I would really like to go up there and see the Northern Lights in person...but I'm told that should be done in winter.

I don't think an RV would do well on that road in winter.

Still.....maybe I could try to stay over winter? We shall see.

quote:

Originally posted by sjp:
Is it a pain to ship the few pistols that i want up there?

Do your research with the Canadian Government Firearms site. You may be able to apply for permits and bring them with you. Exceptions for handguns that have the, "Capability" of holding more than 10 rounds, barrels shorter than 4.1" or .32 and .25 calibers. Just do your research, make your application and have your paperwork with you when you cross the border.

Alaska Airlines has been excellent when I've flown with firearms. Join their frequent flier club now, you'll be using them. Once you have an Alaska address established apply for their Cub 49 program. It's specific to Alaska residents and allows free baggage, discounted freight rates, etc.

Most gun shops here in Anchorage make a secondary business out of transfers. I even had it mentioned during a phone interview by the recruiter that his neighbor had an FFL and did transfers for free for hospital employees. Where else but Alaska could a conversation like that occur during a phone interview for a job?

I've driven it. On Google Street View.

I did the drive in June with a 2011 Subaru Outback pulling a 4x8 trailer and we camped along the way. There was one time we couldn't find a close campground and just made use of an old quarry for road repairs. Note I went up to Fairsbanks via Calgary and back down south California it was 67 days off adventures.

quote:

Originally posted by AllenInWV:
I would really like to go up there and see the Northern Lights in person...but I'm told that should be done in winter.

I don't think an RV would do well on that road in winter.

Still.....maybe I could try to stay over winter? We shall see.

I drove up there in 2000 via the Cassiar Hwy through B.C., but that was in August. Then a few years ago I flew to Fairbanks in March to catch the aurora. Rented a cabin in North Pole for a few days. Definitely worth the trip.

OP: Great, well-written chronicle.

Thank you for sharing!

I read the initial post at the time and it brought back memories. I drove to Alaska in 1969 and I can only imagine the changes since then. At that time virtually all of the Canada portion was unpaved and broken windshields were assumed. The large haul semis were the worst and invariably threw large rocks off the road as they were passing in the other direction. I covered most of my windshield with “carpenter cloth” (metal mesh), but still ended up with a couple of major cracks. I don’t recall any motorcycles and believe it would have been risky to say the least even with proper gear. I averaged 300 miles a day with steady travel and for long stretches saw not another vehicle.

I took some handguns and although there were no restrictions about types, capacities, barrel lengths, etc., they had to be locked in an inaccessible container. I had a briefcase tied with string that was secured with a metal compression seal at the border.

Thanks for all the discussion.

quote:

Originally posted by sjp:
Yes, ill be driving to Valdez and hoping a ferry to Cordova, most likely driving to valdez via the alcan in my ram 1500 pulling a 16ft trailer with my yj on it.

Will be driving through in june.

Is it a pain to ship the few pistols that i want up there?

As entertaining as this thread has been, I figured I better weigh in here for a fellow veteran.

First off, don't call any FFL's in Anchorage. Anchorage has a whole economy based on scamming military PCS'ing to alaska. Second, look into having them included with your household goods. Basically the silly kanucks change their rules frequently, and depending on what they feel like at any moment you may be able to just have them included in your household goods. Backup plan is...whoever is flying up to visit you or not drive the trip can fly them in one trip. Heck, depending on your collection, it may be worth buying a cheap round trip ticket for a friend and having them bring them. I recommend against going the route that 200Z did. There are lots of good reasons. If you really have to ship them...I can ask my friend for an honest FFL recommendation in cordova. If all else fails, there is a good shop in Valdez and a very military friendly buddy in Delta Junction. You could have them waiting for you, and pick them up on your way. Once you cross into Alaska, you're in constitutional carry country, just declare them to any officer you interact with, right away. Don't speed. You won't really be able to anyway...but don't be tempted to pass the herds (miles of RV's going 10-20mph under the speed limit, 2" off each other's bumpers...10-15 RV's long) of tourists. Troopers need the revenue, and anyone with an out of state plate that looks like they can afford the ticket is going to get one.

