Utah to Alaska without an itineray

[mr_lemons]

Hey,
I figured I would post up my story and travels here. I have sold everything I own that didn't fit into the truck and now I have 3 weeks to travel from Salt Lake City, UT to Palmer Alaska. Other than that I am just wandering back roads and looking for fun with no real plan.

The Ride: 1986 Toyota 4Runner
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/314475_669401686781_29003366_34407963_1847444896_n .jpg

Navigator: Bear
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Idaho
We stumbled upon the St. Anthony Sand Dune for our first night.
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I found out quickly that 18 psi doesn't cut it... we aired down to 12psi in the rear and 10 psi in the front. Here we are struggling to get up mild incline.
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found a nice place to camp
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sleeping arrangements, no tent needed
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More to come as I find internet connections

[GREENI]

Nice fixie :)

[Schattenjager]

Having made the trip a few times I can whole heartedly recommend the Cassiar Highway by way of Seattle! So much more spectacular with mountains and wild life than the eastern side of the Alcan. Night and day beauty difference. Pick up a Mile Post catalog at any bookstore in the travel department. Very useful info about sourcing fuel, sleeping and food along the way, as this time of year most things are closed and you can drive a really long time, passing a lot of closed resources, on the trip. This is my second time to try Alaska, hoping to leave here before Thanksgiving. No real snow on the ground yet and temps are just now touching the 20's.
It's best to be prepared for sure: at least 10 gallons of extra fuel, spare batteries and a head lamp, warm clothes, a SPOT, and the platinum AAA package. November is a wet month for Canada. Aquapel or Rain X sure makes the drive more comfortable. I put it on the headlights and tail lights too.
Do you have living quarters etc. arranged when you get here? Alaska is frightfully expensive to live in and having a pet makes housing a challenge.
Safe travels!

[mr_lemons]

Nice fixie :)

thanks! it's my super ugly Frankenstein commuter made from the parts of at least 5 different bikes.

[mr_lemons]

Having made the trip a few times I can whole heartedly recommend the Cassiar Highway by way of Seattle!

I am now in calgary, on denny's wifi eating chicken fried steak! and am heading to banff then planning to head up the cassiar. I also have a copy of the latest milepost, super useful! I do have an apartment lined up that allows dogs, i went to 8th grade through high school in anchorage so I have friends to fall back on as well.

I tried to cross the border last night without success. The border crossing closed at 11pm, so I roll up at 10:40 and the guy asks me, "where do you live?" I'm thinking "right now I live right here!" but I said "Alaska" and he says "sorry we can't let you through, we only let Canadians through after 10:30". So I had to flip around to cross back into the US. I told the US border officer that they just wouldn't let me into Canada and I had to go through the whole process with paper work for me, Bear and the truck... I drove about a mile back into Montana and camped on the side of the road.

This morning, I made it through the border crossing with only a little bit of worry. I showed up, without a passport, and handed off my id and birth certificate, i had Bear's shot records and medical history and the only thing that worried the guy is the relic that I am driving. He asked "how much money did you bring?" and I am wondering if I am gonna get tailed and robbed. Then he asked how much money I had access to and now I'm really freaking out... then he tells me he's just worried about me breaking down in the middle of no where.

photo of the post border crossing sunrise.
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[Co-opski]

Dang your local, wecome home. Enjoy Banff and Jasper hit up Hains for some skiing in the pass. It is going to be a good winter. Look up Hatchyourtrax for all the BC info up at Hatchers. http://telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=77684

BTW: I think alaska is a bargin. LA and New York, Paris and Tokyo are expensive, but don't tell them. I like the calm after the tourists leave.

[mr_lemons]

Banff

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/304222_670092632121_29003366_34414373_1884347481_n .jpg

United church of canada, originally built as a Methodist church.
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After breaking through a couple times Bear learned how to drink from the river
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http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/321222_670093086211_29003366_34414385_277307798_n. jpg

[mr_lemons]

Pasta Dinner
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Nothing better than cold cereal on a cold morning
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Even when it's below 20 Bear still likes to swim!
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Overlander's dishwasher
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Athabasca Glacier
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Signs that get noticed!
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road to the late night campsite
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After finding a campsite at the end of this dark road I pitched the tent and passed out. I woke up at 5:30 am to some cold water running down my leg... It had started snowing hard, that slushy heavy stuff then as the morning approached the snow turned to rain. This was heavy enough to collapse the back side of my tent and let water run in and soak my down sleeping back and clothes. I got up wrapped everything in a tarp, shoved it in the back and started driving.

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/382348_670096654061_29003366_34414499_1977301787_n .jpg

[GregB_00XJ]

Welcome to Canada my friend... safe trip! Long drive for sure, and getting cold up there now, so be careful. I am sure that living in Utah and coming from Alaska you are used to cold winters and snow etc... so all good there.

No passport and crossing the border back into the USA might be more of an issue that Crossing into Canada, but let hope not. I have heard that you can still cross both ways on gov issued picture ID, so you should be all good.

