Alaska Highway trip October 1st - 22nd

Hi ya%26#39;ll. I just moved to Alaska and I planned on driving down to Alberta this October to visit a friend and to visit my mom in Montana. I don%26#39;t have a very good idea of what to expect on the Alaska highway. Also, what kinds of things should I pack for the trip? If anybody could help me out that would be awesome. Mucho thanks!

Alaska Highway trip October 1st - 22nd

First, where in Alaska are you? Although you are new there but this forum needs you.

Second, get Milepost

I never driven Alaska Highway but you need to be prepared for all kind of weather and that includes snow and ice. Also during October days are short, I suggest not driving after it gets dark especially if you are driving alone. Have a thermos with a hot tea or chocolate, bring lots of warm extra clothes, boots, wool blankets, cell phone, plenty of windshield washer, energy snacks and emergency food. Don%26#39;t forget to check you car before you get on Alaska Highway both ways and never wait until your gas tank gets too low.

Hopefully those who live in Alaska can give you more suggestions and help with making your trip safe and enjoyable

Alaska Highway trip October 1st - 22nd

Hi there! I have driven the Hiway several times - in fact, in October as well. I actually prefer the Cassiar for part of the trip, but you%26#39;ll need to stick to the Alcan as it%26#39;s heading more where you need to go.

As Places said, you%26#39;ll really NEED the Milepost - it%26#39;s invaluable. I would make sure my vehicle was in top notch shape and it doesn%26#39;t hurt to carry a few spare parts either . . .fan belts, etc. The ';always be prepared'; motto really applies here. I would keep a sleeping bag or two in my car, even if you don%26#39;t plan on sleeping in your vehicle. I would also pack a small cooler/ice chest with some good road food. There are plenty of places to eat along the way, but some aren%26#39;t very good . . . . I like having fresh fruit, cheese, etc. to snack on, as well as some non-perishable food. I would also carry some water as well. Just be prepared for anything.

When I drove out in October, it was already winter in Denali Park, but the further south we drove, the season reversed . . . we eased back into Fall, which was a treat. I would expect snow in the higher elevations, and snow in upper Canada and Alaska as you return back to Alaska.

After you get your Milepost, you might post again, asking for the good restaurants/hotels . . . there are a few that stood out to me - the Muncho Lake lodge as well as a place near Liard Hot Springs, the name escapes me, though I remember it was Irish. I would make time for Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, etc. as well.

Have a great trip! It%26#39;s a beautiful adventure driving the road. :)

I%26#39;ve been driving the highway year-round for many, many years, and will be doing another Whitehorse-Calgary-Whitehorse trip in October (with a Subaru Outback). The Milepost isn%26#39;t much good off-season since most lodges along the highway will be closed in the next 2 weeks - a road map will do you just as good. You may find the ultra-detail of knowing that you%26#39;re at Mile 1126.8 interesting, though, I suppose. As far as not driving at night - why not? That%26#39;s when I do most of my driving. The important things to carry are survival gear and food and water so you can stay comfortable down to at least 20 degrees F or so overnight if your vehicle breaks down (30 below if you do the trip in Jan-Feb). You could run into absolutely anything in the way of weather in October, including freezing rain and snow - don%26#39;t push it. Make sure you have some tools and know how to use them (I ran into an RVer on the Dempster Highway last year who didn%26#39;t even have a jack to fix a flat tire). Other than that, take your time and Enjoy The Journey (and stop for a dip at Liard Hot Springs!!)

Murray

p.s. - a cell phone doesn%26#39;t work along 90% of the Alaska Highway - 98% of the highway that%26#39;s in Canada. You%26#39;re on your own unless someone stops to help (and people are great about doing that).

Murray

I can only tell you my experience in October on the Alaska Hwy. As others have said, services will be fewer and farther between so stay on the high side of your gas tank. You will mainly see truckers on the road at that time of year.

For two days of our trip, we hit snow. It was a white knuckle drive for part of each day as it was mainly ice. Several truckers pulled off at the same spot and we all gathered in a restaurant for hours waiting for the plow to come by. Then we quickly followed the plow out. It was about 40mph that entire day. We hit snow and ice again, and the only part that concerned me was the steep grades. We would see truckers chaining up, and we didn%26#39;t have chains, but it still worked out ok.

It gets dark early and animals are on the road. Try to follow a trucker if you are driving at night. If not, get off the road. Other than that, take the usual precautions as others have said. Enjoy your trip.

Wow! You guys are awesome. I did not expect to get this many replies.

Places,

Ok, Fairbanks from Oahu, Hawaii. Big change in climate Haha.

Everybody has told me to ge the milepost and I tried to last night.

Luckely for me I didn%26#39;t have to buy most of my gear because Army hooked me up for free. I plan on bringing all my gear minus my body armor and my kevlar, but from what everybody has told me about the Alcan... almost want to bring that too. Haha.

