Posted October 7, 2022 – Narrated by Carmen
“To travel hopefully is better than to arrive, and the true success is to labour.”
The Alaska Highway was born to be a military supply route, but it grew up to be a story-teller.
This unforeseen attribute had us riveted from Mile-0.
Built for war, this 1,187 mile (1,910 km) road opened to the public in 1948. Since then, driving to Alaska is a surefire epochal adventure for any traveller who is up for a dense narrative with beaucoup twists and turns.
Every overlander comes away with a unique life-altering experience, but not always the one they intended.
The North Country entropy is extreme and often results in dire consequences. Enter the random moose, wild fire, flood, flat tire, broken axel, shattered windshield or medical emergency and the journey takes a new course.
Tow trucks transferring disabled vehicles over hundreds of miles to the nearest town and a freshly stranded motorhome, port side up, down a steep rocky embankment alerted us, early on, that anything can happen.
Our fondness for self-preservation had us on hyper-alert. We were more than a bit jumpy because around every dusty turn …
a creeping zombie landslide might finish us off.
But within moments of those nail-biting ravine crossings we’d break into ecstatic reverie over the glorious landscapes …
and majestic creatures revealing themselves along the roadside.
That’s how it is in North Country – one minute is “Oh my God, I’m going to die!” and the next moment is, “Oh, Lord, take me now!”
But there was no sharing this existential tug-of-war in real time because internet connectivity was mostly nonexistent. I couldn’t text to loved ones: In the last fifteen minutes we dodged falling rocks, saw a she-bear coaxing her two cubs down a tree, had to stop for a herd of bison and forty rock sheep before a herd of caribou ran across the road toward a lake that appears to be a magic portal.”
No. Every moment was ours alone – lost and vulnerable in a mystical land, separated from our former selves.
Being technologically declawed over long stretches of time brought us closer together – closed that distance many couples reserve for The Big Stuff. We hugged often for both comfort and warmth.
The uncharacteristically cold, windy and wet weather never abated. An early summer retreat south to a warmer climate was on the table until we heard about a major heat dome in the lower forty-eight. Remaining on course was an offer we couldn’t refuse.
The wheel was in our hands, but The AlCan was captain. All we could do is hang on and pay attention.
Every evening – after surviving a new episode in this wondrously wild frontier – we collapsed, exhausted from the road, eyes burning from daylight overload.
The AlCan was built in an act of desperation. Originally conceived in 1920, but only seriously proposed after the WW2 attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 – the scars of that emotional year are more enduring than the permafrost.
The drive is half-fantasy and half insanity. Frequent washouts, buckling, and the odd beaver damn collapse are some of the reasons why only 5% of Alaska visitors are road-trippers.
Built seventeen years before Alaska became the 49th State and seventy-five years after the U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million (equivalent to about $153 million in today’s US dollars) road maintenance remains an impressive but complicated project
Every kilometer is an ongoing construction zone in various stages of completion, destruction, and completion again.
But I’m getting ahead of the story.
Before we merged onto the AlCan, we pulled out of Mackenzie, British Columbia beneath a gorgeous bluebird sky …
our innocent hopes soaring like a bevy of swan over a glimmering lake …
as we headed north through Peace Foothills.
At midday we arrived to …
Chetwynd, British Columbia
Every summer, Chetwynd sponsors the world’s most prestigious chainsaw carving competition. Due to a planning blunder we missed it by only a couple of days.
Yet, with no crowds – and hundreds of award-winning chainsaw carvings on display – the advantage was ours.
We found ample free parking in the middle of town, bought refreshments and strolled along the AlCan in the warmth of midday viewing the collection.
Spending only two hours with the Academy Awards of Chainsaw Carving hardly cut it. But, The Road called.
On to …
Dawson Creek, British Columbia
and Mile 0 of The World Famous Alaska Highway. Woo-hoo!!!
Bursting with bright AlCan expectations, we settled into our campsite and took a stroll in the countryside.
