lower 48 to Talkeetna
Mar 7th, 2005, 09:15 AM
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lower 48 to Talkeetna
WOW! I just accepted a job in Talkeetna. I need to be there no later than April 17. I am so excited about this incredible opportunity, but it seems the most anxiety is about getting there. Can I hop on a ferry in Washington state and bring my vehicle, do I dare drive BC and Yukon alone? Do I fly and sell my current vehicle and buy something dependable in Anchorage?
I know I want to travel Alaska while I'm there and it is 1 1/2 hours to the grocery store, so not having a vehicle is NOT an option. Oh, and does a vehicle need to be 4-wheel drive?
Any experiences or suggestions are welcomed. Thanks Beth
I know I want to travel Alaska while I'm there and it is 1 1/2 hours to the grocery store, so not having a vehicle is NOT an option. Oh, and does a vehicle need to be 4-wheel drive?
Any experiences or suggestions are welcomed. Thanks Beth
Mar 7th, 2005, 01:09 PM
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The ferry from Bellingham WA to Haines or Skagway will still leave a 2 day trip in good weather. We have family who will be driving from Anchorage to the New England in late April. The recommendations have been to make sure they carry sleeping bags, extra food and water. And maybe two spares. You can go hundreds of miles without seeing anybody (even in July). I wouldn't go alone during a time of year when you can get some really bad weather and extremely cold temperatures. I'm going to worry while they're on the road even though they are driving a Suburban with a 42 gallon tank, have lots of winter driving experience, spare parts and lots of mechanical know how and all sorts of cold weather gear.
It's just too risky to drive. Fly into Anchorage. Buy a vehicle up there. I would choose 4 WD or at least front wheel drive. If you were only going to drive in summer then an economical car would be fine. If you think you'd like to explore a little further, there are active 4WD clubs in Anchorage, Fairbanks, etc. I heard there is an article about a trail ride with one of the clubs in a current issue of one of the 4x4 magazines. Anchorage is a big city but once you get past Wasilla, there's a lot of lonely road.
Good luck on your new job and the opportunity to spend a lot of time in a great state.
It's just too risky to drive. Fly into Anchorage. Buy a vehicle up there. I would choose 4 WD or at least front wheel drive. If you were only going to drive in summer then an economical car would be fine. If you think you'd like to explore a little further, there are active 4WD clubs in Anchorage, Fairbanks, etc. I heard there is an article about a trail ride with one of the clubs in a current issue of one of the 4x4 magazines. Anchorage is a big city but once you get past Wasilla, there's a lot of lonely road.
Good luck on your new job and the opportunity to spend a lot of time in a great state.
Mar 7th, 2005, 01:57 PM
#3
If you're satisfied with your present wheels and don't want to go through the pain of selling it, or don't want to drive, you can ship it from Tacoma on th TOTE boat to Anchorage for around a thousand bucks (then you fly.) See www.totemocean.com for rates and schedules.
You will probably find that a 4wd vehicle is more practical on a year-round basis than 2wd, but there are thousands of folks who drive the same cars people drive in other places. I personally would consider selling and buying something - even secondhand - in Anc.
You will probably find that a 4wd vehicle is more practical on a year-round basis than 2wd, but there are thousands of folks who drive the same cars people drive in other places. I personally would consider selling and buying something - even secondhand - in Anc.
Mar 8th, 2005, 06:26 AM
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If it's a summer job, there's no need for a 4WD unless you want to go offroad. Even in the winter, we had one 4WD and a front-wheel drive Honda that got us everywhere we wanted except during the storms themselves.
As for driving, buy or shipping, if you're car's in decent shape and you are comfortable driving in winter conditions, the most economical way would likely be to take the ferry. Tote is now closer to $1,200 -- how many hours of work are you willing to pay? There aren't that many great paying jobs in Talkeetna.
If you take the ferry wou will have two-days of driving on highways that are well-maintained. If you want to leave really early, there's a cross-gulf boat that leaves Juneau March 29 and gets in on the 31st. Downside is you'd have 2 1/2 weeks to kill at a time of year when there's not much going on.
Certainly if you want to sell your car at home and buy in Anchorage, you can, but you will likely take a bath on both ends.
What are you driving now? Perhaps a trip to the garage and a new set of mud & snow tires might be all you need.
