tunia

Looking to take cruise tour May 25 Will be in Fairbanks starting May 25th, Denali May 27th, Kenai May 30th and cruise starting June 3rd. In researching breakup of snow starts occurring in April. Since record snowfalls happening this year in Alaska will the breakup be prolonged and thus continue to occur later into May. I want to be able to hike but because of this unusual snowfall will I be hiking in waterlogged and muddy terrain or worse not have accessibilty to certain areas? Would it be better to postpone trip and go in June?

qwovadis

June lots better check vacationstogo.com great cruise DCs

emalloy

I would put it off until June, with the snow levels there is a chance that Denali roads will not be open very far in May. Do prepare for wet weather in any case.

Gardyloo

If you still have the option to re-plan, then I'd do three things. First, I'd postpone the cruise until June (or later if possible.) Second, I'd reverse directions - south to north rather than v.v. That will also buy you more time. And third, have a look at ditching the cruise tour and just getting a car and doing independent touring yourself.

If the weather or conditions are unfavorable (and in places like Denali Park you may well find that your touring options are limited even until mid-June) with a cruisetour you're stuck. With a car, you can re-plan things on the fly and have a more rewarding time. I'm also quite certain you'd find the independent option cheaper, even if it involves a little more work.

tunia

Thanks for the speedy replies. I must travel near to this time period due to work. I can reverse the order: sail first then do a land portion from June 3 through June 12. Whether I choose to do the cruise land tour or tour independently would this allow more time for places to be more accessible to tour and hike. I would hate to invest this large amount of money to be limited. Would it be better for me to tour next year due to the record snow fall this year. Never being to Alaska am I worrying over naught and should I just go an enjoy.

Gardyloo

Although it's nothing like Cordova's problems, Anchorage is also having a record snow year (thus far; of course things could change.) So later will definitely be better in terms of getting into country where snowpack might be an issue. By mid-June you ought to be able to have decent walking conditions in many areas, and this of course makes an even stronger argument out of independent touring v. a cruisetour. In a cruisetour you go where you're taken and when; with a car you can change the itinerary on the fly - if the weather is lousy go someplace else, or stay longer for another hike if the weather is great, the mountain's out, whatever. It's not that hard to navigate the roads (there aren't that many) and you can pick up a copy of The Milepost (online or in many larger bookstores) for route and activity planning. Great reading while you cruise north.

There's no guarantee that next year will be snowier, colder, rainier or sunnier than this. Carpe diem.

emalloy

I totally agree with Gardyloo. First try for later. The cruise ship land tours are very limited in where you go and how long you can stay. We did one in late August/early September and I wish we had just gone on our own. You can take the train from either Anchorage or maybe even Seward to Denali and then up to Fairbanks if you don't want to rent a car. There are shuttles from the train to most of the motels at Denali and from them to the park. You could be so much more flexible about how long to stay there and how much time to spend.

If weather is bad in that direction head south.