Nice journey. I spent 10 years living in Inuvik and did the Dempster, Klondike and Alaska Highways 30 or 40 times. It is a great adventure. One thing to note - you can take almost any vehicle up the highway as long as you can get 300 KM ish per tank of gas. Anything from exotic supercars to humongous motorhomes to pedal bikes and small motorcycles do that trip every year. Enjoy it!!
I am planning revisit after 40 years. Initially, I drove the Alcan 3 times in '81, '82, '83 in Datsun 310 GX. At the time we had no less than 900 miles of "japanese pavement", a mixture of oil, gravel and mud. It was awesome!
I am really looking forward to these videos of the Alaska Highway. Last time I drove it was in 1995 with a pickup, trailer, wife and 2 boys from Washington State. That was the best trip of our lives and I was ready to do the whole trip again, but my wallet was not. I had read a comment in a book of the highway that it was 'miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles'. So true! My boys gave up asking 'when will we get there' (Fairbanks, my home town), after a couple of days on the road. I remember one section of road northwest of Whitehorse where construction was going on and we actually looked forward to the gravel sections because the pavement was SO BAD that 10 mph was too fast, especially with a trailer in tow. Love your videos and keep up the great work!
I did that trip with my mom and my big brother when I was a little kid in nineteen eighty six. My mom was driving on lincoln continental and the most of the roads were not paved back then. What an adventure❤ auburn wa to anchorage ak. The next year we drove all the way back but I remember , we took a ferry at some point. So amazing.
In 1978 my wife and I along with two other couples, drove from northern Wisconsin to Anchorage AK in 3.5 days. Alternating drivers, 4 hour shifts driving, two stops a day, 10 am and 4 pm for camp food.
What a great series. Drove the Alcan back in 1996 and the memories are so vivid even after all these years. Thanks for sharing this. Wish you always a safe trip. Greetings from Germany.
Dan, thanks for bringing back memories of my own Alaska highway trip (1980) in my 72 Chevy Nova rust bucket. Pretty much all gravel back then and somewhat narrower than the paved version your are on now. Looking forward to see your return leg on the Steward-Cassiar highway to see what it looks like now. Back then it had only been open for a few years and the conditions were abysmal to say the least. Mud and water is all I can remember and the fastest speed you could go was about 30 mph and that was pushing it. All in a 2 wheel drive vehicle as well. You would have loved it. Safe travels....
I made that trip in early June this year to start a new job at Eielson AFB, near Fairbanks. I found it to be the most beautiful drive I have ever been on! Took one week from Denver, CO to Fairbanks, AK driving 10 to 12 hours a day. I wished that I was not on a schedule so that I would have had time to stop and explore many of the places I came upon. Even though my Jeep only got 8-10 mpg while pulling trailer, I had no problem with fuel as long as I stopped to top off every chance I got. I would love to do it again as long as I had the time to explore.
I had the fortune of driving/riding the Alaskan Highway going both north and south in 1970. The road wasn’t paved much back then and we became very proficient at changing tires by the side of the road. With a better vehicle than we had back then, I’d love to do it again. I’m 100% disabled now so it’s probably never gonna happen again. But it happened the first time in my 14th summer of life. Laird Hot Springs saved our lives. A scheduled 2 day stay lasted a week, because we really needed a break!
I like the format with the road going by and you chatting. It is like being on the road. Keep up the good information. Been to Dawson Creek many times - worked for forestry in northern BC and northern Alberta.
Great video as always. I love how you focus on the informative stuff, as oppose to many other people who make their videos into one long selfie, "Look at me! I'm doing something you're not!!" I appreciate how realistic, safety minded and down to earth you are - and how simple you make things! A breath of fresh air amongst all those overlanders who feel they have to bring three types of grills, two showers and an espresso machine on the road. You have been a great inspiration for me the past few months, and made me reevaluate a lot of things in my life, such as what actually makes me happy. Good stuff!
I grew up in the Yukon in the 1970's and early '80s. I remember many trips along the highway when it was still mostly made of mud and gravel. I don't think there was a vehicle in the entire territory that didn't have rock chips on their windshields. It could be very dangerous at times. We had a a very bad crash in our motor home when I was about 7 years old; rolled it over down an embankment. I was thrown from the vehicle. We were very luck to all survive relatively unscathed. Something else I remember was all the old US Army vehicles along the side of the highway. During construction during the war, if something broke down, they would just push it off the road and leave it behind. Can't wait to the rest of these videos, I'm sure I will have some memories to share!
In 1998, I did a SOLO ride on my Honda CBR 1000F (Crotch Rocket) from Chesterfield, Virginia to Anchorage, Alaska and back in 14 days. I fell in love with that trip so much, my wife and I went back later in our 2004 Mini Cooper S and took 30 days. Been thinking about outfitting our Sprinter to do it again. Loved each trip.
Can't believe how wide & paved it is now. My first trip was in 1981 in a 1976 VW Rabbit from Ketchikan, Ak (Alaska Marine Highway) to Haines, AK on my way to Anchorage, AK. Other trips like 1984 as a newly wed traveling from Eglin AFB, FL to Eielson AFB, AK with a U-Haul truck pulling a '55 Chevy, & again in 1988 with a 1978 Dodge Aspen wagon as a family of 4 heading to McChord AFB, WA. A very enjoyable trip everytime. Have been wanting to travel the Cassiar Highway, so am looking forward to your video on that particular leg South. Thanks Dan, for putting together all of these various videos, & looking forward to your future ones. Never did make any of those trips in the summer, the closest I got was early spring, or mid to late fall. Thanx again.
