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RE: "Soft" sided campers in AK
For heavens sake GO to Alaska! I have been a campground host from Sitka to Coldfoot (and places in between) - you will have no problems. I have also camped in tents all over Alaska.
Yes, Teklanika campground (Denali NP) required "hard-sided" vehicles to camp at times over the years - check current regulations - you may have to store food in a bear locker if you don't have any "hard-sided" protection. Russian river may have restrictions as well.
BUT these are only a few sites out of thousands of places to camp in Alaska. Go and enjoy.
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jlawless
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09/08/11 09:09am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Stuck in Ft. Nelson!
OK - they said it is not the transmission - but the catalytic converter is clogged badly - they are going to take it out and send us on our way in a few hours! Sounds reasonable for a 20 year old Ford going on 150K miles and 4 round trips to Alaska - we'll see.
Everyone has been great here so far.
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jlawless
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08/22/11 10:40am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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Stuck in Ft. Nelson!
It finally happened to us! Rv is broken down 50Km north of Fort Nelson. Good Sam's will only pay for towing to Fort Nelson and Dalex repair shop. Anybody have any experience with them?
We hear it will take a week or more for parts at Fort Nelson but if we were towed ($1200? plus) to Fort St. John the repair could be quick.
Probably need new transmission. Just my luck, was hustling to a new job (after 7 years on road) and have no time to spare.
Anybody want to buy a 1991 Lazy Daze in great condition (except needs a transmission lol!).
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jlawless
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08/21/11 06:15pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Awarded first prize at border crossing---a question
Haven't had a problem crossing into (or out of) Canada yet. But once was threatened with having my car engine "dismantled" at one of the immigration checkpoints in Texas many miles from the border (and had never been to Mexico). They were playing good cop/bad cop and just being right-wing jerks because I had a peace sign on the bumper they didn't like. The "bad cop" ended up crushing all my potato chip bags, laughing and walked away after his dog didn't alert on anything.
Some folks do have their engines taken apart and I wonder if those get put back together again.
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jlawless
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08/05/11 09:47pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Alaska-over & under
The day they turn Alaska into the rest of the lower 48 will be a sad day. I suggest people learn to boondock and be self sufficient if they are coming up. Staying in the primitive Forest Service campgrounds (or no campground at all) is the way to go - not lurking around some crowded gravel strip with electric whining about wifi.
Yes, there are plenty of services in some places but if you're not coming for adventure you might consider staying south IMHO.
FYI - convenience is in the eye of the beholder. It is not uncommon to meet people in Coldfoot swearing over the horrible condition of the Dalton Highway - and then 10 minutes later meet someone who is wondering what all the fuss is about and can't believe what great condition the road is in. These are all good folks - they just have different expectations and reaction to the fact the nearest cellphone service is 240 miles either direction.
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jlawless
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07/30/11 03:14pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Slab City - Niland, CA
Good luck - something tells me the internet provider (if you find one) won't be thrilled about this scheme.
The Niland library was slated for closing last time I was there also.
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jlawless
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07/15/11 10:38pm |
Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping
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RE: Denali Highway Condition
Yes, tour buses take that route (Valdez to the Park I believe) - they can take a lot more beating than the average consumer RV.
But I agree some visitors have unrealistic expectations.
FYI - don't come to Coldfoot with your grandchildren and 7 others in your RV taking showers, doing laundry, and bypassing the frequent outhouses along the Dalton Highway and THEN come to me looking for a dump station - and just 2 days after you left Fairbanks? Sorry, venting a little steam. :R
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jlawless
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07/15/11 09:52pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Recent Border Crossing
This has been a more frequent occurrence over the past 2 years. Usually it comes up when the computer hard drive is searched.
I can only guess that the border agents already knew you had a computer (via their 21st century testing devices) and wanted to see if you were truthful. Since you were truthful they let you go figuring that if you had something to hide you would have tried to deceive them. Just a guess of course, but there are lots of instances being reported where they randomly search hard drives.
I have not seen any way us regular folks can avoid such a search if we are picked out for it.
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jlawless
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07/13/11 10:20pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Increase in Camping Fees !
It costs money to support that lady playing a harp by the grand piano at the Lake Louise lodge. And folks enjoy that kind of nature while sipping their cocktails. And that is the way Parks Canada wants it (apparently).
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jlawless
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07/05/11 03:26pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Portions of Taylor Highway (and Steese) closed by mudslides
A guy just showed me pictures of a Class A Rv turned over in a ditch on the Taylor highway from 2 days ago. The RV was being hauled out by a wrecker. He said the woman passenger was lifeflighted out and the male passsenger and 2 children were fine. Apparently the driver (not sure if it was the man or woman) tried to avoid some frostheaves but went off the road and rolled. The RV was practically split in half sideways.
