Caravan to Alaska in 2018

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by Filterman

Doing it this year. Left White Rock BC on June 2 and Mile 635 on the Alaska Hey tonight. We are doing the Kenai Peninsula and Anchorage area first and then north through the Park to Fairbanks, then north to Deadhorse and returning through Dawson City and ultimately Hwy37 and home. Expect to return early September.

Filterman,

Keep us posted - feel free to use this thread as your blog

and remember....

[longhunter]

Originally Posted by Filterman

Doing it this year. Left White Rock BC on June 2 and Mile 635 on the Alaska Hey tonight. We are doing the Kenai Peninsula and Anchorage area first and then north through the Park to Fairbanks, then north to Deadhorse and returning through Dawson City and ultimately Hwy37 and home. Expect to return early September.

Do the bus tour of Denali, it's unbelievable! It fills up very quickly, so reserve a spot as soon as possible. Keep us posted on your trip.

[uphillracer]

We live in Mobile and would love to caravan to Alaska. We'll be at Cheaha Mt. in our TT starting June 30. I noticed an invite to Gadsden to discuss. If invited we would love to attend between July 1 and July 8.
I sent the original poster a private email. I don't know if it was received.
We are both retired and available in 2018 with no problems as of now. Please let me know if you want my contact information.

[JPSPete20]

Originally Posted by HSVBamaBob

OK Folks as promised here is the thread. We retire in 2017 and the first thing on our bucket list is a 4-6 month trip to Alaska.

Looking to Leave AL in March 2018 - Mosey through TX, NM, UT, CO, WY, SD, WY, and then enter Canada from ID in May-ish.

Who would like to plan with us? It would be nice to have at least 3-6 others to make the trip (Safety in numbers!)

No commitments at this point, let's just plan and discuss!!

Just a comment on the dates. When we went in 2014, our group left Dawson Creek, the start of the Alcan, on the 19th of June. We came back through around the first of August. It snowed in Anchorage on Labor Day. Winter can come quickly. I wouldn't push the departure too far into September.

Pete

[2Dragons]

Originally Posted by Filterman

Doing it this year. Left White Rock BC on June 2 and Mile 635 on the Alaska Hey tonight. We are doing the Kenai Peninsula and Anchorage area first and then north through the Park to Fairbanks, then north to Deadhorse and returning through Dawson City and ultimately Hwy37 and home. Expect to return early September.

I have plans to do the same but still a couple of years off. Would love to see a journal of your trip, expenses, stops, interesting things to see, etc. Enjoy and I hope everything goes well. Stay safe.

[aceinspp]

Well it sounds like a nice trip would love to go,but to long even tho I like to travel. Wife can't stay out that long. Also hate to have to pay over $200 for pass ports. Hope ya all keep us posted when the trip begins. Later RJD

[rockfarmer]

Bob, we did the trip in 2007 so we might be ready to go again by 2018. We can discuss more at BamaGanza in Oct.

[2Dragons]

This sounds like a great idea. It may work right into my retirement plans as well. I plan to retire in the same time frame and the wife and I had discussed doing the same thing. Keep me in the loop on your plans and any need to know info. Looking forward to it and making new friends.

[lckeehne]

By way the responses sound it could turn into quite a large caravan.
It is also on our bucket list but don't retire until 2020.
This is the fun of rv'ing. Full of excitement and adventure.
Have fun and safe travels.

[dudleydoo]

Originally Posted by HSVBamaBob

Bonnie,

Thanks I would love that aurora info from you! We were "told" that Sept was a bad month then another told us Sept was one of the 2 best months

Seeing the Aurora was our only justification for staying in Fairbanks (or driving back up from another point in AK) in Sept -- it's starting to get cold then and we have some friends we are trying to convince to go with us that just do not do cold well at all.