New Subscribers Here! My wife and I are planning to drive to Alaska from Houston, Texas this summer. (Mid June). We recently started a UA-cam channel to video our adventures and already have a few pretty good ones! Many more to come! We have never been further north than Estes Park, Colorado. I will definitely be studying this playlist you have created! Thank you!
I drove it in the summer of 2019! Was hired to drive an F-650 26’ box truck from St. Louis to Anchorage, pulling a compact car on a trailer. Took me ten days driving 600 miles a day. Loved every minute of it.
Nice overview, I first drove it from Detroit in 1990 in a 86' Chevy Cavalier Z24 . Back then much of it was just hard pack not paved. There were a few spots where you'd have to use reserve fuel (gas can) to make it to the next fuel stop as the range on that car's tank was about 300 miles if you passed a station that was closed for some odd reason... I remember getting into Fort Nelson and getting gas around 11PM and it was already dark , as the shirtless gas attendant (full service back then) approached the car I remarked man that guy has a lot of hair on him as it turns out he was covered completely in mosquitos. Just rolling the car window up and down for the transaction flooded the car with mosquitos. Later that evening I pulled over on the side of the road for some zzzz"s and I woke up to a large herd of Caribou /Reindeer surrounding the car. Then later in the trip arriving in Muncho Lake before any gas stations were open, having to wait for a restaurant/gas station with maybe 3 tables to open at 8 AM. (it was a really good breakfast, homemade bread etc.) About 8-10 years later I took the highway again and it was completely paved (or 95 %), almost like taking a parkway. It sort of takes some of the adventure out of the trip , but it does add to peace of mind that you're probably less likely to have a road condition caused mechanical failure (tire punctures by sharp rocks etc). And you're right about the Cassier, it has some occassional nice scenery but it's nothing compare to the AK highway where the views are expansive..
We drove it in an old Dodge Sedan in 1967 when it was still 1000 miles of unpaved road. It was February and so much fun for a 20 year old with a new born baby.
i first drove the alaska highway in 1978. it was a dirt road. very long distances between gas stations, and one had to time their trip to be able to hit them during open hours. extra jerry cans of fuel were a must, as was more than one spare tire. i wish i still had photos of the vehicles that one would see on that drive. 4 spare tires and several gas cans on the roof. i've seen vehicles with chicken wire strung across the width of the vehicle, mounted up from the front bumper. smashed windshields were the norm. the best one i saw, the vehicle had a full sheet of plywood mounted across the windshield, with just a small rectangle cut out for the driver to see the road. we made that first trip pretty unscathed, but not completely. the final leg of our trip, an almost volleyball-sized rock smashed through the side window, thrown up from a semi going the opposite direction. i've lost count, long ago, of the number of return trips i've made up the highway. but these days, it's an absolute cakewalk. today's vehicles get incredible gas mileage compared to those old days. and, it's like a freeway now, compared to back then. i'd rather drive the alaska highway, than drive around vancouver.
That sounds like some incredible adventure! I once picked up a hitchhiker outside Watson Lake who has driven it every year since I think the 50s - his truck had broken down and I took him to a tyre shop then back to his truck. He had incredible stories of bulldozers left at river crossings - you would attach your vehicle and yank it through with the bulldozer yourself, then just leave it there for the next person. Adventure! You are 100% spot on that it's a cake walk now, nothing too exciting until you hit the gravel on the Dempster or Dalton. Thankfully the Stewart-Cassiar is still fairly remote and not busy.
@@TheRoadChoseMe yup. My mom was born in dawson creek. Grandpa helped build the alaska highway and grandma was a camp cook. So possibly, if it weren't for the alaska highway, my mom wouldn't have been born.
I am semi retiring in 7 weeks and have caught the bug! Lol 😀 I'm going for it. Alabama to Alaska...a life long dream about to be realized. Thank you for this video. Was thinking the ferry...but now I know I gotta do the drive.
I'm I the only seeing a "Kenya Orient" insurance sticker on his windscreen?? Come back to Kenya Dan. Let's make a party for you, and go exploring the Great Rift Valley! Thank you for being such an inspiration!
Hello Dan, great information and nice to see some old memories again. I took pictures of most of your video coverage when I drove to Whitehorse YT. I lived near Dawson Creek in my childhood and it is still home base to me. That road is an adventure unfolding and one must pay close attention to the hazards along the way. This means no overdriving or speeding. I drove the Alaska Highway starting from Vancouver BC to Whitehorse YT in August 2020 and plan on doing it again this summer.
I’m looking forward to this series. Thanks for doing this Dan. I was going to do this from California to Prudhoe this summer but the pandemic stopped that. Hopefully next year. I’m enjoying your book too.
Another great video, Dan. I really liked this format! Question for you... I know you've talked about money on a couple of videos (cost to drive RTW, how to fund it) but I don't recall you doing anything on daily banking / finances while you're travelling... If you haven't covered it, could you? I.E., Best bank to use for international coverage; how much cash / how many days worth of cash to carry; how to ensure you don't wind up with a collection of currencies you can't use when you are preparing to leave a country; best places to exchange currency on the road, etc. if you've already covered it and I missed it, my apologies.
Very experienced and knowledgable. And thank you for the boost to get up there as an American. It is so pretty on google. I live in WA and am planning on driving the entire way to Fairbanks and back! Thanks so much for taking the time to deliver some wisdom to us alcan noobs!
For fellow Canadians watching at home: I got turned back from Watson Lake because NWT is still in lock down mode, 14 day self isolation is mandatory should you decide to proceed. Reasonably priced fuel and lodging would be available at Grande Prarie, Dawson Creek (Side note: Dawson Creek also has the last Walmart before entering NWT), and Fort Nelson. Laird Hot spring is closed due to the pandemic, but the campsites are still open. Stone Mountain and Muncho Lake are pretty awesome . 10/10 will come back again after lockdown ends!
