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RE: Alaskan Camping guide
You can send away to Yukon Tourism people and they will send you a map a guides that list all the campgrounds in the Territorial Campgrounds free, or at least they did last year when I ordered mine.
For BC you can stop at any Visitors Information centres. ( HelloBC.com) has a list of where theses places are located. See yo up there this summer Tuktoyaktuk is in our plans this year.
Soup.
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SideHillSoup
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11/24/22 05:24pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Alaska - 2023
We just back 9/20 /22 from Alaska, in Seward the diesel was $5.69 gal at one place in Canada we paid $2.28 ca per liter. The price varies on the region with the south Canada being much cheaper.
Also check to see your weight a bridge was damaged badly by a tanker fire and is limited to 30,000 lbs limit near fort nelson.
As of this morning that bridge on the Alaska Hwy south of Fort Nelson and just north of Pink Mountain is now rated for approximately 140,000 lbs ( 63,500 kg) and repair work continues.
BC Hwy 97 Bridge weight ( Alaska Hwy)
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SideHillSoup
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09/22/22 07:46am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Alaska - 2023
In most areas of BC and Alberta the campgrounds don’t even open until May long weekend ( Victoria Day weekend which is the third Monday in May. The reason for that is the fear of water freezing at night in the campground infrastructure, and lack of tourists in cool / cold weather. During the weekend a earlier opening campground might be nearly full, but come the weekdays they clear out and only leave a few of us retired people to keep the outhouse toilet seats warm. Pretty hard to justify keeping people on the payroll when they are only providing service to a few campers during the week days.
This is not to say there aren’t campgrounds , Provincial, national, community or private open early, however if your planing on staying in Campgrounds the farther north you go the colder it will be.
The spring of 2017, 18, 19, 20 and 21 were very warm up here, my wife keeps a travel camping log book and those years we started camping in the bush early.
In 2020 one FSRS ( Forrest Service Rec Site, which are off road campsites with no amenities) we got into at the beginning of May which is unheard of, usually we are in some snow and have in the past got some snow over night.
Last spring we started camping at the beginning of May and we froze our butts, wind, cold rain and yes…snow, and kept freezing our butts until the end of June. Our last day camping before the July 1st long weekend ( Canada day) when we woke up there was fresh snow on the mountains above us.
You can travel anywhere you want at any time of the year if your prepared. Myself I wouldn’t heading north until at least the 2nd to 3rd week of May. Heck last spring I was snowmobiling the 1st week of April and we only live 3 hrs north of Spokane Washington in British Columbia.
Good luck on your adventure
Soup.
This was May 21, 2022, about 2.5 hrs north northwest of the Washington BC boarder above Spokane.
https://i.imgur.com/Gvn8fyul.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/h0ZqBBFl.jpg
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SideHillSoup
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09/16/22 08:25am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Alaska - 2023
Sirius radio doesn't work here in Ak, it sort of works in Canada but not well. Sirius suggested it was my reciever antenna.
June through early July is fairly dry on the Kenai late July through September it rains most days.
In British Columbia and parts of Alberta I have gotten Sirius Radio as far north that I have personally found was on Hwy 37 at Meziadin Junction. Once I turned down the Hwy into Stewart on Hwy 37-A I lost it all together.
It also works from Prince Rupert BC all the way east to Cold Lake Alberta. It also worked on Haida Gwaii.
However I will state that it is spotty at times when you drive on the edge of the eastern side of a mountain / sharp bank etc. I will also add theses same mountains and sharp banks also block the signal where I live in south eastern BC which is 3 hrs north of Spokane Washington.
Just like the old days… ya loose radio signal.
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SideHillSoup
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09/12/22 04:51pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Alaska - 2023
For the OP, I'd second most of the destinations suggested by Wadcutter as good places to visit. It is beautiful country around Chicken, but (IMHO) that's the draw, not the town itself. Similarly in my view, Valdez and Juneau are scenic spots and great starting points for "adventures", but I believe the "adventures" can be duplicated in other parts of AK. If one catches the right combo of weather and seasons, the drive from Glennallen to Valdez can be spectacular in late summer / early fall.
I've always enjoyed Whitehorse, Watson Lake, Muncho Lake, and Dawson Creek. It is striking to me how much all of those have changed since '74.
One should be cautious about frost heaves, but..again opinion...the biggest concern is if one is trying to flog a big MH or 5th wheel along the Alaskan / Canadian roads like they were on a freeway in the L48.
...and you neither want to hit a moose in AK nor a buffalo in Canada. 'nuff said.
And not to further pound the horseflesh, but: My dad worked on the road during it's construction for a few months as a catskinner, called it the "Alcan"; in '74, my first trip, it was referred to, in Alaska anyway, as the "Alcan"; upon entering Canada (if coming from Alaska) or entering Dawson Creek otherwise, the road was referred to as the "Alaska Highway" on road signs, billboards, sign forest, etc; and, sometime in the early '80's when there were enough roads that I had to look at a map, the Alcan / Alaska Highway had road numbers, either "BC #xxx" or something similar. The nomenclature doesn't really matter, but in my 7th decade now, I've become habitual about calling the road the "Alcan".
