RVing Alaska

Polar bear viewing tour offered from Fairbanks

2009-07-03T11:04:00.000-07:00

RV travelers and others can take a walk on the wild side with Warbelow’s Air Ventures Inc. and view Alaska’s most treasured Arctic mammal, the polar bear. A new two-day tours takes guests on a scenic flight from Fairbanks to the Inupiat Eskimo village of Kaktovik, located 260 miles above the Arctic Circle.

Accessible only by air, Kaktovik is the only village located within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The scheduled departures of September 5, 12 and October 3 correspond with the annual subsistence whale hunt. Polar bears arrive to forage on the remains of the hunt and are so frequently seen, bear sightings are guaranteed or travelers receive a full refund.

Tours include transportation, meals, accommodation and guided viewing expeditions. Additional departures may be added for large groups upon request. For more information, visit www.warbelows.com.

How to avoid a dangerous encounter with an Alaskan moose

2008-12-02T23:09:00.000-08:00

Every year moose routinely cause traffic crashes and traffic fatalities along Alaska's roads and highways. In 2007 moose accounted for six traffic fatalities and dozens of injury-related traffic crashes throughout the interior of Alaska, resulting in millions of dollars in medical bills and property damage.

While moose are happy to pose for a picture or two it is important to give them lots of room, especially when calves are nearby. But they generally ignore people and human activities. They're more interested in food. Moose don't eat meat, but many Alaskan animals find moose to be tasty; they're a favorite of bears, wolves and humans. Each year, hunters bag 6,000-8,000 Alaskan moose -- that's 3.5 million pounds of lean meat, and a single moose can feed a family of four all winter long.

In winter, finding food is difficult, and moose flood the low areas, often taking refuge in cities-Anchorage's wintertime moose population can triple, to just under 1,000. There, the moose live off the locals' landscaping efforts, eating mountain ash and birch trees. This also means that moose will be more likely to wander into the local roads and highways.

THE ALASKA HIGHWAY SAFETY OFFICE offers the following tips to help avoid a deadly confrontation with moose:

•Never feed a moose
•Give moose at least 50 feet. If it doesn't yield as you approach, give it the trail.
•If a moose lays its ears back or its hackles (the hairs on its hump) rise, it's angry or afraid and may charge.
•Moose kick with their front as well as hind feet so do not confront them directly.
•Don't corner moose into fences or houses.
•If a moose charges, there are few options available to you but it has been suggested by many others to simply get behind a tree. A theory stands that you can run around the trunk faster than the gangly moose.
•Never get between a cow and her calf.

Alaska’s national parks available in virtual reality

2008-12-02T10:06:00.000-08:00

Now travelers can visit Alaska’s national parks without leaving home. Thanks to a series of video podcasts available on iTunes and local National Park Service Web sites, viewers can catch a glimpse of what three of Alaska’s most popular national parks have to offer. By searching for the parks in the iTunes podcast store, visitors can learn about dinosaurs and more modern residents of Denali National Park, gain an in-depth look at science and research at Kenai Fjords National Park and watch bears in Katmai National Park.

The video podcasts began airing on iTunes last fall, and the newest videos premiered in October 2008. Both the iTunes and nps.com podcasts are available free of charge. For more information on the National Park Service podcasts or to plan a non-virtual park visit, go to www.nps.gov/state/ak.

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DVD: RVing Alaska
(with Joe and Vicki Kieva)
Learn everything you need to know about traveling by RV to and from Alaska via the Alaska Highway and the Alaska ferry. Essential viewing for Alaska-bound RVers. Learn more or order.

Denali campsite reservations now being taken

2008-12-01T08:55:00.000-08:00

December 1, 2008 -- Advance shuttle bus and campground reservations are now being accepted for the 2009 visitor season at Alaska's Denali National Park.

