RVing Alaska

Alaska RV rental firm hits the skids with "F" rating

2014-08-04T16:00:00.001-07:00

Planning to do an Alaska RV tour, but don't want to take your own rig? Here's a tip from the BBB: You may want to "pass" on renting an RV from B&B RV Rental in Anchorage.

The Better Business Bureau has given B&B its lowest possible customer satisfaction rating -- "F." That after over 20 parties have complained to the marketplace trust organization about how B&B has dealt with them as customers. Recently the BBB said that it, "Recognized a pattern of complaints from consumers regarding sales practice, product, customer service and refund issues."

What sort of "pattern" has the organization "recognized"? Several customers said they'd made reservations with the outfit months in advance, and often paid in full or made a large deposit for the rental. Then, shortly before the day to pick up the rig, they'd receive an e-mail that said the company wouldn't be able to honor their rental, and that their money had been refunded. On checking their accounts, the customers would note that the money had NOT been refunded, and their telephone calls to the company would go unreturned.

Other customers who did actually get their RV from the company said the units they were rented were in horrific condition, with problems ranging from bad plumbing to terrible odors. One customer said his credit card company, who advised that he have the RV inspected by an independent outfit for damage before returning it. He took the advice, and after returning the rig, was surprised when his credit card was later dinged a $1,000 for a "cracked windshield." Happily, with the inspection in hand, the credit card company joined the battle to fight the charge.

Another customer told an Alaska newspaper that the RV they rented from B&B was seemingly 'falling apart.' They reported that cabinets would fly open, and contents would spill all over the rig. Happily, one thing they found that did actually work was the motorhome's carbon monoxide detector. They found that out when awakened from sleep -- the motorhome's generator exhaust was leaking back into the rental unit, and the alarm saved them from a probably disaster.

When the BBB approached B&B RV Rentals about complaints that were stacking up, the company refused to work through the agency to try and work things out. One newspaper says the firm says that the Bureau is essentially attempting to blackmail it into becoming a BBB member, and that they'd handle their own complaints. If the record that is mounting up with the BBB is any indicator, the rental firm needs to brush up on its diplomacy.

Incidentally, the company also operates under other monikers. Look for them under AKMotorhomes.com, and AK Motorhomes. Before you plunk down your credit card on an RV rental, exercise due diligence. Check out the company's rating on the BBB web site.

Now's the time to plan a summer trip to Denali National Park

2013-12-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

jennifer on wikimedia commons

For Star Trek fans, space may indeed be the final frontier. For RVers, space isn't someplace we can head for (at least, not yet), so for 'final frontier' RV goers, consider putting Alaska on your navigation console. December is an excellent time to start planning for an Alaska summer adventure. A key point to plot in? Denali National Park, centered right on North America's highest mountain, Denali, or Mount McKinley.

The park itself covers six million acres, and only a tiny fraction is accessible by RV. The main north-south running road through Denali is a short, but spectacular 91-mile roadway that runs more or less parallel to the Alaska Range, rugged-looking bunch of peaks if ever there were. Don't worry about how far you might have to drive over rough roads in your RV along this one – only 15 miles are accessible to us mortals, the balance of the roadway is handled only by concession operated busses. Still, the views from these busses are spectacular, and it's a good time to think about reservations, but we'll come to that later.

NPS photo

Park tours can give you great views, but an educational experience as well. The Tundra Wilderness tour routes visitors through boreal forests to rugged tundra, and alongside some hairy cliffs with nasty drop-offs. Maybe that's why only the concessionaires get to drive these roads – no guardrails, so not for the faint of heart. Don't worry, you can watch your heart rate return to normal from the comfort of your RV, when your safely back home at one of the park's campgrounds.

Riley Creek Campground is just inside the park entrance, and can handle rigs up to 40'. Rates for RVs range from $22 to $28.00. Farther up the park road, at milepost 13, you'll find Savage River Campground, with the same size restrictions and fee structure as Riley Creek.