Good description. I've driven the Alaska Highway 4 of the last 6 years, each time in a different vehicle. Yes, it is loooonng, but the most beautiful trip. I can't wait to do it again soon.
I rode a skateboard along the road.... The bugs were so bad it took me hours psyche myself up to crawl out of my bivy bag in the morning. The good part was that it kept me from stopping.
Thanks Dan. I drove the Alaska Highway, and parts of the Stewart Cassier Highway in the 80’s, when much of it was gravel. It was an incredible experience. I am hoping to drive it again soon.
Drove that highway last year! Spent over a month in Whitehorse, and explored a lot of the Yukon! I too fell in love with the North. I toy with the idea of moving up there from the prairies about once a month.
Cricky mate. Did that highway in August 2005 on my 2003 Harley Davidson Ultra pulling an Escapade cargo trailer. Gotta do it again in a Jeep Gladiator. Cheers
Thanks for an awesome series of videos on driving the Alaska highway! As we've learned with Covid, the unknown can sometimes be just as scary as what you're afraid of to begin with. I knew it wasn't like driving in the past, but your videos make it seem so much less foreboding. I love to paint landscapes, mountains especially. So my hope this coming summer is to make my way from Upstate, NY to Alaska; painting as I go. Thanks for all the amazing info!!
My son and I drove from Richmond Hill which is about 45 min drive from downtown Toronto Ontario in 2017 to that very spot you are standing, drove along the top of the world Hwy to Tok then to McCarthy Alaska. Was planning to drive to Deadhorse ut ran out of time. Will get there on the next trip.......Cheers.....Steve
Epic, looking forward to this series. I drove through Lapland into northern Norway, up to Nordkapp this summer (in between lockdowns) and really fell in love with the north in the process. While some of that is sort of remote, it's..eh.. not quite comparable. But standing on a cliff looking north and realizing that the next town over is Longyearbyen on Svalbard and the one after that is Tuktoyaktuk is a pretty cool feeling nonetheless.
Hi Dan, great video and looking forward to more. A while back, my wife and I along with two young kids drove from Brazil to Vancouver. Best time and awesome memories. I've always wanted to drive up to Artic and explore the North. All the best and stay safe.
Just found your channel and really appreciate your information! Heading to AK in 2022 and we are having fun planning! Look forward to watching more videos! Have a great weekend!
I will be doing this journey as well as most of America.. midwest, Washington, and Montana are highly anticipated but just recently I added Alaska to my trip.. I cant wait
Great episode, we took the Cassiar Hwy37 up to the Yukon which we do agree has far less traffic but no shortage of wildlife. While in Whitehorse we really enjoyed bumping in to you Dan and having Sushi for lunch, keep up the great content and have a safe journey. Christopher and Alison
Just made the trip last week moving from lower 48 to AK. What a shame I had to blast thru Canada will be returning whenever the world gets back to normal. Absolutely stunning scenery but few rocks did my windshield in
I'm currently planning on driving my 2019 Wrangler from my home in Maine across the lower 48 and then up to Alaska beginning in mid June 2021. Total mileage expected to be about 14,000 miles. My route back home will be across Canada back to Maine. Thank you for these videos. I feel they will help immensely.
Highway 37, the Stewart Cassiar is paved all the way to the junction near Watson Lake, except for a few very short pieces of road construction. It's approximately 725km from Kitwanga to the junction at the Yukon border where it joins the Alaska highway. Nice caribou at 14:19.
Great time for this series. I am planning a trip to Prudhoe next year if Canada is open. I was thinking mid May to avoid the crowds. I made the mistake of being in Canada on July 1 a number of years ago not knowing it was one of your major holidays.
This is great, my nephew is getting out of the Navy next week, and is heading to University in Anchorage, AK. He'll be able to drive through the border with all the paperwork, but I'm hoping it will be open next summer. I'm planning an adventure to drive from Sault Ste. Marie to there.
First rode the highway in 90' on my 78' Goldwing, they were trying to get it all paved by 92', which was the 50th anniversary of it's building. Went back in 2019 on my 2016, Suzuki, Burgman scooter, big difference. It was almost too smooth to ride. ;) Went back home on the Cassiar Highway, it's a lot more like the old Alcan Highway was in 1990, and there was just a short stretch that was gravel. Looked like you went past either Watson Lake, or Muncho Lake. When I went past the Muncho Lake area I saw a total of 6 black bears, and that's just one day. All together, for the whole ride, I saw 13 black bears, plus moose, caribou, bison, and even a porcupine. Oh, the sun never gets above you. It sort of just circles around you. It's really strange.
Looks right up my alley (pun intended). Not likely I'll ever make it that far from my home in Florida but driving two lane highways at 60 mph or a little less is my preferred way to travel. Never cared for interstate highways and now I'm not usually in enough of a hurry to use them.
I went up the Alaska highway in 1957 as kid, no big deal, yes Alaska made it as state in 1958 along with Hawaii. It was not a big deal driving it other than a lot of gravel roads. We did it in Ford Station Wagon, no 4WD the just 2 WD. Now I have driven it 4 times since then, I never ever needed 4WD until I went to the NWT at the boat to cross the large rivers on a ferry boat, the last 1/4 mile coming and going was always deep mud. If you drive much on the gravel roads of Alaska and Northern Canada is sometimes a large gas tank is good, your front widow will be cracked from flying rocks, you will probably eat up at least one tire on a lot of gravel roads. Good luck....
It's one of my big to-do's for places to travel for sure. Hopefully on my way to Inuvik. Of course, the big thing for me is getting enough time off work to do it properly and not rushed. Getting 3-4 weeks off during construction season is.... difficult.. to say the least. Part of the reason most of my trips involve going to Vancouver Island is that I usually leave on boxing day and take 10-14 days to explore BC/Oregon and Washington. Even then most of the 'side' roads are blocked off entirely unless you have skis.
