Alaska 2017
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Forum Name: Camping Adventures
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9037
Printed Date: 18 Jul 2025 at 4:30am
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Topic: Alaska 2017
Posted By: ronahue
Subject: Alaska 2017
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2016 at 8:06pm
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After 2 summers of dragging our 2015 R179 from Boston through Montana, Wyoming and Colorado Sharon and I are ready to take the big leap and head for Alaska next summer (mid June to late August). The route is not firm yet but probably up the Alcan spend a couple of weeks (or more) in Alaska then return via the Cassiar Highway with side trips to Stewart and Hyder. I've done most of the research The Milepost, spare parts, extra gas, head nets, bug spray etc. and I will spend most of this winter doing more. Has anyone in the group actually done the Canadian, Alaska potions of this trip and if so any special advice favorite campsites or places to stop? All suggestion will be greatly appreciated. Is anyone planning a similar trip for next year? Maybe we can compare notes and plans. ------------- Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated |
Replies:
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2016 at 8:20pm
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Sounds like an amazing trip!
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: ronahue
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2016 at 8:45pm
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Well pack up your 179 and join us.
------------- Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated |
Posted By: dr.becky
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2016 at 9:49pm
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We lived there for a dozen years, vacationed there this summer and have a daughter in Fairbanks. Not familiar with Hyder, but know Seward well. It is one of my favorite places in the world. Alaska is BIG. The two I would do are Seward and Denali. Resurrection Bay and the sea life center is amazing. That is about two weeks of travel, if you want to spend time out of your TV. Most folks try to do to much, and miss enjoying the place. Need to reserve camp sites in Denali now, love savage river. I prefer later in the season, less bugs and better berry picking. |
Posted By: Dane
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2016 at 12:19am
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Ronahue: Sounds like our trip this summer (40 days). Some extra special things for us: Sign Forest @ Watson Lake Yk, fireweed and other flowers, wildlife & the Kenai Peninsula, Ak. Seward Highway Anchorage to Portage is a world class scenic drive especially when high tide covers the mud flats! There's not a dull spot on the road if you like mountains, lakes, rivers, flora & fauna, and interesting people. We covered almost all the paved highways in Alaska, Tok to Anchorage, Portage, Whittier, Homer, Seward, Denali, Fairbanks, Valdez, Chicken, Haines etc. I spent 2 years @ Elmendorf AFB, (Anchorage) 1963 - 1965. Summer, 63 went camping with friends on the Kenai and wanted more but the Good Friday, '64 Alaska Earthquake (4 minutes of 9.2) ended that dream. Left 14 months later and still couldn't get back to the Kenai. Your list sounds good, but add cable ties and check your R-Pod electric brake wires at the axle now and then. O.E. cable ties broke and left brake wires dragging on our 2016 178. (Only repair we had in 10,800 miles). If you don't appreciate extra gas anywhere else you'll cherish it on the Cassiar Highway - MANY, MANY miles between gas stations and half of them out of business. Plan to spend a few hours at Jade City (free camping there but primitive) Have a good time. ------------- Dane |
Posted By: ronahue
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2016 at 6:57am
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Dr. Becky and Dane, Thank you for these tips definitely Seward and Denali are in our plans and we will start making reservations soon. I will be carrying extra gas to give me a little more than 300 miles range and I have already had to use cable ties on the brake lines. Many, many miles of dirt roads through rural Colorado and Wyoming so most loose items have been reinforced. ------------- Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2016 at 8:24am
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A 179 caravan to Alaska sounds like a blast!! Will seriously think about it. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Blue Highways
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2016 at 5:12pm