Teklanika River Campground is a special exception to that, "can't go any farther than 15 miles on the roadway." If you stay at Taklanika River, you can drive your rig in as the campground at Mile 29. The campground will handle RVs to 40' long, and charges $16 a night. But there's a catch: You must stay at least three nights at Teklankia, and your righ can't leave the campsite until you're ready to head back to the park entrance.

Be ready to "rough it" at any of the Denali campgrounds – there are no hookups. You'll definitely be having an Alaska boondocking adventure.

Now, about those reservations: Park concessionaire, Donyon/ARAMARK handles reservations for both the shuttle buses and the park's four largest campgrounds. The outfit began accepting advance reservations for the 2014 on December 1. Reservations are taken by phone, on-line or mail. Reservations are no longer being taken via fax.
Approximately 65 percent of the shuttle bus seats and 100 percent of the campsites in the Riley Creek, Savage River, and Teklanika River campgrounds can be reserved in advance. The remaining tickets are made available for advance or walk-in reservations two days before the travel date.

The shuttle bus system is designed to provide transportation into the heart of Denali National Park and Preserve for visitors who wish to view the park’s scenery and wildlife, access campgrounds, go hiking for the day, or take an overnight trip into the park’s backcountry. Drivers will answer questions and help visitors spot wildlife. The shuttle bus system will operate from Tuesday, May 20 through Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, weather permitting.

Here's the information you may want about shuttle bus prices. Adult single trip fares from the Toklat Eielson Visitor Center Wonder Lake Kantishna trip, range from $27.00 to $51.50. The camper bus fare (for campers in park campgrounds or with backcountry permits) is $34.50.Children age 15 and under ride free on shuttle buses and half price on tour buses. A maximum of eight shuttle bus seats may be requested with each reservation, and ages are required as age discounts may apply. Be prepared to provide alternate dates and times when possible.

There are also two multi-trip bus pass options available for visitors who plan to do multiple trips during the same summer. The 3-for-2 pass allows one individual to travel into the park on three separate trips during the same summer season for the price of two trips, provided the third trip is equal to or of lesser value than the first two. A reservation is required for each trip, which do not have to be taken on consecutive days. Reservations can be made in person at the Wilderness Access Center or Riley Creek Mercantile in the park, or by telephone at 800-622-7275.

The 6-pack allows a visitor to travel into the park on six separate trips during the same summer season for a discounted rate, i.e. $41.25 for destinations as far as the Toklat River (Mile 53), and $61.50 for destinations as far as Kantishna (Mile 92). The 6-pack is good for only one individual, i.e. is not transferable, and the first bus trip must be reserved when purchasing the 6-pack. There is a minimum of five days between trips. All reservations must be done in person (valid ID required) at the Wilderness Access Center or Riley Creek Mercantile.

Phone reservations can be made by calling 800-622-7275 nationwide or 907-272-7275 for international callers between 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Arizona time). The web address for on-line reservations is www.reservedenali.com. For mail-in reservation requests information, give the outfit a call.

Source: reservedenali.com and rvtravel.com

Alaska to celebrate 50 years of Alaska Marine Highway System

2013-10-02T08:09:00.000-07:00

Alaska Day, celebrated annually on Oct. 18, marks the official transfer of land from Russia to the United States in 1867. The purchase took place in Sitka, which was a bustling Russian colony at the time.

In 2013, the celebration in Sitka that begins Oct. 16, will be themed around the 50th anniversary of the Alaska Marine Highway System and will feature a trivia contest on the marine highway on Oct. 16, an open house aboard the M/V Taku at the Sitka Ferry Terminal on Oct. 17. Then, on Oct. 18, a float consisting of a replica of the FVF Fairweather will travel from Swan Lake to Lincoln Street and Totem Square as part of the official Alaska Day parade and transfer ceremony.

During Russian rule in the 1800s, Sitka was the largest city on the continent's west coast, an affluent center of commerce known as "Paris of the Pacific." The colony had multiple claims to fame, including being the home of the first weather observatory, established in 1832, and a shipyard that launched the first ship from what would become the U.S. West Coast, built in 1806.

