Because credit cards are now processed by computer, and not a paper slip, phone service outages can make your credit cards useless. Phones are not as reliable on either of these routes as your used to. They can go down for days or hours.
Carry cash for a backup. Some Canadian bills are recommended, because I fear you'd be unlucky enough to meet a businessman that will only accept US funds at par. I consider that dishonest, but I witnessed it less than six months ago. I tried to intervene but failed. The clerk claimed ignorance and the tourist gave in rather than challenging it.
TX to AK - Driving - in March
Tue Jan 24, 2017 1:09 am
Tue Jan 24, 2017 12:03 pm
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
Barnstormer wrote: I was wondering about the Ferry. If it ran that time of year and if it would be quicker or slower then the road routes.
http://www.bellingham.org/insider-blogs ... the-ferry/
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/
Cessna Skywagon -- accept no substitute!
Tue Jan 24, 2017 2:41 pm
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
Pinecone wrote:Because credit cards are now processed by computer, and not a paper slip, phone service outages can make your credit cards useless. Phones are not as reliable on either of these routes as your used to. They can go down for days or hours.
Carry cash for a backup. Some Canadian bills are recommended, because I fear you'd be unlucky enough to meet a businessman that will only accept US funds at par. I consider that dishonest, but I witnessed it less than six months ago. I tried to intervene but failed. The clerk claimed ignorance and the tourist gave in rather than challenging it.
Over the years when I've visited Canada, I've been surprised at how easily most Canadian clerks convert US dollars to Canadian dollars. I've never been stiffed, but it wouldn't be hard, although now I have an app on my phone that does the converting for me, updated daily.
Cary
"I have slipped the surly bonds of earth..., put out my hand and touched the face of God." J.G. Magee
Tue Jan 24, 2017 3:33 pm
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
I did the Ferry from Ketchikan to Haines in December 2014. The cost was about $900 for my truck and a cabin if I recall. I've also taken the ferry from Bellingham to ketchikan and it was about the same amount. From Haines through YT and Glennallen, Palmer, Anchorage and then to KP only took 2 days + a little more to drive and I wasn't in a hurry and I had to plan for 2 border crossings (open hours).
I've driven in April clear across the continent (from NC to Seward) and I made it in record time. I took the Alcan. A case could be made to go either way (ferry or road through Canada). The Ferry is a great experience, but requires a few days onboard. All inside passage so no real issues with bad weather and seasickness. It could be faster to drive but you might not see as many whales.
I drove by your neighborhood yesterday. Pretty good snow totals in sterling compared to last two years. You might need to start planning access now (keep it plowed periodically) so you can easily access it in March.
I've driven in April clear across the continent (from NC to Seward) and I made it in record time. I took the Alcan. A case could be made to go either way (ferry or road through Canada). The Ferry is a great experience, but requires a few days onboard. All inside passage so no real issues with bad weather and seasickness. It could be faster to drive but you might not see as many whales.
I drove by your neighborhood yesterday. Pretty good snow totals in sterling compared to last two years. You might need to start planning access now (keep it plowed periodically) so you can easily access it in March.
- obxbushpilot offline
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Wed Jan 25, 2017 7:17 am
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
Again thanks for all the info. Cary, ordered a copy of Mileposts in case I take the Alaska Highway.
obxbushpilot, bought a snow blower and have a friend periodically clearing the driveway. I'm headed back up the end of this week (by smoker) to move the SQ-2 over to my mechanic in Birchwood so he can work my punch list before it gets wheel fun flying again.
obxbushpilot, bought a snow blower and have a friend periodically clearing the driveway. I'm headed back up the end of this week (by smoker) to move the SQ-2 over to my mechanic in Birchwood so he can work my punch list before it gets wheel fun flying again.
- Barnstormer offline
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Wed Jan 25, 2017 8:19 am
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
Phil I'm leaving in 15 days for my 37th trip up. Driving back down the first of May. That will be number 38!... 19 years in business. Those numbers don't include the number times up and back while growing up in Anchorage as a kid.
Your only good winter option in the Alcan. Cassiar is good in the summer.
Tahoe to Laird Hot Springs ( a mandatory stop) is 27 hours.
Gas is easy but you can find yourself with stations closed up in the Yukon after mid night reopening at 6am. Really thinking about St John and Watson Lake if memory is correct. Don't pass up gas in those parts.
The route is generally good and hard packed snow. I text you the link to road conditions. It's pretty accurate. I have had a foot of snow on the road and been delayed for avalanches in several of the passes.
Due carry a sat phone just in case. I have found cell reception to be getting better but there are places were you just don't have a signal. Munchi Lk is a cool spot but it can be one of those spots I'm talking about with heavy snow and slides.
My record time Tahoe to Tok is 57 hours. That's 3 guys really only stopping for gas food and to take a leak.
I love the trip. Critters are often. If your traveling at night (due to short days your in the dark a lot) I like having the big flood lights on the roof. Cheap and easy.
More than once I have had a moose or caribou jump out in front of me.