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Hi Ronahue! Dane has already offered you great advice on the brake lines and cable ties. We came down the Alcan and then down the Cassiar entering the Lower 48 near Seattle in late summer. Our cable ties holding the electric brake wires against the "leeside" of the axle got showered with sharp rocks during an extended construction zone. They broke and then let the electric lines droop down to a more vulnerable position, where they eventually became severed at the connectors right on the backside of the trailer wheels. It was a $50 repair, but a great step to avoid this is to add very thick black heavy cable ties next to the factory ones just like Dane said, so this won't happen, and monitor their condition after gravel stretches. This was our only issue. The provincial campgrounds all through the Yukon Territories are especially great. They were positioned near streams and lakes of exceptional beauty. They were stocked with free firewood, the campsites were roomy, clean, privacy separated and well-maintained, and most even had paperback book "exchange" boxes at the firewood / water stations. The CG personnel are always really nice and were always careful to accurately adjust US currency to Canadian, due to the approx. 83 cents CDN value of US dollars back then. Campground fees could often be as low as $12 per night. One site had berry picking galore right alongside our R-pod. We loved this boondocking period of the YT stretches the best, tho the BC campgrounds were also great. You will have a blast on this trip (to borrow Leo's great expression). Don't have high expectations for mile distances on a daily basis. You will get further down the road then expected some days, and not be as productive on other days. Although largely the distances are paved, there are many pavement breaks and frost heaves that are most often flagged. Mountain passes and switchbacks also affect the speed of your progress, as you would guess. Always always slow down to protect your suspension for perceived bumps, and use all of the road when available, to pick the best line through rough patches. It's easy to get relaxed and expect L48 road conditions, and then be surprised that a dip and a bump wants to rearrange all your groceries and possessions in one kaboom. We always popped into our R-Pod at breaks to observe how things stayed in place (or not) en route. One thing that we brought that was really handy was a bottle of Goo-Gone, so that I could clean off tar splatters on the lower R-Pod cladding from a construction stretch. That way, we didn't have to live with sun-hardened tar spots for most of a month. (Or is this just an indication of my being an R-Pod helicopter parent??? !!!) Bring a more robust selection of camping repair / road tools than you might otherwise. Eg: a rugged non-adjustable wrench of size to tighten your hitch ball, and hitch assembly; dialectric grease for your hitch ball, (to maintain the electrical ground there for your brakes & lighting, I was informed). Consider Fix-A-Flat cans and a strong little 12V air compressor, though we had no tire issues. Our R-Pod tires wore very well on this trip. Best that you have LT rather than "P" (Passenger) tires if your TV allows for that clearance. In your preparations, become a little more of a "proactive packrat" as you'll never know what kind of little odd repair operation will make things operate smoothly with the tools & supplies you bring with you. Fuel is big. We carried two 5-gal fuel jugs tightly cinched down on outrigger wooden platforms I fashioned side-saddle style to the crossbars that also supported our handy metal Yakima rooftop basket carrier. I also added an auxiliary cross-bed re-fueling tank to the Tundra, but that may be not reasonable for you. Whatever creative & safe ways you find to take extra fuel cell(s) down the road, the peace of mind of being able soak in the beauty and excitement of this trip without sweating over your "low fuel" dash light will help make the trip less concerning. We were careful to keep "BG" consistently in TOW/HAUL mode to lessen transmission wear. Be sure to consistently lock out your overdrive in your particular tow vehicle if applicable for acceleration while the fuel tanks are full or to pull grades up through passes. Fuel weighs approx. 7 pounds per gallon (plus the fullness of your fresh water load), propane, etc. so give your TV the best advantage for its transmission until more of your fuel gets burned off at least. And please prepare your cell phone provider to allow Canadian acess, (and how to use them once set up rather than get shocked by charges). Prepare your credit card companies to allow you unfettered use in Canada. (Many forget this!) It's ugly to have them become inactive to you for a needed charge in Canada. We had so much fun on this trip, so don't let all these nitty gritty precautions discourage this "trip of a lifetime". Feel free to ask any of us out there any small or big or seemingly obvious question and collectively we can make your trip much more fun by putting you in the "aware and prepared" category. My wife is a smart bunny when it comes to food preparation adjustments and "thinking ahead" saavyness related to avoiding hassels and increasing the efficiency of what we spent. I owe her so much for her valuable co-captain skills, sense of humor and proactive ideas that made this great north adventure one to now smile about. Time to stop. Your eyes may have already glazed over ! Brad & Layli R-Pod 179 Towed by "BG" the 2010 Tundra
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Posted By: jalong
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2016 at 7:24pm
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We are looking into a 2+ month camping trip from Wisconsin to Alaska in 2018. From our research the Milepost is a must for the trip. We found an escorted tour company online http://www.rvadventuretreks.com/. Our understanding is they arrange for campsites and tours through Canada & Alaska then you are on your own to return. Has anyone used this company or others tours? How did it work out? ------------- John & Sue 2016 179 - built in April 2015 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.6L 13-16mpg with 179 - 21-28mpg without |