Never experienced this long distance travelling and really appreciate the way you share it. What a drive! Africa map still on, maybe cover it with a Alaska high way map and show where you are and the next video,s planning if you want. Thank,s.
@Donald Allen True! Just cover it with a Alaska high way plastic rap map for this trip and it will be much more present when explained. Regards South Africa.(Beside, s my wife family has a lot of Allen,s)
I enjoyed this, thank you. Your audio was a bit off. Maybe a low cut filter would help? I personally found the time lapse a little nauseating (not the content, just how it made me feel!) if I watched too long and I'm a retired Navy sailor with a cast-iron gut. I spent more time looking at your inset and then looking up to see the sights. Perhaps a little more real-time shots edited together or occasionally switch between the inset and main screen might help. It was a real relief when you stopped to look at the buffalo. Great content though! When my parents retired, they sold the house, their business, and the ranch and bought a 1969 Greyhound bus (the 'buffalo hump' version) and converted it to a home on wheels. They spent years driving up and down the west coast; summer in Alaska and when pushed out by the snow, back down to Yuma, Arizona for the winter. It was the best time of their lives.
Thanks for the info on the Alaskan hwy. I a new retiree. I believe you termed me a grey nomad. 😂. I will be traveling from Seattle to the Artic Ocean the end of May this year. How do you handle a herd of big animals, say Bison in the middle of the road? Stop wait? Proceed slowly? Get out and tell them to move? 😅 Last year road tripping through Yellowstone I happened on a herd walking right at me down the middle of the road. What is the proper way to handle this?
You're going to have an incredible adventure! Fo sure you need to put on your 4 way flashers and slow right down.. then just keep moving very slowly and try to find a way through. If they're genuinely blocking the road you'll simply have to wait. If you want to take photos make sure you move well off the side of the driving lane - there are huge crashes every year where tourists just stop int the middle of the road.
Just as I was getting into overlanding (and still driving a Mazda 6) , I was at BCOR in 2019 and was checking out all the booths. I didn't know jack back then and when I saw you and your Jeep I thought to myself, "Who's this guy?" Fast forward to today and I have an upfitted Tacoma ready for long distance travel, I'm kicking myself for not chatting with you. Hopefully, this virus will ease off by next year and all the overlanding expos will resume again and I can say hi in person.
its the people making the "rules" you need to worry about not the virus.. hasnt been a case in my province in MONTHS.. and theyre still making new rules and stricter and stricter precautions.. not to start a political rant but what happened to flatten the curve?
Really enjoy the advice , might you give some advice about traveling now during covid , we still need fuel ,buy food ,public restrooms what safeguards do you recommend?
![HOW TO DRIVE the Alaska Highway [Part 2 - Vehicle Essentials] presented by Yokohama Tire](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/DsY60VfjpFE/mqdefault.jpg)
![HOW TO DRIVE the Alaska Highway [Part 2 - Vehicle Essentials] presented by Yokohama Tire](/img/tr.png)
Nice journey. I spent 10 years living in Inuvik and did the Dempster, Klondike and Alaska Highways 30 or 40 times. It is a great adventure. One thing to note - you can take almost any vehicle up the highway as long as you can get 300 KM ish per tank of gas. Anything from exotic supercars to humongous motorhomes to pedal bikes and small motorcycles do that trip every year. Enjoy it!!
I’ve driven it 3 times and this description and advice given here is exactly correct.
Back in September 2006 my brother and I drove from Anchorage, Alaska to Chicago, Illinois. It was an incredible experience!
I am planning revisit after 40 years. Initially, I drove the Alcan 3 times in '81, '82, '83 in Datsun 310 GX. At the time we had no less than 900 miles of "japanese pavement", a mixture of oil, gravel and mud. It was awesome!
I am really looking forward to these videos of the Alaska Highway. Last time I drove it was in 1995 with a pickup, trailer, wife and 2 boys from Washington State. That was the best trip of our lives and I was ready to do the whole trip again, but my wallet was not. I had read a comment in a book of the highway that it was 'miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles'. So true! My boys gave up asking 'when will we get there' (Fairbanks, my home town), after a couple of days on the road. I remember one section of road northwest of Whitehorse where construction was going on and we actually looked forward to the gravel sections because the pavement was SO BAD that 10 mph was too fast, especially with a trailer in tow. Love your videos and keep up the great work!
I did that trip with my mom and my big brother when I was a little kid in nineteen eighty six. My mom was driving on lincoln continental and the most of the roads were not paved back then. What an adventure❤ auburn wa to anchorage ak. The next year we drove all the way back but I remember , we took a ferry at some point. So amazing.
In 1978 my wife and I along with two other couples, drove from northern Wisconsin to Anchorage AK in 3.5 days. Alternating drivers, 4 hour shifts driving, two stops a day, 10 am and 4 pm for camp food.
What a great series. Drove the Alcan back in 1996 and the memories are so vivid even after all these years. Thanks for sharing this. Wish you always a safe trip. Greetings from Germany.
Dan, thanks for bringing back memories of my own Alaska highway trip (1980) in my 72 Chevy Nova rust bucket. Pretty much all gravel back then and somewhat narrower than the paved version your are on now. Looking forward to see your return leg on the Steward-Cassiar highway to see what it looks like now. Back then it had only been open for a few years and the conditions were abysmal to say the least. Mud and water is all I can remember and the fastest speed you could go was about 30 mph and that was pushing it. All in a 2 wheel drive vehicle as well. You would have loved it. Safe travels....