The transfer ceremony consists of a re-enactment of lowering the Russian flag and raising of the American flag at Castle Hill, a state historic site originally occupied by Tlingit natives and later Russian colonists. The weeklong event kicks off on Oct. 11, with scheduled events including foot races, kayak races, museum openings, a barn dance, cultural food tastings, a variety show, music and dance performances and much more.

For event details, visit: alaskadayfestival.org.

Happy 70th birthday, Alaska Highway

2012-06-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the historic Alaska Highway, also known as the Alcan, which connects Alaska to the Yukon and British Columbia, and is a common passage for road travelers driving to and from the contiguous 48 states. For many RVers, traveling it is the dream trip of a lifetime.

Constructed during World War II, the route started out as a gravel road through the Canadian wilderness with few amenities along the way. Today, the modern highway stretching from Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Delta Junction, Alaska boasts impressive scenery and plenty of attractions along its 1,387-mile route.

Anglers can stop for a chance to reel in rainbow or lake trout at Stone Mountain Provincial Park in British Columbia; watch for bear, moose, wolves, Dall sheep and other wildlife while driving through Kluane National Park and Preserve; stop for a soak at Liard River Hot Springs; or visit the Signpost Forest, a display of more than 70,000 signs and license plates from around the world.

The Alaska Highway is completely paved and open to travelers year round. The in-depth guidebook “The Milepost” is considered the bible of northern road travel offering mile-by-mile guidance and highlights of the journey, including places to spend the night, fish, view wildlife, hike and fill up the car. Drivers navigating the highway in August should keep their eyes out for a convoy of about 100 historic military vehicles that are registered to drive the highway, an event sponsored by the Military Vehicle Preservation Association in recognition of the military presence during the highway’s construction.

Visitors can start planning their road trip or any Alaska vacation using the new TravelAlaska iPhone/iPad app released last month and available for download on iTunes . For maps and routes, points of interest, travel tips and more info about traveling the Alaska Highway, visit www.northtoalaska.com.

Denali visitor has three legs.

2012-05-15T11:34:00.001-07:00

National Park Service photo

Denali National Park has a mystery on its hands--or paws. It's a returning visitor that's been hanging around near the entrance to the park for a few weeks. His (or her) name is Tripawed. The mystery? What happened to Tripawed, the three-legged grizzly bear.

Tripawed was first spotted around Denali last July, at that time sporting a nasty looking right front leg wound. Speculation was the bear had tangled with a snare meant for a lynx or wolf, but got away from it. Tripawed spent the summer hanging around the park entrance, traveling as far as 15 mile on the Denali Park Road. When fall came, the bear vanished, presumably denning up for the winter.

The first reported sighting of the tri-ped bruin this spring was by a driver who reported the bear crossed the park highway, gracefully vaulting a guardrail. Evidently the healed up wound is not slowing Tripawed down. Park officials were concerned the bear might have problems in bear-world, getting enough to eat, defending itself, or preparing a den for winter. Tripawed's return seems to indicate that despite disabilities, life goes on.

One wag suggested to an rvtravel staffer that Tripawed was recently seen in a local beer joint. When asked by the bartender about his presence, the bear replied, "I'm looking for the man that shot my paw!"

This may be the year to beat the crowds in Alaska

2012-04-11T15:03:00.007-07:00

If you're planning a summer tour of Alaska but fear the madding crowds, you've got the sliver lining of a dark cloud. For Alaska businesses who depend on tourism though, things aren't so bright. It seems there's been a fall-off in RVing Alaska tourists.

Alaska's Department of Commerce does a once-every-five-year survey that checks up on visitor traffic. Border crossings into the biggest state in the union have declined at every entry into the state except on the Klondike Highway between Skagway and Whitehorse. At that port of entry, traffic has actually increased 17 percent.

Of the out-of-staters who come to Alaska, the lion's share get there by air, only 63,300 of the 1.56 million visitors come by highway or ferry--the rest fly in. With the number of visitors falling off, so likewise does the money they bring: Down from $111 million in 2006 to just $71 million last year.