No pounding here either, my uncle was a surveyor for the Canadian Govt, and was working with the US and Canadian governments jointly building the Alaska Hwy during its entirety.
He was actually working in the Yukon for mining companies at the time the war broke out in 1939 and joined up then.
He was then stationed in Ottawa and shortly after that because of is northern experience sent back to the Yukon / Northern BC to work on securing the northern guard, what that meant I have no idea, he didn’t talk about it, as he died when I was in my 20’s back in the 70’s.
There are many names for different things in this world, However I will always call that Hwy the Alaska Hwy because my Uncle Jack worked on it for start to finish, and that’s what he called it.
He lived in Whitehorse from 1937 to 1976, so he had some seniority of northern life.
Oh, I’m in 7th decade as well.
Cheers
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SideHillSoup
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08/25/22 12:15am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Alaska - 2023
Need to go to "acceesCan.ca".
Need to follow instructions to make it easier even though there is no guarantee on entrance to Canada. Must be done within 72 hours of border crossing.
It’s called the ArriveCAN App.
Needed to enter Canada as of August 24/22
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SideHillSoup
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08/24/22 12:14pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Alaska - 2023
First item, don't call it the AL-Can. It is the Alaska Highway.
You will be pushing a lot even for four months. As earlier post suggests delete lower 48.
Only place you may need reservations is Denali area.
There are many campgrounds that are open later in year plus lots of places to spend the night.
It's the Alcan to those of use who have been in Alaska for a long time.
Bill
:D my Uncle was a Canadian who helped build the Hwy during the war. He lived and raised his family in Whitehorse for the remainder of his life ( Uncle Jack) he called it the Alaska Hwy. :W
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SideHillSoup
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08/24/22 12:09pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Alaska - 2023
Is Canada open for tourism yet? We had planned to do the Maritimes a couple years ago before the border closed. That sounds like one awesome trip!!!
Yes it is, however there are a few things the Canadian Gov’t asks for so please check the Gov’t of Canada official websites for what is required to enter Canada, at this time.
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SideHillSoup
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08/24/22 10:05am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Alaska - 2023
I agree, if you plan on being someplace on a Long Weekend either have a reservation or stay where you are until the long weekend is over especially in the southern 1/2 of BC. ( Prince George south)
Since Covid, Banff / LL and Jasper campgrounds have been packed.
If you plan to stay ( camp) in Banff / Lake Louise / Jasper reservations are HIGHLY recommended especially if you plan on being there June through September.. Those three areas have four National Parks, Banff, Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper National Parks, it is the #1 tourist destination in Canada. Reservations for the National Parks of Canada open in early January and the fill up fast, so I recommend between now and the first the Banff through Jasper campgrounds have your days in those parks figured out and book as soon as the reservation windows opens.
NOTE; there are no private campgrounds in any Canadain NP.
Parks Canada
After that I wouldn’t make any reservations except in Dawson City Yukon as there is one campground ( Gold Rush City) which is downtown Dawson City and you can walk everywhere in town from there. Caravans and large groups of RV’s can show up and book the campground fast.
Another thing to do is buy the Mile Post travel book, it’s a must have for your first adventure north.
Always fill the top 1/2 of your fuel tank, give you a chance to streak ask the locals about interesting sights near by, and a chance to walk around your rig checking tires and bearing temps…etc…
Go north (up)to Alaska from Dawson Creek BC as MilePost is basically laid out that way and my wife found it very interesting that places to pull off the Hwy were listed as well as sights to look for that were coming up.
Also the Fish should be running at Fish Creek at Hyder Alaska (BC Hwy 37) Cassiar Hwy, meaning you can go into Stewart BC / Hyder Alaska and view the bears feeding on the Salmon run which is usually August / September. My wife was raised in Stewart and said it’s a must see when in the area if your there at the right time of year.
Also you can drive up past Hyder, back into Canada ( BC and see the Salmon Glacier.
Note: there is only 1 boarder station and that is a Canadian Boarder Crossing coming back into Canada from Hyder, there is no USA boarder building / people period.
I agree tour the Lower 48 states on another trip and concentrate on Western Canada and Alaska on this trip.
Note: most Canadians don’t refer to Hwys by catchy nicknames, that’s a tourist thing, most of us go by the Hwy numbers. However those names like the Alaska Hwy ( not the Al-Can) and the Cassiar Hwy are becoming more common.
Have fun on your adventure
Soup.
Pictures are from Banff & Kootenay NP a few winters ago ( spring)
https://i.imgur.com/GvdrSRDl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/EYlQqjtl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/w5eowdil.jpg
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SideHillSoup
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08/24/22 10:03am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Very high aurora forecast for Aug 18
We had a fabulous light show over this past weekend in Southeastern British Columbia. We just happened to be coming home late at night from a buddies Cabin at a mountain lake, and they were in front of us for about 20 minutes.
