Sounds like a GREAT TRIP. How were the roads? I see you reppin' Texas with the ball cap .... you didn't take any of them illegal loaded handguns witcha did ya? Just kidding!! The question about the road quality is legit. I have heard they can be pretty rough. I would love to make that trip, but the roads are a concern for me.
BTW ... I love your rig!
-- Edited by RonC on Thursday 8th of September 2016 07:33:46 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Thursday 8th of September 2016 07:35:03 PM
PrairieRV said
07:20 AM Sep 9, 2016
"Budget for camping fees, fuel, food, entertainment, miscellaneous: $10,606
Total of these fees for Alaskan Trip: $17,762
So we are over budget by only $7,156!"
So you did 3 1/2 months on an Alaska trip for just over $7k. I'd say that's a pretty good deal!
bigboomer said
09:46 AM Sep 9, 2016
Ron,
Depends on your tolerance with road conditions but I would say there were some of the worst roads we have ever been on in spots and some of the nicest roads in spots. Overall they were not too bad but by no means does that mean you drive the normal speed limit. I am sure there are a few folks that gave me the good Ole Texas salute for how slow we traveled at time but we fame away relatively unscathed whereas some other folks did not far so well.
If you are willing to take your time and not rush to get somewhere chances are you will survive the roads with minor issues, but you have to be on you game at all times as surprises are around every corner.
As for the weapons, yes we brought them in two ways. One we shipped everything we have less a 12 GA. pump which we declared at the border and paid $25. You download the paperwork off the RCMP website in triplicate and hand it in at border crossing. Permit good for 60 days and then we called and had it extended until we returned.
We used Three Bears Outpost in Butte, MT to ship everything else to their Outpost in Tok, AK where we picked them up. Did the reverse on the way home. Pretty simple and safe.
Hope this helps.
Next blog post the Rat is working on will outline what we would do differently on the trip.
BTW, Thanks, we love our rig too!
Safe travels,
Les
bigboomer said
09:49 AM Sep 9, 2016
PrairieRV,
Yes, not a bad deal above and beyond our normal day to day living expenses. There are many ways to do a trip like this, for us and how we did it fit us fine.
Safe travels,
Les
el Rojo and Pam said
10:37 AM Sep 9, 2016
Good report Les. Went spent about the same on our trip in 2014 but we averaged about $6.00/gal for diesel in Canada...guess I didn't get to fish as much. Can't wait to read the next post.
Red
bigboomer said
11:53 AM Sep 9, 2016
Thanks Red, but I cannot take credit for the report....a certain Rat does all the writing!
We tracked every single expense on a daily basis so there were no surprises so when we got home we did not have a shocker.
It also made the trip for me interesting in that I I was able to see how our fuel and campgrounds progressed.
Our 5 page linked spreadsheet was invaluable to give us a daily snapshot of where we were.
Safe travels,
Les
RonC said
02:03 PM Sep 15, 2016
Les ... do you think my 12 gauge would be OK with them ... google "Chainsaw 12 gauge shotgun". It's really not for hunting, unless something is loose in the house.
:-0
bigboomer said
05:52 PM Sep 15, 2016
Ron,
When you go to the RCMP website there are specific requirements for the non-restricted firearms.
You will see the minimum lengths, etc.
My personal opinion is that if you have doubts as whether it will pass the RCMP's specific muster then I would not chance it or call them.
RonC said
08:31 PM Sep 15, 2016
Yeah ... my chainsaw has an 18" breaching barrel, tactical flashlight, green laser and a pistol grip. Bad boy, but more an assault shotgun than a hunting shotgun (at least not birds). I think it would need to mailed to Alaska with the pistols.
RonC said
08:35 PM Sep 25, 2016
I remember that at one time you were using GY G614's ... are you still using them? If so, are they the tires you used on your Alaska trip?
Neil and Connie said
09:51 AM Sep 26, 2016
RonC wrote:
How were the roads? -- Edited by RonC on Thursday 8th of September 2016 07:35:03 PM
To quote Bill Napier…it ain't I-95 down to Fort Lauderdale…but overall it's really not bad. We went up there in 2015…5000 miles from Dawson Creek back to Prince George and overall the roads are a lot better than most people think. We had probably 100 miles total of construction…usually with a pilot car so only 20 mph or so…dusty and gravelly but hey, it's construction. The AlCan itself is about 90% four lane 55 mph highway…mostly really good. We did have about 200 miles of intentionally unpaved road but 100 of that was from Chicken over the Top of the World Highway to Dawson City…gravel but nicely graded for the most part and speeds of 30-35 were fine except on the curves over the top of the cliff areas…but a pretty decent dirt road.