Presently, we came upon The Walter Wright Pioneer Village, an historical collection of buildings, artifacts and stories of miners, farmers and trappers who colonized the area before the Alaska Highway was built. The salvaged buildings are handily arranged in a Main Street fashion.
A sudden downpour cut our Old Town trip short, so we ducked into a cozy pub for an excellent tasting.
The next morning we set out for …
Peace River, British Columbia
where we settled into a free campsite beside an old WW2 airport to relax and kill time before our Muncho Lake reservation in two days.
Coordinates: 57.971000, -122.777000 (57°58’15.6″N 122°46’37.2″W)
Fort Liard, Northwest Territories
The following day we took a 110 mile detour off the AlCan on Highway 77 to the Northwest Territories.
The wildlife viewing opportunities on this road rival The San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
With no traffic, we drove as slowly as we liked.
Never stepping outside the truck, we spotted bear, lynx, fox, bobcat and a bison herd.
The incredibly artistic Kaska Dena people at Fort Liard were our hosts.
First we fueled up …
and then settled into a gorgeous free camping spot on the shore of Hay Lake …
where I took a paddle …
while Jim whipped up his Classic Nicoise Salad.
The next morning we returned to the Alcan and moved toward …
Muncho Lake, British Columbia
The drive to Muncho Lake was brutal. We were constantly cueing up for the pilot car to take us from one point to the next.
We get nervous when the fuel tank is below half. Just when we were about to panic, we saw this lodge …
where this sturdy little pump offered services while pulling off a damn good Don Rickles impersonation.
While fueling up we caught the fragrance of what‘s that? Cinnamon rolls!? Way out here that’s about as likely as a whiff of Chanel #5 wafting up from the surface of a Louisiana swamp – but it was true!
Flying on a sugar high we powered on …
… at about five-miles per hour, past a band of rock sheep attracted to minerals on the roadside.
Presently, we pulled into our home for two nights at Northern Rockies Lodge & RV Park on Muncho Lake.
Jim reserved this site on what was once a beach.
The unprecedented water rise prompted the local authorities to close down the park’s RV dump services.
If the water had been a few inches higher (or our rig a few inches longer) backing in and out could have been a disaster.
Fortunately, the rain subsided, and for a couple of days we enjoyed the beauty of the lake …
and the view of the surrounding Northern Rockies.
We pulled out of beautiful Muncho Lake with our black and gray tanks still full and in dire need of maintenance. But how to find services in a flood zone? Just one teeny-tiny cell signal would be a help.
But, hey, what’s the rush?
Okay, we’re getting the message.
Press on with patience.
Eventually, we arrived to our next destination …
Liard River Hot Springs, British Columbia
The natural thermal spring smoothed out the rough spots.
Hey, who’s afraid of that big bad road now?
Not these old tourists, soaking away our worries in a remote area where bears are a common hazard and may be feeding only ten feet away from the pools.