Visitor watchers say that high gas prices are contributing to the fall off, but they say more is in play than just the pocketbook. As Americans (and others) get busier, they just seem to have less time to spend on travel. That's affecting to businesses that cater to RVers: A 98-space RV park near Denali National Park closed last summer -- and will not reopen in the foreseeable future.

Photo: Beverly Pack on flickr.com

Denali Park now charging "per visitor" instead of "per vehicle"

2012-01-02T09:39:00.000-08:00

It will now cost you more to enter Denali National Park. Then again, maybe it will cost you less. Or maybe it will cost the same. How's that for confusing? Well, it's really not THAT complicated.

As of last Sunday, the park is now charging $10 per person to enter the park instead of $20 per vehicle. So for visitors who arrive alone the cost will be half of what it is was. For couples, it will remain the same. But for families and other visitors with passengers aged 16 and up, it will cost more, perhaps a lot more.

The per vehicle fee was changed because the park does not collect the fee at an entrance station like most national parks. Most entrance fees are collected when visitors make their bus and campsite reservations. Others voluntarily pay at the Denali Visitor Center or Murie Science and Learning Center.

The park will continue to honor the Interagency (IA) Federal Recreational Passes such as the Annual, Senior, and Access Pass, and the Denali Annual Pass. These passes all provide entry for the cardholder and up to three other adults, and they are all sold year-round at Denali National Park.

Latest camp hosting positions in Alaska State Parks

2011-12-19T19:54:00.000-08:00

Thinking about visiting Alaska with your RV? If you'd like to spend some of your time in one place, consider working as a camp host in an Alaska State Park. Here's the latest update of available positions (and there are still plenty of opportunities). Click here.

The stars have aligned for aurora viewing in 2012

2011-12-13T11:11:00.000-08:00

Scientists are predicting an increase in sunspot activity this winter and continuing into 2013, and this means more active, colorful aurora during the normal viewing season. Some sources are forecasting that 2012 could see the most vibrant display in 50 years. Due to northern Alaska’s location in the auroral zone and with so many viewing options — from evening dog sled rides and snowshoe hikes to Arctic Circle expeditions, remote lodges or natural hot springs — Alaska travelers will likely have a front row seat for viewing the northern lights.

Alaska’s peak aurora season extends from late August to late April, though sightings can occur all year. Many hotels in Alaska offer aurora wake-up calls, and travelers can always check the online aurora forecast in advance of their trip at www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast.

RVs and historic military vehicles to convoy Alaska Highway

2011-10-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

This will likely be a familiar scene in campgrounds

Nearly 100 historic military vehicles are registered for a convoy that will drive the Alaska Highway beginning in early August, 2012. The event is sponsored by the Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) which is honoring the 70th anniversary of the building of the Alaska Highway by traveling it in historic military vehicles.

Association members will accompany the convoy in their RVs, which will serve as support vehicles. Most overnight stops will be in campgrounds along the route.

Other highways to be traveled include the Campbell Highway, the Top of the World Highway/Taylor Highway, and the Hatcher Pass and the Denali Highways.

The convoy will launch from Dawson Creek, British Columbia on August 4, 2012 and travel approximately 4,100 miles in 27 days, returning to Dawson Creek on August 30.

Military vehicles were the backbone of the Alaska Highway construction project. Building the road would not have been possible without more than 7,000 pieces of military equipment.

“This will be a convoy of historic military vehicles of all eras, from WWI through current-issue,” said Convoy Commander Terry Shelswell. “The military vehicles are privately-owned and restored by individuals who have an interest in preserving these vehicles and the important roles they played throughout our military history."

The non-profit MVPA mission is "to provide an international organization for military vehicle enthusiasts, historians, preservationists and collectors interested in the acquisition, restoration, preservation, safe operation and public education of historic military transport." It has more than 9,000 members throughout the world.

To learn more about the convoy visit the MVPA website.