The bison around Laird are always on the road but very predictable unless your coming in hot around a corner.
It's a great trip in the winter. Just you and the truckers doing a 100 mph past you! Those guys are nutz! No joke
AKT
Your only good winter option in the Alcan. Cassiar is good in the summer.
Tahoe to Laird Hot Springs ( a mandatory stop) is 27 hours.
Gas is easy but you can find yourself with stations closed up in the Yukon after mid night reopening at 6am. Really thinking about St John and Watson Lake if memory is correct. Don't pass up gas in those parts.
The route is generally good and hard packed snow. I text you the link to road conditions. It's pretty accurate. I have had a foot of snow on the road and been delayed for avalanches in several of the passes.
Due carry a sat phone just in case. I have found cell reception to be getting better but there are places were you just don't have a signal. Munchi Lk is a cool spot but it can be one of those spots I'm talking about with heavy snow and slides.
My record time Tahoe to Tok is 57 hours. That's 3 guys really only stopping for gas food and to take a leak.
I love the trip. Critters are often. If your traveling at night (due to short days your in the dark a lot) I like having the big flood lights on the roof. Cheap and easy.
More than once I have had a moose or caribou jump out in front of me.
The bison around Laird are always on the road but very predictable unless your coming in hot around a corner.
It's a great trip in the winter. Just you and the truckers doing a 100 mph past you! Those guys are nutz! No joke
AKT
- aktahoe1 offline
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If it looks smooth, it might be. If it looks rough, it is...www.bigtirepilot.com ...www.alaskaheliski.com
Wed Jan 25, 2017 8:41 am
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
Milepost has both ways in it, so you are good to go either way with it.
DENNY
DENNY
DENNY
Wed Jan 25, 2017 12:40 pm
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
One other thing to consider is adding a 30 day plan for international calls on your phone for a nominal fee. It will allow you to pay $1 a minute instead of $10 or more if you need to call someone from Canada. It gives you some data as well. Check with your mobile carrier.
- obxbushpilot offline
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Wed Jan 25, 2017 7:13 pm
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
Roads are pretty good ip here right now. Let me know when you are coming through, maybe meet up. You should have my # Phil. Same goes for you Kevin. If you have a second on your way through, hit me up.
David
David
Wed Jan 25, 2017 7:53 pm
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
Hey Phil
Can't help ya with the route, but I do have a bro in Palmer that does windshields. Have a good trip.
Gary
Can't help ya with the route, but I do have a bro in Palmer that does windshields. Have a good trip.
Gary
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If you want to go up, pull back on the controls. If you want to go down, pull back farther.
My SPOT page
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Wed Jan 25, 2017 8:36 pm
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
Ft. St. John has 24 hour gas stations now. Ft. Nelson, not so sure. Watson Lake has credit card self serve just past the weigh station at AFD Fuels.
I'm leaving here about Feb 18 or 19 for a snowmobile trip up the Coal River Valley departing from Contact Creek just before Watson Lake. Two days on the trail, maybe a day in town, then home to Airdrie.
I'm leaving here about Feb 18 or 19 for a snowmobile trip up the Coal River Valley departing from Contact Creek just before Watson Lake. Two days on the trail, maybe a day in town, then home to Airdrie.
Wed Jan 25, 2017 9:37 pm
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
aktahoe1 wrote:...Tahoe to Laird Hot Springs ( a mandatory stop) is 27 hours.
I flew over it and thought about landing, but didn’t. I’ll make it a point to check it out on the way up. Thanks for the pointers.
obxbushpilot wrote:One other thing to consider is adding a 30 day plan for international calls on your phone for a nominal fee. It will allow you to pay $1 a minute instead of $10 or more if you need to call someone from Canada. It gives you some data as well. Check with your mobile carrier.
Good tip. I do enough “International” traveling that I have both International call and International data plans on my phone. I have both an AT&T iPhone which is my primary and a Verizon Samsung as a secondary for areas like The Wrangels which doesn’t have a lot of AT&T coverage but does have Verizon. As CEO of my company I can never but out of contact, so I carry a Sat phone as well.
David, since we missed each other on my flight up last year let’s definitely try and get together this trip
Gary, thanks. Maybe I'll get lucky and won't need him.
Kevin, so the trucks go flying by at 100mph huh? I’ll just be sure I’m doing 110mph.
Pinecone wrote:Ft. St. John has 24 hour gas stations now. Ft. Nelson, not so sure. Watson Lake has credit card self serve just past the weigh station at AFD Fuels.
Thanks Pinecone.
So tires. I bought a Jeep Liberty right before I left in October from the Raptor sale profit and got both regular and winter tires. The winter ones have a lot of siping in them plus are studded. They have been fantastic on the road/parking lot snow and ice. So I wanted to find a similar tire for the Rebel. Not an easy task. You can either get non-studded winter siping tires, or studded tires without siping. A lot of hours searching and I came across these:
https://www.nokiantires.com/winter-tires/nokian-hakkapeliitta-lt2/
Made in Norway. I thought who better to know how to make snow/ice tires then Norwegians. Well there are exactly eight of these tires in the U.S. currently, all in New York. I ordered four and somewhere along the route, maybe Colorado or Wyoming, I’ll pull into a dealership or tire shop and get them put on for the remainder of the trip.