As you know, getting to cordova is going to require a ferry. Luckily since you're coming in June, that's no big deal. You're going to pay out the but for that load, they charge by the foot. You will want to pre-purchase tickets because getting room on the ferry for that length can be difficult. In June all the tourist idiots are here, and they've all reserved their spot 2 years ahead of time...well, 6 months is as advanced as you can usually purchase tickets, but you get the point. Currently there is discussion to de-fund our ferry system, so they are a bit disgruntled and threatening to stop service and eliminate routes. Consider letting that be the military's problem...and letting them ship that vehicle for you. Or use a uhaul trailer which you can leave in valdez and drive both vehicles on the ferry. It may be cheaper to do it that way anyway (price it out for yourself). Last year the ferry only ran to cordova 2 times a week, but the schedule changes from time to time, so you'll have to verify schedules as the time gets closer. Purchase a June ticket now though, if they let you. Do not attempt to do the miles that 2000Z did towing a load in the summer. The alcan is actually smoother and better in the winter, June will be difficult going. Do not overload anything. Bring spare gas cans and be able to make repairs. Have $100 dollar US dollar bills. It's about the only way to get a canadian to help you when you need help. Be prepared to shell out a bunch of them to get stuff done. They don't want canadian currency, but have some for your normal purchases. Have spare credit cards, even when you tell the company you are traveling, they tend to shut them off along the way. If you think you are staying in a hotel, book it well in advance.

I've got a good friend of mine who is the pastor at a church in cordova. It's a great community. We've considered moving there ourselves a few times. The prince william sound is the most beautiful place on earth, and I've seen a good portion of the earth.

Any other questions...feel free to email me. I'll assist a fellow veteran any way I can.

As AKSupperDually said, reservations on the ferry system for vehicles fill up fast and they charge by the foot. Start planning and making reservations now.

One other other option would be to drive down from Whitehorse in the Yukon to Skagway, Alaska. From Skagway you can get on the ferry to Juneau and then transfer to another ferry across the Gulf Of Alaska to Cordova. It's a longer time on the ferry but would save a day of driving. Probably not the most efficient or cheapest route but it may be an option if space is not available between Valdez and Cordova.

I'll warn you the Alaska State Ferry System's website is a major league PITA to try and figure anything out. It's not a magical input of start points, endpoints and dates. It will usually state that travel is unavailable for the dates requested. What I've found is that I have to research individual ports, find what ship visits those ports, look at the individual ship's schedule and then go to the reservation page and enter the dates and ports of the individual ship's schedule to be able to reserve anything.

Their phone representatives are not all that helpful either. I had looked into it when I moved up here of taking the ferry from Bellingham, WA to Whittier, AK. No luck on the online system so I called. Was told that they did not cross the Gulf of Alaska outside of the summer season and it was not an option.

What they didn't tell me and I'm still pissed about is that the inside passage ferry runs year round. I could've put my truck on the ferry in Bellingham and sailed up to Skagway or Haines and then driven to Anchorage. A lot of my coworkers have done this.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 2000Z-71,

Let me know when you are going, little brother. If it is at all possible I will see if I can go with you. We will be buying a house around then and money will be tight, and it's hard for me to get off long stretches in my new position, but that sounds like a hell of an adventure!

quote:

Originally posted by Il Cattivo:
Interesting comments on timing. I rode up on a motorcycle at the beginning of September back in the '90s. The word I was given was that I had two, probably three weeks to get in and out before the snows really hit.

Then I rode across an iced-over metal grill bridge on the way to Tok and found myself profoundly grateful that I was riding a fairly stable bike on tires meant for long-distance travel rather than cornering. I probably would've been fine, but it was a new enough experience that I was jazzed to have a milder pucker factor than I would have otherwise.

And then there was the part about going reeeal slow over the unpaved and cracked pavement parts of the road, and playing chicken with the local horned fauna as the females of the herd crossed the road diagonally at an amble, and sliding out the back tire in the mud in the hills just before getting into Anchorage. I took the ferry back down from the panhandle to Seattle just to say I'd taken the ride, but I think that might've made for a slightly more relaxing trip overall.

I have a buddy that rode his BMW bike from Louisiana to Alaska. He talked about having a flat in th middle of nowhere. That must have been a hell of a trip

Bump, i will reply to all when i get up in the am, but thanks for the help so far, and yes the ferry system website leaves a lot to be desired...