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SideHillSoup
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08/23/22 09:03am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Alcan Travel
The Hwy is open to 1 lane traffic.
British Columbia Hwy 97 ( Alaska Hwy)
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SideHillSoup
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07/04/22 08:53pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Alcan Travel
We enjoyed the Cassiar. it is actually quicker and shorter
It all depends where your coming from.
As stated one lane is open.
1 lane open.
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SideHillSoup
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07/04/22 05:57pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Part of Alaska Highway closes due to road washout
Cassiar highway Is British Columbia Hwy 37 for those people that are looking on a map.
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SideHillSoup
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07/03/22 08:54am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: If’s you’re headed North….
We have 200 watts of solar with two 6 volt batteries on our camper up here in Canada and it keeps every battery charged up nice.
I’m not running a house, I’m running a camper. Don’t ever use A/C, so we didn’t order our camper with one, fridge and hot water tank runs on Propane.
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SideHillSoup
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06/07/22 07:47am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Best itinerary for Alaska
Op's burnin daylight here. (Or trying to esplain to his wife why taking their brand new 44' 5ver to AK and back is going to be a pain in the ___!)
Once again, this forum needs a "like" button.
:B
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SideHillSoup
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06/06/22 12:21pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Best itinerary for Alaska
From Banff to Valdez is longer drive than you think especially pulling a 44ft 5th wheel in the mountains.
Banff to Jasper alone is 4hrs no stopping in a car, and with all the sites to see you pushing it to make it in 5 days let alone 2 to 3.
Get yourself a MilePost travel magazine which is the size of a large phone book. They have every campsite, points of interest along the route and small maps on pages that show the area your traveling in.
Amazon sells them
If your using Google to give you how long it takes to get from point a to point b, they are never correct in the mountains especially pulling a 44ft 5th wheel.
Banff to Jasper to Dawson Creek to Whitehorse is 5 days pulling my old 23ft 5th wheel.
In my opinion from driving my 5th wheels ( largest was a 35ft) with a diesel truck your looking at least a week Banff to Valdez even that is pushing it with little site seeing in Alberta, BC & Yukon.
You will also need to fill out a ArriveCan Application ( App) fir entry into Canada.
ArriveCAN Info
Hope this helps a bit.
Soup.
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SideHillSoup
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05/28/22 01:59pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Passing thru BC, YK to Fairbanks - bring motorcycle or not?
There are thousands and thousands of places you can take your bike, however you need to know where you can and can’t go. A lot of First Nations land won’t allow or have restrictions on who and what can travel on their land. You also need to be aware of active logging and mining roads. Most of theses roads with be posted with signs and are radio controlled to watch out for that.
Your Jeep will be great for exploring side roads all up and down BC and the Yukon.
If you really want to explore back roads get your self a few of theses off road books that show you what’s up the end of xxx road.
Theses books are called Back Road Map Book
BRMB link
I have a Side x Side and I use these books often for the area where I live in South eastern BC.
However, if your going to start taking off in the bush that you are unfamiliar with I would recommend getting a Garmin InReach GPS with 2 way texting and learn how to use it.
There are very very few communities when you start up Hwy 37, and if you break down or get hurt in the bush no matter in the keep or on your bike you’re on your own, as there is no cell service that you can use to get help.
Don’t forget to stop at Stewart BC / Hyder Alaska, to view the bears and drive your keep up to the Salmon Glacier.
Have a blast on your trip.
Soup.
https://i.imgur.com/m9fSgVFl.jpg
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SideHillSoup
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05/27/22 09:34am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Alaska Bound
You must realize that northern BC, Alberta and the Yukon have very very little cell service. Wifi can be found in most towns but you have to stop and look for it.
We just went camping 2 hrs from home with no cell service or wifi. Closest town was 25 kms away. There were two small communities close by, but no cell service, and they did have wifi for a price.
Should be noted.
Most small towns have free wifi at tourists Centre's, museums and library’s. How ever the communities I was near were to small for any of those facilities.
I will also mention we live 3 hrs from Spokane Washington and we were another 2 hrs north west of our home, so not that far north at all.
He most likely won’t make another comment until Whitehorse or once he gets into Alaska.
Happy Trails everyone
Soup.
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SideHillSoup
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05/25/22 03:47pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Hwy 5 to little gold and Dawson City
I shared many photos on my website that includes thousands of photos in Yukon and Alaska http://suethomas.ca/TaylorHwy.html
Hey Sue, great to see you around again.
Soup.
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SideHillSoup
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05/11/22 02:58pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Hwy 5 to little gold and Dawson City
I shared many photos on my website that includes thousands of photos in Yukon and Alaska http://suethomas.ca/TaylorHwy.html
Cool, any photos of Tombstone Territorial? Camp suggestions?
Thanks
Pretty good video below.
We also stayed at the campground mentioned at the start if this video just for the ease of walking around town. We spent 4 days poking around Dawson City.
Video driving Dawson to Tombstone
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SideHillSoup
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05/11/22 07:56am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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