Coalminer,

I%26#39;ll pack a bit for snacking. I read that some places can be pretty expensive to eat but nothing real bad. I%26#39;m more concerned about being stuck out in the middle of nowhere for a bit. I planned on buying a bunch of bottled water from Sam%26#39;s club or something and then getting a box of MREs. They%26#39;re actually not too bad and they have the little heater pouches that get really hot.

As for the weather, I was thinking it was going to be like that. I%26#39;ve driven to Alberta from Sacramento in October. All the way up to Edmonton it%26#39;s fall. Yukon and northern BC I have no idea what to expect. Um, I do plan on visiting a friend in Vernon which is a little north of Kelowna on my way to Calgary, so I%26#39;ll be able to see Jasper and all that. How%26#39;s the rockies? I hear they%26#39;re taller in Canada than the lower 48 section.

For car related things, what should I bring?

When I get the Milepost I%26#39;ll be sure to post.

Explorenorth06,

I wish I had an outback but my suzuki aerio sx with AWD will have to do. I miss my subaru though. Yeah, I read that a lot of places will be closed during the winter months. Like I said earlier, all my cold gear was issued to me by the Army. I figure if the stuff is made for combat in the Arctic, it should do just fine on a road trip down south. I%26#39;m kind of hesitant about driving at night with no snow driving experience. Now, any tip on driving in the snow would be good. I%26#39;ve read a lot but I want to make sure I get everything. Oh, expecially black ice. I%26#39;ve heard horror stories about black ice.

Inluvwithak,

Anything about October would be helpful. Where did you drive to?

Thanks for all the info, folks! Most of what I will expect on the trip I%26#39;ve read. I%26#39;ve heard a lot of hearsay but to actually get info from people that have did the Alaska highway in general time frame has been extremely helpful. I%26#39;ll get back with you guys to give you a general idea of what I%26#39;m going to do. Thanks a lot!

MinorThreat, you got many great suggestions from a number of Alaskans. I%26#39;m learning too from their answers. I really like an idea of carrying sleeping bags.

I suggested not driving at night because if you are not familiar with a road or driving in a different road conditions then you are familiar with it is safer not only for you but also other drivers on the road to get a good night rest so you could be fully alert for your next day of driving. I%26#39;m glad to read this is your plan. As to black ice these are not just horror stories you hear. It is a tricky driving. When I moved from NY C to the Adirondacks during the first winter storm I ended up with my car in a ditch. The road looked clear and I thought it was just wet after a snow fall a night before. Unfortunately the black pavement was also covered with invisible thin sheet of ice. I did not think about slowing down and wasn%26#39;t even speeding but learned my lesson quickly. So I never drive above speed limit while temperatures outside are around 32 degrees and slow down on curves in the mountains. I never make any sudden stops too. It is especially tricky in the mountains where sometime a road around one curve, that is exposed to the sun, is clear whereas the other side could be covered with ice. Also if it rains during a day and then at night temperature goes below freezing then sheet of slick thin ice may be covering a road. Sorry for creating such unpleasant pictures but driving in such conditions demands lots of work on your part. Just be careful, do not speed and watch weather and temperature outside. I never had a problem driving my Maxima in snow as long as is not too deep. When is a big snow fall we just wait for a snow plow to clear a road. Hopefully during your trip everything is going to be fine. Drive safely.

Thanks a lot for the tips, Places. I set up my itinerary so that I%26#39;m driving during daylight hours. I know it starts to get dark around 5. I%26#39;m not really concerned too much seeing that I know a lot more about possible situations I might come across. Matter of planning things out and for the worst.

Yeah, I don%26#39;t mind the horror stories. I just remember watching that one move Alive when I was 9. Yeah... a little nervous haha. Just take my time driving thru. I got a long vacation, where I%26#39;m going to isn%26#39;t going away and it%26#39;s nothing worth getting stuck in a ditch or worst for. Thanks for all your tips, folks. My supervisors were impressed with the knowledge I laid down and are more at ease with me going on this trip.

I am taking a trip down the Alcan starting from Anchorage on October 5th. I%26#39;m heading to Bend Oregon and back via Edmonton, Alberta and a visit to my brother in Montana. I%26#39;ve done the Alcan 10 times now, this will make it numbers 11 and 12, it gets better and better each trip. Heres a little secret i%26#39;ve learned over the years, whereever you see semi%26#39;s parked at a lodge in the middle of nowhere, theres good food there. Like everyone said, keep your tank on the upper side of full and you%26#39;ll be fine. I have three spare tires, one mounted in the normal place under the bed of my Ranger, one spare tire without a rim, one with a rim inside the bed of the truck. I have a 2.5 ton floor jack in the cab of my ranger, a survival kit with the flares and flashlights/lighters.

Here is my online photoalbum from my trip in April/May this year bethelak.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=16

Cool album, warptman. If you%26#39;d like to fill in some blanks:

3 is Haines Junction, not Destruction Bay

4 is the Canyon Creek bridge at Historic Milepost 996

38 is heading down to the Peace River at Taylor, BC

39 - the guy runs a little custom mill there

44 is Trutch Mountain

Murray

(one of the guys who for many years got paid to run the Alcan)