Posted By: ronahue
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2016 at 8:36pm
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Brad, Thank you obviously a lot of good first hand information. ------------- Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated |
Posted By: ronahue
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2016 at 9:09pm
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As I have indicated I believe I will have a little more than 300 miles range while towing do you think this will be sufficient? ------------- Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated |
Posted By: NickLPod
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2016 at 9:50pm
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For the Canadian portion of the trip, you might find useful information from the CAA https://www.caa.ca/ (It is associated with the USA equivalent AAA I understand). We signed up in NE Ontario for maps etc. to plan our drive from Jasper Alberta through the US home. ------------- 2016 R-Pod 180 2011 Audi Q5 3.2 V6 Wife Carole Dog Corra |
Posted By: Blue Highways
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2016 at 8:39am
| As far as range, the stock Tundra fuel tank is not huge: 26.5 gal, and we never exceeded 15 mpg towing; most often it was in the 12 to 14 range, (though our truck unhitched, normally hits 19-20 mpg on smooth highways). So, adding one 5 gal fuel jug gives you a minimum of 60 add'l miles range. It's nice to have the edge of extra fuel, whether you actually need it for every leg of the journey or not. If you can tote 2 of them, that's at least 120 extra miles (for the Tundra). The Frontier is an excellent, well made and very tough truck.... yet the body is not so heavy, so you probably would have an advantage over ours in range. Sometimes, after setting up camp, if we were near a small town, we'd head in and top off the tank. You would only run out of fuel if you were careless in watching your fuel level and had bypassed several fuel stop opportunities. I bet you'll be fine if your attentive. I carried just a quart of oil to occasionally top it off that way. --B |
Posted By: Blue Highways
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2016 at 8:57am
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Back in summer 2015, the $CDN to US$ conversion was this way: Multiply litre cost by 3.79 = cost US gallons. However, the exchange rate may have changed by summer of 2017. Anybody love math out there and want to work it for current levels ?
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Posted By: ronahue
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2016 at 9:19am
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The Frontier has a 21.5 gallon tank and I plan to carry a 5 gallon can and I have a 2.5 gallon can for my generator. Mileage varies from 12-14 while towing conservatively giving me a safe 300 miles range. with some wiggle room. I generally run on the top half of the tank. ------------- Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated |
Posted By: bob-Pod
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2016 at 2:49pm
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The wife and I took a trip to Alaska towing our 171 from mid-July
to mid-August in 2013. I had the plan of
one week up, one week back ,and two weeks to play. We started in Washington state an hour west
of Seattle and drove to Dawson Creek to the start of the AlCan and took the
Cassiar back. We also brought our little
dogs with us. (Make sure to get papers
from the vet). As mentioned by others, you will want to have the most
current version of the Milepost. It was
an excellent reference and would list services, turnoffs, etc. by the mile or
less. It will let you know where gas
stations are. My wife drove past a
couple because they “didn’t look like a gas station”. Sometimes you might not notice the pump until
you pull in. Three hundred miles capacity in the gas tank will be plenty
of miles and long as you pay attention and plan on filling up even if you are
only at a half a tank. Don’t think about
only putting in a few liters because the prices “have to get better”. We were paying about $4.00 in Washington that
summer and I had sticker shock the first time I had to pay 1.75 CDN /liter. I think we ended up paying that twice and at
one place I paid 1.94 CDN /liter. I did
carry two 5 gallon cans of gas. Besides
the price of gas being high the exchange rate was pretty crappy. If I remember right gas was most expensive in
northern BC and became a little more reasonable in the Yukon. You will definitely want to spend two or more nights at the
Liard River Hot Springs. Besides soaking
we also saw a moose from the boardwalk.
Whitehorse had a couple of museums that were decent. Make the side trip through Skagway and Haines. We did it on the way back and caught the
Alaska ferry between the two. Lots of
bald eagles in Haines (and The Hammer Museum).
Skagway is hit by the cruise ships but was fun to visit. Do the walking
tour with the National Park Service. In
Denali we stayed at the Teklanika campground.
