janisj

Even considering sleeping in the car tells me you maybe don't know all that much about Alaska winters . . .

Lauren_Bassart

We have lots of blankets and the car has seat heaters We also are not going in the dead of the Alaskan winter so we should be fine. We also have loads of camping equipment. This is not our first winter so i am pretty sure we will be okay as long as we don't do anything too crazy and adventure wouldn't be as much fun without a little risk!

WhereAreWe

Kind of harsh janisj. The way I look at it, the OP is smart enough to go prepared for anything, you absolutely have to be prepared for the very real possibility of having to sleep in the car due to weather conditions. It would be incredibly foolish of them to go up there counting on great weather, no breakdowns and a nice warm hotel every night. As I see it, they must know enough about winter to pack the proper gear to survive a night in their car.

janisj

where was one 'harsh' word ?????

it was just an observation . . .

Ackislander

"Even considering sleeping in the car tells me you maybe don't know all that much about Alaska winters . . ." could have been put a little more diplomatically.

I worry about this trip lots, actually, but I agree with WAW that they are not going in real winter, where they might well freeze to death sleeping in a car (think -51) but if they have the proper survival gear, they could spend a night or so.

What else do I worry about? Whether they do have the right survival gear. The fact that they are driving a US specification vehicle rather than an RV with Canadian/arctic insulation. Have they even got an engine heater? What do they do if the battery dies? Do they have a standard shift that they can start by pushing? And on and on.

But the weather will get lousy long before the scenery gets good, if what I hear is correct, and they may well decide to turn around. Fine, no one will ever criticize them for not completing an adventure, or maybe they will be back in the US or somewhere like BC by Christmas and they will be fine.

NorthwestMale

It snowed 14 inches in Minnesota a day or two ago... multiply that by The Yukon, and 5 weeks from now, and imagine the vast realm of possibility.


It could play-out in any direction, of course, yet I don't think one can bank on "global warming" to make things noticeably more pleasant along the Alaska Highway in November just yet.

By all means, go... but pay more attention to where you'll stay/be along the Alaska Highway than to whether you stay in St. Louis, or in East St. Louis (LOL - er, well, you know what I mean)... and to whether you'll stay in Battleford, or North Battleford.

Timing... just... matters up there moreso than in most other areas you'll cover. (and for heaven's sake, set out from Whitehorse at a point early enough to assure that you'll get a full look at the Kluane Lake region before dark)

Lauren_Bassart

We will be in Alaska within two weeks We are already in Bozeman, MT. OUr car is a stick shift and is brand new No dead battery, we took it in for routine service yesterday and put all weather tires on it. We are as prepared as two people can be. We would not put ourselves into a stupid situation and neither of us have any qualms about turning around if things get too dicey. We will be turning back around about November 1st. Like i said, this isn't a "dead of winter" trip.
NorthwestMale, i will make sure to leave Whitehorse before the crack of dawn

WhereAreWe

In case anyone is wondering, they made it to Dead Horse and are now out of Alaska. The blog is pretty interesting to read.

spirobulldog

I would be suprised to find internet or cell service in 99% of Alaska.

NorthwestMale

O MAN, THEIR BLOG is a-maaaaaaa-zing !!!


theconstantrambler.com

(specify the Florida-to-Alaska trip)

starrs

Never heard of Atlanta's Peach tree lane before They are on a great adventure. Vegas baby!