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Anybody want to drive to Alaska.
- Thread starter Maggot
- Start date
Would have to look into it, @Sean the Nailer could likely advise us. I'd want a shotty 'hunting' rifle, and my Anaconda.
I figure in my Chevy 3500 Express van about $2500 in gas.
Nah, I don't wanna see Russia from my back porch.
I don't think you can transport firearms through Canada. Can't remember what my folks did to have their guns in AK when they moved up there from South Dakota, but I'm pretty sure they didn't haul them with them back and forth. Pretty sure they sold all of the guns they had in Alaska when they decided to move back to the lower 48 about 10 years ago.
I have personally seen Russia while standing on the ground of Alaska, but it was on top of a big ass mountain at Tin City, an old military site just southeast of Wales AK.
I had an old friend who manned a radar/radio station way out in the Aleutian Chain during WWII. Said the weather wasnt really that bad.
I've never been to Shemya Island, AK (Eareckson Air Station) but I have some friends that have been there, I think they would disagree with that weather assessment....wind and ice is pretty fierce several months of the year.
I didn a quick Google search and it looks like you can transit firearms through Canada, as ling as it doesnt exceed a Daisey Red Ryder BB gun in caliber. and no red dots on the BB gun.
Import and export a firearm or weapon into Canada.
List of prohibited weapons, firearms classification and information to import and export weapons.
He was from
a seafaring family from Rhode Island so not to different from winter at home, I'd guess. Looks like you should get some of the Japan current, now the Fukashima currents. Give me a cold beer on a Caribbean beach thanks.
Drove from NC all the way to Prudhoe bay and all over Alaska last August. Flew back home from Whitehorse in the Yukon Still drove just over 7500 miles. Trip of a life time had a great time.
It's not as far south as that map depiction makes it look. Still North of Misawa AB, Japan, and that place gets snow that makes Buffalo, New York look like it just gets a dusting. LOL
Ferry never left from Seattle, Bellingham is where It Leaves from, cruise ships leave from Seattle to Alaska…..
Yes, you can transport firearms through Canada. There are restricted firearms, and pretty much a no go on any pistols now. Any manually operated repeating rifles with fixed magazines are completely legal to be transported through Canada. You declare it at the border, and there is a $25CAD licensing fee at the border that's good for I think 90 days, my memory is a little foggy on that specific part. I took a Marlin 1895 through Canada with us in our camper in '19.
Branden
We Americans should have liberated western Canada from Kanadastan by now.
Ferries are for sissies.
I drove up, and drove back...like a man. 12,557 miles total trip. That was '19, so fuel was cheaper. I budgeted $4K for fuel, and I came in about $3200 for fuel round trip. Pulled a 23' camper with a '12 ram 3500 cummins, averaged 14.2mpg across the whole trip.
Branden
Crewed a C-130 to "Shimmy" back in the early 80's. Bunny Boots, thermies, and big a#$ parka. 40+ below in the wind. Ice sucks. Mac
In '79, in a 27' Minnie Winnie, I rode from Shreveport, LA straight up to Canada. then ALCAN to Alaska. We took the ferry from Haines to Seattle, then back down through the western states back home. Was a heck of a two month long trip for a 13y/o boy, with his grandparents. I'll never forget it and would love to do it again, some day.
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I lived in nome for a couple years, one of the few places where the weather actively tries to kill you……
I have a buddy that graduated in 1974, and moved to Alaska. He drove home to NW Missouri a couple of times, 4 WD Chevy van, with 4 spare tires, and a screen to protect the windshield ............I believe a big part of the way home was a gravel road at the time............
Want to? Ab-so-fucking-lutely. We went to AK for close to 2 weeks several years ago and I’ve been dreaming of going back(or moving there, seriously) since we flew back home
But, can I? Unfortunately not. Life is stoopid sometimes
But, can I? Unfortunately not. Life is stoopid sometimes
It was in 79. I've heard it's much better, now. I remember many vehicles had wire mesh protecting the windshield and headlights.
Nothing un manley about it. The ferry would just give an alternate, beautiful route. The only way to get to the Capital.