As for driving, buy or shipping, if you're car's in decent shape and you are comfortable driving in winter conditions, the most economical way would likely be to take the ferry. Tote is now closer to $1,200 -- how many hours of work are you willing to pay? There aren't that many great paying jobs in Talkeetna.
If you take the ferry wou will have two-days of driving on highways that are well-maintained. If you want to leave really early, there's a cross-gulf boat that leaves Juneau March 29 and gets in on the 31st. Downside is you'd have 2 1/2 weeks to kill at a time of year when there's not much going on.
Certainly if you want to sell your car at home and buy in Anchorage, you can, but you will likely take a bath on both ends.
What are you driving now? Perhaps a trip to the garage and a new set of mud & snow tires might be all you need.
Mar 8th, 2005, 06:41 AM
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I've also got to say that dfrostnh is seriously overstating the case -- especially for someone who has never done this trip.
``Hundreds of miles without seeing anybody'' -- absolutely not true.
Two spares? I've made numerous trips up and down the Al-Can and the lonelier Cassiar -- including twice during the heart of winter -- without a flat.
Certainly common sense would indicate taking a sleeping bag, some food and water, plus a good spare and a well-maintained car -- but let's not go overboard. Oh, yeah, and get a Milepost.
There's a lot of myth and hype out there, but the bottom line is it's a winter road that the road from Haines to Anchorage is a major route that the state can't afford to have closed down. A storm might close it down for a day or two, so just build in a few extra days and take your time.
``Hundreds of miles without seeing anybody'' -- absolutely not true.
Two spares? I've made numerous trips up and down the Al-Can and the lonelier Cassiar -- including twice during the heart of winter -- without a flat.
Certainly common sense would indicate taking a sleeping bag, some food and water, plus a good spare and a well-maintained car -- but let's not go overboard. Oh, yeah, and get a Milepost.
There's a lot of myth and hype out there, but the bottom line is it's a winter road that the road from Haines to Anchorage is a major route that the state can't afford to have closed down. A storm might close it down for a day or two, so just build in a few extra days and take your time.
Mar 8th, 2005, 06:54 AM
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Beth -
Check out the Alaska Living board on yahoo for useful, realistic advice from people who are living in Alaska (or hoping to!)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Alaska-Living/
From my research (I'm moving to Anchorage in May), I'd agree with repete on the Alaska Highway thing - be prudent, but it's definitely doable if your car is reliable and worth having once you reach Talkeetna. And, get a Milepost! (www.milepost.com, or any bookstore)
Check out the Alaska Living board on yahoo for useful, realistic advice from people who are living in Alaska (or hoping to!)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Alaska-Living/
From my research (I'm moving to Anchorage in May), I'd agree with repete on the Alaska Highway thing - be prudent, but it's definitely doable if your car is reliable and worth having once you reach Talkeetna. And, get a Milepost! (www.milepost.com, or any bookstore)
Mar 8th, 2005, 02:21 PM
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Sorry Repete, but our trip from Skagway to Wasilla with an overnight in Tok was in late July and we didn't see a lot of other traffic. Of course, once we were in Tok there was plenty of traffic and we ran into someone from my hometown. I'm glad to hear you did numerous trips up and down the Al Can safely. I'll be happy when our relative does the trip and doesn't have a flat tire. You mention common sense but the original poster might not have any concept of the distances involved nor the need to carry a sleeping bag, etc. I pointed out safety considerations that Beth might not have thought of. The safety considerations were based on the advice given to our relative from other people who have made the trip.
Mar 8th, 2005, 05:53 PM
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Thank you all....you have certainly given me something to think about from all aspects. I live in AZ and even though I own an all wheel drive vehicle, the winter driving skills go to use at worst on a rainy day. After your comments, I did research drive/ferry/drive. Unfortunately, the time constraints don't allow it so I will be flying to Anchorage then buying what I hope will be a dependable vehicle. Perhaps it will be drive/ferry /drive back to AZ in the fall.
Thank you all for the thought and effort put into your responses. I hope everyone is as neighborly in AK. I look forward to visiting this wonderful wilderness.
Thank you all for the thought and effort put into your responses. I hope everyone is as neighborly in AK. I look forward to visiting this wonderful wilderness.
