Anyone go down the Yukon from the bridge above Fairbanks? Am planning a trip down past Ruby and was wondering about gas availibility ?Any help would be appreciated.

You should be able to get fuel at any of the villages along the way. Just be prepared to pay.

Not yet I would plan on bringing everything you need. Things will be available at some villages, but at very high prices. Expect $3 a gallon for gas, maybe more.

Crowcommander:

I can't answer your question about fuel, but I can encourage you to take a river trip. It is well worth the effort if you can work out the logistics.

In September 1981 my brother and I did a Yukon River trip near the area you mention. We started our 2 week adventure at Circle and motored upstream about 100 miles to Charlie River. We chose to go upstream because of our lack of familiarity of the area and the risks of loosing our 40 HP Mercury outboard. We also did it on our own with no assistance from guides or locals, which added some degree of challenge for us.

The trip was a great experience for us as it was my first trip to Alaska. The country was beautiful and we managed to bag a beautiful 6' black bear, thanks to the best shot I have ever seen anyone take. My brother, shooting his beloved Remington Mod. 700 BDL, off hand at 200 yards with the bear running down the beach away from us. Quite exciting stuff for a couple of young men from south Louisiana.

I would also say the tranquility of that trip was remarkable, as we saw very few people, boats or planes while on the river. There was a real sense of solitude out there and the Northern Lights performed for us every night.

About 10 days into our adventure, the outboard conked out so we had to float back to Circle and our truck. Overall a great trip that I would love to do again someday.

Best of luck to you.

[ 02-21-2003, 02:09: Message edited by: Kanatak ]

There was a group of about 5 guys floated on a homebuilt raft with a wall tent on it from Whitehorse all the way through Alaska, to the ocean about 5 years or so ago. The two organizers were a pair of brothers from Vancouver, BC, Canada. It was a 2200 mile trip and took 2 and a half months if I remember correctly. I saw a program about them a few years ago on television. I aslo remember that they stopped at Diamond Tooth Gertie's in Dawson City, yukon, to have the traditional "mummified toe" drink. That's all the info I can remember about it. Not much for you to go to a search engine with though....
CDW

I seen the same program of them dudes floating the Yukon, it was on a National Geographic show. ~~~Suluuq

Do you emember the guys names, or any helpful info to find the program again?
CDW

I also saw that program.

Not sure if it would help with hunting though, I seem to recall those guys were hating life near the end of the trip.

I do suggest lot's of research though. There's a few guys who discuss floating hunts here...

Alaska Hunting Forum

You need to be careful where you go, and more importantly, where you stop. There have been cases of 'outsiders' being harassed by 'locals'.

Then of course, there's so many raft choices, meat care, river issues, motor/gas issues, etc.

When I was stationed up at Fort Wainwright in the late 80's, two friends of mine went on a rafting trip on the FourtyMile River. Only one came home, the other drowned.

The Forty Mile River is also a wild, white water river. The Yukon,well you can float a log raft with a cabin tent on top all the way. Fine stories are the ones I hear about hunting down the Yukon. Careful planning and prep. You can never prepare enough for the mosquitos.

been up the Teslin,then the Yukon to Carmacks in 1989. Remember the R.Service campground,the beautifull aurora borealis in August.Long for those crazy younger days,but at least Iam not broke now!

Crowcomander, I suggest you check with a couple of the fuel distributors in Fairbanks. Also talk to the folks at 40 mile Air and Frontier Air. They will know where the fuel is. Most of the villages have a general store and fuel supply, it ain't cheap! I had experience servicing some accounts back in the late 70's in the bush most anything can be had. If you go, take an inflatable that you can roll up and ship home via the air carrier. Or sell it to someone in the village, they might need one.
Good luck.

John

gone down the Nahanni in 85.probably the most beautiful wilderness in N America.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul H:
Not yet <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> I would plan on bringing everything you need. Things will be available at some villages, but at very high prices. Expect $3 a gallon for gas , maybe more.

Couldn't resist the necropost for a chuckle at the "high gas price" in 2003