Digging for clams near Homer then cooking them for dinner

2011-10-04T16:59:00.000-07:00

From Homer, RVer Jerry X Shea hopped aboard a water taxi to a lagoon popular with clam diggers. In this three-minute video he shows where to find the clams, how to dig them up from the beach, and which ones are legal. Then, after the short water taxi ride back to Homer, Jerry prepares a clam linguine feast at the campground. If you're hungry, watching this will make you hungrier.

Alaska State Parks: Scenery, history, wildlife. . . and poems

2011-10-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

Travelers visiting Alaska’s state parks can enjoy more than just scenery and wildlife through a new program called Poems in Place. Supported by a partnership between the Alaska State Council on the Arts, Alaska State Parks and the Alaska Center for the Book, the program places signs throughout Alaska’s state parks displaying poems by contemporary Alaskan poets.

The first sign was erected last spring at Beluga Point in Chugach State Park featuring a poem by Kim Cornwall called, “What Whales and Infants Know.” At least seven more poems will be installed in the next couple years. Officials hope to expand the program to include an artists-in-residence program and other activities in communities near the parks.

Headed to Alaska? Send for a free North to Alaska Travel Guide.

New visitor center, campground set for southern Denali State Park

2011-08-03T16:03:00.000-07:00

The Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation is in the early stages of developing a visitor center at the southern end of Denali State Park, a project that has been in discussion since 1970. Expected to open in 2016, the South Denali Visitor Center and associated facilities, including a transportation center and campground, will be accessible via the George Parks Highway near Milepost 135 at the southern entrance of Denali National Park and Preserve.

The year-round gathering place will allow visitors to see and experience wildlife, panoramic views of Mount McKinley and the Alaska Range, and learn about cultural history and resource management of the area through workshops, interactive displays and ranger talks. To learn more and track the status of this project, visit southdenali.alaska.gov.

Planning an RV trip to Homer? You may not be alone

2011-06-02T10:26:00.001-07:00

"Homer - A quaint little drinking village with a fishing problem." So says the bumper sticker. With less than a 6,000 year-around population, this summer may cause Homer to bulge at the seams, at least if the early season tourism numbers are any indication.

Memorial Day weekend saw a huge influx of folks stopping in for a bit of the taste of Alaska. “I have not remembered seeing that many people out on the Spit on the Memorial Day weekend,” acting Homer Chamber of Commerce Director Tina Day told the local Homer Tribune newspaper. While a great number of those folks were from a visiting cruise ship, many of Homer's tourism dollars are infused by RVers.

Why come to Homer? Local tourism promoters will certainly point you to the trinket shops and restaurants, and boast about the town's new trolly, but RVers certainly come to the "end of the road," as Homer is dubbed, for the scenery. Wildlife refuges, moose walking across the path of your motorhome, and fishing are big lures. There are plenty of campgrounds and RV parks to shuffle into. Rent a kayak (if your muscles can handle it) and paddle about taking in off-shore scenery.

If you're on the lookout for odd sights, you'll probably find some. The RV pictured here may not take too well to zooming down the highway at 75, but then again, is there anywhere within 500 miles of Homer where you even could begin to zoom?

Photo: echoforsberg on flickr.com

Camphosts needed at Alaska State Parks

2011-05-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

Alaska State Parks depends on volunteers to help manage and maintain its parks as campground hosts.

Volunteer hosts are on-site representatives of Alaska State Parks. They welcome campers, acquaint them with park facilities and regulations, answer questions on local and statewide attractions and help visitors plan their trips. Hosts help the park rangers with the day-to-day operation and maintenance of campgrounds; this includes litter pickup, light janitorial maintenance and repairs. Special park projects can be designed based on a host's skills and interests.

What is a campground host's season?
The camping season in Alaska is generally from mid May through mid September. Some campgrounds are open year round or have extended seasons. Hosts are requested to volunteer 30 to 40 hours per week for at least four to six weeks. Hosts may stay the entire season and some areas may rotate hosts among campgrounds for a broader experience. Alaska State law requires any person residing in Alaska more than 60 days to obtain an Alaskan drivers license and registration for their vehicle.

