North, to Alaska!

May 11 - Aug 13 2016 Alaska trip. This page is still under construction since we revised our original itinerary based on weather as we went. I'm actually compiling this in Jan 2018 but it snowed and the comment book is outside in the truck. Needless to say, we loved our trip to Alaska on the Alaska highway going up, and the Cassiar highway coming back. Fabulous trip, starting from Sharpsburg GA, and spending the first night at our friends John and Rebecca’s house. They gave us some tips as they have made this trip a couple of times. Next stop was Roy’s fish fry rally at Shakamak state park in IN the next day. Headed across IA (Fishermans corner COE, then NE (Offutt AFB FAMCAMP and Lake Ogallalla SRA, then Riverside Park in Scottsbluff, NE. Riverside park was within view of Scottsbluff National Monument which we visited the next day, as well as a nearby state park that boasts the tallest lighthouse in Nebraska! (Also the shortest, and only lighthouse in Nebraska). Lander City Park in Lander WY was a free campground with water taps and toilets, plus free dump at the city lot a few blocks away. Headed to Gros Ventre campground (FCFS) (Grand Tetons NP) for a couple of nights to have a place to tour the Grand Tetons and Jackson WY. Saw several mooses and a few right in the campground. Next we headed to Yellowstone NP (had 4 nights reservations at Bridge Bay) and got there just before the Memorial day crowds. Stayed at Lewis and Clark caverns state park in MT and toured the caverns, then visited our former neighbor Diane in Whitefish for a couple of days, parking the Scamp behind her house. Whitefish is not far from Glacier National Park so we headed there. Snowfall kept the "Going to the sun road" closed, but we could drive partway up. Crossed into Canada at Roosville, and they actually had us get out of our Scamp while they searched it. They probably thought I had a gun since I recently obtained a concealed carry permit. Headed to Tunnel Mountain campground at Banff NP and saw Scamp friends Craig and Josie while there. Had reservations at Banff but didn't really need them this early in the season. Toured Banff area for a few days before heading North again. Lots of good hiking trails surrounding the Banff area, definitely visit if you get the chance. Headed to Wilcox Creek campground near Icefields Parkway and had a great site for the night (FCFS). Walked to the Icefields glacier. Headed to Jasper NP (Whistler CG) for a few nights, where we had reservations we made a couple days before we got there. June 8-9 Dawson Creek 5 hours (Kiskatinaw Provincial Park North) ($18 night) (Swan Lake provincial park South near Tupper)(Stop and take a photo at the intersection in town where the highway begins. Visit the historic buildings at Pioneer Village and check out the Dawson Creek Tourist Information Centre.) The Kiskatinaw curved wooden bridge is a great place to take a picture of your camper, it's right outside the campground. June 9-10 Fort Nelson (5 hours) Toad River lodge in Toad River?(Good eats at the Shepherd's Inn, about 75 miles out of Dawson Creek. Stop at the Fort Nelson Heritage Museum. Fort Nelson also used to host a Visitors Program. Check at the Visitors Bureau across the road from the Heritage Museum.) June 10-11 Liard Hot Springs (4 hours) June 11-12 Watson Lake (3 hours)(visit the Alaska Highway Interpretive Center next to Signpost Forest. See if you can find the Casita sign we put up in the Signpost Forest. The Northern Lights Center is across from the Signpost Forest. It is about as close to seeing the Northern Lights you can get unless you go up late in the year.) (Head up the highway toward Teslin. Stop at Rancheria Falls. CAUTION! Watch for bears here, especially in the dumpster! In Teslin, stop at the Yukon Wildlife Gallery. Visit the George Johnson Museum, just out of Teslin on your left. June 12-13 Johnsons Crossing (4 hours) (Skagway was scheduled but deleted from trip) June 16-18 Whitehorse (3 hours)(The SS Klondike stern-wheeler and the McBride Museum. There is a walking tour of Whitehorse. Get a brochure at the Visitor Center in downtown.) The Whitehorse WalMart has a "welcome campers" sign with a map showing where to park. There is a gas station right here with a free dump and free fresh water. Also a Canadian Tire store which is always a treat for the guys! Stop at the Braeburn Lodge for the biggest cinnamon roll you've ever eaten. June 18-19 Pelly Crossing June 19-21 Dawson. We passed through Dawson and crossed the Yukon on the ferry so we could get a campsite at the Yukon River campground. Yukon territory campsites cost $12 CAD per night and provide free firewood. We walked back to the ferry to visit Dawson and spotted some friends from the South crossing in their two Olivers! Once you arrive in Dawson City, visit the Klondike Visitors Association along the Yukon River for info, "Must see" attractions include Gold Dredge #4 (guided tours by Parks Canada, eh!) Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall (show & slots), and Dawson City Museum - make sure to watch the "City of Gold" film. You may consider taking a walking tour of Dawson City. June 21 We left Dawson for Chicken, AK, and crossed back into the USA at the Northernmost customs station in the USA. Friendly customs guy offered to take our picture. Very smooth new highway for about 7 miles, and then we hit the worst gravel of the trip on the road to Chicken on the top of the world highway. A few miles before reaching Chicken we spent the night at Walker Fork campground, which I think is National Forest, cost was $5 with our senior pass and free firewood! You can pan for gold for free across the highway from the campground, host can provide gold pans if needed. June 21-22 Tetlin Junction/Tok After Delta Junction is Rika's Roadhouse. Good place for a bite to eat, but tour buses stop here too. Stop at the Knotty Shop for Alaska gifts. North Pole is next....visit Santa Claus House. In Fairbanks, there is a lot to see & do June 23-25 Eielson AFB FAMCAMP June 23-25 Fairbanks Tour the University of Alaska Museum of the North. If you are into museums, you could easily spend at least a half day there. Take in a ball game of you'll be there during solstice and watch the 2nd baseman adjust his sunglasses at 2 AM. There was a Farmer's Market on the weekend. Pioneer Park is another "must see." Take in the Palace Theatre & Saloon "Golden Heart Review" about life in Fairbanks. Take in Sunday brunch at Pike's Landing. Sit on the deck overlooking the river unless the mosquitoes are bad. June 25-26 McKinley Park June 26-29 Denali June 29-30 Wasilla/Palmer. Tour Palmer (stop at the visitor information center) and learn about the Creampuff Pioneers. Visit the Musk Ox farm outside of town. June 30-2 Elmendorf/Anchorage. Great market on the weekend in downtown. The city used to offer free bus tours of the port. Check at the visitor bureau in downtown for info. JULY JULY -2 Elmendorf/Anchorage JULY 2-4 Seward. Don't even think about going to Seward over the 4th of July! Stops along the way? Portage Glacier for sure. In Seward, walk around downtown and visit the Alaska SeaLife Center (built with BP $$$ after the grounding of the Exxon Valdez). Camp on the beach, operated by the city of Seward JULY 4-6 Homer Spit. After Seward, head back toward Anchorage, but at Tern Lake, turn left and head to Soldotna and Kenai. Fish the Kenai River. Camp at Fred Meyer or one of the local RV Parks. Head to Homer (watch for moose along this stretch) stopping at all the little towns along the way, especially Ninilchik. Homer is one of our favorite places. Camp on the spit. Visit the Salty Dog, Pratt Museum, and Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. Downtown Homer has a few breweries and art shops. Souvenirs are available at the Safeway store and on the spit. Look for the eagle's nest near the city owned dump station across from Safeway. JULY 6-10 Valdez. head to Valdez, on the Richardson Highway. Stop at the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Visitor Center. Take the "loop" through Copper Center. From Thompson Pass into Valdez it's all downhill....literally. Did you stop at Bridal Falls for a photo?? I highly recommend taking the all day Stan Stephens Glacier tour of Columbia & Meirs Glacier. You may have to wait a day or two for a seat, as this is a very sought after tour and there are a lot of tourist in the summer, especially from foreign countries. If you stay at Bear Paw RV Park, they can book your cruise and you can walk to the dock from camp. The cruise, while pricey, well worth the money. Visit the Valdez Historical Museum. Lots of little touristy places in Valdez. JULY 10-12 Tok JULY 12-13 Destruction Bay JULY 13-15 Whitehorse JULY 15-16 Watson Lake JULY 16-18 Cassiar JULY 18-19 Hyder. Hyder, AK and watch the bears. Visit the Toaster Museum in Stewart, BC. JULY 19-20 Burns Lake JULY 20-21 Prince george JULY 21-23 Red Pass (Jasper) JULY 23-25 Banff JULY 25-28 East Glacier JULY 28-29 Great Falls JULY 29-1 Rapid City (Custer etc) AUGUST AUGUST 1-3 Badlands AUGUST 3-4 Sioux Falls AUGUST 4-5 Kansas City AUGUST 5-6 St Louis AUGUST 6-7 Paducah AUGUST 7-9 Nashville AUGUST 9-11 Chattanooga AUGUST 12 Home (give or take 2 or 3 weeks) One Provider trailer tire had steel belt showing on the way back, so placed spare Loadstar on. It had been wearing on outer edge, first noticed on way up and rotated/balanced in Montana, but belt came through on Icefields parkway on way back. These were the M rated Providers, tire amazingly kept together though. Installed Carlisle 205/75R-14 D rated tires after this trip. 14,123 miles total, 1014.8 gallons, 13.9 MPG, approx 12,000 on Scamp.