Looking forward to pics of the journey!
Greg

[cruiseroutfit]

Excited to see your trip underway Matt :cool:

Keep up the updates and be safe out there bud!

[ttora4runner]

Very cool.

Have a safe trip.

[sigi]

very nice trip indeed, any chance to use your kayak by now?

all the best

sigi

[mr_lemons]

This is what it's all about! exploring remote backroads

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Drying clothes after getting wet in a good rain/snow storm

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While drying out my sleeping bag, tent, clothes I decided to blast some Irish Punk for about 6 hours... it turns out that 6 hours is just enough time to kill a battery. I did park facing downhill, so it wasn't an issue.

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World's largest fly rod, Houston, BC

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4wd firetruck

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[mr_lemons]

very nice trip indeed, any chance to use your kayak by now?

all the best

sigi

I have thought about it a few times! But I would have to unload it... I bought a cockpit cover (spray skirt without a hole) and shoved stuff in it to use as a cargo box.

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/298792_669402555041_29003366_34407982_1537646459_n .jpg

[mr_lemons]

I'm now in Hyder, AK
The only road in was partial washed out this season and is under construction. So I was able to hang out from 3 until 7pm to drive in. I headed up to see salmon glacier and it is already letting avalanches slide, so the road is closed... no glacier for me :(

Waiting for a pilot car

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I have seen a few black bears on the trip... but they are always on their way out.

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/390753_670811850801_29003366_34424410_827894023_n. jpg

Hyder, AK

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Gates don't stop Bear!

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In the background you can see the the border officials. Everything in Hyder was closed, but they still asked for alcohol, tobacco and weapons.

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[Rot Box]

Yahoo! :coffeedrink: Looking forward to updates

[mr_lemons]

I am now in Palmer. The weather rolled in and I couldn't see much more than the road in front of me and the temps were dropping below zero at nights... so I just pushed through after I got out Stewart. Here are the fast driving highlights.

Reason for construction delays
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I showed up in town after the station closed, so I waited for 13 hours to pay 5.66 per gallon :Wow1:

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/300613_671700554831_29003366_34431435_1767787621_n .jpg

Driving on a couple in. of fresh snow on top of ice

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signpost forest in Watson Lake

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[mattyak]

Glad to see you made it to the Great Land! Welcome!

You will like the Mat_Su area. There is a lot to see and explore in a moderately capable trail rig and it looks as if you are well on your way. A lot of fun stuff to be had within a hour drive of your present location. Enjoy!.

[GregB_00XJ]

great pics!

[Steel Walrus]

When you can, I would love it if you showed your travel route. Maybe it would be best when you are completely done. I want to make a very similar trip with my father from Colorado someday.

[Funrover]

Excellent post, thank you for sharing.

[MiniGene]

Nice trip report so far! Glad you made it to Palmer. That is where I grew up. I plan on making a trip home one day in similar fashion.

[equip2survive]

Great trip im going to take a very similar route thanks for the heads up!

[Bigbendhiker]

Awesome pictures. I envy you and your trip. I've taken many camping and backpacking trips with just myself and my dog. Looking forward to an expedition in the future and I will take one or two of my dogs with me.

[mr_lemons]

When you can, I would love it if you showed your travel route. Maybe it would be best when you are completely done. I want to make a very similar trip with my father from Colorado someday.

Here is the exact route I took.

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/392029_672677561901_29003366_34437854_694775_n.jpg

I ended up driving right around 3400 miles and the total trip expense (gas, food, entertainment) was $767 but this was only one way as this was also a move :smiley_drive:

I listened to 57 podcasts, Since I brought my computer I was able to download more podcasts on the go at local wifi spots. As you may have noticed I was able to get internet almost everyday, even when I couldn't get cell service.

[dmc]

that sucks about the salmon glacier. sorry i sent you all the way down there and you didn't get to see it. i guess i should have given you the BC road conditions phone number too. great pics and looks like an awesome trip. there are at least 3 signs at Watson Lake from Utah as i hung them myself. catch any of them?

[mr_lemons]

that sucks about the salmon glacier. sorry i sent you all the way down there and you didn't get to see it. i guess i should have given you the BC road conditions phone number too. great pics and looks like an awesome trip. there are at least 3 signs at Watson Lake from Utah as i hung them myself. catch any of them?

no, it was cool to go out the stewart hyder way! there were pretty much no people around and the area was amazing. I didn't stay long and wander in watson lake and don't remember seeing any utah ones.

[r3run33]

mr lemons you rock! Planning a trip for next summer to moab and you give me great inspiration! thanks again for all your posts

[GR8ADV]

I want to make a very similar trip with my father from Colorado someday.

Scratch the 'someday' and put it into motion. I made a month long trip in 2010 with my 18 year old son via a tent and two motorcycles. It was the most amazing time spent with him. A time I am sure we will both never forget.

http://anyhowe.smugmug.com/Motorcycle/Alaska-2010/P1000352/961747808_snosL-M.jpg

Here is the link to that trip report if you are interested. GL, Enjoy, and MAKE it happen.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=603878