Funny, one of my dad’s best friends, from just 30 miles north of you, graduated in 73, moved to AK in 79 with his wife.
They are still there.
Driving to Alaska doesn't have as much as the adventure theme to it like it seemed to used to have. All the roads are paved now, and nice and smooth. The only gravel road section we did was the Dempster highway up to Tuktoyuktuk. 926km from Dawson City to Tuk, all but 40km of it gravel. Hands down the greatest drive i've ever done, and the weather wasn't that great for the first half going up. Stopped at Eagle Plains for fuel, and food. Only time i've ever walked into a place where everybody removed their muddy shoes at the door, and was walking around a restaurant in socks, or barefoot. Was served lunch by a very attractive French Canadian woman, and we headed back out to the truck to finish the trip. The weather cleared up as we were headed back down the mountain from Eagle Plains.
I'm going to save up enough money one of these days to do that trip again, except i'm going to give myself 4 months to do it rather than 6 weeks. Odds are I will be solo, because my kids are getting to the age that they have other responsibilities, or things they'd prefer to do, and my wife doesn't care for road trips. I can't help but get the feeling sometimes that '19 was the last opportunity and chance for me to ever do that type of trip. We'll see, i'd prefer to be optimistic that I can do it.
Branden
I'm going to save up enough money one of these days to do that trip again, except i'm going to give myself 4 months to do it rather than 6 weeks. Odds are I will be solo, because my kids are getting to the age that they have other responsibilities, or things they'd prefer to do, and my wife doesn't care for road trips. I can't help but get the feeling sometimes that '19 was the last opportunity and chance for me to ever do that type of trip. We'll see, i'd prefer to be optimistic that I can do it.
Branden
I didn't say it was un manley....I said it's for sissies. lol.
I'm just giving you a good ribbing. I saw lots of rigs with nice slide in campers that took the ferry from Haines to Skagway to save a couple hundred miles of driving, and to also not have to return on the same road you came in. As long as the rig is short enough, the ferry down to washington is a little cheaper than the fuel, and faster. Financially that wouldn't have worked for me, truck and trailer had me near 45', which meant very expensive ferry trip.
Branden
Dad has done it twice, drove all the way up once and up and back again. Loves it.
I was in Nome for a couple days on my trip to Tin City, was supposed to be one night. Weather was bad, and it was only October. Hehe
The reason for me taking the ferry (it definitely had motorcycles, cars, and trucks on it) was a free airline round trip within the contiguous US. That ticket would not get me to AK and a connecting flight would have been more than I could swing as a poor grad student. Reluctantly, I decided to take the ferry, thinking it would be a waste of time. It turned out to be a phenomenal experience. I flew into Seattle but do not remember whether I commuted to Bellingham.
The landscape of the intercoastal passage is breathtaking and since this was before smartphones everybody had three day to socialize.
To get from Haines up North without my own wheels, I walked around with a cardboard sign on my back, stating my need for a ride. Jim, a military dentist transferred to AK from Idaho offered me a ride all the way to Fairbanks. He was terrified about the big bruins in AK and I told him that I had "survived" two months of the previous summer in the bush and that the danger is not as big as some people pretend.
The plan was that he would stay in motels during the multi-day trip after dropping me off at some campsite close by. I did not have the coin for a motel but carried everything on my back for extended wilderness travel, including a shortened Savage 24 in 22WMR/20ga. All in preparation for a job at a gold mine close to Circle Hot Springs and then two weeks as a co-pilot/observer on an aerial wildlife survey with the USNPS in Glacier Bay.
After telling Jim about my previous summer and the plans I had this year he seemed to be a little more relaxed about the bears. Until, just one mile outside of Haines, big momma bear with cubs crossed the highway. I tried to save the situation by stating that this was just the bear from the tourism bureau, hired so the lower 48ers have something to brag about, but he was visibly shaken, refused to drop me off outdoors, and insisted on paying for another room. I considered this to be a loss rather than a bargain because I love to sleep outdoors in these landscapes. But beggars and hitchhikers can't be choosers.
Back then, you could pitch a tent on the foredeck of the ferry which was not only free but offered much better views and a more visceral experience than any stateroom. Unfortunately, everybody and his brother knew this too and every square inch was taken when I arrived on the ferry. Even the spaces under the numerous staircases on the vessel were occupied. Desperately searching for a space to sleep I noticed that the children's playground had an abundance of foam mats and cubes. So I waited until the rug rats retired for the night and made myself a nice, posh bed, albeit indoors. Again, the poors can't be picky.
Long story short, take the ferry on one of the legs.
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I would be in just a 2002 Chevy 3500 Express van, so shorter.
I'm getting older and figure if I'm going to do it it needs to be soon, but dont really want to do it alone.
I met him a couple of times in Anchorage flying back and forth to Japan...........he has moved back to Missouri now.......
It used to be a dream of mine but I don't know how I feel about border crossings now.
Are you going to paint "free candy" or "free ammo" on the side...details matter.
No spooning unless is young, female, and out of my league. My standards are higher than my capabilities and my tastes out rank my means. Do motels as much as possible and alternate camping.
Ride a m/c to Alaska? No, thanks!
However, if you need a crewmember to help you sail to Tahiti, I'm yer huckleberry.
However, if you need a crewmember to help you sail to Tahiti, I'm yer huckleberry.
I'd hate to support Castro's spawn in Canukistan but there's a bunch of cool places along the way to AK. Icefields Parkway comes to mind for example. Also, their provincial policies differ like our state laws/attitudes and Alberta is pretty conservative. BC is commie in the South but maybe OK further up North where you would have to cross it.
While I am aware that this is the bear pit, I would nevertheless like to get a little more serious about the idea. Here are the some options I can offer:
- One opening for a co-pilot in my 36' HR diesel pusher. Full private bed in the front. Shared kitchen and bath with shower. I'll be in the rear suite with my two terriers (JRT and Rat) who are fun, hardy travelers. Must like dogs, of course. Fuel (10mpg@65mph) and ferry cost shared. I pay for maintenance, scheduled or not. If someone would like to ride his motorcycle, I would put my Guzzi on a two bike trailer and we could take turns riding the bikes or travel both in the RV when the weather sucks. Without bikes, I could tow a Cherokee XJ to allow a little more independence from each other.
- Joining a "convoy" in my M1009 (military version of a square-body Blazer) overlander that is outfitted with everything I need for this trip and gets twice the mileage. (The towable XJ mentioned above is also outfitted for overlanding albeit with substantially less interior space.)
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Less than 3k miles from OKC. Let me know when you pass through. I'd be up for wrecking those border patrol fags. If you hadn't figured out, Ill be using the shotgun and Anaconda when you blow through the checkpoint on the way back.
I drove from Anchorage to Seattle in '81 when I was 17. Still a lot of it gravel then, it was just accepted that you'd replace your windshield. Pretty scary running 70mph in the dark, raining, slick twisty roads, with big rigs riding my ass and nowhere to pull over. Still need to kill a grizzly bear to become a real sourdough, got the other 2 requirements, those were easy
Driving or Sourdough?
Ice road truckers are bad ass drivers. When I lived there, the 3 requirements to be considered a real Sourdough were; had to kill a grizzly, sleep with an Eskimo squaw, and piss in the Yukon River. So on that trip, I was traveling by the Yukon river and checked that one off the list.
Got to be careful when discussing that one. I can see some bad happenings if this was spoken while drunk.
Took that drive from Edwards AFB, to Elmendorf, when I was 12 (1960). Dad drove a 55 Buick Special, Mom, 4 boys, including a baby. We heated Dinty Moore on the manifold, stopped at roadside rest stops, (log cabins with a wood fired stove!), Fished at lakes along the road. Some days we'd go all day and not see another vehicle, certainly not the truck convoys I hear about now. All gravel, until Tok Junction, which was poorly paved, full of potholes. Average about 25 MPH, Dad cussing about the potholes, and watching the forest scroll past us. I learned how to use his new 35 mm camera, and took photos all the way. There was usually a lodge about a days drive from the last stop. We had a great time.