You are only allowed to drive so far in the park, so don’t worry that
you will have to keep the vehicle parked if you camp at Teklanika. You will have to buy a Tek bus ticket but you
can ride to the Observatory every day for one ticket purchase. We spent a week on the Kenai at Cooper’s landing. It was close to the fishing on the Russian
river. We didn’t fish but saw numerous
guys in the water. We took a glacier and
wildlife cruise out of Seward. Well
worth the money. You can buy an Alaska coupon
book. We got one from someone returning
from Alaska and saved over $100 for the cruise. Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions. ------------- 2015 RPOD 178 HRE (2015- ) 2010 RPOD 171 (2009-2015) 2010 Toyota Tacoma Quad Cab |
Posted By: birderdiane526
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2016 at 9:56am
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Hi Ron and Sharon, Michael and I have been seriously thinking of Alaska for this coming year, and your query here has generated wonderful information. Are you looking for traveling partners or are you happier going solo? Our research is yet to be finalized, but we do have a friend in Tok who is offering us some advice. Thanks! ------------- Diane and Michael 2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE) 2007 Toyota Tundra BLOG:Podding in Paradise, birderdiane526.blogspot.com |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2016 at 8:31pm
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Great info here. Can't wait to do this ourselves but it will probably be 12 years away. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: ronahue
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2016 at 6:24am
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Our basic plan is a solo adventure however it would be fun to hookup with some others at intervals along the way. The most likely scenario is that I would leave in mid June from Boston through Vermont to Montreal take 117 and 11 through northern Ontario to Thunder Bay then the Trans Canada to either Edmonton or Calgary where Sharon would join me. At that point we would begin the Alcan/Cassiar/Alaska portion of the trip. We are still in the very early planning stages and family/social obligations have been known to throw a wrench into our plans in the past. I usually get into the serious planning; dates reservations, etc. in February or March. Let us know as your plans mature and maybe we can do a portion together. ------------- Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated |
Posted By: birderdiane526
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2016 at 7:56am
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It would be fun to meet up along the way! Let's stay in touch. It's always great to meet new friends aso we travel. ------------- Diane and Michael 2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE) 2007 Toyota Tundra BLOG:Podding in Paradise, birderdiane526.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Blue Highways
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2016 at 6:04pm
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Bob-pod: We enjoyed your comments of your epic 2013 Alaska-bound trip, plus your notes about not missing Liard Springs on the Alcan, etc. Agree that Milepost Magazine was a most useful guide to this expansive route. One highlight that might be a fun way to "cap off" an Alaska R-pod road adventure, would be to make sure to attend the amazing Alaska State Fair in Palmer, AK (our former hometown). The fair is held in a broad field surrounded by the breathtaking (still snow-highlighted) peaks of the "Matsu-Valley." You can stabilize your Pod in Palmer's nearby Matanuska Campground on the Old Glenn Hwy 15 minutes from the site. The fair annually is set for the middle of August. It's an accessible small-town event with great musical entertainment, rides, non-typical food, with a strong, earthy agricultural warmth to it all. Palmer is historically a rich ag region, dating back to it's New Deal homesteading days of the mid-1930s, where it attracted upper midwestern farmers who applied and were accepted for relocation aid during that great recession. Many of the pioneers there had Norwegian, Swedish and German ancestry, and their children and grandchildren live on in Palmer today. It's a fascinating Google search of its own. As shown at the fair, the vegetables grow absolutely monstrous with the long 14+ hour summer days and locals compete, including best recipes for the local berries. Typical sunny day temperatures are a perfect 72 to 76 unless you get some cooler rainy days mixed in. Palmer has a pedestrian-friendly laid-back downtown vibe. After the Alaska State Fair, you would just pull your Pod on past Wasilla on the Parks Highway to begin your trek homeward. (Your vacation is far from over at this point.) We recommend taking the short spur to Talkeetna, the international launching point for climbing expeditions to (former Mt. McKinley), with good chances of photographing "the big one" (Denali) from the town's river