Okay, that concludes the British Columbia part of the AlCan. Maybe Yukon will be more tame? 😂🤣😜
Chapters in the “Airstreaming to Alaska” series
- Chapter 1 – San Diego to Malibu
- Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay – Chula Vista, California
- Malibu Beach RV Resort – Malibu, California
- Chapter 2 – Malibu to Morro Bay
- Morro Bay State Park – Morro Bay, California
- Chapter 3 – Morro Bay to Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz Harbor RV Park – Santa Cruz, California
- Chapter 4 – Santa Cruz to San Francisco
- San Francisco RV Park – Pacifica, California
- Chapter 5 – San Francisco to Eureka
- Vinnie’s Northbay Airstream Repair – Wilton, California
- High Water Brewery (Harvest Host location) – Lodi, California
- Harmony Wynelands (Harvest Host location) – Lodi, California
- Van Ruiten Family Vineyards (Harvest Host location) – Lodi, California
- Four Fools Winery (Harvest Host location) – Rodeo, California
- Lawson’s Landing – Dillon Beach, California
- Mia Bea Wines (Harvest Host location) – Redwood Vally, California
- Johnny’s at the Beach – Eureka, California
- Chapter 6 – The Oregon Coast
- Harris Beach State Park – Brookings, Oregon
- Bay Point Landing Resort – Coos Bay, Oregon
- Blue Herron French Cheese (Harvest Host location) – Tillimook, Oregon
- Seaside RV Resort – Seaside, Oregon
- Chapter 7 – The Strait of Juan de Fuca
- Washington Land Yacht Harbor Airstream Park – Olympia, Washington
- Salt Creek Recreation Area – Port Angeles, Washington
- Chapter 8 – Victoria, British Columbia
- Weir’s Beach RV Resort – Victoria, British Columbia
- Chapter 9 – Victoria to Mackenzie
- Riverside RV Resort – Whistler, British Columbia
- Big Bar Rest Area – Clinton, British Columbia
- Walmart Parking Lot – Prince George, British Columbia
- Alexander MacKenzie Landing – Mackenzie, British Columbia
- Chapter 10 – The Alaska Highway
- Northern Lights RV Park – Dawson Creek, British Columbia
- Former Prophet River State Park – Peace River, British Columbia
- Hay Lake – Fort Liard, Northwest Territories
- Northern Rockies Lodge and RV Park – Muncho Lake, British Columbia
- Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park – Liard River, British Columbia
- Chapter 11 – Yukon
- Watson Lake Visitors Center Parking Lot – Watson Lake, Yukon
- Teslin Rest Area – Teslin, Yukon
- Norsemen RV Park – Atlin, British Columbia
- Hot Springs Campground – Whitehorse, Yukon
- Real Canadian Superstore Parking Lot, Whitehorse, Yukon
- Gold Rush Campground – Dawson City, Yukon
- Chapter 12 – Top of the World Highway to Chicken, Alaska
- Downtown Chicken Cafe and Saloon
- Chapter 13 – Tok to Valdez
- Tundra RV Park – Tok, Alaska
- Gulkana River Rest Stop – Gulkana, Alaska
- Bear Paw RV Park – Valdez, Alaska
- Chapter 14 – Glacier View to Anchorage
- Grand View Cafe and RV Park – Glacier View, Alaska
- Alaska Raceway Park (Harvest Host location) – Palmer, Alaska
- Ship Creek RV Park – Anchorage, Alaska
- Chapter 15 – Kenai Peninsula
- Heritage RV Park – Homer Spit, Alaska
- Marathon RV Campground – Seward, Alaska
- Chapter 16 – Whittier to Talkeetna
- Williwaw Campground – Whittier, Alaska
- Talkeenta Camper Park – Talkeetna, Alaska
- Chapter 17 – Denali
- Riley Creek Campground – Denali National Park, Alaska
- Chapter 18 – North Pole to Chena Hot Springs
- Riverview RV Park – North Pole, Alaska
- Chena Hot Springs Campground – Fairbanks, Alaska
- Chapter 19 – Tok to Haines
- Fast Eddy’s Restaurant Parking Lot – Tok, Alaska
- Gravel Turnout – Beaver Creek, Yukon
- Gravel Turnout – Destruction Bay, Yukon
- Haines Hitch-UP RV Park – Haines, Alaska
- Chapter 20 – South to the Lower 48
- Gravel Turnout – Haines Junction, Yukon
- Teslin Rest Area – Teslin, Yukon
- Jade City Parking Lot – Jade City, British Columbia
- Mehan Lake Rest Area – Bell II, British Columbia
- Fort Telkwa Riverfront RV Park – Telkwa, British Columbia
- Walmart Parking Lot – Prince George, British Columbia
- 100 Mile House Municipal Campground – 100 Mile House, British Columbia
- Mt. Paul Golf Course (Harvest Host location) – Kamloops, British Columbia
- Crowsnest Vineyards (Harvest Host location) – Cawston, British Columbia
- Final Chapter – Lessons Learned
- Philosophy
- Preparation
- Planning
- Mileposts (the book)
- Roads
- Weather
- Camping
- Cash and Currency
- Clothing
- Food
- Wildlife
- Bugs
- Fuel
- Dump Stations and Potable Water
- Pets
- Internet Connectivity
- Hiking
- Cycling
- Kayaking
- Damage
- Dangers
- Canada Border Crossing
- US Border Crossing
- General Observations
- Serendipity
- Final Thoughts
- Our Camp Sites
If you want to see our exact route, click here.