Mar 8th, 2005, 11:08 PM
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Beth:
Check out the Anchorage Daily News classifieds for a while before you get in the car market. (I don't know how far I'd driving to avoid selling one car and buying another ...). It will give you a look at the prices.
http://www.adn.com/classified/transportation/
Even though you aren't driving, here's a link to conditions that might be useful to you or someone else.:
http://511.alaska.gov/
hey,dfrostnh, I'm not psychic so I didn't know about Beth's lack of a sleeping bag.
I just think the whole Alaska highway thing is vastly overhyped in general. There's not much risk. The road is safe and well-maintained, plus AK folks look out for each other (and even tourists).
In nearly 10 years in AK, my worse driving experiences were tie-ups on AK's short pseudo-freeway to Eagle River because of a moose-car collisions and getting hit by a drunk driver in East Anchorage on Christmas Eve.
For those who do drive north, the longest gap without service is 100 miles -- and that's in BC -- not YT or AK. It is more frequently 50 miles or so in East Central AK. The real benefit of a 42-gallon gas tank is that a you can be pickier about where you buy gas for that fuel-sucker.
April is actually not a bad month to be on the road because it's pre-breakup and you won't hit spring frost heaves.
Check out the Anchorage Daily News classifieds for a while before you get in the car market. (I don't know how far I'd driving to avoid selling one car and buying another ...). It will give you a look at the prices.
http://www.adn.com/classified/transportation/
Even though you aren't driving, here's a link to conditions that might be useful to you or someone else.:
http://511.alaska.gov/
hey,dfrostnh, I'm not psychic so I didn't know about Beth's lack of a sleeping bag.
I just think the whole Alaska highway thing is vastly overhyped in general. There's not much risk. The road is safe and well-maintained, plus AK folks look out for each other (and even tourists).
In nearly 10 years in AK, my worse driving experiences were tie-ups on AK's short pseudo-freeway to Eagle River because of a moose-car collisions and getting hit by a drunk driver in East Anchorage on Christmas Eve.
For those who do drive north, the longest gap without service is 100 miles -- and that's in BC -- not YT or AK. It is more frequently 50 miles or so in East Central AK. The real benefit of a 42-gallon gas tank is that a you can be pickier about where you buy gas for that fuel-sucker.
April is actually not a bad month to be on the road because it's pre-breakup and you won't hit spring frost heaves.
Mar 10th, 2005, 06:41 AM
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repete.....what is a frost heave? Sorry, I'm a desert dweller - I had to ask.
Also, what is the mosquito situation? Several have warned me to bring lots of "Bullfrog." Hype or reality?
Also, what is the mosquito situation? Several have warned me to bring lots of "Bullfrog." Hype or reality?
Mar 10th, 2005, 07:28 AM
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beth,
Frost heaves are hibernating highway animals that burrow under the road and sleep during the winter. In the spring, they burst through the surface and leave bumps and potholes.
OK, I made the part about animals up, but in some places the roads will buckle and break open a bit when warmer weather arrives. Some parts of the roadbed have more water content and during the freeze/thaw cycles it expands and contracts at different rates. Often the smoothest roads are in the winter when everything's frozen and there are no drainage or seepage issues.
Bugs problems vary widely, not only by area and time of year but by individual. I remember playing golf one summer day at Moose Run and whle it was glorious for me, one of my partners was simply devoured by skeeters.
There a too many variable to be definitive. Personally I rarely had problems -- until I left to visit family in the Minn. lake country where they were very bad.
Here's an interesting product, I would love to know if anyone's tried ...
http://www.cabelas.com/products/Cpod0025662.jsp
Frost heaves are hibernating highway animals that burrow under the road and sleep during the winter. In the spring, they burst through the surface and leave bumps and potholes.
OK, I made the part about animals up, but in some places the roads will buckle and break open a bit when warmer weather arrives. Some parts of the roadbed have more water content and during the freeze/thaw cycles it expands and contracts at different rates. Often the smoothest roads are in the winter when everything's frozen and there are no drainage or seepage issues.
Bugs problems vary widely, not only by area and time of year but by individual. I remember playing golf one summer day at Moose Run and whle it was glorious for me, one of my partners was simply devoured by skeeters.
There a too many variable to be definitive. Personally I rarely had problems -- until I left to visit family in the Minn. lake country where they were very bad.
Here's an interesting product, I would love to know if anyone's tried ...
http://www.cabelas.com/products/Cpod0025662.jsp
