North to Alaska via inland route

Dragon Master · #1 06-08-2017, 05:18 PM

We are a couple of RV guys one with a 6 and the other a 9 departing from Cut Bank MT on July 8, headed for Alaska. I've done Alaska on a motorcycle and promised myself the next time would be flying.

Any must stop recommendations, places or things to see, eat etc., please give us a shout. First stop in Canada will be Springbank, Alberta (CYBW). We plan on staying at least one night and appreciate hotel/motel recommendation along with hangar availability. We're both retired so we're not in a hurry.

Thanks,
Roger Hansen and Gene Larsen

RV6_flyer · #2 06-08-2017, 09:59 PM

It has been 15-years since I had the RV there. British Columbia is the best kept vacation value secret in North America. Our neighbors to the north are the best friends we have ever had.

Our first night in Canada on the way to Alaska was Kimberly. We landed Cranbrook and rented a car to drive to Kimberly. Mozart House was the place recommended to say at in Kimberly. I remember going in there and asking for a room. Was told to go up the stairs and pick any room that the door was open that I like. I IRC, once picking the room and signing in, they told us that the room rate was $20 Canadian back in 2001. (about $18 US at the time)

Lots of places to stop in Canada along the Alaska Highway. Do not want to spoil all the fun you will have along the way.

In Alaska, make sure you stop at as many of the major cities that you can. Fairbanks has a great airport. There is even an aircraft camp ground there. It was strange to be in a hotel room in Fairbanks with black out drapes at 11:30 PM local time at night. Open the shades, look to the left and see an orange glow just below the horizon then look right and see an orange glow just below the horizon. This was in July that this was done.

Just my opinion.

I enjoyed the trip and forgot more about the trip than I remember. You question brought back a lot of great memories.

RV6Danny · #3 06-08-2017, 10:03 PM

Hey Roger, Stop in Talkeetna and see Al.

Dragon Master · #4 06-09-2017, 05:05 AM

Will do Danny, I already told Al we were coming. May be over to the Bay next week so I'll be in touch to let you know.

Dragon Master · #5 06-09-2017, 05:29 AM

Thanks for the tip, we'll put that on the return route. If I recall correctly, went through there on the motorcycle trip 38 years ago . . .

Stitch462 · #6 06-09-2017, 12:55 PM

Allow "Vlad the Trailblazer" to show you some of the sights!

His trip from last year:

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...d.php?t=141062

Canadian interior, Fairbanks and some other sights. Super long but well worth the read...

Greg Arehart · #7 06-09-2017, 06:25 PM

We're at our cabin in Atlin, BC for the summer and have a key to the gas pump at the airport! Might also have guest cabin space depending on the date(s) you are here. On a nice day, the Juneau icefield is a short and spectacular flight from here.

On the way up, Quesnel airport is an easy walk into town, or camping on the field (with internet access) if you are coming on the west side of the rockies and up the trench. If following the Alcan, Toad River has a motel across the road from the airport. Watson Lake has nice camping on the airfield (so I've heard from multiple sources).

No phone here, but have internet (email) access most of the time (has been twitchy lately with a lot of down time) so if you come this way, let us know ahead of time.

Greg

Dragon Master · #8 06-09-2017, 07:49 PM

We'll take a look at weather when we get further north. That's the main driver as to where we go. Thanks for the offer.

Sibirsky · #9 06-11-2017, 01:28 AM

Will you accept another Cowboy with a 9A? I am free most of July ,
and would love to join in the trip .

RV7ator · #10 06-11-2017, 08:07 AM

Why from Cut Bank? You're swinging a long ways east for going to AK from Henderson, NV. That Alberta route is flat and boring compared to BC. If you're wanting pavement under you, well, fine. There are plenty of other paved routes further west.

Are you carrying camping gear?

We like exiting the US via the Okanagan River (Oroville, WA, which BTW is a good place to arrive from Canada) and checking in at Kelowna. From there, we overnight at Smithers. Motels will shuttle you. Then it's an easy flight down the Skeena to Prince Rupert, hang a right to Ketchikan to reenter the US. That route is spectacular. The coast has more airports than inland. You can stay inland from Smithers via Dease Lake and on to Whitehorse. Much of that route is desolate if you tend towards direct, but there is pavement if you choose to IFR. Don't count on gas at Dease.

The real PITA is US CBP. Ketchikan is more forgiving as they know wx can screw things up. Phone access in Canada is mandatory. The ePISS thing is a form you file, but the important contact is phoning the office you'll use for an appointment. Your Canadian departure should be a short flight from the US customs airport to assure compliance with your timing, and weather along the short distance is unlikely to change while enroute.

John Siebold