*photos in this post (unless otherwise noted) were taken and copyrighted by Living In Beauty.
I heard tell that it is paved all the way now.
Hey Rusty! Funny, that’s what we heard too. Evidently, the definition of “Paved” is kind of loose, bumpy, crumbly muddy, dusty and full of potholes the size of Volkswagens.
Thanks so much for being with us.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Keep the photos coming and tips thanks
Hey Pamela!
We’re happy to share. It truly is a marvelous roadtrip! But you have to be prepared for anything. We camped beside roadtrippers who were stranded – having to find mechanics to fix broken axels and busted everything … waiting for welders to repair the frames of their trailers back together. You can’t believe how horrible it is to hit a moose. We drove s-l-o-w – much slower than those around us. We had damage but it was minimal – and mostly old infrastructure that was ready to go anyway – non-emergency stuff. You have to know your rig and what it can take and NEVER drive at night – which isn’t too difficult since there’s only a few hours of night anyway.
Thanks so much for being with us, Pamela!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
What an adventure
Hey Gary!
Thanks so much for following along.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
I lived in Dawson Creek for a few years. My son and a few friends still live there. Safe travels and keep your eye out for buffaloes
Hey Anne!
Dawson Creek is lovely. We noticed new construction and some tasteful restoration in the old town area. We were careful to keep quiet and not startle the buffalo. Pico is tiny but when it comes to security he has tremendous intelligence. Normally, he’s extremely vocal around humans, but he didn’t make the slightest noise around the buffalo.
Thanks for following along, Anne!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Nice articles. Please keep them coming.
Thank you for interest and encouragement Rod. We will do our best.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
My parents drove that back in the 80’s and said that it absolutely gorgeous with all the wildlife moving on the side of the road!!! Glad that you guys had a wonderful trip!!! Hope all is well with you both and enjoy your journey!!!
Thanks so much for sharing your parents memories, Larry. It was exhilarating to have such close encounters with the wildlife of British Columbia and Northern Territories without incident. Everyone got what they were after and went on their merry way.
We are well, thank you, but what a journey! I’m whipped! But thank goodness Vinnie and his crew have put our rig back in the best shape it’s ever been! Now, we’re looking forward to some easy road in a climate more suitable to my delicate Mediterranean constitution.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Enjoying the journal. We went to Alaska in 2019 and plan to go in 23. I also went in 1964: https://i0.wp.com/www.casarodante.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/asz1.jpg?resize=450%2C698&ssl=1
Thank you Casa! We are honored to drive in your tracks!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Great adventure! Loved the write up and photos.
Thanks Barbara! Jim and I are looking forward to seeing you soon!
xoxo
I followed along with some friends that were there with you!
You all did have a great trip!!! And better weather than us at International. 🥵
This is on my future bucket list!
Hey Lindsay!
We probably saw your friends. The overlanders are few and the roads are few – so we tend to cross paths and sometimes often.
Yes, we saw the temps at International!!! Wow. Maybe misters will be the next big upgrade for Airstreams 🙂 (you heard it here first!)
May all of your Alaska dreams come true.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Love that you share your travels with us. Great photos and great stories. Thanks
Thanks Jim!
It’s our pleasure to share. Thank you for being a part of the adventure.
Best to you and Trish 💕
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Fantastic blog!!!! What a joy to read!
Wow! What an honor and inspiration ☺️
Thank you, Chris.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
No kidding! Great reading! Cheers!
Wow – one of your best blogs ever. Stunning writing, narration, and incredible scenery. Hanging on to the edge of my chair for the next episode!