edge view, (with or without clouds intersecting it's massive peaks). The town will keep you occupied as a pedestrian for several hours, as everything is concentrated. Talkeetna is also the taking off point for various small group aerial flights around Denali itself. (My mom, 84, partook of a 6-person K-2 Aviation tour over Denali, where she used up most of her camera's 16gb SD card). Another option from Talkeetna is taking the Hurricane Gulch train (an affordable unique, slow moving whistle-stop train using the classic "Vista Cruiser" upper deck passenger car design of the 1950s & 1960s). This adventure leaves and returns to Talkeetna taking up the greater part of a day. You will see real Alaskans riding along with you on this route to re-supply their remote bush cabins, go to doctors appointments, or to return home with a new husky pup. Other groups pull the whistle to unload their float gear for long river rafting trips. At the end of the route, culminating upon a historic railway bridge spanning a 300 foot gorge, the train seats are "reversed" and engines are reversed for the slow, lazy trip back to Talkeetna. If a bear cub is spotted in a nearby tree, or a cow moose and babies, the conductor will slow or stop the train for all. A rare, unique rail experience... and talk about being able to stretch your legs, and walk around while in motion, this is the great antithesis to claustrophobic airline travel. Bring your own lunch, though. After you are saturated from the Talkeetna experience, it would be time to drive northward to the Denali Village area and explore the park itself, getting a sample of the terrain, or going deeply into it by tour bus. (see Bob-pod's campsite recommendation). From there, it would be logical to continue and top off supplies in Fairbanks (stop and stretch at North Pole, AK) and then and set out in the morning towards Tok, Alaska and then Canada. There is a a Pod-welcoming campground right in Fairbanks that we liked. Down the road, most of the Yukon Territories' clean and affordable provincial park campgrounds will close after the weekend following labor day weekend ....which would time out about right. That's about when we came through this year (turning southward on the Cassiar Highway and then the Yellowhead). We were overly concerned about our single propane tank that was full in Fairbanks, but we did great, using it for cooling the fridge on the road, firing up the stove for evening meals, and running our shower (and heater as set for the sometimes 40ish degree nights), while we slept warm & snugly. The tank was only low (15% or less?) by the time we were near the border at Washington state. So we feel that if you haven't set your Pod up for double propane tanks, don't let that be a hindrance for Alaska; in an efficient R-Pod, you won't use as much as you think. One Seward-based AK recommendation: The Seven Glacier Kenai Fjords Tour (sea lions, whales, etc) .... a captain-narrated wildlife viewing tour where the boat is steered toward and lingers around that day's sightings, with hearty prime rib and/or Alaska salmon lunch inside a massive log lodge on Fox Island, before reboarding and looping back to the port at Seward. There's also the beautiful towering ski lodge south of Anchorage (Alyeska) in the town of Girdwood, with tram to the top (Seven Glaciers Restaurant), and summer hiking trails along the tumbling river below. We like Chair 5 and Jack Sprat as far as ski town restaurants. These are good spots to quell the hungries, if you've got your R-Pod camping spot claimed at one of the campsites near Portage, but don't feel like cooking. Don't worry, in the peak of an Alaskan summer, you won't ever have to drive in the dark (outside of 1:30 a.m. - 3:15 a.m, when it is just a few shades lighter than dusk). Plenty of visitors love to spend time in the Copper River area for fishing not far from Soldotna, or wandering the beaches near the Homer, Alaska spit. Some take a ferry ride over to explore Cordova. We were excited to learn that some of us in the R-Pod community have been talking about seriously bringing their Pod to Alaska. You will never forget it. Your Pod will save you loads on accommodations, (and many meals) giving you more cash for the fun stuff. You will have stories to tell, that can't be made up, and images to share that will enthrall your friends and family who will probably never make it there. We will be up for doing it again in about 5 years. Maybe we can rendezvous with some AK-bound Podders when that comes around again for us. We'd love to read about other's AK or Alcan Hwy experiences, whether they had their R-Pods on the road at the time or not.... Brad & Layli R-Pod 179 tugged by "BG" aka Baleuga, the 10 Tundra Western NC formerly of Palmer, AK
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Posted By: birderdiane526
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2016 at 9:43pm
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Brad & Layli, thank you for such great Alaska ideas! We hope to take your suggestions and incorporate them into our itinerary.