Hey - fly & RV is a great idea for those who are not bound and determined to check the AlCan off the bucket list - I would like that info as well IOT start my Alaska options file

Hi Bob and Anne-Marie,

At least going in September will be warmer. When I arrived in March it was minus 36°. But it was worth every degree below zero to get the shots I did.

The photographer is www.ronnmurrayphoto.com They have a nice van but it only holds about 8 people. He picks everyone up and heads out to the best spots. They stay out a little longer if the Auroras are performing well. The first company I went out with worked by the clock. As soon as you know when you would be in Fairbanks I would make reservations. Fall is good as well as March because they are the equinox times. At that time you could get some nice shots with reflections on lakes or ponds. Ronn starts his Aurora tours late August.

Also, heading south gives you different views of Denali. There are some nice ponds along the road for reflection shots.

The motorhome company is www.abcmotorhome.com Sign up for e-mails so you can find out about their specials. They don't advertise the really low fall price till September-October, or you can call them.

Let me know if you have any questions.

[P47]

Caravan sounds good .on my bucket list! Have 2015 Solera 24 in Cape Coral Fl. Just completed 6000 mile round trip to Las Vegas !John and Vicki

[David100]

There seems like a lot of experience in the FR community about travel to and in Alaska. That is great. It also seems like some experiences have been good, but not all--road conditions up there from the lower 48, size of the caravan, RV damage, need for campground reservations or not.

My wife and I have been thinking about a trip to Alaska next summer to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. I have been doing the research and see a number of options--do it alone, caravan with other RVers, go with a tour company like Fantasy RV Tours or Adventure Caravans (good articles in Jan through April 2015 Motorhome magazine) or fly to Alaska and rent an RV there. Other than Adventure Trek which seems aimed a a young audience, has anyone ever used a tour company? Tour/caravan companies are pricey, but are they worth it? I have seen pro and con on the net. Thanks

[David100]

Forgot to add, we have a Solera 24R and would pull a toad.

[dudleydoo]

We have always traveled on our own, that is, no tour company. We like the flexibility of doing things on our own terms and according to the weather. If it's cold and rainy, we don't go fishing or to the top of Alyeska. It also allows for wildlife stops when you wish and for as long as you wish. You can book day excursions once you are there. We have done that as well as booked fishing trips once there.


As for reservations, we have never made any. Our 3 camping trips have been from the last 2 weeks in August to about the second week in September.


While the drive up is beautiful they say it is time consuming and you may not wish to travel as fast as a caravan or as slow. But, again, there is safety in numbers.


I have looked up the days of the week various cities have their farmer's markets and planned a little around them as well as the state fair. The produce is great and so are the homemade jellies, honey, etc.

[David100]

That so much for your insights.

[Total Bliss]

Originally Posted by HSVBamaBob

OK Folks as promised here is the thread. We retire in 2017 and the first thing on our bucket list is a 4-6 month trip to Alaska.

Looking to Leave AL in March 2018 - Mosey through TX, NM, UT, CO, WY, SD, WY, and then enter Canada from ID in May-ish.

Who would like to plan with us? It would be nice to have at least 3-6 others to make the trip (Safety in numbers!)

No commitments at this point, let's just plan and discuss!!

Tried to send you a PM but the address did not work out.( bob@williamsnet.org) Is this correct?

[PopBeavers]

Very tempting thought. I am not prepared for a trip of that duration, but living in California I could meet you in Idaho and return home after returning to the US.

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by Total Bliss

Tried to send you a PM but the address did not work out.( bob@williamsnet.org) Is this correct?

Yes, that is correct!

[tcorl]

We will be interested in going. We live east of Atlanta. We retired in 2009 . We have been on a cruise to Alaska from Fairbanks to Seaward to Denali with stops along the way. One stop was Haines Alaska there was a campground for about 30 camp sites we talked to a couple from BC and they said the interior roads in Canada were pretty good. So keep us informed.

[Jim Schings]

Sounds like a possibility to us. We will keep watching.