Whoa! What an amazing compliment Joe. Thank you. You and Ronnie have been on our minds as you’ve had your own adventures with Ian. We miss you two so much and need to catch up. xoxo
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Safe travels!
I’ve heard that you want to have two spare tires on that Hwy. let us know how it goes.
Hey Gerald.
Two spares is to the average for a car on the Alcan. Depending on what kind of rig they’re driving some overlanders carry more. If you travel the Dempster Hiwy you will need even more spares. But the more tires, require more space in your rig which is already overloaded with supplies and maybe even fuel. It takes a lot of thought and planning, that’s for sure.
Thanks so much for being with us!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Brings back memories of traveling the AlCan in ’92 & ’97.
Hey Kevin!
Glad to send you some memory dust from the AlCan!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Very nice write-up and photos! You are an encouragement, and serious nudge, to help us start planning our own Alaska trip. 2024? Joe & Marianne
Hey Joe!
Thank you for following along. We are delighted to be an encouragement to you for your travel plans. We just want our followers to know that this road can be extremely difficult. It all depends on weather conditions – the frequency and the amount of rain and the severity of the Spring melt, wild fires and such. Most overlanders do it differently. They drive north as fast as they can to Fairbanks and work their way down slowly. We chose the opposite with a slow drive north. Both choices have advantages and disadvantages, but either way you WILL have to contend with some hard road and potentially severe driving conditions.
Great to hear from you again, Joe! Best of luck to you on your Alaska ambitions!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
It is an amazing place! So happy you loved it as well!! When you get back to a service center have them check for front and rear separation! Those frost heaves and bumpy roads did some damage to ours even though we were slow and steady!
Hey Barbara!
Good point about having separation on the frame. Our technician, Vinnie, checked it out first thing and all is well in that regard. Vinnie also said that is a common problem to return with. We were lucky. Our brakes were good too. Whew! Those frost heaves are something else!
Yes … it’s all about the slow and steady pace and frequent stopping to enjoy the many fabulous and interesting things along the AlCan.
Thank you so much for that important comment!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Drove parts of the Alaska hwy this summer with our Basecamp 20x and man one needs to watch out for the permafrost wave in addition to the potholes. But it is worth the drive for sure.
Hey John!
The potholes and heaves are epic. Overlanders on heart meds should pack extra!
Great to have you with us!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
It’s a beautiful drive. I wouldn’t mind doing it again, slower this time 😜 I’d like to stop more and explore.
💕Mikayla💕 your wisdom increases to match your beauty. Yes, going slow is something you learn with age. Truth is, we aren’t such great travelers, or even like to travel. For us, it’s all about the exploring, unfortunately the travel comes with it 😂
xoxo,
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Lots of critters to share the road with. I am surprised that you did not opt for an ARB or Ranchhand front bumper.
Hey Pat!
Good observation. We thought about it getting one of those guards. Our son who traveled back roads in Africa really pushed us to get one. Our problem is that The Beast, our Ram truck, is our only transportation and, already, it doesn’t fit very well into the average parking spot. We heard that most animal collisions happen while night driving. The sun was out till almost midnight, so we had no problem adhering to that rule. Also when we drive in danger zones we are always spotting with four eyes – constantly watching the shoulders for animals. We saw a lot of them – moose, caribou, bears – grazing down the slopes and in the ditches. You might only get a quick glimpse, but they are there all the time. The most frightening part of the drive in that respect was heading home during rutting season. One year we passed over twenty fresh deer collisions in a single day in upstate New York. We are SO relieved that we didn’t have a collision. It was a constant concern.
Thanks for this important comment. Readers should find it useful. Whether or not to equip your tow vehicle with a guard is an important decision.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
This episode is another magic carpet ride. Thanks Jim and Carmen. Watch out for the bears.
Pete! So great to hear from you!
You are always welcome aboard our Magic Carpet, just don’t bring bears! They scare the life out of me. Not having to be bear alert every minute of the day and night is the best thing about NOT being in Alaska.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Y’all have such a great way of creating beauty throughout your wonderful travelogue. We look forward to tracing some of your steps when our Airstream arrives.