I made that trip in early June this year to start a new job at Eielson AFB, near Fairbanks. I found it to be the most beautiful drive I have ever been on! Took one week from Denver, CO to Fairbanks, AK driving 10 to 12 hours a day. I wished that I was not on a schedule so that I would have had time to stop and explore many of the places I came upon. Even though my Jeep only got 8-10 mpg while pulling trailer, I had no problem with fuel as long as I stopped to top off every chance I got. I would love to do it again as long as I had the time to explore.
I hope you get the chance! All the little side trips are well, well worth the detour
I had the fortune of driving/riding the Alaskan Highway going both north and south in 1970. The road wasn’t paved much back then and we became very proficient at changing tires by the side of the road. With a better vehicle than we had back then, I’d love to do it again. I’m 100% disabled now so it’s probably never gonna happen again. But it happened the first time in my 14th summer of life. Laird Hot Springs saved our lives. A scheduled 2 day stay lasted a week, because we really needed a break!
I like the format with the road going by and you chatting. It is like being on the road. Keep up the good information. Been to Dawson Creek many times - worked for forestry in northern BC and northern Alberta.
Thanks, will do!
Great video as always. I love how you focus on the informative stuff, as oppose to many other people who make their videos into one long selfie, "Look at me! I'm doing something you're not!!"
I appreciate how realistic, safety minded and down to earth you are - and how simple you make things! A breath of fresh air amongst all those overlanders who feel they have to bring three types of grills, two showers and an espresso machine on the road.
You have been a great inspiration for me the past few months, and made me reevaluate a lot of things in my life, such as what actually makes me happy. Good stuff!
Thanks for the feedback!
I grew up in the Yukon in the 1970's and early '80s. I remember many trips along the highway when it was still mostly made of mud and gravel. I don't think there was a vehicle in the entire territory that didn't have rock chips on their windshields. It could be very dangerous at times. We had a a very bad crash in our motor home when I was about 7 years old; rolled it over down an embankment. I was thrown from the vehicle. We were very luck to all survive relatively unscathed. Something else I remember was all the old US Army vehicles along the side of the highway. During construction during the war, if something broke down, they would just push it off the road and leave it behind. Can't wait to the rest of these videos, I'm sure I will have some memories to share!
Wow, that's amazing. I'm in Whitehorse now, great memories here!
In 1998, I did a SOLO ride on my Honda CBR 1000F (Crotch Rocket) from Chesterfield, Virginia to Anchorage, Alaska and back in 14 days. I fell in love with that trip so much, my wife and I went back later in our 2004 Mini Cooper S and took 30 days. Been thinking about outfitting our Sprinter to do it again. Loved each trip.
just made this drive earlier this month. most beautiful trip i've ever made.
Just finished the trip a week and a half ago. Honestly something I will remember for the rest of my life. The sights are out of this world.
Great to hear!
Sep 1st is best time to go. tourists coming back. no mosquitoes. not too cold. Whitehorse and Skagway were my favorite cities
Way back in the early 80's it was a besutiful drive I enjoy it very much
Can't believe how wide & paved it is now. My first trip was in 1981 in a 1976 VW Rabbit from Ketchikan, Ak (Alaska Marine Highway) to Haines, AK on my way to Anchorage, AK. Other trips like 1984 as a newly wed traveling from Eglin AFB, FL to Eielson AFB, AK with a U-Haul truck pulling a '55 Chevy, & again in 1988 with a 1978 Dodge Aspen wagon as a family of 4 heading to McChord AFB, WA. A very enjoyable trip everytime. Have been wanting to travel the Cassiar Highway, so am looking forward to your video on that particular leg South. Thanks Dan, for putting together all of these various videos, & looking forward to your future ones. Never did make any of those trips in the summer, the closest I got was early spring, or mid to late fall. Thanx again.
I bet it was entirely different back then!
Presented by Yokohama Tire! Congratulations Dan!
New Subscribers Here! My wife and I are planning to drive to Alaska from Houston, Texas this summer. (Mid June). We recently started a UA-cam channel to video our adventures and already have a few pretty good ones! Many more to come! We have never been further north than Estes Park, Colorado. I will definitely be studying this playlist you have created! Thank you!
I drove it in the summer of 2019! Was hired to drive an F-650 26’ box truck from St. Louis to Anchorage, pulling a compact car on a trailer. Took me ten days driving 600 miles a day. Loved every minute of it.
Nice overview, I first drove it from Detroit in 1990 in a 86' Chevy Cavalier Z24 . Back then much of it was just hard pack not paved. There were a few spots where you'd have to use reserve fuel (gas can) to make it to the next fuel stop as the range on that car's tank was about 300 miles if you passed a station that was closed for some odd reason... I remember getting into Fort Nelson and getting gas around 11PM and it was already dark , as the shirtless gas attendant (full service back then) approached the car I remarked man that guy has a lot of hair on him as it turns out he was covered completely in mosquitos. Just rolling the car window up and down for the transaction flooded the car with mosquitos. Later that evening I pulled over on the side of the road for some zzzz"s and I woke up to a large herd of Caribou /Reindeer surrounding the car. Then later in the trip arriving in Muncho Lake before any gas stations were open, having to wait for a restaurant/gas station with maybe 3 tables to open at 8 AM. (it was a really good breakfast, homemade bread etc.) About 8-10 years later I took the highway again and it was completely paved (or 95 %), almost like taking a parkway. It sort of takes some of the adventure out of the trip , but it does add to peace of mind that you're probably less likely to have a road condition caused mechanical failure (tire punctures by sharp rocks etc). And you're right about the Cassier, it has some occassional nice scenery but it's nothing compare to the AK highway where the views are expansive..
