so, i've got a few weeks of vacation i need to burn up before the end of the year or i lose it. i've always wanted to drive to alaska, and this might be my chance. just curious if anyone has any advice/experience with the route or even parts of the route? mainly from the canadian border north. pretty sure i would exit the u.s. somewhere in north dakota or montana.

thoughts on time to allow? i'm thinking at least 2 weeks, 3 would probably be better.

latest dates to travel? i don't mind driving in some snow and all, especially on the return trip, but would love to catch some sites other than snowpack. is early november too late? possibly it would be better to plan a trip elsewhere and save alaska for the spring?

8/4/2009 8:29:14 PM

my guess is that november is going to be major snow in parts. That's when ski season opens up in most of the places in the western U.S. and B.C, and many of them don't even have snowmaking capability.

I think that 2 weeks is probably physically possible, but I don't think it will be very enjoyable. 3 would be good.

Vacation time? Isn't it pretty much your company? Can't you take whatever time off you deem acceptable?

8/4/2009 8:36:52 PM

Quote :

"Vacation time? Isn't it pretty much your company? Can't you take whatever time off you deem acceptable?"

exactly what i was thinking

8/4/2009 8:44:52 PM

I knew a guy that drove from Indiana to Alaska to go to college up there.

On the route up, his car broke down and he walked for two days before someone came by and picked him up. He just left his car on the side of the road and never returned for it.

8/5/2009 12:25:47 AM

I read about a guy in a built landcruiser who hit a moose out in the middle of nowhere once and froze to death sitting in his disabled truck waiting for someone to pass by on the highway.

8/5/2009 8:22:23 AM

Quote :

"if you are driving up here via the alcan remember that summer is pretty much over the 2nd week of september and the snow is usually flying by october. 20 below is not unheard of in october here in anchorage and it can be much colder on the alcan in october. "

8/5/2009 8:30:57 AM

If you cant go soon, I say save it for late spring. Too close to winter and it becomes such a struggle for daylight, you may miss out on a lot of stuff. If i could get enough vacation time I would invite myself on your trip I've been wanting to go back up there ever since I went for a month back in 2006. I went in mid july, into august and the weather was PERFECT.

8/5/2009 9:08:42 AM

Something to also think about. For most of North America this has been a very mild summer. Large sections of Canada were still getting overnight frost in June. Like previously mentioned I wouldn't venture up there past mid-September.

8/5/2009 11:29:47 AM

I've always wanted to go to Alaska for some reason also.

BTW, it was fun reading about your last trip also, good for you.

8/5/2009 7:48:10 PM

Yep, me too. Driven XC twice now...I want to do it on a motorcycle and in a light airplane...want to go to Alaska, too.

8/6/2009 1:58:05 AM

well, upon further research it looks like it'd be to late in the year unless i want to see a bunch of snow. oh well, new plan.

[/thread till spring]

8/6/2009 7:58:47 PM

bummer....i don't know you.... but lets go for a road tripto alaska in 2011 when i have 3 weeks vacation and we can compare our "getting run over" stories

I'm itching to go back up there. might could show you a few cool spots

8/7/2009 12:09:45 AM

yeah, i'm down for sure.

[Edited on August 7, 2009 at 12:49 AM. Reason : LOL just caught the "getting run over bit"]

8/7/2009 12:48:46 AM

i got a vaction for you. a long limp off a short pier.

8/7/2009 12:54:54 AM

so, what's the vacation and benefits package like down there at jiffy lube? pretty extensive i'll bet!

[Edited on August 7, 2009 at 12:58 AM. Reason : company bike? what?]

8/7/2009 12:58:26 AM

Quote :

"8/7/2009 12:09:45 AM BigBlueRam All American 16341 Posts user info edit post yeah, i'm down for sure. [Edited on August 7, 2009 at 12:49 AM. Reason : LOL just caught the "getting run over bit"] "

I AINT BULLSHITTIN ON THE TRIP, this fool knows some bad ass alaska shit

BEEN 2 MONTHS SINCE I WRECKED, BUT IVE ALREADY BEEN TOLD, WHEN I GO BZCK ON THE 29TH, THIS HONKY GONNA HAVET TO HAVE SURGERY. THIS FEMUR AINT HEALING

THE ONLY SAVIUNG GRACE IS THAT THERE IS A SMALL CHANGE I TOTALED THAT CRUSTY BITCH'S JAGUAR. tHAT MIGHT MAKE THIS WORTH IT. [quote]

8/7/2009 1:00:06 AM

yeah, road trips are SERIOUS BUSINESS.

sucks on the surgery. why isn't it healing? infection?

8/7/2009 1:03:26 AM

no infection... the rod thye put in to stabilize the femur was a little too long i think. the femur never realized it had to make new bone, so it never fused.

8/7/2009 1:09:27 AM

thats a very good question. i guess it depends on what you do. ive personaly never work for the j team so i wouldnt know. i would google it but im too lazy

8/7/2009 1:22:29 AM

probably get a pretty good matching program though, right? what is it, 100% up to two quarts?

8/7/2009 1:47:42 AM

thats not even a good pun because once again, i dont work there and never have or will, and youre fucking up another thread you made.

8/7/2009 1:53:32 AM

i think he was the janitor there, you have to have at least a middle school education to change oil

8/9/2009 4:48:43 PM