Hey Lenny!
Oh, I envy you and these happy days you are having as you await the arrival of your bundle of aluminum joy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhc8ofCkoh4
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
We look forward to every blog post of your trip. This looks like an amazing trip and we hope to make this journey in the next couple of years. Thanks for sharing! Jim & Sukie
Hey Jim! Thank you for joining us again! It’s our pleasure to share the gory AlCan details 😜
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Jim and Carmen, as you know, we made the trip 13 years ago, a great adventure it was! When you return to the Lower 48, don’t forget, we still have a “hook-up” for you in our driveway!
😘 Larry & Jacquie 💕
Beauty loved the Alaska trip, but she’s anxious to be back in your driveway! There’s no place like home … xoxo
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen & Jim
Wonderful. While not having done the trip all the way to Alaska, your comments and photos of Fort Liard bring back fantastic memories of our 3 month tour of the Northwest Territories. We stayed at Hay Lake as well and I enjoyed meeting and learning about the people there.
Hey Chuck!
The drive to Fort Liard alone is a fabulous trip. On the way south we were discussing a future trip where we go even slower and turn around at Dawson City and Tombstone. The North is HUGE with enough to explore, learn about and do in B.C., Northern Territories and YukonYukonYUKON!!!
Great comment!
Safe & Happy Travels, Chuck!
Carmen@LIB
In 2017, we went up the Cassier Hwy and back the AlCan. Took our time, 3 months. Pulling our 25’FC. Great trip,
Hey Guy!
Isn’t it wonderful to take your time! I think the days of blasting up north for a 2-4 week vacation are dwindling. You have the advantage when you two-to-three or four months. Of course, not everyone can do it, but more and more, as the connectivity situation improves more overlanders will be able to give this area the attention it deserves by taking the long-haul vacation.
Thanks for the great comment, Guy!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Okay now I want to go there.
💕Morgan💕
I would LOVE to have your take on the AlCan! It would be interesting to break the trip up into shorter distances over several years and see more of the outback around the AlCan. You don’t have to go all the way up to Fairbanks in one trip. xoxo
See you soon!!!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Julia showed me all the great pix this morning. Great adventure!
Bill … it was indeed! xoxo to both of you! I can’t wait to hear about Quebec!
xoxo,
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Good one!
💕Lizbeth!💕
Miss you SO much! xoxo
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen & Jim
Well, I know you had some less-than-ideal weather, but you certainly didn’t miss out on wildlife! What an awesome variety of creatures you saw… and this is only the beginning, I know! Muncho Lake is spectacular and – wow – what a campsite! Though, I’m still wondering how long it took you to deal with those tanks… Finally, the wood carvings are amazing! I couldn’t stop staring at the Aerialist – between the piece itself and the way you photographed it, just stunning! I’m looking forward to the next chapter!
“Less than ideal weather” you say … 😂
We’re in Lodi tonight and the temp just now dropped out of the 90’s. We’re just passing through on our way to a less extreme climate. But for tonight we are on generator at a Harvest Host. Jim just returned with a fresh tank of gas so we can stay comfortable till dark. From cold and wet, to hot and dry in less than two weeks.
Yes, Muncho Lake alone is worth the drive – and catch the Chetwynd festival in early summer with a day trip to Northern Territories – maybe check out Stampede in Calgary on the way home. That would make a fabulous roadtrip.
The wildlife viewing in Northern Territories was spectacular – we were all alone and we weren’t really even trying. We probably missed some great opportunities. It felt almost criminal to know that moment, somewhere in Yellowstone, hundreds of folks were lined up shoulder-to-shoulder get a glimpse of some poor bear and her cubs … We really got lucky.
The Aerialist! Thanks, I love that photo, too. Took it at straight-up midday. An amazing woman carver did that one.
https://livinginbeauty.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/9b6379_5831fb0d72d140688fa9ca8596271bb0mv2.jpeg.webp
It was a foreshadowing of a woman aerialist we saw in Whitehorse on Canada Day. So cool!