Approximately 65 percent of the shuttle bus seats and 100 percent of the campsites in the Riley Creek, Savage River, Teklanika River and Wonder Lake campgrounds can be reserved in advance. Riley Creek, Savage River and Teklanika River are open to tents and RVs, but there is no RV camping at Wonder Lake. Hookups are not available in any of the park's campgrounds.

Phone reservations can be made nationwide at (800) 622-7275, or at (907) 272-7275 for international callers. Online reservations can be made at www.reservedenali.com.

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Fewer RVers visited Alaska this year

2008-10-09T07:16:00.000-07:00

About 1.7 million people visited Alaska over the just-completed tourist season, roughly the same as in the 2007 season. But fewer of them arrived in RVs, likely because of high gas prices. Trips on the Alaska Highway dropped to 60,000 this season compared to about 75,000 the year before.

Visits by foreign visitors were up about six to eight percent thanks to the weak value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies.

Cruise ships brought the largest number of tourists by far -- 1.03 million -- about the same as the year before.

Alaska State Parks 2009 volunteer catalog now available

2008-10-06T09:33:00.000-07:00

Looking for a volunteer position next summer in Alaska?

The Alaska Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation 2009 Volunteer Program Catalog is now available. Alaska State Parks is looking for next summer's volunteers and is taking applications for all 2009 summer and winter positions.

Approximately 60 campground host positions are available across the state, from the Fairbanks area to Ketchikan. Another 80 volunteers are needed in a variety of positions such as archaeological assistant, ranger assistant, trail crew, natural history interpreter, and park caretaker. The duties of some positions can be used for college credit. Volunteers receive training, uniforms, and a small stipend. Campground hosts also receive a free campsite for their RV or rustic housing. Most positions require a minimum commitment of four weeks. Applicants must be over 18 years old and a U.S. Citizen. The 2009 Volunteer Catalog describes the volunteer program, lists available positions and includes application forms. Request a free copy from the Volunteer Coordinator, Alaska State Parks, 550 West 7th Ave, Suite 1380, Anchorage, AK 99501-3561, (907) 269-8708, fax (907) 269-8907. The catalog is also available on the Internet at http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/vip.

PLANNING A TRIP TO ALASKA? Find the best selection of books and DVDs at RVbookstore.com.

Dalton Highway trip is beautiful, but too rough a ride for many RVers

2008-10-05T11:02:00.001-07:00

The Dalton Highway is the road to take if you simply want to drive as far north as possible in Alaska. Unfortunately for RVers, it's a bumpy, washboard, gravel highway that many may find too rough to travel comfortably. Still. . . for some RVers, it may be worth it -- but only in summer.

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. 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 perhaps 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 relatively little in the way of modern conveniences. The washboards are many, the grades can be steep (as much as 10 and 12 percent in some places) and the big rigs 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 food. A CB radio is also not a bad idea (monitor channel 19). Travel services are almost 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? 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.

Deadhorse is a company town and not much else. It's several miles from the Arctic Ocean. An oil company road leads north from town, but permits are required to travel on the road. A better way to go is to sign up for a guided tour of the oil fields and the Arctic Coast. They are available in Deadhorse from Tour Arctic at (907-659-2368).

In Deadhorse, a good place to stay is at the Arctic Caribou Inn and RV camp.

PLANNING A TRIP TO ALASKA? Find the best selection of books and DVDs at RVbookstore.com.

Watch a frozen turkey get lit in North Pole, Alaska

2008-10-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

RV enthusiasts looking for a memorable Christmas experience might want to hop aboard a sled and head up to North Pole, Alaska. While New York City may have its tree-lighting ceremony, only in North Pole, Alaska does the holiday season kick off with the lighting of a giant frozen turkey sculpture. The ice-sculpture bird, standing over eight feet tall, will be illuminated on Thanksgiving Day to officially start the second annual "North Pole Christmas in Ice" festival and sculpting competition.

