Alaska Trip Next Year (May 2017)

We traveled to Alaska in a Class C in 1989 and a Class A in 2012. Hints already given are good. Other helpful ideas, carry at least one spare tire, especially if it is difficult to get (in 2012 it took me a month to get a spare while still at home and under no pressure). Cell phones: ours' were supposed to have worked, and did so sometimes. Best idea, get a cheapie up there and put your regular phone on its own vacation. Medical insurance: check into travel insurance, especially while in Canada. Money: as you cross the border, exchange money. credit cards: Let you banks know your travel plans. Some cards have surcharges for handling purchases outside of US. We got a new capital one card just to avoid such fees. Also, have at least one back up card, different bank. Your spouse should do the same. Real exciting to have your card blocked on a Friday night in no where vile, Yukon territory, right after you filled up on $200 worth of Canadian diesel. the joy continued when a second, then a third card were blocked (for security reasons). Finally got one bank to give us an override on the block so we could continue on our was. Monday morning we were able to get all banks straightened out.
Get towing insurance from AAA, coach net,Good Sam, or the like. Be sure to read te fine print.

Have a good, trusted mechanic check your unit over from head to foot, do normal servicing and do upcoming periodic servicing early. check propane gas lines, tires for wear, tear, and age, refrigerator, etc.

You cannot carry any weapons into Canada, even pepper spray.

Food: lots of luck on that subject. We had some apples confiscated at the border. went to a grocery in town and re-bought the same apples from the same US farm...

Clothing: It will either be short/short hot, or wool pants and shirts cold. Carry both..

Health: wash your hands, constantly. Avoid contact with the cruise boat people.

travel speed: 25 to 40 MPH.

further help available at [email protected]

2x by lane 2x by sea
experienced travelers
Terry and Joan McDonald, FROM FL., we did not retire to fL

X2 here on the weapons ... Canada is very strict on that policy. If you think you need a weapon in Alaska, ship it to your self. Then ship it back to yourself when you return. Most gun shops will have a method for shipping guns.

Everyone is spot-on with advice re. your anticipated trip to AK. Take no chances on tires - if they're questionable, replace them - it's just not worth being on the side of the road somewhere, with no cell service, and no other traffic for perhaps half an hour or more...depending where you are. Also - if you're up to it, you might get one of those "torque-multipliers" to stash in the basement, in case you can't get road service - you can at least manage a wheel-change, with a little imagination and leveling jacks (block it up once it's lifted though). Guns. Yes you can. There's no issue with long guns if they're single-shot/bolt/pump/lever, as long as you fill out the (get online) form, and pay the $25 (CA) at the border for the permit - it's good for 60 days, but if it's getting iffy on the return schedule, you should just go ahead and pay an additional $25 at CA Customs on the way out of AK. The laws are pretty clear (Google 'em) - don't bother with handguns (extra paperwork and permissions), or any "restricted" or "prohibited" weapons - INCLUDING "tasers" and "pepper-spray" (bear spray is OK though - it's only 2% capsaicin oleoresin - which is legal). If you want to take your handgun, there are FFL's in Tok (first/last town in AK) who will receive/ship for you - Google again. (Another fellow's point - "mail it to yourself" - is correct; it's not a "transfer" in that case. Try Wolfhawk, in Tok, for specific how-to.) Also...we used RVCampground Reviews a lot, made a list for along our anticipated routes in Canada, since data plans are expensive there. Take advantage of those campgrounds having WiFi, but keep in mind that MANY/MOST are on satellite - they're slower, and prone to "clogging" by the buffoons who try to watch video or other streaming content with their computers - be considerate.

If you want to do the western route going up, we might suggest...the megalopolis, that is Tacoma/Seattle/and all to the north, is pretty much untenable (took us 5.5 hours to go the 130 miles from north Seattle to Olympia, on I405/I5); consider crossing on US97 north or Oroville, or take WA20 over to Sedro-Wooley and go north on WA9 - cross at Sumas. Take CA1 up to Cache Creek (Frazier River Valley) - then PR97 to Prince George, and CA16 (Yellowhead Highway) west to Kitwanga, then north on PR37 (Cassiar Highway). (Outstanding campground on a bluff above the Bulkley river in Telkwa - "Ft Telkwa." "Canyon Creek RV in Hixon is nice too.) You HAVE to stop in Stewart/Hyder. (Rainey Creek city campground in Stewart is inexpensive, and a city dump station is a couple blocks away.) Salmon River Glacier is a fun drive up a mining road, and bear viewing (later in July) station just north of Hyder. Eat at "The Bus;" grilled salmon or halibut - FRESH. Sorry...getting carried away...our 2013 trip was fun - the 2016 one was "funner." More than happy to answer questions if you want to mail direct. JT and DJ. [email protected]