What about boondocking? Are their many opportunities along the way? ------------- Diane and Michael 2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE) 2007 Toyota Tundra BLOG:Podding in Paradise, birderdiane526.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Blue Highways
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2016 at 9:01am
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Hi back to you BirderDiane & Michael.... Glad my verbal excess has at least lead to some ideas for your adventure planning. Google searches should fill in the other questions with photos & details. Correction: Seven Glacier boat tour bases out of Whittier, the Kenai Fjords (with or w/o Fox island lunch option) is based out of Seward. I blended the tour names together previously. I will mention something you both would like on the Kenai Fjords boat tour that included the lunch stop on Fox island: the amazing information the captain narrated about the many birds we saw as we chugged along the rocky towering cliffs and shorelines... he added details on their migration, nesting spots and observations of how each year is different for different species. You both might enjoy that, so bring your best cameras and lenses.... I turned on the smart phone recorder and caught some of the narration to replay. Video of the swooping flight patterns near the boat is rewarding to capture like I did. Alaska has a distinct lower quantity of "KOA" style camp grounds, (like our Fairbanks one) but there are some campgrounds with 30a post with water spigot, ....but most often you'll be in service-free spots and would need to use a 3 gal jug to top off your water supply from the campground pump, as Alaska is mostly boon docking country. The maneuverability of the R-Pod, and the fact that you can select the choicer "back-in" style spots, (plus being able to set the tow vehicle free for exploring) make it a great Podding state. Next paragraph is mention of a little campground we liked that gave us access to the amazing Independence Mine State Park. Surrounding it are "open" meadows, lakes and waterfall zones beneath the mountains, making for an amazing day hike that originates at the grouping of historic buildings that form the center of that very special park. We prefer the open mountain meadow kind of hiking. This small, clean campground is attached to the Government Peak Picnic Site, and has about 8-10 angled back-in sites, paved and level with clean bathrooms between the picnic & camping sections. Technically the address is 13778 Hatcher Pass Road. Going north out of Palmer as if you were heading out for the Alcan, you'd take a left past an old water tower on left.... so left on Palmer-Fishook Road (which is a paved two lane - w/good clear sign for the turn off) ....will take you right there. Campground less than an hour from downtown Palmer (which has a Kroger Fred Meyers store for all of your supplies). The campground then is your nesting spot to take your tow vehicle up to Independence Mine for a day of fun, about 40 mins further up-valley. You can also run up the side road just short of the mine park (gravel) for about 30 minutes more, to Independence Pass, where people also hike, often with their pets, absorbing the grand vistas. This is largely open country, so less precautions about bears, as you are not forced to hike through brushy, concealed areas (unless you choose other great trails). To claim a campsite in this choice little CG, move your R-Pod into your site in the morning on a weekday, preferably Mon thru Weds. Then you detach and can run back to Palmer in your tow vehicle, go to Finger Lake Park in Wasilla, or explore Independence Mine area just up the valley from your campsite. You still might be able to score a site on Thursday thru the weekend, but chances are better for you if you get set up by noon on M-W. Makes a great non-remote but quiet base camp! And, technically, it's boondocking, no water or electricity, but you are a short run to everything you need,, including dining options in Palmer. Happy planning !  PM us if you have more specific questions or concerns and we'll do our best.--B & L ------------- There are no unimportant jobs, no unimportant people, no unimportant acts of kindness. ( And as always, happiness is an inside job.) |
Posted By: birderdiane526
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2016 at 10:17am
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Your info is awesome and greatly appreciated! We will definitely PM with further questions! We'really excited to be planning. ------------- Diane and Michael 2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE) 2007 Toyota Tundra BLOG:Podding in Paradise, birderdiane526.blogspot.com |
Posted By: knockabout
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2016 at 1:10pm
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Gas has been covered well. Common sense and top off when you can rather than just figure on going on to the next stop. Alcan is a well traveled route less so on the Cassiar. My best advice would be DON'T DRIVE AFTER DARK! This is big wildlife country and they will sometimes use the road for easy movement starting around dusk. It can take hours for the EMT's or such to arrive. Liard Hot Springs is always a great stop over. There are 2 pools the first close to campground and that's where 90% of folks go. 2nd is a bit further but usually way quieter and way less crowded. 2 out of 4 times we've had it to ourselves. Pretty much Boondock where you want. I've put my tent up under the Alaska pipeline in the past. WOW experience. But I was motorcycling back then. Keep your camp clean--meaning don't leave stuff out. Don't pass up the Caribou sausage for breakfast. I'll just quote an old timer I met who moved up in 1949 "Alaska is what the States used to be". Danny B |