Residents are still ebullient about the success of last year's event, which sold more than 3,700 tickets and welcomed 24 ice artists from Alaska and China dueling to carve the winning Christmas-themed sculpture from a single block of ice.

This holiday season, ice artists will again transform the venue at Santa Land RV Park in North Pole into a winter wonderland of ice sculptures and children's play park. The competitors will face off Thursday, December 4, and the venue will be open to the public every day until the end of the month.

North Pole, Alaska, population 2,000, is ten miles southeast of Fairbanks. You really don't need a sled to get there: a car or RV will do just fine.

Get RV campground information for Alaska

2008-09-24T13:41:00.000-07:00

Headed to Alaska? If you'll be doing so with an RV, then you'll need to know where to stay. Maybe this will help.

Federal and State campgrounds are available throughout Alaska. A few even have electrical hookups and dumping stations. For fee information contact the Alaska Public Lands Information Center at (907) 271-2737 or click here.

Private campgrounds are also available throughout the state. Visiting the Food & Lodging section of the website for private campgrounds. You can also contact the Alaska Campground Owner's Association, PO Box 111005, Anchorage, AK 99511-1005 or by visiting this website.

Camp hosts in demand at Alaska State Parks

2008-09-20T18:57:00.000-07:00

Alaska State Parks depends on volunteers to help manage and maintain its parks. For many RVers, the most sought-after positions are as camp hosts. Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 summer season.

What Do Campground Hosts Do?
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. All hosts must have enthusiasm for working with the public, a willingness to learn about Alaska, and the desire to accept new challenges.

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.

Where Do Hosts Live?
Volunteer hosts live in their own motorhome, trailer or other 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, latrines, 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 -- lakes, streams, mountains, fishing, and wonderful views. A few campgrounds have a small frame cottage or log cabin for the hosts to stay in. This is noted under the category of Amenities listed with each position description.

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 may be available for longer commitments, ranging from $100 to $500 a month.

Learn more about being a camp host or other volunteer at Alaska State Parks.

RV travelers rate best Alaska attractions

2008-09-02T06:01:00.000-07:00

Here are some ideas for good places to visit in Alaska with an RV. The website Campgrounds-Alaska.com polled its readers about their favorite destinations in the state. Here, with favorites listed from top down, are the places and attractions they liked best.

• Eagle Alaska and the Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve
• Glacier Bay Tours from Skagway, Alaska
• Haines Alaska
• Hyder Alaska - Accessed from the Cassiar Highway in British Columbia.
• Iliamna Alaska - Location of the future Pebble Copper and Gold Strip Mine
• Independence Mine State Historical Park
• Katmai National Park
• Denali Park and Mount McKinley
• Kodiak Island
• McCarthy Alaska
• Misty Fjords National Monument
• Prince of Wales Island
• Prince William Sound and Whittier Alaska.
• Wrangell Saint Elias National Park

RV visits to Alaska dismal this year

2008-09-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

(SEPT 1, 2008) -- After 16 years in business, Suzanne Spanjer has closed her Chena Marina RV Park in Fairbanks for good -- visitors just aren’t showing up. Vehicle crossings from Canada are down nearly 20 percent this year when compared with the same year-to-date period in 2007. According the Fairbanks News-Miner, as of Friday, Aug. 29, 7,050 vehicles with 16,000 people had crossed into Alaska in 2008, compared to 8,747 vehicles with 19,668 passengers for the same time period last year.

And there are far fewer motorhomes. And those that do come are often European vacationers who fly into Whitehorse, Yukon, rent RVs, and tour the roads of Yukon and Alaska before boarding a flight home from Anchorage or Fairbanks.

At milepost 1083 of the Alaska Highway, about halfway between Tok and Whitehorse, Loren Maluorno owns and operates Destruction Bay RV Lodge on the shores of Kluane Lake. Despite the scenery, vacationers are passing the place by, Maluorno said. His business is down at least 30 percent this year, and he hears plenty of talk from other operators who are closing down early.

