I'm driving up in a couple weeks from my home state of Ohio. I'll be living in either Anchorage or Wasilla. I have two questions so here they are:

1. Any tips for driving up in winter months?

2. I have a number of guns that I would like to take with me (.375, .325, .25-06, .22LR, 2 shotguns, and a .454 casull handgun). What do I have to do to drive them through Canada to Alaska? Will I be able to take the handgun through Canada?

Thanks.

Brett

to answer your 2nd question - no you will have to ship the handgun

Bring along alot of spare gas and supplies. Driving the Alcan in the winter time is alot differant than during tourist season.

Good luck and drive safe.

You want to have some extra belts for your car, jumper cables, block heater, Outdoor extention cord. Along with a Sleeping bag, a small cook stove to heat water if needed and enough water and instant soup if you end up stuck for a few days. There are spots on the road where you will drive a good 200 miles between service stations. Get your car in order before you leave, Tires, beings coolant etc. Plan on 10 days of driving. Once you get into Canada, plan on 350 to 400 miles a day. They do post driving conditions on the internet. Other than that, there is a gas station by Mondo Lake, serves great fresh baked bread and chilli. Most of the tourist stops will be closed, Watch out for game on the road, Start early and stop early. Try to be off the road before dark. Other than that, its a fun drive.

Buy a copy of 'Mileposts' it will yield all the info you'll need about the drive and Canadian customs.
Be aware that much of your drive will be in hours of darkness.

quote:

Originally posted by Brett Adam Barringer:
I'm driving up in a couple weeks from my home state of Ohio. I'll be living in either Anchorage or Wasilla. I have two questions so here they are:

1. Any tips for driving up in winter months?

2. I have a number of guns that I would like to take with me (.375, .325, .25-06, .22LR, 2 shotguns, and a .454 casull handgun). What do I have to do to drive them through Canada to Alaska? Will I be able to take the handgun through Canada?

Thanks.

Brett

Google Canadian customs & guns, have your paperwork filled out before you leave & don't rely on advice from internet forums. The road is a Lot Nicer(smother)in the winter. Have a good time!!

WE Live 1/2 the way up the Alaska Highway.
Try tob drive in daylite only. Watch for game. Moose, sheep,caribou, bison. We have lots of snow this year. Have good winter tires. Past Fort Nelson buy gas wherever you can. The next place might be open but out of gas. Temperatures right now are hitting -20C at night. We were up to -5 today but had a real dump of snow. Drive to the road conditions and have a safe trip.
Watson Lake

for road conditions from the B.C. Yukon border to the Yukon Alaska border go to
www.gov.yk.ca

also can phone 511 in the Yukon..

Watson Lake

Here is the direct link to current Yukon Road Conditions..

http://www.511yukon.ca/

Watson Lake

Thank you for the information. Would you recommend chains? Should I have the heater under the hood every night when I stop? If not what temperature would I do that? Thanks.

Brett

The best trip from Alaska that could ever be was on a ferry. Camper tucked in below, topside we enjoyed three days of coastal scenery, Northern Lights at night. Taking the ferry relieved me of the unknown exposures of driving a long road with chance encounters with game or breakdown. The boat from Seattle drops you at Haines, from there an easy drive to Anchorage. For once, someone else was doing all the driving.........r in s.

Chains is a very good idea. If you dont use them, no big deal cuz they dont take up much space.

As for the heater, you might as well do it now and have a block heater installed. there are numerous types available. I dont plug mine in till its about 10-15F.

Ray, you have the right idea.

quote:

Originally posted by Brett Adam Barringer:
Thank you for the information. Would you recommend chains? Should I have the heater under the hood every night when I stop? If not what temperature would I do that? Thanks.

Brett

Chains yes, Get a block heater now & when you get into temps of +10degF or colder plug it in
when you stop for more than a hour. Hope the
-40 to -50 shit is done by the time you leave!!
Have a good one!!

good advise to get the vehicle winter gear now. You will need it regardless next yr. Also consider a battery blanket and oil pan heater.
Snow tires are very important. Not all season tires. starts to get daylight here at 7 AM and still light at 6 pm. Days are getting longer for sure.
Watson Lake

Thanks again for the info. I'm going to research, but how much is it to ferry from Seatle to Haines?

BAB

Googlhttp://www.akferry.com/CrossGulf.htme AK ferry system.

Go to the above to check rates.