Posted By: knockabout
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2016 at 1:20pm
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Oh and I forgot The mosquitoes have really sharp beaks! |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2016 at 8:54pm
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Ever try using a mixture of a stick of camphor and let it sit in a jar of olive oil for a week? Seems to work pretty well for black flies, chiggars, and mosquitoes in northern Michigan. But maybe it wouldn't work for those "BIG SHARP BEAKS" the the AK mosquitoes possess. ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: ronahue
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2017 at 4:46pm
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Ok, Alaska plans are beginning to firm up. I will depart Boston solo on June 15, 2017 and Sharon will fly into Edmonton, AB on June 28. I'm somewhat conflicted on the route I will take to Edmonton, AB my original plan was north through Quebec and Ontario along highway 11 into Thunder Bay but I'm thinking I have not been to the east side of Glacier NP we always hike out of the west side and I could spend a few days hiking on the east side of the park and then shot up to Edmonton if I take I90 and I94 out to Montana. On the other hand I haven't been to northern Ontario since Sharon and I did several canoe camping trips in the 1970's. Any suggestions from those with experience camping and traveling in either of these areas will be appreciated. ------------- Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated |
Posted By: rda54
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2017 at 5:07pm
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Hi Ron,
We were in glacier last summer we stayed at Koa in St. Mary's. It was a very nice place to stay very friendly and helpful. It was our first time there my son in law has been going his hole life. We went to minny glacier. They said the glaciers will be gone be for we know it. We went out through North Dakota and took highway 2 in Montana very prity drive. Good luck on your adventure. Ron ------------- Ronald & Lonna 2014 178 2016 Chevy 1500 |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2017 at 8:23pm
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We haven't been to Glacier in our 177 Pod since September 2011. We took US-2 from the Mackinac Bridge in the UP of Michigan all the way to Glacier. As rda54 above stated, a very scenic drive, but if you are trying to make time, you will want to take another route. We prefer to smell the roses along the way, not having to travel at 70 - 80 mph to keep up with traffic. On 2 you will go through a lot of small towns and see a lot of America that you won't see driving the interstate. ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: capnfishook
Date Posted: 16 Jan 2017 at 1:32am
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Welcome to the north country, eh? I live in Alaska and have made the drive to and from Outside several times over the years; once pulling a 2010 R-Pod on a trans-North American trip. Check out Liard Hot Springs in northern BC, for sure. Takhini Hot Springs, west of White Horse is a good stop, too, if you aren't in a hurry. There are a few choices for the trip north-bound. It all depends on what you want to see and how much time you have. I have driven them all from Manitoba to BC and none of them were bad, but each of them were different. You'll have to come back often to see what I mean. The drive from Mesiadan (sp?) Jct. on the Cassiar to the seacoast towns of Stewart, BC/Hyder, AK is one of the most scenic drives in North America. It crosses over the coastal mountains, past a roadside glacier and follows the resulting stream all the way through both towns. Brown bear come into town to catch salmon. You can watch it from the cafe in town while eating breakfast. If you are interested in fishing, the sooner you get up north, the better. June to July is the peak fishing season for salmon and halibut in the south central region. There will be fish to be had anytime, but this is the prime time for fishing. My recommendation for the rig is add a bug screen to the front of your tow vehicle and clean it often. Broken headlights and windshields are not uncommon. Plan on it and consider yourself lucky if you get home without one. Another option is to consider the Alaska Marine Hwy, but it can be costly for a tow vehicle plus camper. The price is on a per foot basis. The cruise up the southeast passage is on to put on your list of places to see, especially in good weather. You will get to the point of telling yourself that if you see one more glacier you will puke. That's when it is time to hang out at the bar and check out the local color. Safe travels and may you dream of your trip for many years to come. |
Posted By: ronahue
Date Posted: 16 Jan 2017 at 8:22am
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More great tips Thanks to all. ------------- Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 16 Jan 2017 at 9:04am
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Great to get info like that on the fishing and the bears!!
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: ronahue
Date Posted: 16 Jan 2017 at 9:38am
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LeoB, Birderdiane526, has indicated they may do Alaska this summer are you ready to sign on? Maybe the 3 of us can plan to meet up for part of the trip. ------------- Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 16 Jan 2017 at 10:17am
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I am talking with Melissa about it, hashing over if details could be worked out.
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |