Alaska Travel

[hobobimmer]

Well, now I am wondering about the wisdom of taking a tour with the coach. Obviously many do not have these problems at all, but he was adamant that it was something he wouldn't repeat himself, that he had accumulated months of experience in Alaska; and that it was a gamble.

Comments? Thank you.

My comments are not bus related, but motorcycle related. I rode the Alaska Highway to Fairbanks on a BMW R100GS Paris Dakar motorcycle in 1992. I was amazed at how good the road was in most places. There were construction zones, but I don't recall having rocks thrown at me and feeling like I was in constant danger. However, I have not done it in a bus, so don't know what you might experience.

After riding the length of the Alaska Highway, I returned from Fairbanks to Tok, AK, and then took the Top Of The World Highway to Dawson at the base of the Dempster Highway in Canada. Top Of The World Highway, best I recall, was a fair bit rougher than Alaska Hwy. My memory of that road would tell me not to travel it in a bus. Then I took Dempster Hwy north to Inuvik so I could cross the Arctic Circle. My trip was less of a sightseeing trip than it sounds like you might envision. I rode 10,770 miles in 15.7 days. But I was amazed at the beautiful scenery and the friendliness of the people.

I wonder why the guy who told you all this bad stuff went back for seven years in a row. Sounds like he's a slow learner. When I got to a gas station at Eagle Plains (or maybe it was Eagle Creek) on the Dempster Highway, I saw two other riders going southbound. I asked them how things were the rest of the way to Inuvik. One said, "Don't go." The other said, "Turn back."

Well, that wasn't acceptable answer for me, so I ignored them and on I rode. I think you take care with what you do, and you know your limits better than anyone else. You race motocross, so the "doom and gloom guy" may be telling you about Alaska from his perspective and it might not correlate with what your experiences will be when you go. I say go.

eric faires
huntsville, TN

[merle&louise]

Karen and I are planning to go to Alaska this summer. We are kicking around driving the Newell to Seattle and then flying to Anchorage and renting a car to tour Alaska. Time is a factor for us; therefore, we will probably fly up from Seattle. Nothing is written in stone, we are considering all of our options.

From Louisiana it would be a 10,000 mile round trip drive. I would guess at about 2 months away from home in order to see everything. We really want to see Northern California, Oregon, and Washington.

If anyone is planning an Alaska trip this summer let us know. We are looking at June 1st - July 31st or there about. It might be fun to travel together.

[bluevost]

Tuga,

We are planning to go again in summer 2010. Can you wait another year??

Ken B -- You hear these kinds of stories all the time. I'm sure unfortunate incidents happen, but they happen at home too. As Ray mentioned I drove a 40' Eagle up there in 2004. 87 days on the road. No broken headlights, no broken windshield, no hits, no runs, no errors. I did hit one unmarked frost heave between Skagway and Whitehorse, YT. I didn't have a rearview camera on that bus, but I'm sure the jeep came off the ground (all 4). I did not get to Dawson City, YT as there were some huge forest fires and the road was closed in Alaska due to poor visability. That stretch of road from Dawson City, YT to Tok, AK is dirt and is about 70 or 80 miles. Hopefully next trip. Do your homework, and plan well. You'll have a fantastic experience. Don't let these naysayers steal your dream!!

[merle&louise]

Ken,

Waiting another year might work out. We would really like to go with another coach or several other coaches. I think it would be fun, and there is strength in numbers. It would also be nice to have the advantage of someone who has already been there.

Karen wants to go to Ireland, so we may do that this year and Alaska next. She is afraid to fly, but she REALLY wants to go to Ireland. So she is vasilating about the long flight.

I want to go while the diesel prices are reasonable. Of course, everything could go nuts by this summer. So we will make our decision soon. I'll keep you informed.

[garyde]

I met a guy while staying at a RV site in Oregon this last summer who had recntly returned from Alaska. He had a great time fishing . The only problems he had were constant washing & cleaning of his Coach ( can't keep up with it)and rock chipping on the front of his Coach and on his tow car. Apparently, his insurance was covering the rock damage.

[Kenneth Brewer]

Waiting a year to visit Alaska is about right anyway. Great idea. Have a good time in Ireland. Once traveled to Cork on business for a few days. Very interesting and rewarding experience, but I fell under the weather and was unable to visit the Blarney Stone, which is quite near Cork.

[dreamchasers]

Last year, a thread concerning Alaska travel evolved into a very informative post. You might check out the post for additional information.

http://forum.prevostownersgroup.com/...=alaska&page=2

Alaska is beautiful in all aspects of the word. I would have no hesitation driving my bus to Alaska. I made the trip in a 40' American Eagle, towing a jeep. No problem!

Hector

[0533]

We hope to leave out of Florida in May 2009, head West up to Banff and Jasper National parks via Calgary, make a slow go West and north keeping our options open for interesting places along the way. If anyone is planning on going this way let us know. We may swing back through Vancouver down the West Coast back east on I-40 in the fall, not sure, open ended on the return plan.

[cateyez528]

Hi!! Restarting this thread, any new updates for travel tips from central Texas to Alaska? I am sure the roads have been significantly developed since 2006. Thank you in advance.
2003 Marathon #798

[mwalker422]

It’s a long isolated road with constant construction and the construction is mostly repair. Not much traffic and only saw two cop cars. One was made of plywood so I wouldn’t count on the road being a lot better. It was 2012 when we made the trip. The road wasn’t washboard rough but you bounce around and it will rearrange your luggage. Now for the good part. We saw lots of bears, one mountain lion,moose, and buffalo. Beautiful scenery. It’s worth the trip.