Mark

Perfect Mark. Thank you. I'd been looking and found some info, but this is by far the best.

Brett

http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/fare_tables.shtml

There's much information on this site, including fare schedules. Take great scenic photos during the day through land not commonly seen, enjoy the cafeteria, don't need a room if you can sleep in the common area (we did). Debarking points have changed since I was there, now it looks like ferry takes off at Bellingham.......you can get "I survived the Alcan Highway" bumper sticker another time. Figure your driving costs, risks, border checkpoints then board the boat, you'll enjoy every hour........r in s.

I have a Toyota Tundra 4x4. Being from Ohio I'm new to chains. Should I get 1 pair for the rear tires or 2 pairs for all four tires? Also, any recommendations on chain brands, types, ect?

Any recommendations for brands or types of block heaters? How much for the heater and install?

1. snow tires are great, if you can still find studded snow tires all the better. Put them on before you leave home. No exceptions.

2. I don't like chains, they are a huge pain in the ass. And unless it is very deep snow I don't bother. I reccomend you have a set for each front and rear. When you need them you need them.

3. Driving during the daytime only is a good idea, but the farther you get down the road it becomes increasingly harder to find a place to sleep.

4. The ferry is by far the easiest way to go. Cabins are available and if your moving on military orders the military will pay for the price of the cabin.

5. Ship your pistol to an FFL in Anchorage. Call and find out who accepts them.

If your Tundra is anything like my Tacoma ablock heater is pretty well an impossible/very costly add on. WE get 50 below zero here and the oil pan heater did the trick fine..
If you have a dog the ferry does not allow the dog off the car deck and you can only go on the car deck after the ferry has docked. WE go to Juneau and Hoonah from Haines and Skagway and just scares the heck out of our dog. 630 pm here and lots of day light left. SAme time as seattle. Just need good snow tires. I never have chains and we have only the Alaska highway that is hard surface. The ak highway is in real good shape. For places to sleep. After FORT nelson in B.C. there is Watson Lake, then whitehorse, haines junction,beaver creek, then TOK Alaska. From TOK, an easy drive to your new home. Also a few highway lodges in between the townhs mentioned.
Watson Lake
Watson LAke

An oil pan heater is a cheap addition, and worth it if you have a place to plug in. I strongly suggest lightweight synthetic oil. It will help you get started in the cold even if you couldn't plug in.

Winter is nice and lonely for the drive. So, extra gas is good for peace of mind. Plan on 350 miles between fills in some spots...as previously said, don't skip available gas just to be sure.

The gun thing pretty much has you fill out export/import paperwork on all your guns. This effectively registers them with the government. If that concerns you, you could ship them or fly them as checked luggage a couple at a time if you wanted-that's what I did.

Milepost has a lot of ads and data, most of which won't be applicable or open when you go thru. I found it useless for my trips. It is organized by mile marker and road--for me it became a choice between spend time reading it or driving. I think it is made to give the old fart not driving something to do for a week or so while the other drives.....

You won't find darkness to be a big problem anymore this year.

It's a beautiful drive. Enjoy!

Dan

Thank you all for the information. The more I look into it I think I will drive.

Watson Lake,

Thanks for the lodging info. I don't have a dog for the time being. I'm sure all that time alone would make them insane! Are there any areas that you would worry about gas availability? My truck should go 400 miles on a tank plus I was going to bring a 5 gallon gas can or two (depeding on space). If I have trouble with the block heater instalation will I be alright with just a oil pan heater?

I know how far I can drive in a day depends on the weather conditions, but if things go well could I drive from Fort Nelson to Whitehorse or should I expect to have to stop in Watson Lake and drive to Whitehorse the next day? The same question for Whitehorse to Wasilla. Should I be able to do it in one day or will I likely need to stop in Tok and drive to Wasilla the next day. The same question too for Edmonton to Fort Nelson. Can I do it in one day or should I plan on stopping in Dawson Creek? I don't mean to push it, I'm just not sure what's reasonable this time of year and knowing would help my planning. Thanks.

Brett

Thanks Dan!

Hi Brett,

Your trip will be an adventure and with good planning, it will be great. There has been a lot of good advice here and you should pay attention to it.

Regarding stops for the night - don't push your luck. Keep very close track on your travel time and the weather. If you find a place to stay by 4:00 to 5:00 PM, go ahead and stop. It would be better to leave at 5:00 or 6:00 AM than to drive into the dark. You should take every precaution about not being stuck on the road over night.

