Alaska 2025

[jerryc-ESC]

How nice of you to say so, but it's NOT NECESSARY. I'm glad others are joining me on this trip and hope everyone has a good time. Aaaannnnd they remember, I've never been to any of these places either, so if any of the camping parks are busts.... well, lesson learned. And be grateful it's only for a few nights....

All about making memories, that hopefully will last a life time. Ours have so far, and it truly was "the trip of a lifetime." Looking forward to all your post and pictures. Envious that we aren't along to share your journey.

 

[iamunique127]

We have now driven the length of the Alcan Highway to Haines Junction, Yukon and the Klondike Highway to Dawson City, Yukon. I can report that the Alcan is all smooth sailing with no construction the whole distance we travelled in the last 2 weeks. The road is in fabulous shape and very smooth.

The only construction, broken surfaces or less-than-smooth roads we experienced were north of Whitehorse. The Klondike Highway has frost heaves, broken surfaces and a stretch of mucky construction that appears will last the summer. As someone earlier mentioned: pay close attention to the signs and flags for rough surfaces and slow down. Plan to take more time than usual on that stretch of road. We found 80km/h to be a comfortable speed but then the hills and bumps slow you down further.

Today we drove up the Top of the World Highway about 20 km from Dawson City. It is gravel and soft. It will be navigable with your trailers but you will need to take your time there as well.

Cell service is very spotty in much of the Yukon and northern BC. Of course you’ll have reception in the larger places but some of the smaller ones have no service and we went two whole days with no service at all.

South of Dawson City, Mayo and Keno make an interesting side trip but leave your trailer at Five Mile Lake campground and go to Keno without it. The road is quite rough.

We head back toward the Cassiar Highway tomorrow.

 

[Thrak]

Excellent! Yes, PAY ATTENTION to the frost heave signs. They are there for a good reason. I'm pleased to hear that the road is better than when we drove it but then

 

[iamunique127]

Also, my wife wants me to report that although Whitehorse is a small city it is a fully functioning Canadian city like any other. It has anything and everything you could want in the way of groceries, amenities and services.
She shopped at a Superstore for groceries and it carried everything ( fresh produce included) she finds in our own grocery stores in Winnipeg and at similar prices too!
There are all the typical chain stores we find at home as well and all are fully stocked.

 

[Thrak]

Damn I hate trying to use a phone for this stuff. As I was trying to say, when we drove that highway it was in much better condition than it was for the folks before us.

Treat the Alcan Hwy with respect and you will do fine. It was ONE moment of distraction that caused us issues. Totally my fault. (Damn that hurts to admit... )

 

[Thrak]

Also, my wife wants me to report that although Whitehorse is a small city it is a fully functioning Canadian city like any other. It has anything and everything you could want in the way of groceries, amenities and services.
She shopped at a Superstore for groceries and it carried everything ( fresh produce included) she finds in our own grocery stores in Winnipeg and at similar prices too!
There are all the typical chain stores we find at home as well and all are fully stocked.

Be aware that, like. many towns, the quilt store is closes on Sundays. (I think we hit every quilt store between home and Fairbanks. My wife is an AWESOME quilter.)

 

[Thrak]

Okay, I will not use my phone for this anymore. I truly stink at phone typing. Sorry.

 

[moorec47]

Hi Everyone, just a few days to Osoyoos.
I was wondering if anyone has traveled the Flowery Trail Rd in WA. Mary O and I are heading to Kettle Falls, WA tomorrow.
Thank you in advance.
Cheryl

 

[splitting_lanes]

Reminder: don’t forget your passport, I did. Am having it shipped. Argh.

 

[Ron in BC]

Heck, even worse is being in San Diego about to cross into Mexico and discovering that your truck insurance is expired.

Enjoy your travels.

Ron

 

[GinoandLinda]

Hi Everyone, just a few days to Osoyoos.
I was wondering if anyone has traveled the Flowery Trail Rd in WA. Mary O and I are heading to Kettle Falls, WA tomorrow.
Thank you in advance.
Cheryl

We’ll be at the Kettle Falls campground this evening.

 

[Disneyfan]

We are bringing a cat, and we’ll have a proof of recent vaccination and proof of good health from our veterinary.

Edit: we don’t have her microchipped, and don’t want to. She’s 20 years old.

And then we found out she was microchipped all along!

 

[Donna D.]

For those following MY Itinerary and have reservations at Meziadin Lake Provincial Park, I'm sure you've received email notification there's bear activity in the park. There's no tent camping allowed. And aren't we glad we're in trailers! IF you wish to cancel this park, there's info about how to do it in the email. I'm STILL staying there. Your choice. I just won't cook bacon

 

[dspratley]

Stayed there a few years ago. Don't go for a walk if there are bears around and keep your pets in the trailer.

 

[Ron in BC]

It seems unnecessary to single out one provincial park. There's a possibility of bears in every park going North and we've seen our fair share of both kinds. I count bear encounters as a bonus. I'm a bit biased because I live in bear country

 

[Ron in BC]

Hmm, liitle glich, still on a Bulgarian server. We have bears in our yard and on the trails. They're peaceful creatures and it's always a pleasure to watch them mosey along munching dandelions.

Ron

 

[GinoandLinda]

While I am no bear expert, I have been through plenty of bear safety trainings and have had enough bear encounters while trail running to know they want to be left alone and that the level of aggressiveness is highly dependent on the variety of bear; black, brown and grizzly. The universal truths are; do not get between them and their cubs or food, and bear spray is far more effective as a deterrent than any firearm plus, you save a bears life and probably your own as well. Remember, you are in their environment and they are just trying to make a living out there.

 

[Donna D.]

It seems unnecessary to single out one provincial park. There's a possibility of bears in every park going North and we've seen our fair share of both kinds. I count bear encounters as a bonus. I'm a bit biased because I live in bear country

You may think it unnecessary but obviously the Canadian government does. The words "active bear activity in the park" is different than just a bear passing through. They've cancelled all TENT reservations. So those that were planning to tent camp now need to make other plans. And that's why this one provincial park was singled out. It's not like all tent camping in all provincial parks were cancelled....

 

[Lorraine Pittsburgh]

For those following MY Itinerary and have reservations at Meziadin Lake Provincial Park, I'm sure you've received email notification there's bear activity in the park. There's no tent camping allowed. And aren't we glad we're in trailers! IF you wish to cancel this park, there's info about how to do it in the email. I'm STILL staying there. Your choice. I just won't cook bacon

I'll be staying later in the summer at Eagle Shadow Campground in Hyder. It's an old campground that is under new ownership, & they seem to be sprucing the place up. If you want an alternative to Meziadin Lake, this might suit you.

 

[iamunique127]

For those following MY Itinerary and have reservations at Meziadin Lake Provincial Park, I'm sure you've received email notification there's bear activity in the park. There's no tent camping allowed. And aren't we glad we're in trailers! IF you wish to cancel this park, there's info about how to do it in the email. I'm STILL staying there. Your choice. I just won't cook bacon

We passed by Meziadin Junction on our way home from the Yukon on about May 23rd and may have seen the bears of which you speak. Between the gas station at the junction and the provincial park entrance, a distance of about a kilometre, we saw a mama grizzly and two cubs feeding in the ditch. We stopped to see them but a large truck came so we went down to the park entrance, turned around and went back. The bears were still there gorging on leaves. We stopped on the side of the road and took several photos. Even when our dog barked, the bears remained. They kept watching us but were otherwise unconcerned. Several other vehicles stopped to see them as well.

That brought our sighting of grizzlies on the month-long trip to a total of five.