Hjudge49
St. Augustine, Fl.
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Joined: 08/15/2007
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With all the folks on this forum who have made the trip to Alaska, would it be appropriate to start a "sticky" checklist of things people might want to consider taking or doing to their rigs before making the trip?
I know we forgot our vacuum sealer and had to pay to have fish processed, and we had to jury-rig some blackout panels to darken the bedroom. After taking a bucket of gravel out of my car's vent area, we ordered and had delivered a tow car shield. I know before I go back, I will make some blackout panels out of either bubble wrap painted black or some silver insulation board to both darken and insulate the bedroom windows.
I forgot to say: we lost satellite TV just north of Calgary, apparently Direct TV doesn't work North of there. We also had no Sprint broadband in Alaska.
* This post was
edited 09/07/08 08:07am by Hjudge49 *
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robanddi
Burton TX USA
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Joined: 08/11/2003
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I think lists are a great idea. After our first trip, I made a list of things I ran out of or needed but did not have. I review and update the list periodicslly.
Diann
P.S. When we bought our current DP, one of the requirements was that I could get the bedroom pitch black at noon!
Robert & Diann
2001 34' Foretravel U270
2004 Avalanche
Burton TX
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johnna
Southwest, Utah
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Joined: 07/28/2003
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We did not do anything special to our rig for our Alaska rig. Did not need or want anything extra. Had a great time. Would like to do it again.
****************************************************** 
2004 Ford 350 Super Duty 2W Dirve Long Bed PU
2008 327RLT Montana Mountaineer 35 ft. 5th wheel
2005 Alaska and other Trip Logs
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JUrban
Delaware
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Joined: 06/28/2004
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Fishing poles, fishing net, fishing waders, foul weather gear, inflatable boat, BIG fillet knife, .... Oh well, you get the idea. At least my mind isn't in the gutter. LOL
We've been up twice and are going next year. Greatest place on earth. I also sort of like sitting around till past midnight without any lights being necessary.
John
2008 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40' QSP
2006 Chevrolet Colorado Toad
BlueOx Aventa LX Tow Bar
SMI Air Force One toad brake
Copilot Live Laptop 10 GPS
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Nascarcruzin
Home is where the RV is parked.
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Joined: 01/06/2005
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When we go again, I will take more of the foods, we like. At times, we could not find them in stores in Canada or Alaska.
Ronnie & Rebecca
Check out our journal: North to Alaska
Another website to view our trip to Alaska:
Adventure to Alaska
FMCA #388387
Full-time RVer's since 2004
Monaco LaPalma Workhorse chassis 37' 2-slides
 (Custom) (Custom) (Custom).JPG)
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hwybnb
Southern California
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Joined: 05/02/2001
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A checklist for Alaska should look just like for any other long trip. Folks up there live the same way we do, shop at the same stores, eat the same foods, etc. We made no special preparations for our three momth trip and had no problems.
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HarryWM
Wherever we are parked this time.
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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This may sound stupid but if you don't do it you will have regrets when you set to Watson Lake. Probably the main attraction in that town is its Sign Forest which started with some Army engineers during the building of the ALCAN highway. It now contains tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of personal signs placed there you travelers. Design a unique sign and put it up in the forest. Sort of keep in mind that altho there are lots and lots of towns up there, there are few major food shopping (at least for variety and more reasonable prices) opportunities. Take advantage of them.
Harry
With wife Carole 10 yrs fulltiming
Retired U.S. Army
2002 Carriage LS 37' 5er; 2006 Lance 1181
2008 F-450 King Ranch 4x4 fully loaded
2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee toad
SKP # 54751
Geocacher "DosTortugas"
Harry's BLOG
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joe b.
Florida
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Joined: 08/24/2002
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While I understand some folks have problems with the light in the summer time, after living in rural northern Alaska for over 25 years, I still don't understand why? Most of us as adults can take a nap in the middle of the afternoon and don't need it dark. I have always found that when I close my eyes, it is dark inside. LOL At the current time, here in Florida it is noon and blue skys (at least as blue as the sky gets here) and when I close my eyes, it is dark, plenty dark for sleeping.
When in the north country, go with how you feel and not what time your watch shows or how light it is at that time. Go until you get tired, then go to sleep, when you wake up, if you feel rested, get up, if not, sleep some more. Over the years living in Alaska, I have fished at 3 AM, worked in my garden at all hours of the clock, flown my airplanes, departed on trips, etc. Kids, in general, will go with this system of when they are tired, they crash, when rested they go. In our family of 4, in the summer we often had different sleeping schedules but wasn't a problem to us.
The only problem arose when I had to be at the office or somewhere else at a scheduled time and day. But even paradise has it's problems, I guess.
I have yet, to not be able to find and buy, anything we have forgotten, in Canada or Alaska. In 2004, we forgot to take our heavy blanket (not too useful in Florida) on the trip so we bought one in Calgary. In 2006, I forgot my axe and bow saw which I bought in Idaho. We are neither hung up on brands so we have always been able to find a different brand that met our needs and desires. LOL
When we were living in Nenana Alaska, I had one of the largest collections of "rain coats" of anyone, I suspect. While Nenana is a very dry climate, I had to go to Juneau, numerous times when the legislature was in session. So about every couple of weeks I had to buy a new rain jacket when I arrived as I had forgotten the last one I bought, which was back home in Nenana. One of those mysteries of life why I couldn't solve that problem.
I don't do anything special to our rigs for a trip to Alaska that I wouldn't do for any other long trip. I carry the same tools, parts, etc. Only difference was a couple of trips pulling a trailer to/from Alaska, and I took an extra spare tire.
joe b.
South Florida, Stuart
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Driving a Dodge/Cummins
www.jbpacooper.com web site
http://www.picturetrail.com/jbpacooper Alaska 2004 - Alaska 2006 - Colorado photos
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JUrban
Delaware
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Joined: 06/28/2004
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Love your approach, joe b. We operate on the same lack of schedule, and it sure takes the stress out of things. We plan, but know that things will probably change, so no big deal. At first we had a little problem with the light in the north, but attributed that to too long on a fixed schedule. We're working on that one.
Really LOVE AK, however, and if I'd have gotten up there when I was younger, my kids would have all been born there.
John
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RRUGG
Newaygo, MI,USA
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Joined: 08/08/2003
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I was able to go to sleep ok, but had trouble getting back to sleep after waking up for a middle of the night "pit stop."
RRUGG
2008 Dodge 2500 QC 4x4 SB Cummins 6 speed auto 3.73
1997 Holiday Rambler 29FK travel trailer
2006 Summit 22RB travel trailer
2003 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport
Bob & Grace professional retirees
Good Sam life members
Camped in 49 states. Missing Hawaii.
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