Where do hosts live?
Volunteer hosts live in their own RV at a special campsite. Because campground hosts are the "ambassadors" for Alaska State Parks, their "residence" must be neat and well‑maintained. Alaska State Park campgrounds are rustic, but clean and beautiful. Each campsite has a parking pad, a picnic table and a fire pit. Each campground has water, restrooms and trash containers. Some host locations have access to telephone and electricity. Nearby communities and lodges have sanitary dump stations and most other services. Generally, the campgrounds are near recreation attractions.

What will hosts receive?
Campground hosts stay free in an Alaska State Park campground and have free use of all facilities. Each host or host couple will be trained by the ranger staff and will receive a volunteer uniform. In addition, a subsistence payment of $100 to $500 may be available for longer commitments. More information and list of available positions are available at alaskastateparks.org under the heading of "Volunteer Program."

New ferry service from Bellingham, Washington to Whittier, Alaska

2011-05-02T15:32:00.000-07:00

May, 2, 2011 -- For the first time, the Alaska Marine Highway System will run a route every other week from Bellingham, Wash., to Whittier, Alaska. Previously, ferries departing Bellingham only traveled as far north as Haines, Alaska.

The new route aboard the 499-passenger MV Kennicott will place travelers just 60 miles south of Anchorage, where they can then access Southcentral and Interior Alaska via highway or the Alaska Railroad. Another new addition to the Alaska Marine Highway summer schedule is weekly service to the community of Gustavus, being added to the schedule for the first time in the system’s history. Gustavus is the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve and adjacent to the Tongass National Forest. For more information, visit www.FerryAlaska.com.

Camp hosting in Alaska popular with some RVers

2011-03-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

For many RVers, visiting Alaska is a dream come true. For many, after touring a bit, the idea of settling in for while is appealing. One way to do that is to become a volunteer camp host in an Alaska State Park.

Hosts, most of them volunteers, welcome campers, acquaint them with park facilities and regulations, answer questions on local and statewide attractions, and help them plan their trips. Hosts help the park rangers with the day-to-day operation and maintenance of campgrounds; this includes litter pickup, light janitorial maintenance and repairs. Special park projects can be designed based on a host's skills and interests.

All hosts must have enthusiasm for working with the public, a willingness to learn about Alaska, and the desire to accept new challenges. Most of them live in their own RV at a special campsite. Because campground hosts are the "ambassadors" for Alaska State Parks, their "residence" must be neat and well‑maintained.

Campground hosts stay free in an Alaska State Park campground and have free use of all facilities. Each host or host couple is trained by the ranger staff and receives a volunteer uniform. A subsistence payment of from $100 to $500 a month is sometimes available for longer commitments.

The camping season in Alaska is generally from mid May through mid September. Some campgrounds are open year round or have extended seasons. Hosts are requested to volunteer 30 to 40 hours per week for at least four to six weeks. Learn more.

The Alaska Bucket List

2011-02-21T08:04:00.000-08:00

Most RV fanatics have a plan to visit Alaska at some point.

Alaska is America's last frontier, enormous in scope, spectacular in nature. Largely unsettled and unpopulated, we yearn to visit the the whales, the bears and eagles, and to spend a little time with our most rugged branch of American cousins.

If Alaska is on your bucket list, start dreaming and planning here, with this wonderful four-part video series, The Alaska Bucket List.

Do you have a home video of your RV trip to Alaska you'd be willing to share? Send the link to: dave.thatawayroad@gmail.com

Kodiak, Alaska reopens bear viewing location

2010-12-01T16:28:00.000-08:00

A new program beginning in the summer of 2011 will place Kodiak Island visitors in the middle of one of the thickest concentrations of brown bears in the world. The O’Malley Bear Viewing Program will open an area of Alaska's Kodiak Wildlife Refuge on the island’s southwest side that has not been open to the public for 17 years.