High fuel prices are the reason. “People are still coming, but they’re not driving up the road,” Spanjer said. “Nobody is out on the roads. They’re gone.”

SOURCE: FAIRBANKS NEWS-MINER

Grizzly bear hit by car near Anchorage RV park

2008-08-24T03:59:00.000-07:00

Howard Hawkins Jr. of Anchorage was driving to get an early morning cup of coffee, and the next thing he knew he had slammed into a 15-year-old Grizzly bear that was running across the highway near an RV park. "I didn't have time to react. I wasn't even able to hit my brakes or anything," he explained.

According to news reports, the bear was in a lot of pain after being hit, with a broken leg. It was stumbling around, roaring and growling, After calling 911, Hawkins got out of his car to wait for police, who arrived within minutes and promptly told him to get back into his car.

The grizzly charged the police at one point, then scurried back into the woods, where officers found it and killed it.

Grizzlies come into Anchorage in the summer to feed on salmon and moose, said a Fish and Game research biologist who said there were at least 20 of the bears in the city.

RV visits to Alaska down this year, may get worse

2008-07-25T07:36:00.000-07:00

RV campgrounds from Anchorage to the Alaska-Canada border report that their business is off 10 to 20 percent this summer. Alaska Highway traffic counts at the border show June crossings were down 14 percent from last June. Tips are down and vacancies are up, campground operators say.

Jan Richardson says business is way down this summer at her Alaska Trails RV Park in Wasilla. "Last year we were just lined up with big rigs," she said, averaging about 40 campers a night. "This year I've had somewhere between seven to 19 a night and I can't even claim I've had 19 every night because I just haven't," she said.

Last week Denali National Park and Preserve reported visitation downs 13 percent this summer.

Keith Halsey and his wife, Diane, who live near Chicago, bought a new, smaller trailer last fall hoping to save money driving to Calgary, Alberta for the Stampede and then on to Alaska. But the couple decided to scrap the Alaska leg and simply take in the Stampede and Banff before going home. "It was going to cost $9,000 for fuel. We figured that would put it at $15,000 or $17,000 for the trip," said Halsey. "That's just too much."

It may only get worse. "Next year is going to be scary," said Buck Bailey, who manages the Ship Creek RV Park in Fairbanks. Most people plan two to three years in advance, and gas is only getting more expensive, Bailey said.

Celebrate the midnight sun in Alaska

2008-06-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

After a cold winter, Alaskans welcome the abundant summer sun with gusto. They can routinely be spotted gardening at 10 p.m. or teeing off at a local golf course at midnight. For RV enthusiasts, the long days present ample time to explore the territory.

RVers and other travelers who want to experience the celebration of summer firsthand should arrive in time for the solstice on June 21. Fairbanks is famous for its Midnight Sun Baseball Game, a tradition that has started at 10:30 p.m. on either June 20, 21 or 22, since 1906. The city also celebrates with a 12-hour Midnight Sun Festival from noon to midnight and the Midnight Sun Run, a 10-kilometer race that starts at 10 p.m. (www.explorefairbanks.com).

Although the Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival is a newer tradition, it's taken just as seriously and known to attract headlining musicians from across North America (seldoviamusicfestival.org).

Anchorage also celebrates the solstice with music at Moose's Tooth & Bear Tooth Summer Solstice Concert on June 21. For those who want to spend the day outdoors, there is the Mayor's Marathon, a beach volleyball tournament, a golf tournament and an outdoor Summer Solstice Festival at the Anchorage Town Square (www.anchorage.net).

To plan a trip to Alaska during the summer solstice, visit www.travelalaska.com.

Traveling to Alaska? Check out the big selection of books and DVDs about traveling to the state via the Alaska Highway, and camping there in an RV.