The road from Glenallen down to Valdez was the worst 120 or so miles of the trip…it's paved and well patched so no real potholes…but it's over the muskeg permafrost and was exceptionally bumpy. Think of being in a 20 foot boat in 3 foot seas and you'll get the right idea…speed limit was 55 most of the way but 45 was more comfortable.
We've been on way worse roads in WV and UT than we found on the Alaska trip. We had one person that I know of get a flat on his class A the whole trip.
Here is our recap of our Alaskan Trip we just completed:
Rambling RV Rat: By the Numbers
http://ramblingrvrat.blogspot.com/2016/09/by-numbers.html?m=1
Sounds like a GREAT TRIP. How were the roads? I see you reppin' Texas with the ball cap .... you didn't take any of them illegal loaded handguns witcha did ya? Just kidding!! The question about the road quality is legit. I have heard they can be pretty rough. I would love to make that trip, but the roads are a concern for me.
BTW ... I love your rig!
-- Edited by RonC on Thursday 8th of September 2016 07:33:46 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Thursday 8th of September 2016 07:35:03 PM
Total of these fees for Alaskan Trip: $17,762
So we are over budget by only $7,156!"
So you did 3 1/2 months on an Alaska trip for just over $7k. I'd say that's a pretty good deal!
Ron,
Depends on your tolerance with road conditions but I would say there were some of the worst roads we have ever been on in spots and some of the nicest roads in spots. Overall they were not too bad but by no means does that mean you drive the normal speed limit. I am sure there are a few folks that gave me the good Ole Texas salute for how slow we traveled at time but we fame away relatively unscathed whereas some other folks did not far so well.
If you are willing to take your time and not rush to get somewhere chances are you will survive the roads with minor issues, but you have to be on you game at all times as surprises are around every corner.
As for the weapons, yes we brought them in two ways. One we shipped everything we have less a 12 GA. pump which we declared at the border and paid $25. You download the paperwork off the RCMP website in triplicate and hand it in at border crossing. Permit good for 60 days and then we called and had it extended until we returned.
We used Three Bears Outpost in Butte, MT to ship everything else to their Outpost in Tok, AK where we picked them up. Did the reverse on the way home. Pretty simple and safe.
Hope this helps.
Next blog post the Rat is working on will outline what we would do differently on the trip.
BTW, Thanks, we love our rig too!
Safe travels,
Les
PrairieRV,
Yes, not a bad deal above and beyond our normal day to day living expenses. There are many ways to do a trip like this, for us and how we did it fit us fine.
Safe travels,
Les
Red
Thanks Red, but I cannot take credit for the report....a certain Rat does all the writing!
We tracked every single expense on a daily basis so there were no surprises so when we got home we did not have a shocker.
It also made the trip for me interesting in that I I was able to see how our fuel and campgrounds progressed.
Our 5 page linked spreadsheet was invaluable to give us a daily snapshot of where we were.
Safe travels,
Les
:-0
Ron,
When you go to the RCMP website there are specific requirements for the non-restricted firearms.
You will see the minimum lengths, etc.
My personal opinion is that if you have doubts as whether it will pass the RCMP's specific muster then I would not chance it or call them.
To quote Bill Napier…it ain't I-95 down to Fort Lauderdale…but overall it's really not bad. We went up there in 2015…5000 miles from Dawson Creek back to Prince George and overall the roads are a lot better than most people think. We had probably 100 miles total of construction…usually with a pilot car so only 20 mph or so…dusty and gravelly but hey, it's construction. The AlCan itself is about 90% four lane 55 mph highway…mostly really good. We did have about 200 miles of intentionally unpaved road but 100 of that was from Chicken over the Top of the World Highway to Dawson City…gravel but nicely graded for the most part and speeds of 30-35 were fine except on the curves over the top of the cliff areas…but a pretty decent dirt road.
The road from Glenallen down to Valdez was the worst 120 or so miles of the trip…it's paved and well patched so no real potholes…but it's over the muskeg permafrost and was exceptionally bumpy. Think of being in a 20 foot boat in 3 foot seas and you'll get the right idea…speed limit was 55 most of the way but 45 was more comfortable.
We've been on way worse roads in WV and UT than we found on the Alaska trip. We had one person that I know of get a flat on his class A the whole trip.