Travelers and wildlife photographers are no strangers to McNeil River and Brooks Camp in Katmai National Park and Preserve; the areas are known for boasting some of the best bear viewing in North America. The new O’Malley River area promises similar popularity, but unlike the McNeil and Brooks areas, there are no waterfalls at O’Malley, so the bears tend to spread out along the stream. At a minimum of a four-night stay, small guided groups of eight or less will be able to view the bears on a 12-foot-by-20-foot viewing platform to be built this summer.

The 2-million-acre Kodiak Wildlife Refuge was established in 1941 to protect brown bears and other wildlife. It encompasses about two-thirds of Kodiak Island and is home to around 3,000 brown bears.

Photo: GARY WHEELER / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Filmmaker discusses traveling Alaska Highway by RV

2010-10-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

John Holod knows the Alaska Highway well. He's traveled it repeatedly and has released three DVDs about it. In this half-hour recording of a live webcast from the 2010 Pennsylvania Show, Holod provides a load of useful information to RVers who plan to make the trip: for these folks, this is the best half-hour they will spend in preparing for their adventure. This is unedited, and appears exactly as it did during the live webcast on Sept. 18, 2010.

Alaska's Dalton Highway: Rough and tough, but beautiful

2010-03-31T07:45:00.000-07:00

The Dalton Highway is the road to take if you simply want to drive as far north as possible. From its starting point at the Elliott Highway, it continues for more than 400 miles until nearly reaching the shores of the Arctic Ocean in Deadhorse after crossing the Arctic Circle. But you won't want to drive this road unless your RV is in dependable shape and capable of handing rough roads. And, of course, you must have a serious quest for adventure.

Deadhorse is the village that serves the North Slope oilfield, with several hotels, a store and gas station. The community is a superlative of sorts: it is as far north as you can go on Alaska’s primary road system, and it is worth exploring, especially if your goal is to dip your toe in the Arctic Ocean.

The Dalton Highway begins 85 miles north of Fairbanks and is one of the roughest roads in Alaska. It was constructed in the mid-1970s to haul freight to and from construction camps and workers building the 800-mile long trans-Alaska oil pipeline that stretches from Prudhoe Bay in the north all the way to the ice-free port of Valdez in Prince William Sound. The road offers few modern conveniences. The washboards are many, the grades can be steep (as much as 10 and 12 percent) and the big rig trucks delivering to Prudhoe Bay along the “haul road,” as it’s called by the locals, can make for uncomfortable traveling companions.

Not all car and RV rental companies allow their vehicles on the Dalton, so check ahead of time and be prepared for this road trip. Carry two spare tires, a jack, tool kit, emergency flares, extra gasoline, oil, wiper fluid and a first aid kit. Bring drinking water and plenty of ready-to-eat-food, and all of your camping gear. A CB radio is also not a bad idea (monitor channel 19). Travel services are nonexistent. The 244-mile stretch north of Coldfoot is the longest service-free stretch of highway in North America.

So, why go to all this bother, you may ask?
Consider the scenery, which includes views of the mighty Yukon River, Atigun Pass (at the crest of the Continental Divide), the caribou of the north slope tundra, 375-million year-old limestone-filled Sukakpak Mountain (elevation 4,459 feet at Mile 203.5) and any number of sweeping mountain vistas opening into the Brooks Range, Gates of the Arctic National Park or Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Another trip highlight is crossing the Arctic Circle just past mile 115.

Tips on RVing the Alaska Highway

2010-02-05T13:30:00.000-08:00

In this three minute video, RV travel experts Joe and Vicki Kieva tell you what to expect on an RV trip to Alaska on the Alaska Highway. They talk about the challenges of the Alaska Highway provided by Mother Nature -- and what that means to RVers who travel the road. They also discuss the best time to visit Alaska. This is excerpted from the popular DVD "RVing Alaska with Joe and Vicki Kieva."

By Car, Van And Motorhome: What The MILEPOST Editors Drive

2010-01-03T18:51:00.000-08:00

The MILEPOST is THE guide to traveling the Alaska Highway. Its field editors drive the highway every year, using the book just like everyone else to plan their stops at businesses advertising food, gas, lodging and other services and attractions in the highway log. But when it comes to vehicles, they all drive something different.