Sit on an ice chair in Alaska this summer

2008-06-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

Summer RV travelers curious about what winter throws Alaska's way should check out two new venues in Denali and Fairbanks this year. "Alaska at 40 Below," a cold room and museum operated by The Riverboat Discovery, opens at the Denali Princess Resort outside Denali National Park and Preserve and at Steamboat Landing in Fairbanks this month.

RV enthusiasts and other travelers will be able to don a parka, enter the cold room and try a few experiments — blowing soap bubbles and throwing hot water into the air.

They will find a similar experience at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks, where "40 Below Fairbanks" opened last year. Guests can get their photos taken sitting in a chair made of ice and try their hand at hammering a nail with a frozen banana. Guests stayed in the cold room on average about two minutes, but some remained as long as five minutes listening to the staff's expertise on cold-weather motor oils, housing construction, survival tactics and more. Those who prefer the summer's warmth can linger outdoors.

For information on planning a trip to Fairbanks, visit www.explorefairbanks.com.

How's Alaska Tourism? Depends on Who You Ask

2008-05-28T12:08:00.000-07:00

With fuel prices nagging at pocketbooks, one wonders just how well Alaska tourism will do this year. It depends on who you ask:

In Anchorage, his Airstream trailer packing a sign reading, "Alaska or Bust," Californian Jim Fowler says he hasn't hit bust yet, but, "“It’s getting closer every day, though." After 5,000 miles towing his rig, he's paid $2,300 in diesel costs. Still, Jim and his wife say they're traveling within their limitations.

The Fowlers are the kinds of folks that make RV park owners in the far north keep up an optomistic front. Nevertheless, it's a waiting game. “Everybody is concerned about the high fuel costs,” said Dwight Dietrich, owner of Grand View Lodge & RV Park, Palmer, Alaska, and vice chairman of the Alaska Campground Owners Association (ACOA). “We don’t know (what will happen); we will have to go day by day. How do you project something like that? It’s out of our control who will get these prices back down.”

Quoted in a story in RV Business, Dietrich puts a face on the non-tourists, but those who are nevertheless affected by what the tourists do--or don't do. Alaska's Travel Industry Association just hopes things will do a break-even. “I’m concerned. If we are flat overall [in visitor numbers], I would be pleased,” said association president Ron Peck. “I hope we reach the same level as last year. If I’m wrong and we get above that, I’ll be tickled pink. But I would not bet my next born child that we are going to have an increase in visitors.” Peck was interviewed by newsminer.com.

While some tourism prognosticators see progress made with the "fly-in" sets from Europe, gold mining from RVers may be a different story. From newsminer comes this: Also down are campground bookings, if two RV parks owned by Scott Reisland in Denali National Park and Preserve are any indication. Bookings of caravans — groups of RVs traveling together — are down 50 percent and there have been a lot of cancellations, Reisland said.

And what about fuel prices? "The news here in Alaska has been that our gas prices have reached the highest in the nation, at an average of $4 a gallon,” said Dave Worrell, director of marketing and communications for the Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA). “In remote areas, where they have to fly in the fuel, it’s $7 and $8 a gallon. In Anchorage, we’re paying $3.80, so the average doesn’t speak to it.”

Here's a thought: Fly into Alaska and rent an RV. An Ancorage rental firm, ABC Motorhome Rentals, is offering up to $250 in fuel credits to encourage their trade. Last year they reported 3,400 rentals and projects they'll have as many this year.

Photo: Carl Chapman on flickr.com

Turning 50 this year? Ride free on the Alaska Railroad

2008-05-27T14:31:00.000-07:00

(May 27, 2008) -- Get ready to get carded if you turn 50 years old in 2009. The Alaska Railroad is offering anyone in the world who shares this birthday year with Alaska's statehood anniversary – that'll be 1959 – one free day of rail travel anytime during 2009.

Bookings will be available beginning in the fall of 2008 for the happy birthday program, called "Turn 50 With Us." Call (907) 265-2494 or visit www.alaskarailroad.com/50BD for more details.

