Building for Alaska/ TransCanada Adventure

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MYFJ62_ I am in total agreement with you on the tourist traps, which is the biggest reason Im taking this trip instead of flying and staying at some overpriced hotel.
I do not know how far East I am going yet, but based on the encouragement of everyone here, especially from our neighbors to the North, my wife may be getting more than she bargained for. She isn't going the entire trip, just Alaska, because of school, so we'll see how being gone for that much longer will sit.

As for Central America, I don't know if you've been, but Belize and Guatemala are spectacular. In Honduras, I spent a few days on a small island called Amapala (originally Playa Negre) which is beautiful. Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras surround it and it has beautiful black sand beaches.

My wife and I are talking about doing part of her clinicals for PA school down in Guatemala for 6 months. I am adamant about it since I'd love to make the drive down and explore more than I was able to in my time there last time. But thats a different trip altogether.
 
Maps

Here some maps I've been looking at planning my route around. Just looking for some opinions on side trips or stop offs. I am leaning more towards driving along the coast part of the way.
full_map.webp
allalaska_routeLG.webp
 
My initial route takes me through Banff and Jasper, but after that I am just looking for any tidbits that might sway me one way or another.
 
Anybody have info on the Dempster Highway up to Inuvik?
 
Dempster Highway

Heres the Dempster Highway
dempstermap.webp
 
On tires, find ones that are tough with thick treads and sidewalls. Many of the roads up there are really rock, not gravel. 2" to 4" gravel size is routine. Some roads are made with 4" to 6" gravel.:eek: Have a minimum of two spares and know where you can order replacements from. Seriously consider E or F load range tires even if you don't need the carrying capacity.
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Excellent advice for traveling any roads off what passes for pavement in the North. The worst hazard is the 'gravel' made from shale, which makes sharp little blades that slash right through your typical C and D load range tires. The Dempster is one of the worst in that respect, however like the pipeline road to Prudhoe Bay, it has some of the best scenery you will find anywhere.
 
Blue Phoenix said:
Next summer I will be going on a trip to Alaska from Colorado and doing the Dalton Highway up to the Arctic Circle, as many here have already done. After that though, and this is still undetermined, I will be making my way from West to East across Canada.
First off, I would like any useful information from those who have made the trip or one like it because I know there will be alot of details I may miss. So routes and stop-off ideas are totally wanted.
Mostly though, I'd like some recommendations from the equipment list I am compiling.
My budget is around $10,000 for the build I am thinking, but I am building from stock, so the expensive items really add up. Here is what I have so far:

What I need:
ARB front bumper
Warn M8000(considering fitment of M12000)
Superline Synthetic Winch Line
F.O.R. Lift- Considering FOX shocks though (any input?)
ICOM IC-706MKIIG CB Radio
CDL Switch
MULE Rack- not sure if its made it to production yet
Eezi-Awn Rooftop Tent
National Luna Dual Battery Setup
Slee Step Sliders
Engel Freezer Fridge-considering size still
Pull-Pal
Kaymar rear bumper-because of the versatility of setup and
better rear view due to tire placement

Items I would like more input on:
Delorme Topo USA 7.0
Lowrance GPS-it wont be leaving the vehicle
Toyo Open Country MT/ Goodyear Wrangler MT 315s (6)
Snorkel with prefilter
Mean Green Alternator (Man-A-Fre)
Driving Lights-Lightforce, IPF, PIAA, Hella (I am aware of build
quality issues with some of the Hellas)
Ive seen various storage setups, but looking for whats best for me

Ive already PM'd most of the vehicle:
Axles, Fluids, PHH, etc. More ideas welcome.

Again thanks for all the input and I am really looking forward to this build. I'll be in Afghanistan from May of this year until May of the next, so I'm still deliberating on leaving it with someone to be worked on, or just waiting and doing it all at once when I get back. But I look forward to all the input while I plan this trip.:cheers:
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Sounds like a really cool trip!

BUT - you are not crossing a unimproved jungle two track in the amazon, I would ditch the 'hardcore' items unless you really think your going to need them.

Winch/pullpal - overkill unless your going to be getting into some gnarly situations, just adds weight. Most of your driving would presumably be improved roads.