We drove it in an old Dodge Sedan in 1967 when it was still 1000 miles of unpaved road. It was February and so much fun for a 20 year old with a new born baby.
i first drove the alaska highway in 1978. it was a dirt road. very long distances between gas stations, and one had to time their trip to be able to hit them during open hours. extra jerry cans of fuel were a must, as was more than one spare tire.
i wish i still had photos of the vehicles that one would see on that drive. 4 spare tires and several gas cans on the roof. i've seen vehicles with chicken wire strung across the width of the vehicle, mounted up from the front bumper. smashed windshields were the norm. the best one i saw, the vehicle had a full sheet of plywood mounted across the windshield, with just a small rectangle cut out for the driver to see the road. we made that first trip pretty unscathed, but not completely. the final leg of our trip, an almost volleyball-sized rock smashed through the side window, thrown up from a semi going the opposite direction.
i've lost count, long ago, of the number of return trips i've made up the highway. but these days, it's an absolute cakewalk. today's vehicles get incredible gas mileage compared to those old days. and, it's like a freeway now, compared to back then. i'd rather drive the alaska highway, than drive around vancouver.
That sounds like some incredible adventure!
I once picked up a hitchhiker outside Watson Lake who has driven it every year since I think the 50s - his truck had broken down and I took him to a tyre shop then back to his truck.
He had incredible stories of bulldozers left at river crossings - you would attach your vehicle and yank it through with the bulldozer yourself, then just leave it there for the next person.
Adventure!
You are 100% spot on that it's a cake walk now, nothing too exciting until you hit the gravel on the Dempster or Dalton. Thankfully the Stewart-Cassiar is still fairly remote and not busy.
@@TheRoadChoseMe yup.
My mom was born in dawson creek. Grandpa helped build the alaska highway and grandma was a camp cook. So possibly, if it weren't for the alaska highway, my mom wouldn't have been born.
I am semi retiring in 7 weeks and have caught the bug! Lol 😀
I'm going for it.
Alabama to Alaska...a life long dream about to be realized.
Thank you for this video.
Was thinking the ferry...but now I know I gotta do the drive.
Awesome, you're going to love it! .. take the ferry back down, it's a huge experience and well worth it.
I'm I the only seeing a "Kenya Orient" insurance sticker on his windscreen??
Come back to Kenya Dan. Let's make a party for you, and go exploring the Great Rift Valley!
Thank you for being such an inspiration!
I decided to do a last moment trip to Alaska. Thinking of doing this drive.
Hello Dan, great information and nice to see some old memories again. I took pictures of most of your video coverage when I drove to Whitehorse YT. I lived near Dawson Creek in my childhood and it is still home base to me. That road is an adventure unfolding and one must pay close attention to the hazards along the way. This means no overdriving or speeding. I drove the Alaska Highway starting from Vancouver BC to Whitehorse YT in August 2020 and plan on doing it again this summer.
I could have watched this forever. Just discovered your videos and your voice/accent is soooo soothing.
I’m looking forward to this series. Thanks for doing this Dan. I was going to do this from California to Prudhoe this summer but the pandemic stopped that. Hopefully next year. I’m enjoying your book too.
i have drove it three times from eastpoint fl. to fairbanks al. 4800 miles !!
Another great video, Dan. I really liked this format! Question for you... I know you've talked about money on a couple of videos (cost to drive RTW, how to fund it) but I don't recall you doing anything on daily banking / finances while you're travelling... If you haven't covered it, could you? I.E., Best bank to use for international coverage; how much cash / how many days worth of cash to carry; how to ensure you don't wind up with a collection of currencies you can't use when you are preparing to leave a country; best places to exchange currency on the road, etc. if you've already covered it and I missed it, my apologies.
Thanks for the suggestion, absolutely I will make that a future topic!
Very experienced and knowledgable. And thank you for the boost to get up there as an American. It is so pretty on google. I live in WA and am planning on driving the entire way to Fairbanks and back! Thanks so much for taking the time to deliver some wisdom to us alcan noobs!
Don't stop at fairbanks, that's where it starts getting *really* special!
For fellow Canadians watching at home: I got turned back from Watson Lake because NWT is still in lock down mode, 14 day self isolation is mandatory should you decide to proceed. Reasonably priced fuel and lodging would be available at Grande Prarie, Dawson Creek (Side note: Dawson Creek also has the last Walmart before entering NWT), and Fort Nelson. Laird Hot spring is closed due to the pandemic, but the campsites are still open. Stone Mountain and Muncho Lake are pretty awesome . 10/10 will come back again after lockdown ends!
wow, was going to do this trip in august. Guess you saved me the hassle of driving 50 hrs+ just to find out.
You can still explore all over the Yukon without a self isolation period as long as you've been in BC for 14+ days before you get to the Yukon border.
Good description. I've driven the Alaska Highway 4 of the last 6 years, each time in a different vehicle. Yes, it is loooonng, but the most beautiful trip. I can't wait to do it again soon.
I rode a skateboard along the road.... The bugs were so bad it took me hours psyche myself up to crawl out of my bivy bag in the morning. The good part was that it kept me from stopping.
The road is in way better shape than when I drove it back in 2010, lol
I was gunna mention that haha . Never drove it without snow on it either haha
This video was in my recommendations, so I figured why not. Was not disappointed! :)
Thanks Dan. I drove the Alaska Highway, and parts of the Stewart Cassier Highway in the 80’s, when much of it was gravel. It was an incredible experience. I am hoping to drive it again soon.
Very cool - I wish I could have seen it back then!
Drove that highway last year! Spent over a month in Whitehorse, and explored a lot of the Yukon! I too fell in love with the North. I toy with the idea of moving up there from the prairies about once a month.
Yep, that's what roped me in.. and I stayed 4 years!