Managing editor Kris Valencia makes the trip in a Volkswagen Eurovan, which has a pop-top sleeping platform, a fold-out table and a drawer-size cooler under one of the seats, but no other camping accessories.

"It’s a good compromise for me," she says, "because it allows me to camp fairly comfortably and gets about 23 miles to the gallon."

The van’s cooler comes in handy for snacks and drinks, but for meals, she prefers to eat out. "I like to stop in at the highway lodges, or walk around town and find a place to eat."

With a 300-mile range, the van is reliable even on remote highways, where gas stops are farther apart. With lots of stops for photos, traveling at no more than 50 mph, Kris averages anywhere from 150 to 250 miles a day when she drives the Alaska Highway.

Field editor Judy Nadon drove about 6,200 miles for The MILEPOST in 2008, all of it behind the wheel of a comfy 2003 Pontiac Grand Am.

"I put on really good tires and I carry a good spare," reports Judy. "Front-wheel drive seems to be all I need. I tend to drive the thing as if it were a truck, checking out side roads and going where no car really should go, but it's happy. It gets almost 600 klicks (kilometers; that’s about 370 miles) to a tank, so it is very economical as well."

Judy spends her summer either "roughing it" at her cabin outside Whitehorse, or out on the road, enjoying the comfort of her car and motels and hotels with their "mod cons" ([that’s Canadian for modern conveniences).

Long-time MILEPOST field editor Earl Brown lives in Fort Nelson, BC, Historical Mile 300 on the Alaska Highway, so in a sense, Earl drives the Alaska Highway almost every day of the year just by running errands around town. But he doesn’t always use the same vehicle on his travels that he uses on his errands.

"In a quarter-of-a-century of being the 'Milepost Man,’ I've used a variety of vehicles to 'make my rounds,'" reports Earl, "including a truck and camper for several years, both 2- and 4-wheel drive vans, and a 28-foot Class C motorhome."

"When traveling with family and friends, the extra space of the motorhome is a must, at least for my crowd. More fuel is consumed by the bigger rigs, no surprise, but there are other advantages: Your bed is there whenever you pull over and park for the evening!"

Earl has found that traveling by motorhome is valuable in another way. He can experience first-hand how the majority of tourists experience the Alaska Highway, and put that knowledge to good use when it comes to updating The MILEPOST.

Hit the ice road with Salmon Berry Tours

2009-12-01T20:45:00.000-08:00

If you think driving or towing an RV on a typical highway is a challenge, here's a driving experience that makes driving an RV seems like child play. Alaska travelers can now get a taste of popular reality RV series Ice Road Trucker with Anchorage's Salmon Berry Tours.

They begin by exploring the Anchorage port, then stop by Carlile Transportation — as seen on the show — to tour a heavy haul/sleeper truck. They then get behind the wheel in a truck-driving simulator to see if they can handle a big rig on the legendary ice road. A guest star from the Discovery Channel show may even make an appearance during the tour.

Travelers can also experience ice road conditions through a custom tour on the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay — the same route featured on the show.

Based in Anchorage, Salmon Berry Tours operates scheduled and custom tours across Southcentral and Interior Alaska ideal for groups or the individual traveler. Other winter expeditions include late-night northern lights viewing, dog sledding, snowmobile tours and the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race annual event. For more information, visit www.salmonberrytours.com.

Plenty of Alaska tourism jobs available each summer

2009-11-26T11:41:00.000-08:00

About 1.4 million people travel to Alaska every year, most in the summer. That's a lot of fishing trips, flightseeing adventures and souvenirs. Tourism is the fastest growing industry in Alaska and the second largest private sector employer in the state. For RVers who would like to earn an income while visiting Alaska, working seasonally in the tourism industry might be the answer.

More than 2,500 small and large businesses ring their cash registers to the tune of $700 million in visitor sales. These businesses employ over 27,000 people, and they are looking for more talent. The best source of information about finding a tourism job in Alaska is at AlaskaTourismJobs.com.