- Barnstormer offline
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Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:55 pm
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
Phil,
I have those Nokian Hakkas (the real name is impossible to remember) on my truck and like them rather well.
There was no shortage in Western Canada when I got mine, but they may be getting into short supply now.
Our equivalent to Les Schwab is Kal Tire. I'm pretty sure if you call ahead any Kal Tire can get them in stock for your trip north.
Good luck,
Allan
I have those Nokian Hakkas (the real name is impossible to remember) on my truck and like them rather well.
There was no shortage in Western Canada when I got mine, but they may be getting into short supply now.
Our equivalent to Les Schwab is Kal Tire. I'm pretty sure if you call ahead any Kal Tire can get them in stock for your trip north.
Good luck,
Allan
Thu Jan 26, 2017 6:45 am
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
albravo wrote:Phil,
I have those Nokian Hakkas (the real name is impossible to remember)[or pronounce] on my truck and like them rather well.
There was no shortage in Western Canada when I got mine, but they may be getting into short supply now.
Our equivalent to Les Schwab is Kal Tire. I'm pretty sure if you call ahead any Kal Tire can get them in stock for your trip north.
Good luck,
Allan
Thanks Allan, good info in case I need to get a replacement.
- Barnstormer offline
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- Location: Alaska
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Thu Jan 26, 2017 6:52 am
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
Barnstormer wrote:albravo wrote:Phil,
I have those Nokian Hakkas (the real name is impossible to remember)[or pronounce
There was no shortage in Western Canada when I got mine, but they may be getting into short supply now.
Our equivalent to Les Schwab is Kal Tire. I'm pretty sure if you call ahead any Kal Tire can get them in stock for your trip north.
Good luck,
Allan
Thanks Allan, good info in case I need to get a replacement.
If you can't get those Nokia tires, I have run Toyo WLT1 winter tires on my work truck a few winters. No studs, but I never wanted them. Those tires stayed glued to the road very well. This was on ice and snow packed roads in the bush packing a load, as well as on the highway. Great tires.
Thu Jan 26, 2017 7:13 pm
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
+1 on the Liard Hotsprings. Winter is the best time to visit. If you bring a waterproof container, put your clothes in, put the container in the springs with you, nice warm clothes for the walk back out to the truck. Make damn sure it is waterproof though!
+1 on the Hakks and the Toyos as well. We have run both over the years with good results.
The Esso service station on the south end of Ft. Nelson is open 24/7. There are Petrocan, Husky, Bluewave, AFD and Esso bulk stations with cardlocks if you are set up for any of those as well.
The offer is the same for the rest of you folks passing through this way. Kevin, Pinecone, etc., If we are around you are more than welcome to stop in, for a coffee, or if you need a place to camp.
Rod
UpNorth
Two5zero 32one three007
+1 on the Hakks and the Toyos as well. We have run both over the years with good results.
The Esso service station on the south end of Ft. Nelson is open 24/7. There are Petrocan, Husky, Bluewave, AFD and Esso bulk stations with cardlocks if you are set up for any of those as well.
The offer is the same for the rest of you folks passing through this way. Kevin, Pinecone, etc., If we are around you are more than welcome to stop in, for a coffee, or if you need a place to camp.
Rod
UpNorth
Two5zero 32one three007
Mon Jan 30, 2017 12:47 am
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
Another vote for the Alcan. Also, if those tires don't work out, check out Goodyear duratracs. I loved those tires, great in snow and ice. Lasted 70k+ miles on my F250 and I spent the majority of the time in 2wd during winter. The only time I needed 4wd was to get up my very steep driveway during breakup.
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- CamTom12 offline
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Mon Jan 30, 2017 9:33 am
TX to AK - Driving - in March
All the real Alaska weather drivers I know run Blizzak tires and lots of extra lights.
Edited to say that I am not one of them.
Edited to say that I am not one of them.
Fri Feb 03, 2017 4:50 pm
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
FWIW, my recollection from 44 years ago was that plain ol' Michelin all season tires worked pretty well, on both the motorhome and car. When they weren't enough, the next best thing was a good set of chains.
Cary
Cary
"I have slipped the surly bonds of earth..., put out my hand and touched the face of God." J.G. Magee
Fri Feb 03, 2017 5:52 pm
Re: TX to AK - Driving - in March
Michelin LTX M+S. We run them year round on our eight pilot trucks. If you can't getbthere safely with these tires, stay another night where you are. It's not worth it.
Changing tires spring and fall is a nuisance. Especially with a fleet. These tires grip well, are quiet, and last.
Changing tires spring and fall is a nuisance. Especially with a fleet. These tires grip well, are quiet, and last.
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