Like the format, maybe mix in a little more b roll. Also appreciate there not being music.
sdoville some b roll with music and details without is great
I like when there's no music in the background because that means I can play my own music while I'm watching this at my desired volume.
Brilliant video, thanks for sharing! Looking forward to driving here in May
Perfect , I’m hooked, it’s a must do adventure. On to your next video thank you!
3 years ago,loved it
Cricky mate. Did that highway in August 2005 on my 2003 Harley Davidson Ultra pulling an Escapade cargo trailer. Gotta do it again in a Jeep Gladiator. Cheers
Great video and information keep them coming
Thanks for an awesome series of videos on driving the Alaska highway! As we've learned with Covid, the unknown can sometimes be just as scary as what you're afraid of to begin with. I knew it wasn't like driving in the past, but your videos make it seem so much less foreboding. I love to paint landscapes, mountains especially. So my hope this coming summer is to make my way from Upstate, NY to Alaska; painting as I go. Thanks for all the amazing info!!
You bet!
My son and I drove from Richmond Hill which is about 45 min drive from downtown Toronto Ontario in 2017 to that very spot you are standing, drove along the top of the world Hwy to Tok then to McCarthy Alaska. Was planning to drive to Deadhorse ut ran out of time. Will get there on the next trip.......Cheers.....Steve
Epic, looking forward to this series. I drove through Lapland into northern Norway, up to Nordkapp this summer (in between lockdowns) and really fell in love with the north in the process. While some of that is sort of remote, it's..eh.. not quite comparable. But standing on a cliff looking north and realizing that the next town over is Longyearbyen on Svalbard and the one after that is Tuktoyaktuk is a pretty cool feeling nonetheless.
Nordkapp is awesome! I'd like to visit there again
I have done the drive 2x, both in the winter. Lovely drive, always have a full size spare and a spare jerry can of fuel in the winter.
Hi Dan, great video and looking forward to more. A while back, my wife and I along with two young kids drove from Brazil to Vancouver. Best time and awesome memories. I've always wanted to drive up to Artic and explore the North. All the best and stay safe.
Very cool!
Driving from Brazil to Vancouver all by land?
Wow! Nice
Just found your channel and really appreciate your information! Heading to AK in 2022 and we are having fun planning! Look forward to watching more videos! Have a great weekend!
Have fun!
I will be doing this journey as well as most of America.. midwest, Washington, and Montana are highly anticipated but just recently I added Alaska to my trip.. I cant wait
Great episode, we took the Cassiar Hwy37 up to the Yukon which we do agree has far less traffic but no shortage of wildlife. While in Whitehorse we really enjoyed bumping in to you Dan and having Sushi for lunch, keep up the great content and have a safe journey.
Christopher and Alison
Great to hear you guys had a good drive down! I'm just back from the Dempster! Wow as usual!!
Will be watching, can't wait, had planned on a trip north this summer, thanks as always
great video. That trip is on my list. From Colorado. peace out
Just made the trip last week moving from lower 48 to AK. What a shame I had to blast thru Canada will be returning whenever the world gets back to normal. Absolutely stunning scenery but few rocks did my windshield in
Did small rock break your windshield glass?
I'm currently planning on driving my 2019 Wrangler from my home in Maine across the lower 48 and then up to Alaska beginning in mid June 2021. Total mileage expected to be about 14,000 miles. My route back home will be across Canada back to Maine. Thank you for these videos. I feel they will help immensely.
That will be an awesome trip!!! Let me know if you have any questions about specific things!
@@TheRoadChoseMe Roger -Wilco
@@samohtw1 Did you do it ?
My dad drove it back in the 50's. Wasn't paved back then. Totally wrecked the vehicle paint / body.
Highway 37, the Stewart Cassiar is paved all the way to the junction near Watson Lake, except for a few very short pieces of road construction. It's approximately 725km from Kitwanga to the junction at the Yukon border where it joins the Alaska highway.
Nice caribou at 14:19.
Great time for this series. I am planning a trip to Prudhoe next year if Canada is open. I was thinking mid May to avoid the crowds. I made the mistake of being in Canada on July 1 a number of years ago not knowing it was one of your major holidays.
This is great, my nephew is getting out of the Navy next week, and is heading to University in Anchorage, AK. He'll be able to drive through the border with all the paperwork, but I'm hoping it will be open next summer. I'm planning an adventure to drive from Sault Ste. Marie to there.
great content!! no one goes over the best roads to take
First rode the highway in 90' on my 78' Goldwing, they were trying to get it all paved by 92', which was the 50th anniversary of it's building. Went back in 2019 on my 2016, Suzuki, Burgman scooter, big difference. It was almost too smooth to ride. ;) Went back home on the Cassiar Highway, it's a lot more like the old Alcan Highway was in 1990, and there was just a short stretch that was gravel. Looked like you went past either Watson Lake, or Muncho Lake. When I went past the Muncho Lake area I saw a total of 6 black bears, and that's just one day. All together, for the whole ride, I saw 13 black bears, plus moose, caribou, bison, and even a porcupine. Oh, the sun never gets above you. It sort of just circles around you. It's really strange.
Like driving across Australia but a lot more scenic!
Looks right up my alley (pun intended). Not likely I'll ever make it that far from my home in Florida but driving two lane highways at 60 mph or a little less is my preferred way to travel. Never cared for interstate highways and now I'm not usually in enough of a hurry to use them.
Many many many people do the trip from Florida to Alaska. Don't give up on the dream - plan it instead.
