roads, starting in the Kenai and trying to stay a step ahead of the mosquitoes as I head toward Prudoe Bay. Free campsites will be a plus; free diesel .... guess I'm dreaming.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

-Buzz

 

[robbie]

Buzz and Log,
Here is a route suggestion for you. When heading north go to Prince George British Columbia then Take highway 16 north to Smithers then to Kitwanga a total distance of approx 320 miles north of Prince George. Turn north on Highway 37 which goes north and connects to the Alaska Highway 14 miles from Watson Lake Yukon. From the highway 37 Junction it is 260 miles to Whitehorse then 650 to Fairbanks or 750 to Anchorage, the Kenai (homer is 220 miles from Anchorage. If you drive from whitehorse to Fairbanks you can then go south through Denali Park to Anchorage then on return take the TOK cut off road. these are circle routes so you don't see the same country.
On the way back through Whitehorse stay on the Alaska highway and you will go through Watson Lake 280 miles south of Whotehorse. Stay on the Alaska highway and you wil arrive at mile 0 of the alaska highway at Dawson Creek BC. Depending on your time schedule you can also take the Robert Campbell highway from Watson Lake to north of Carmacks, Yukon then north to Dawson City the 1898 Gold rush town. Has a casino. Then from Dawson take the top of the world highway over to the Alaska highway. The Top of the world highway connects to the Alaska Highway just below Tok Alaska. (are you confused yet?) If you would like a free yukon alaska book and brochures let me know and I will get some sent to you right away.
If you like fishing I have done most in Yukon but have been to Alaska probably 50 times. All my fishing in alaska has been for halibut and salmon but I do have a book or two on roadside fishing in alaska. We really like Va;dez. For scenery, museums (2), berry picking, fishing. There are apparantly some very good rainbow fishing lakes at Valdez.
I hope this gives you some help/ideas but feel free to ask anything you need to help with your trip;.
Robbie

 

[robbie]

I did not notice until now the rout maps on the advertiser sites here. Shows the driving routes.
I also forgot to mention the Alaska Ferry System. We have taken the Ferry Trip from Prince rupert to Skagway Alaska a couple of times as well Skagway to Juneau and Hoonah a few times. The trip from Prince rupert for us is Fairly expensive. You can not sleep in your vehicle on board or go to your vehicle while the ship is sailing. You can rent a cabin on board or take a sleeping bag anf camp on the top deck. has a covered heated area. also there are lounge chairs to put a sleeping bag on. If you decide to sleep on the lounge chairs get to the deck and pick your chair/s right away as they go quick. the covered area is open to the stern of the ship so one still needs warm clothing especially if the wind is blowing towards the bow. Have ear plugs as well. As you will be sleeping right near the smoke stacks of the boat. No cooking allowed. Hard on pets too as they must stay below decks.
robbie

 

[LOG]

Thanks for the info robbie. We were thinking on doing some sort of circle trips as well. We've got a couple of appointments in Homer and Soldotna but otherwise are free to roam. Denali highway is on the list as well as Wrangell St. Elias (if there is enough time). Don't want to get in too big of a hurry though.

 

[robbie]

We were down the Denali Highway last year. Took the Paxon Highway, all dirt road. It cuts off the Denali below the park and goes across to the Tok cut off road. A good road real good fishing, hardly any traffic. About half way one gets up fairly high and to the west of the road there are large flats covered with wollow. Just stop at a high point in the afternoon and you should not be able to count all the moose in the willows. There is a great campsite on a lake at the Tok Road end of the road. Real good fishing from shore.

Hope you will stop by in Watson Lake. Would love to look at the campers. Never have seen one in eht flesh (so to speak)
If I can be more help please let me know.
robbie

 

[LOG]

No problem robbie. I'll shoot you a message when we come through. Probably around 8/13 or so.

 

[robbie]

Thanks.
We are heading to Liard Hot Springs tomorrow. 15 below yesterday. Supposed to warm up this weekend.
Looking forward to seeing you up here,
robbie

 

[rich]

Planning to Head to AK

Hi Robbie,

I am still looking for a camper for my Toyota T-100 but in the meantime I'm planning a trip to AK hopefully this summer but if not, definitely next summer. We want to bring our raft and do a bunch of whitewater up there so we are planning to drive. The T-100 has 205,000 miles on it and going strong but driving to Alaska and back might just kill it or at least put a hurt on it. I was thinking of taking the ferry out of WA and buying a beater truck for a couple thousand once I hit AK. What do you think, try to kill the t-100 or buy a rust bucket and sell it at the end of the trip?

 

[chnlisle]

In '94 I bought an '85 Nissan for 7 grand. I drove it up to AK. When I was ready to come home I sold it up there for 7 grand. It might be hard to find anything cheap up there.

 

[robbie]

Rust buckets

One thing we see up here is lots of broken down vehicles. In my opinion this is not a place for an old vehicle, unless one plans to stay in the cities. Where we are there is 300 miles in each direction with no mechanic. There are broken down vehicles that have just been left. I was driving down from 600 miles north on Thursday and two vehicles are still on the road side from last summer. I saw a new quad cab ford pulling a large trailer with 3 boats, a jeep CJ and a suv broken down at the continental divide. From where he was it is 100 miles to Watson Lake and 200 miles to Whitehorse for repairs.
Unless you want to chance spending part of your holiday fixing vehicles, don't depend on a rust bucket. Better to rent a vehicle when you are up here if you don't bring your own.
robbie