I don't know how old your truck is, but one thing you need to check before you leave is your electrical system. If your alternator quits on you it means very big trouble. You have to have it to run the engine and the heather if you happen to break down or get stuck. Good headlights are your best defense against hitting a moose.

If you break down and the heater doesn't work, you will need an alternate source of heat. The simplest trick is to buy some type of camp stove. You have to be VERY CAREFUL about carbon monoxide so never use the stove without venting a window. As was mentioned earlier, have a metal pan to warm water so you have have hot soup - it will make a huge difference in keeping warm. Avoid caffine and things that are hard to digest. Also, no alcohol - it makes you colder.

Also, if you are broke down, you will need a sleeping bag AND a couple of blankets. Vehicles are terrible about containing heat, so you have to really wrap up to contain your body heat.

Keep an empty pop bottle in your truck in case you need to take a leak. It will keep you from having to open the door and get out when it is cold and the wind is blowing.

Good snow tires are a must. If you get to a point of needing chains, there is no substitute. A tow rope is important in the event you get stuck so that a good samaritan that stops can help get you out. And, a stout shovel - snow banks are very hard so you need a really good shovel.

Forget about cell phone service between the towns.

And take two 5 gal. cans of gas. Be sure that the spout will work on your truck. If not, then take a long neck funnel along. Be sure that your gas cans don't leak on other things that are packed nearby.

You should also have a fire extenguisher and it needs to be very available to the cab. If you happen to catch something on fire, nobody is goign to call a fire dept. You will be on your own.

Good luck and be safe. It won't hurt to pray before you leave, and pray along the way.

Oh, one other thing - If you have a library card, check out as many Books on Tapes (or CD)as you can. Listenting to stories really helps to pass the time. When you get to Alaska, put them in a box and mail them back to the library from which they were borrowed. We did this on a trip that we did in the summer, and it was great. There are no radio stations out there.

SD Shooter

I apperciate all the advice. With lodging is making reservations a must. I'm not sure how far I'll be able to travel daily, so I didn't think reserving rooms in towns for certain dates was a good idea. Thoughts?

White Horse to Wasilla in one day, nope. You stop in Tok, or if the traveling is good Glennallen. CD's or Ipods is nice to have. I done the trip 14 times in a VW jetta both in winter and spring. Like I said it's going to be ten days behind the wheel. Be sure to call family every day, let them know were you are. If you get stuck, people will stop that is one of the nice things about the Alcan. Its not a hard drive, its will be strange for you since its your first trip. What you will find interesting is how light the traffic on the road will be, even in season its not all that heavy. Muluk Annie's BBQ Salmon will not be open yet, its almost worth waiting till May. Hotel and motel rooms should not be a problem. I never ran into a problem and I drove it a lot in April and May and Return in Oct and Nov. With 2 trips done in Jan.

I drove the highway many times in both the summer and winter. Many places that are open in the summer are closed in the winter. When you get down to 1/2 tank of gas fill up at the next place you find. I would also carry a 5 gallon can of gas with me if I were you. Not sure what you are driving but I would also have four winter tires with studs installed. A couple of spare belts and a quart or two of oil and maybe a jug of antifreeze just in case. Add a sleeping bag and some good cold weather gear just in case you break down.
Have a block heater installed before you head up. You can still find really cold temperatures along the highway in spots till mid April. Also carry an extension cord so you can plug it in at the hotel.
Drive safe, slow down and enjoy the scenery. Welcome to Alaska

Hey, Brett!
Your trip sounds like it'll be a lot of fun. With careful planning and preparation it should be quite the adventure. If you don't mind saying, why the move to Alaska?
Best wishes for a great trip. It'd be great to hear of your experiences after your journey.

An oil pan heater and possibly a battery blanket will be fine. That is what we have on our 08 Tacoma. Did not have any problems this winter starting the truck at colder than 50 below.
The one piece of advise given by a poster " if it is 5-6 o clock and you can find lodging then stop for the night. reservations not required. As you will be traveling in March/April the daylight and weather is getting better. We never carry extra gas but maybe not a bad idea.
The thin area for gas will be fort nelson to watson lake. WL to whitehorse is 270+/- miles.
Then after Whitehorse I would get gas at haines Junction, then Beaver Creek, Tok.
From Watson Lake to Whotehorse is 5 hrs easy drive, then Whitehorse to Anchhorage is 650 miles.
The Alaska Highway os a good drive, one just needs to be sensible and prepared. In Dawson Creek go downtown to the official marker for the start of the Alaska HighwaY. ENJOY THE TRIP..
WATSON LAKE

May want to check your antifreeze. -34 (50/50mix)may not be good enough if you can't plug in. I plug in around +10 or so for 3-4 hours to start up. Get a good battery and Mobil 1 full Synthetic oil.

