2013 - Alaska or bust!

Heheh... yah, it's a tough one...

For me, the cruise starts at about $3k.. single with Veranda. Pricing is Double Occupancy, no single supplement. Pretty much buying the Room at double occupancy.. but the walk on would be a great idea.. not seeing a whole lot to do there at the stops, but the tours each one has...
Good luck.. not easy..

 

Interesting thread! I will be watching closely. If the trip occurred between Memorial Day and Labor Day, I would seriously consider coming along. If not, I will travel with you vicariously and learn from your adventures.

 

Yes, I'm very interested in this trip to Alaska. Is it to early to have a time frame? I'm from Phoenix AZ and had already started the planning of a trip to Alaska in 2013. However a trip with others would be more enjoyable and safer.

Doug

 

I agree Doug, there were some that were sorta planning it, but having a timeline would be helpful as I'd prefer not to plan stuff during the time period and would also like to plan stuff up there (like the Top of the World Tour) to get it RSVP'd...

So, Looking for a ballpark time frame, Spring? Late summer, early Fall? I have no idea on best time, but would like to know and how long to get up there, stay there and back...

Standing by.. also...

 

Doug, we are still in the planning stage for our trip to Alaska this summer but I think I've changed my mind about the Inside Passage. It makes more sense to take the ferry on the front end. That way if our driving trip is cut short or we want to extend our stay, we'll be more flexible if we aren't tied to a ferry commitment. So, shooting from the hip here, we'll leave Florida in late May, drive through the Canadian Rockies to Prince Rupert, BC where we can take the ferry to Haines or Scagway, stopping at Juneau and Ketchicam along the way. We'll book the ferry legs soon and from there we can decide on which stops we'll pull off and camp at.
I guess we can use this Forum topic to stay in touch - like "we'll be in Chicken on July 30th" or "in Fairbanks for 4 days 8/4 to 8/8 if you're nearby" .... things like that.
Mike

 

OK, here's some sobering facts about travel in Alaska - ref bears! This is not going to stop me but I think I'll look like a modern day Poncho Villa with pepper spray cans slung all around me!

http://www.fieldandstream.com/arti...pper-spray-instead-guns-stop-charging-grizzly

http://www.fieldandstream.com/phot...grizzly-killed-alaska?photo=0#node-1001334546

Also, I'm getting ready to book the ferry and campgrounds along the Inside Passage stops. I think this will start the week of June 8th depending on ferry schedules and campground availability. I'll worry about bears later.
Mike

 

Thanks for the articles! We have our bear spray all ready! As we learned when we crossed into Canada last fall, bear spray is allowed, but not pepper spray for use on people.

In response to Doug and Frank: Our plan is to leave home 2nd week or so in August, drive north through either Whistler, BC or the Okanagon Valley then up to Dawson Creek, then get onto the AK highway, winding up at Denali NP. Then we'll drive east to Michigan arriving by around Sept 13, then towards Necedah, arriving there the Wed or Thurs of the CICO.

 

Heheh... Ok so looks like we're pretty much all on our own. Will plan accordingly. Thanks..

 

For anyone planning an Alaska trip:

www.alaskamagazine.com
The Accidental Explorer by Sherry Simpson (essays about her's and others' wanderings through Alaska)

 

OK Gang, here's my travel update:
Drive from Fl starting late in May.
Do some family visits as we head for Canada.
Stop in Necedah, probably 1st week of June, for Crab Pot check up.
Enjoy a couple of weeks of travel through the Canadian Rockies.
Meet the Alaska Marine Ferry in Prince Rubert June 22.
Arrive Ketchacan 8:30am 6/22. LV Ketchacan 8:45pm on 6/25.
AR Wrangell 2:45am 6/26. LV Wrangell 6:15pm on 6/29.
AR Petersburg 9:15pm on 6/29. LV Petersburg at 1:45pm on 7/1.
AR Sitka 2:30 am on 7/2. LV Sitka at 2:00pm on 7/3.
AR Juneau 6:30pm 7/3. LV Juneau 12:00 pm on 7/9.
AR Whittier 6:00 pm on 7/11.
That takes care of the ferry schedule if any one wants to join in. After we arrive in Whittier, I figure a week or so on the Kenai pensinsula then up to Anchorage, Denali, maybe Fairbanks and back out of AK via the northern route.
If we can catch up with each other some where along the way that would be fun. We'll stay in touch using this posting site.
Mike

 

Hi, Mike! Looks like we'll be heading north out of Seattle about the time you'll be heading south out of Alaska/Canada. Hopefully, we'll be able to swap stories at the CICO. We will keep track of your posts. Have been able to gleen some good advice from Jim and Mary Anne's posts from last year's trip and from the blog that was linked (the Jess and Matt Ryan Model T speedster trip)on the forum by Duke and Laurie.

Kathy

 

Denali is supposed to be one of the most magnificent parks up there. Just from the photos I've seen, they ain't joking. Jim and I spent a bit of time in Alaska via a cruise and that just made us want to see more...and on our own time. Gorgeous, just gorgeous!

Enjoy your trek and keep safe: survival gear and all that.

Camp On,

Sue and Jim

 

Greetings,
If any of you make it to Alaska, stop by and say hi. I'm located on the Richardson Highway, half way between Fairbanks and Delta. Our home is at Birch Lake and I can find a flat spot that you can enjoy the lake and country. The lake is full of fish and you can borrow my canoe if you like. There are only a few highways in AK and chances are, you will be going right by. Our teardrop and us (it was -48 in Fairbanks yesterday) are in PA. I will be back at our house up there around July 4th and stay until the middle of August. I am from Fairbanks. So if you have any questions don't be bashful. Have a good trip.
George

 

wow what an invitation. would love to but not this year. Your car and tear are a beautiful image.

 

George, that is such a nice offer. We should be up there around the first of Aug so when I get closer I'll give you a shout. In the meantime, any hints on how to avoid being bear dinner?
Mike

 

Hi Guys,
You sure have a long drive ahead of you. I see from your signature that your teardrop is #535. Ours is #536. We must of just missed running into you at Camp Inn. As for bears, don't worry about them. The big ones are all eating salmon and are fat and happy at that time of year. The blackbears are seldom a problem. Advice: keep your camp clean, garbage and food put away. That is a problem with a teardrop. To a bear, a teardrop is going to smell like a big candy bar and about as hard to open. I doubt you will even see one. They want to stay away from you more than you them.
George

 

George, thanks. I've felt all along that a bear likens a teardrop to a can of tuna. A little harder to open than a candy bar wrapper - but not much! I did notice that we were adjoining tears in the nest but we didn't pick ours up until the day before the CICO. I'm sure you were their a week or two earlier. We will try to make it your way in Aug before you leave town.
Mike

 

Mike,
Remember, you only have to be able to run just a little faster than Carol. (Sorry, old joke)
George

 

Mike ,

Just wear a bear bell that way Carol will know were you are at all times
Forget the bears bring heavy duty deet the bugs will eat you alivehttp://www.alaskacenters.gov/pests.cfm . Meribeth say you guys can practice by camping at Lake Griffin SP !!!

Benn

 

Bear Bells???

I thought those were Dinner Bells for Bears!!!