"The Alaska Railroad is proud to share a long tradition with the people of Alaska, and what better way to extend our happy birthday wishes than by inviting, as our guests, all those who share this important milestone year," said Susie Kiger, passenger sales and marketing director.

The Alaska Railroad 50th birthday offer is valid for travel in Adventure Class Service on Denali Star, Coastal Classic, Glacier Discovery, Hurricane, and Aurora Winter train, roundtrip or one-way, as long as the travel occurs over the course of one day.

To qualify for the program your birth date must fall on, or be between January 1, 1959 and December 31, 1959. Travel need not occur on the passenger's birthday, just during the birthday year.

The Alaska Railroad has a long history that predates Alaska's admission into the United States on January 3, 1959. For general information about the Alaska Railroad or the history of the Alaska Railroad, visit www.alaskarailroad.com.

The ARRC is a state-owned corporation, wholly self-sustaining without benefit of state subsidy. Revenue generated by the railroad covers all operating costs including employee wages and benefits. The railroad generates revenue through year-round passenger and freight service to communities from Seward to Fairbanks and through its management of Real Estate holdings along the railbelt.

New Alaska DVDs entertaining, packed with information

2008-04-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

By Adrienne Kristine
I was mildly interested in going to Alaska, especially after hearing from a fellow workamper who had worked there. She arrived in May and helped the local businesses open for the season before beginning her workamping job. Then she wrote about “termination dust:" the first sign of snow signaling the end of the season and notice to leave.

Recently, I taught at the Life on Wheels in Tucson where I was fortunate to watch an abridged version of filmmaker John Holod’s DVDs about his trips by RV to Alaska. After the presentation, I drove home still thinking about what I saw. I was hooked.

I chose three DVDs to watch: “RVing Alaska: What to Expect—How to Prepare” by Joe & Vicki Kieva; “Alaska: RV Adventure of a Lifetime” and “Alaska’s Inside Passage,” the latter two hosted by John Holod and Jodie Ginter. Each DVD stood on its own with a wealth of information, but when I watched them in that order, I had a three-course feast of the Alaska overview, northern RV drive and southern ferry trip.

Joe and Vicki Kieva have created a warm, entertaining, and detailed film that realistically portrays the Alaska roads, ferry system and gorgeous scenery. I especially appreciated knowing about the highway dangers I had been warned about like construction and frost heaves were easy to handle. Joe assured viewers that if we slowed down (and who wouldn't with that scenery?), both the RV and the driver would be fine. The Kievas drove a 37-foot class A with a toad.

In their video, Joe and Vicki answered all the questions a newbie to our 49th state would have including the costs. For example, I had heard that once you drove onto the Alaska ferry that you were not allowed to stay in your RV. They confirmed that fact and showed the ferry passengers in staterooms or on deck, many with tents, sleeping bags, food and other supplies. Those who travel with pets will find that they will not be neglected and the owners will be notified when they can visit with their pets. The pets must remain in the RV but can be fed, exercised and hugged frequently during the ferry trip.

I enjoyed their White Pass & Yukon railroad trip and had seen a video about it on PBS. Many suggestions were also given for when to make reservations (December 1 the year before your trip), places to see and things to do. You’ll want to watch again and take notes.

The second DVD, Alaska: RV Adventure of a Lifetime, was the most recent and again I appreciated the realistic outlook of an RV trip to Alaska. This trip with a Born Free RV caravan began in Dawson City, B.C. and ended in Haines, Alaska.

John and Jodie stopped in many places along the way but I was particularly enraptured with the wildlife photos. With his sense of humor, John complained about the many hours he spent waiting for the right shot, but he succeeded admirably. If you are as interested in wildlife as I am, you will enjoy the orcas and humpback whales swimming close to the boat, Wrangell bears, sea lions, sea otters, puffins, bald eagles, moose, Dall sheep and other creatures that seem to be thriving there.