This site will tell you most all you need to know about firearms through Canada. I just downloaded the forms, paid the fee and was on my way. You can take handguns through Canada, but it takes a lot longer to do than you apparantly have. Good luck and give a holler when you arrive. Greg


http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/default_e.asp

Brett,

Be sure to read the information about firearms that may enter Canada. There are restrictions on handguns (of course), semi-auto rifles, the length of barrels (measured in milimeters, and slightly longer than US regs). Last time I was in Canada the cost was $35.00 US for 3 long guns. Hanguns and other restricted firearms require a very lengthy permitting process.

If you want to ship the handguns, etc. contact the Gun Runner in Anchorage (907-245-5486). I talked with them previously and they are very accommodating about receiving your firearms. Talk with them about the procedure. Either way, it will cost you some money to get them to Alaska.

Also, read the Canadian regs on how much ammo you can take across the border. You can take up to 5,000 rounds but you have to pay a tax on everything over 200 rounds. Check it out yourself - don't rely on the information on this forum. It is too serious a matter to take heresay from any of us.

Be sure to let us know how your trip goes.

Good luck.

SD Shooter

Thanks all. I've come to the realisation that this trip will take as long as it takes. I'll just take it as it comes and try to stay prepared. I spoke to Canadian customs and as soon as I mentioned a handgun they said don't bother. The long guns are a piece of cake. You need a form 909 for up to 3 guns. Form 910 is a continuation form for over 3 guns. The forms can be filled out ahead of time, but you must show them the guns and sign the forms in person. I also spoke to US customs. They advised me to stop at the US side of my port of entry into Canada and register my guns, so that I could have the proper paperwork to re-enter the US with my guns. The had gun will have to be Fedexed up there. Unfortunately I can't receive the gun at the FFL in Alaska until I am a resident of Alaska. I think I'll have my mother hold on to it until I'm a resident and then Fedex it up. Sportsman's Wearhouse will not accept guns in this way. Wild West Guns charges $75 to receive. Everyone else seems to charge $50.

I bought snow tires this morning with very agressive treads. I have a block heater on the way and it will be installed at the Toyota dealer when I take it to have it inspected. I'm going to have the dealership check the battery, put in a thin sinthetic oil, put in a low temp antifreeze, and give it a general once over. I have a gas stove, sleeping bag, cold weather clothing, and a gas can. I am getting a first food, aid kit, tow rope, and considering a satelite phone.

TWL,

I'm a recently graduated chiropractor. I have been to Alaska a number of times. I love the land, the people, and the freedom. It's a great place to practice and I live to hunt and fish. Salt water fishing, fresh water fishing, conventional fishing gear, fly fishing gear, bow hunting, rifle hunting, muzzleloader hunting, spear hunting if the let me, I love it all. I have serveral job opertunities in the Anchorage and Wasilla areas. At this point I need to just go up and see them in person.

No one has mentioned it, but be on the lookout for Sasquatch. (aka Bigfoot)
http://www.sasquatchtracker.com/index.html

Ray,

I'll be sure to take my camera and keep an eye out!

IF YOU GET A SAT PHONE GET AN IRIDUM. GLOBALSTAR DO NOT WORK UP HERE. IF YOU WANT A GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO A PHONE CHECK OUT
WWW.FINDMESPOT.COM
WIFE AND I CANCELLED OUR SAT PHONE FOR A SPOT
WORKS LIKE A DREAM...

Watson Lake

IF YOUR BACK GIVES OUT IN WATSON LAKE STOP FOR A COFFEE OR IF AT NIGHT WE HAVE AN EXTRA ROOM.
WE ARE ON THE WWW.COUCHSURFING.COM NETWORK. YOU CAN LOOK UP OUR PROFILE ON THERE.
My office is beside the highway nd our shack is close by.
Watson Lake.

Watson Lake,

Sattelite phones are extremely expensive. I think I'm going with the SPOT. I may take you up on the lodging offer if I stop in Watson Lake. Thanks.

Brett

Spot bot! Sorry I couldn't help myself!