Once again, be careful out there and slow down folks.
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jlawless
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06/24/11 09:39pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Portions of Taylor Highway (and Steese) closed by mudslides
Yep, you can still do the Top of the World Highway but it looks like things are getting messy so be extra careful.
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jlawless
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06/23/11 10:40pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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Portions of Taylor Highway (and Steese) closed by mudslides
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported the highway is blocked from Mile 114 to Mile 116.
The Alaska Department of Transportation said personnel are working to remove the slides.
The remainder of the Taylor Highway is open, as is the Top of the World Highway. But transportation officials are urging motorists to drive slowly.
Officials also said the Steese Highway outside Circle is closed because of heavy rain and flooding.
Many areas of the road between Mile 152 to Mile 158 have washed out. Officials said the road is impassable.
Crews will starting working on the road Friday.
Read more: http://www.adn.com/2011/06/23/1933231/mudslides-close-portion-of-taylor.html#ixzz1Q9qGiFhC
Mudslides close portion of Taylor Highway
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jlawless
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06/23/11 08:46pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: For heaven sake slow down!
My conversations with visitors to Alaska (which are many and daily) reveal a lot more comments about the condition of those last miles of AK Highway than in years past when almost no one brought it up. That is without prompting and often they say things like "the Dalton Highway is a breeze after that last section of AK Highway." Based on those frequent comments and my own experience driving up many times and again in early May this year - I have concluded the road is worse this year than in the recent past.
Be warned - if you are towing and travel faster than 25 mph between Destruction Bay and the border you are asking for trouble. But it is not a reason to cancel a trip - just to be careful. And no one (at least not me) is trying to attack Canada - just telling the truth.
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jlawless
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06/22/11 04:15pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Alaska coupon books
The books are great! Just realize there is FINE PRINT on the coupons. Some tours only allow one coupon per day so if someone else with a book gets there first you are out of luck. Other coupons are only good for the morning cruise etc. . . . So the books are best for people who are flexible or early planners. So long as you are not surprised by the fine print they can save you tons of money.
Here is another one -
Northern Lights tour book
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jlawless
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06/21/11 05:28pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Could we still do Alaska leaving Mid July??
You are coming at a great time. However, if you are reliant on full hookup campgrounds you will want to make sure your destination campground is open. The first week of September you should be fine but many start to close up around that time. We usually return about the 15th and many campgrounds have closed but we are fine with boondocking.
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jlawless
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06/19/11 12:19am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Minimum Speed Limits
If I'm going the speed limit then I don't pull over just to allow speeders to pass. While there may be a cop dumb enough to ticket me I'll bet a dollar the judge will side with me every time. What will the officer say when asked what speed I should have travelled at to be legal? Case dismissed!
Indeed, most of the laws on this are understandable for those not wanting to make excuses for speeders. For example, the Minnesota law cited above states (not) so clearly -
No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.
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jlawless
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06/11/11 10:26pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Destruction bay to beaver creek
2 wheels on the ground are a lot different than towing with 10 or more on the ground no matter how experienced you are. And those corporate-owned Holland tour busses withstand much more abuse than regular folks with cheaply made fifth wheels.
But I know better than to quibble over adjectives with an old cruise ship speaker. :)
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jlawless
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06/06/11 11:32pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Destruction bay to beaver creek
A motorcycle trip like explorenorth's is not quite the same experience as driving a fifth wheel or motorhome with a toad that is subject to whiplash.
I used to have a lot of fun driving frost heaves with my little car since it manuevers easily and slows quickly. Clearly, anyone towing needs to be extra careful as the OP and many others who have done the trip in RV's can attest. The road is worse this year.
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jlawless
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06/06/11 10:10pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Destruction bay to beaver creek
I have driven the road the past 7 years and agree it's always been bad BUT it is WORSE this year - I have given a heads up a few times in other threads already.
Slow down even more than usual. I'm not surprised there are more damaged rigs this year.
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jlawless
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06/06/11 01:47pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Crowds on the Alcan?
The people I meet having the most fun are doing just what you planned. But it could matter when you go and what type of campground you require. For example, if you are traveling to the Kenai during July 4th, Denali NP almost anytime, or you need to be at a prime fishing location (like Russian River) during the salmon run then be aware that some campgrounds fill up fast. But generally NO, you do not need reservations.
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jlawless
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06/03/11 07:14pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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