The towns described—Liard Hot Springs, Whitehorse in the Yukon, Dawson City and Diamond Tooth Gertie’s, Chicken, Tok, the real North Pole, Denali, Talkeetna and its Moose Dropping Festival, the Kenai Fjord, Homer, Seward, Valdez, Skagway; cities like Juneau, Anchorage, and many more—whetted my appetite for more, especially those pies! I think John ate pie everywhere they stopped.

The roads are paved and gas stations are at least 50 miles apart. There is a large RV repair facility right on the Alaska Highway. That is especially comforting to a solo traveler like me. John suggested driving on the top half of the tank and that seems like good advice. Detailed maps are provided in the DVD, including John’s famous toothpick tour.

There are many campgrounds and they all seemed to be located in very scenic places.
As I watched all the beautiful footage, I realized that I will need at least two months to see and appreciate Alaska. Three would be better.

The third DVD in the trilogy, “Alaska’s Inside Passage,” was filmed earlier than the others but had the most interest for me. Along with John’s always amazing footage of wildlife, especially the orca and humpback whales, it contained the views from the deck of the Alaska Marine Highway ferries. This allowed me to see Alaska without the distraction of driving an RV.

Although John and Jodie took side trips by plane, jet boat and helicopter, much can be seen and appreciated from the deck of the ferry. Each town along the way had special attractions, whether native Alaskan cultural exhibits or historical sites and museums. I wanted to stop in every town to meet the local people, see the buildings and learn the history.

Watching John and Jodie climbing a glacier was unforgettable. The glacier was millions of years old and the sound of their footsteps crunching through the turquoise ice was intriguing. In the throes of global warming, they stood on a living relic of the Ice Age.

The idea of taking the RV off the ferry to visit the towns for a day or week is part of the fun of being an RVer. You're not governed by the cruise ship schedule and you’re not at the mercy of the airline hassles. Your home is with you, and you can visit where and when you like.

Although John and Jodie traveled in a fifth wheel on this trip, I think a small motorhome is the best way to see Alaska. Kudos to John for backing that fifth wheel onto the ferry!

If you’re thinking about traveling to Alaska, I recommend watching the same trilogy. Each DVD is complete; however, the true Alaska will be revealed by viewing them all. May I suggest gathering some friends, a big bowl of popcorn and your favorite libation?

Alaska State Parks seeks volunteers for 2008 season

2008-04-13T18:25:00.000-07:00

The Alaska Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation 2008 Volunteer Program Catalog is now available. Alaska State Parks is looking for next summer’s volunteers and is taking applications for all summer and winter positions.

Approximately 60 campground host positions are available across the state. Another 80 volunteers are needed in a variety of positions such as archaeological assistant, ranger assistant, trail crew, natural history interpreter and park caretaker. The duties of some positions can be used for college credit. Volunteers receive training, uniforms and an expense allowance.

Most campground hosts receive a free campsite, while others receive rustic housing. Most positions require a minimum commitment of four weeks. Applicant must be over 18 years old and an U.S. Citizen. The 2008 Volunteer Catalog describes the volunteer program, lists available positions and includes application forms. Request a free copy from the Volunteer Coordinator, Alaska State Parks, 550 West 7th Ave, Suite 1380, Anchorage, AK 99501-3561, (907) 269-8708 or by e-mail at dnr.pksvol@alaska.gov. The catalog is also available at http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/vip.

