North to Alaska

[othatoneguyo]

Im not sure where else to put this, so im trying here. This is only the 2nd discussion I've started so bear with me.

My wife and I are planning on relocating from Oregon to Alaska soon and we are wondering if anybody has made a trip up the Alaskan highway in October or November. Originally, we were planning on going this last spring, but there were circumstances that prevented our departure. The next chance we will have is late this fall, and then again in the spring (April-May). If anyone can let us know what the drive is typically like including weather/snowfall amount that you came across.

Thank you for any insight you might have

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[akrvbob]

I've driven it a dozen times, including riding a motorcycle up it in October and driving it in December.

Given the choice of October to December, I'd choose December. Its almost a certainty to have hard packed snow on it and that is just about as good as it ever gets. The traffic is gone except for the truckers and they will always stop if you need help.

A snowstorm can happen at any time, but in October it can easily melt turning into slush and mud and that is a nightmare! November is also more likely to melt leaving you with slush. The worst part of my drive in December was in Alberta where the snow was melting leaving slush and mud. That stuff is dangerous!!Worst is the non-existent visibility with it on your windshield. Every truck that goes past you blinds you with a thick soup of brown mud. A close second is if a wheel touches the shoulder full of slush and mud, it will suck you right off the road and into it.

It's also more likely to have an Aurora--and that is a priceless event!!

 

[Ballenxj]

I've driven it a dozen times, including riding a motorcycle up it in October and driving it in December.

Given the choice of October to December, I'd choose December. Its almost a certainty to have hard packed snow on it and that is just about as good as it ever gets. The traffic is gone except for the truckers and they will always stop if you need help.
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It's also more likely to have an Aurora--and that is a priceless event!!

Good information for future reference.

 

[BobBski]

Ditto what Bob said. I've driven it 7 times myself with one time in December and another in January. Make sure you're well supplied and I'd recommend some tire cables/chains for possible slick mountain grades. Also, many of the gas stations are closed during the winter months as well so plan accordingly.

 

[othatoneguyo]

Thank you for the responses. December seems like it would be the better choice. I have chains for my tires and a gas can stowed away. I grew up in idaho and made several winter trips with snow and ice on the roads, so I'll have a good idea on how to handle that. I just wanted to make sure there won't be any real surprises. I heard the frost heaves can get pretty bad in the spring, so how about December?

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[DuneElliot]

The road is paved so not sure why there is the concern about mud. The last section that was gravel was paved in 1992 so that really shoulsn't create an issue for an October or December decision. The problem with a oaved road in December is that snow pack often turns into ice with the sun and people driving over it.

 

[highdesertranger]

North to Alaska, go north the rush is on........Where the river is windin' big nuggets they're findin'.......

sorry I couldn't resist. highdesertranger

 

[othatoneguyo]

Awesome! That's the song I was thinking when I put up the title [emoji38]

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[Thirsty Boots Nomad]

North to Alaska,  go north the rush is on........Where the river is windin' big nuggets they're findin'.......

sorry I couldn't resist.  highdesertranger

Had that song in mind when I opened the thread; ... and now I have "way up north" stuck on a continuous loop in my head ...

 

[akrvbob]

The road is paved so not sure why there is the concern about mud. The last section that was gravel was paved in 1992 so that really shoulsn't create an issue for an October or December decision. The problem with a oaved road in December is that snow pack often turns into ice with the sun and people driving over it.

It isn't really paved, it's chip sealed and by the end of the summer, it's getting pretty ratty. And there is no pretense of paved shoulders. 

The last 200 miles in the Yukon, they don't even pretend to chip seal, it's just dirt like it always was. I assume it's because there are no Canadians there and they don't care about us Americans who are driving it!!

With the rain and snow of fall/winter, they can be a trap waiting for you. They also sand it over fall/winter creating its own mud. Most plows are dump trucks that sand as they plow. With freeze-thaw cycles, comes lots of rocks and mud flying whenever a truck goes by.  

Usually, by December it freezes and stays frozen up north. It was 30 below when I drove it in December and the sun has lost most of its power that far north. Sunny days mean well below zero. 

Your experience of winter in the Lower 48 doesn't apply to the Yukon.

That's why I said Alberta was the worst, because it's so far south it still thaws regurarly in December.

 

[othatoneguyo]

My general experiences definitely are different from the yukon. I'm just trying to get a feel for the differences and gave an example of what I have driven in

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[mpruet]

 

[Almost There]

If you're coming up through British Columbia after October 1st you will be required to have snow tires (labeled with M+S or the snowflake) anywhere except in the lower mainland. Driving with all season and carrying chains is not part of the regs.

I panicked when I moved here this spring. I surely wasn't putting out the money for snows and then driving on them to AZ for the winter and I envisioned myself trapped in the Greater Vancouver area from Oct. 1 to the middle of November...luckily my Michelin tires are M+S rated anyways...whew, I can go anywhere I want.....

 

[othatoneguyo]

Thanks for that heads up. I actually just purchased new tires and I purposely got M+S rated. I got those just because I knew we here heading up by May at the latest, plus there is REAL winter up there, not Oregon winter. [emoji38]

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[othatoneguyo]

Since i have this thread open, can i assume that we can park overnight at rest areas in B.C. and the Yukon? Or maybe some spots close to the highway to park with some decent scenery?

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[highdesertranger]

I have pulled over and slept for a few hours all over the place along the Alcan. from scenic overlooks to pullouts never had a problem. but lie I said I only stayed for a few hours. highdesertranger

 

[Almost There]

Since i have this thread open, can i assume that we can park overnight at rest areas in B.C. and the Yukon? Or maybe some spots close to the highway to park with some decent scenery?

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Can't say for the Yukon because I haven't been there yet.

BC posts some rest areas with 'No overnight/No camping' signs and leaves others with no signs at all. There are also lots of pull offs like chain up areas that are also seemingly randomly signed/not signed. Some of the nicer ones to stay at are signed...

The same goes for some welcome centers being signed no overnight parking, others nada!

I have not been able to find the regulations for BC on the internet. 

Truck stops with RV parking are non-existent so far as I have seen in my travels so far.

I check for W/M's (most outside of the lower mainland and the island are ok), the casino in Prince George has at parking for at least a 100 RVs.

You can also search here http://www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca/ for low and no cost primitive campsites. Some are mere miles off the highway, some are way deep in the bush!

Read the description of each campsite marking because BC uses the tent symbol for everything including trail heads that don't have campsites. Also check to make sure that your vehicle is good for the road in. With one exception where the site was under renovation I have been very pleased with all of the sites I've used from this website.

Warning: I haven't been further north than Prince George and Jasper so far!

 

[akrvbob]

Yes,, you can overnight along nearly all pull-overs on the Alcan. There are a few that are posted as "No Overnight Parking" but they are the exceptions that prove the rule.

There is only one Walmart on the Alcan, and that is in Whitehorse and it allowed overnight parking in 2014.

The Internet is hard to come by, thank the Lord for Tim Hortons Coffee shops along the way!! Great wifi, great donuts, great coffee and great sandwiches. Truly the good life!!

 

[mpruet]

The Internet is hard to come by, thank the Lord for Tim Hortons Coffee shops along the way!! Great wifi, great donuts, great coffee and great sandwiches. Truly the good life!!

We also found that most of the information centers had internet available.  But if there is a choice between an info center and a Tim Horton's, I'd take the Tim Horton's - love those donuts....

 

[Thirsty Boots Nomad]

As any reasonable person would