I went up the Alaska highway in 1957 as kid, no big deal, yes Alaska made it as state in 1958 along with Hawaii. It was not a big deal driving it other than a lot of gravel roads. We did it in Ford Station Wagon, no 4WD the just 2 WD. Now I have driven it 4 times since then, I never ever needed 4WD until I went to the NWT at the boat to cross the large rivers on a ferry boat, the last 1/4 mile coming and going was always deep mud. If you drive much on the gravel roads of Alaska and Northern Canada is sometimes a large gas tank is good, your front widow will be cracked from flying rocks, you will probably eat up at least one tire on a lot of gravel roads. Good luck....
This channel is spectacular. I really want to get a rig like yours and start traveling.
You can do it!
Have fun and l can´t wait to see the next episode
It's one of my big to-do's for places to travel for sure. Hopefully on my way to Inuvik. Of course, the big thing for me is getting enough time off work to do it properly and not rushed. Getting 3-4 weeks off during construction season is.... difficult.. to say the least. Part of the reason most of my trips involve going to Vancouver Island is that I usually leave on boxing day and take 10-14 days to explore BC/Oregon and Washington. Even then most of the 'side' roads are blocked off entirely unless you have skis.
Excellent video. It’s been on my bucket list for many years. When this pandemic is over, I’d definitely like to do it. OIIIIIIIO
Go for it!
Very encouraging.
Another great video. Sparkplug and I are hoping to up there next July. Hopefully the borders will b open by then.
Have fun!
Love your video format.
Good informative videos. I agree, no music make the videos more enjoyable.
Great video! Thanks so much.
This is awesome! Definitely on my bucket list! Thanks so much for doing this series!
My pleasure! Let me know if there's a topic you want me to cover
@@TheRoadChoseMe im sure it's part of one of the videos but if you touch on best places to camp along the way that would be fantastic!
That video is coming soon!
Great information! We have wonderlust during the pandemic. Dreaming of heading up to Tuktoyuktuk
Me too!
Nice gas station map finally..😊👍
I’ve been considering a trip north next summer from WA state, largely inspired by your adventures, so this is super helpful and timely. Thanks!
Happy to help!
Never experienced this long distance travelling and really appreciate the way you share it. What a drive! Africa map still on, maybe cover it with a Alaska high way map and show where you are and the next video,s planning if you want. Thank,s.
@Donald Allen True! Just cover it with a Alaska high way plastic rap map for this trip and it will be much more present when explained. Regards South Africa.(Beside, s my wife family has a lot of Allen,s)
This is going to be a great series. Thanks for sharing.
You bet!
When traveling to the Arctic, how long are you on the Alaskan hwy and the Daulton? Thanks
I love AK. Been there several times, most recently last month.
Keep on going Dan! Im planning to do this adventure 2021. im tuned in.:) Thank you!
You can do it!
I enjoyed this, thank you. Your audio was a bit off. Maybe a low cut filter would help? I personally found the time lapse a little nauseating (not the content, just how it made me feel!) if I watched too long and I'm a retired Navy sailor with a cast-iron gut. I spent more time looking at your inset and then looking up to see the sights. Perhaps a little more real-time shots edited together or occasionally switch between the inset and main screen might help. It was a real relief when you stopped to look at the buffalo. Great content though! When my parents retired, they sold the house, their business, and the ranch and bought a 1969 Greyhound bus (the 'buffalo hump' version) and converted it to a home on wheels. They spent years driving up and down the west coast; summer in Alaska and when pushed out by the snow, back down to Yuma, Arizona for the winter. It was the best time of their lives.
Thanks for the info on the Alaskan hwy. I a new retiree. I believe you termed me a grey nomad. 😂.
I will be traveling from Seattle to the Artic Ocean the end of May this year.
How do you handle a herd of big animals, say Bison in the middle of the road? Stop wait? Proceed slowly? Get out and tell them to move? 😅
Last year road tripping through Yellowstone I happened on a herd walking right at me down the middle of the road. What is the proper way to handle this?
You're going to have an incredible adventure!
Fo sure you need to put on your 4 way flashers and slow right down.. then just keep moving very slowly and try to find a way through. If they're genuinely blocking the road you'll simply have to wait.
If you want to take photos make sure you move well off the side of the driving lane - there are huge crashes every year where tourists just stop int the middle of the road.
hey buddy, another great vid!!! Can you cover how you choose the overnight spots to camp or stays? Thx.
Absolutely, I talk about that in part 3 and the Dempster videos!
Just as I was getting into overlanding (and still driving a Mazda 6) , I was at BCOR in 2019 and was checking out all the booths. I didn't know jack back then and when I saw you and your Jeep I thought to myself, "Who's this guy?" Fast forward to today and I have an upfitted Tacoma ready for long distance travel, I'm kicking myself for not chatting with you. Hopefully, this virus will ease off by next year and all the overlanding expos will resume again and I can say hi in person.
I hope we can cross paths!
its the people making the "rules" you need to worry about not the virus.. hasnt been a case in my province in MONTHS.. and theyre still making new rules and stricter and stricter precautions.. not to start a political rant but what happened to flatten the curve?
Thanks for sharing! Lots of great information. We hope to be able to make this trip in a year or two.
Glad it was helpful!
Don't forget to tell people about the frost heave flags along the road.
Good day, always great videos and learn a lot :). What is the primitive camping like? Any do's and dont's. Thanks in advance, be safe!
Coming soon!
How do you capture the road scenes while driving in here? What camera(?) and how do you mount into your car?
2021 I hope to make this drive! Thank you. Great advice.
Best of luck!
Really enjoy the advice , might you give some advice about traveling now during covid , we still need fuel ,buy food ,public restrooms what safeguards do you recommend?
Mask, hand sanitizer, hand washing and distancing.
@@TheRoadChoseMe Thank you
Awesome video! 👍🏻
Thanks! 👍
Always very informative!
Love your style Dan ! 🌲🇨🇦🙏
I appreciate that!