Thanks so much for keeping an eye out for us, Laura! We can always use more eyes on the road.
Hugs to Thor 🐾💕
Beautifully written. I admire your courage.
Hey Rob! Great to hear from you!
We aren’t brave, we just bore easily 😊
Today we are looking forward to some serious glamping time 🥂
Safe & Happy Travels to you and the live stock, Rob.
Carmen@LIB
Wow, the Alcan delivers! Amazing scenery and photos. (They always take a long time to load, but I was persistent this time – worth the wait!). I’m a tad envious of all those (safe) wildlife encounters. And hot springs.
You worry when the fuel tank is less than half full? Ouch. If we were to do that, we’d need to get gas every 150 miles. As it is, we often fill up a couple of times a day on long road trips.
As always, you picked some amazing places to camp. Funny to see that the entire road is filled with RVs… Many of our nomadic friends enjoyed Alaska this past summer. I wonder if you ran in to any of them.
Hey Liesbet!
Wonderful to hear from you. Sorry to stretch your bandwidth with so many photos. I think I took about 500 photos while crossing the Sierras yesterday. It’s so difficult to pick just one 🤭
Free camping is so abundant and in exquisitely beautiful locations all along the AlCan. It kind of makes up for the overpriced and cramped private campgrounds in Fairbanks and Anchorage.
I’m sure we must have shared space with some of your friends. The overlander crowd is small and we often crossed paths with the same groups and individuals we seen in other locations.
Jim and I enjoyed the tour of your ingenious new rig, Bella!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-IlN4qigWk
You have given us many space saving and energy saving hints and ideas for upgrades on our own rig. Thanks!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
My pleasure. One of these months, I hope to go into detail about what we changed and improved, how, and the costs. The time spent on research, trial and error, returns, and actual installing and fixing is incomprehensible.
Your blog is an amazing resource! Thank you.
Welcome, Adam! So glad you found us. We’re happy to share.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
..in 2012 while on a 9-week trip in our 31 ft Airstream , we stopped for lunch in Pendleton OR. Forgetting I was wearing an Airstream t-shirt a couple approached us about our Airstream. They were from CA & members of Airstream group that was gathering in Pendleton to travel the AlCan highway together. I often think about them–what a beautiful sight to see ALL Airstreams traveling down the highway!!!
Brenda TX
Brenda
It is always fun to find a gathering of Airstreams. While we have seen a lot of Airstreams on our way to Alaska, so far we haven’t ran into an Airstream Caravan yet. But, in the past 7 years of full-time travel, we have had the pleasure of meeting many caravans and hanging out with Airstream folks.
We wear our Airstream shirts often and many times it starts a wonderful conversation.
Thanks for following Living in Beauty. Stay safe out there and happy travels!
Jim
Very entertaining and interesting! Happy trails!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed this blog post. More to come soon! Jim
Thanks for the tips. My wife and I are leaving the first of March from Georgia heading to Alaska in our RV . We’re very excited. It’s going to be about an eight month trip. Can’t wait for the adventure.
Michael, Congratulations on your upcoming trip from Georgia to Alaska. We left San Diego January 16th, 2022, made it to Alaska July 10th, and left Alaska September 8th. About 8 months total! In the coming weeks and months, we will be blogging about our locations in Alaska and the trip back down to the lower 48. Glad you found Living in Beauty and that some of our experience has been valuable to you! Stay safe out there and happy travels! Jim
That’s great. Kinda anxious about our trip but excited also. Keep the blogs coming. Very helpful. Thanks.
Air Streaming to Alaska’ insights from you are fascinating. Travelling far away is exciting. What changes has technology made to the way we travel?
Greg, thank you for your comment. Glad you are enjoying our Airstreaming to Alaska series. Technology has allowed more folks to travel to places they would never had been able to do before cell service and the internet. We are so lucky to be living in a time when we can travel to far away places and still stay connected, at least most of the time. 🤪 Thank you for following Living in Beauty. Jim