Take a break from the RV in Alaska to ride the rails

2008-04-02T07:21:00.000-07:00

RVers who would like to see Alaska without logging all the miles on their RVs, can hop aboard the Alaska Railroad for some interesting adventures. Alaska is almost double the size of Texas, which makes it impossible to "get it all in" on one vacation, but RV enthusiasts and oher travelers looking to cover some major ground can ride the rails. Alaska Railroad's new "Alaska Indulgence" package takes visitors from the Arctic Circle to the seaport town of Seward in 12 days, and includes off-the-track experiences in Denali National Park's backcountry and remote fly-in lodges. Anglers will be more interested in the new six-day "Kenai Deluxe Adventure" and five-day "Alaska Fishing Sampler" rail tours, which include several types of fishing excursions and can be customized for non-fishing companions. For more information on rail tour packages, visit www.alaskarailroad.com.

Travel off-road in Alaska's Denali National Park

2008-04-01T09:19:00.000-07:00

Denali National Park draws 458,307 tourists a year, many of them RV enthusiasts, who came to climb, hike, explore, raft and ride through the park in 2007. Last year, a new option for exploring the park debuted courtesy of Denali ATV Adventures. The company's tours feature the Yamaha Rhino, a two-passenger, side-by-side all-terrain vehicle that allows riders to explore farther than the road or their feet may have taken them. This year, Denali ATV Adventures will guide four tours around Otto Lake and the Stampede Trail, including a memorable "Midnight Sunset" tour. Whether guests choose a single-rider ATV or the double-rider Yamaha Rhino, all helmets are fitted with a wireless communication system, so guides can talk to the riders about wildlife, points of interest, trail conditions and background on the area along the way. Tours range from two-and-a-half hours to four hours and cost from $40 to $165. Check out video footage of the tours at www.denaliatv.com.

Protection from Bear Attacks--What's Best?

2008-03-28T12:06:00.000-07:00

With a half-ton of claws, teeth, and growling meanness coming at you, do you want bear spray or a gun? Research into Alaska bear attacks raises some surprising results. Check out the story on our sister blog, RV News Service.

Save on one-way off-season Alaska RV rentals

2007-12-30T15:11:00.000-08:00

By Chuck Woodbury
When I visited Alaska a few years ago I rented from ABC Motorhomes in Anchorage. I had a great trip, and the folks at ABC were very helpful. My trip was in March, a chilly time in Alaska. In Homer, at the “end of the road” on the Kenai Peninsula, my Class C motorhome’s heater quit working. One call to ABC and I was put in touch with a local electrician who had the problem fixed within a couple of hours.

ABC has some interesting money-saving one way deals that are worth checking out. One that I think is particularly appealing is to pick up a motorhome in Anchorage and then drive the Alaska Highway south to Seattle, where the coach can be dropped off at ABC’s location near SeaTac Airport. This special begins Sept. 1. A similar special runs April 1 to June 1: motorhomes can be picked up either in Seattle or Elkhart, Indiana and then dropped off in Anchorage.

Along the fall route, after seeing Alaska, you’ll follow the changing fall foliage south through the Yukon Territory and into the Canadian Rockies. Visit Banff, Jasper, and Lake Louise. The nights are clean and crisp featuring spectacular Northern Lights. Light dustings of snow on the mountaintops add to the beauty. It's a photographer's dream, and for many people, a once in a lifetime trip.

There are no mileage or cleaning charges associated with this special deal. Learn more here.

Headed to Alaska? Be sure to send for the official Alaska State Travel Planner.

Reserve Denali National Park campsites now

2007-12-08T15:57:00.000-08:00

Reservations are now being accepting for the 2008 visitor season for Denali National Park's four largest campgrounds. All of the campsites in the Riley Creek, Savage River, Teklanika River, and Wonder Lake campgrounds can be reserved in advance. All the campgrounds except Wonder Lake accept RVs. Reservations in previous years were not available by phone until February 15.

Campers with a valid Golden Access or Age; or Federal Senior or Access Lands Pass are eligible for 50% off of campground daily rate.

Phone reservations can be made by calling (800) 622-7275, nationwide or (907) 272-7275 for international callers between 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Alaska time). The web address for online reservations is www.reservedenali.com.

Headed to Alaska? Send for the free 2008 Official State Visitor Guide.