Tires - tough AT tire, Toyo M-55 or BFG AT. Like others have said, tough sidewalls and good road/gravel handling are key.

Snorkel/prefilter - I would bring a couple extra filters in case you get dusted out.

I know we always see the fully kitted out expo rigs with all of the above and think the stuff is mandatory. BUT, with a lighter rig and more money in your pocket, your going to see alot more of the country for less.

My 2c.
 
nickwood48- I agree that many of the things on my list of things to get are overkill for this trip, but this trip will hopefully be one of many to come. I mentioned before the possibility of driving and staying in Guatemala for up to six months in the near future, but again, point taken. I do realize that minivans and RV's are capable of making it up too.

7p's- Awesome resources. I can already see what I am going to be doing this weekend.
 
Also, on a side note. Two things I haven't even touched on are:

1) I am very much a fisherman and plan on doing some fishing while I am up there. My father-in-law went on a trip last summer at what I believe was the Queen Charlotte Lodge? Maybe not, but I'd really like more info from the locals on good spots for Rainbows and King Salmon. I read an article today about the Alagnak River and the solitude it offers. I realize everything is pretty well fly-out, so my options are nearly limitless.

2) The more pressing question I have is in regards to Canadian gun laws and how I need to go about transporting rifles for hunting up in Alaska. I have read it's not too hard as long as you declare them and have all of the necessary registration paperwork. Any wise words?
 
About a year ago I went on a 2-3 month road trip around BC. Never made it as far as I planned because I was having too much fun exploring logging roads, mountains, lakes, and small communities. Not just the towns that depend on a gas station that keeps it going but the towns that rely on that town to keep it going. If you're going north through williams lake maybe go west to bella coola. half of the highway is unpaved but some of the nicest scenery and excelent for land cruisers. If you like fishing, bella coola is on of THE places to go in BC. They have lakes, rivers and ocean to fish for anything you may want. PM me if you are interested and and I can give you ideas to go to. especially if you like isolation. Another bonus of bella coola is you can take the ferry from there to queen charolette islands. Beautiful as long as its not windy or rainy. There you can do some wicked fishing too. From there you can ferry to prince rupert another awesome fish area with the skeena river. from here you can go to alaska.

As for hunting I don't know. I don't have a gun. If i went back i would as I lived out of a one man tent and sometimes trying to find camp spot without too many bear signs leaves you a bit unnerving. There is lots of hunting through here to that I know and a lot of the shops and local stores can outfit you with guns and fishing gear from full on guides to a stranger pointing which way to go. this area relies on this activity so they try and cater to it.
 
I think as others have mentionned - a winch is unnecessary .. a "come-along" and length of tow rope might be handy. There are places that the only thing you can tie off to is another vehicle. Gravel will play hell with your lights and windshield - that 3m protective film for the plastic and glass bits someone was selling a few years ago would be a good idea (been intending to do that myself one day). It would also make sense to see what you can do to protect any soft spots underneath. Also as dorky as they can look - any sort of bug and stone deflector is a must have imo.

Learn to spot a Tim Horton's donut shop at 300m - in the "civilized" parts of the country they are strategically placed about a "full bladder" apart along highways etc and offer great coffee, pretty good soup and sandwiches etc and "invariably" pretty clean toilet facilities.

I haven't been on it personally but the highway into Goose Bay/Happy Valley "used" to be (according to truck drivers I met up there) pretty ugly. One driver - first into Goose one year was quoted in the local paper as saying he always brought his new rigs up on that highway during first year of ownership cause "if anything was gonna break - it would break on that road while still under warranty!" ... fwiw - the local car rental contracts were pretty clear "NO OPERATION OF A RENTAL VEHICLE OFF THE PAVED PORTIONS OF THE ROADS AROUND HAPPY VALLEY GOOSE BAY" .. there was only about 8 miles of paved road in the entire community :)

You will meet the kindest and nicest people in the world in Newfoundland and Labrador ... count on it! If you are in the least bit cynical (as I usually am) it will take a while for this fact to sink in.

BTW - I have not read the link to the firearms advise so this may be a repeat - DO NOT under any circumstances bring a handgub into Canada - there is no sense of "ha ha" at the border or by Police if you are found with it in your possession. Even licensed owners (eg target shooters etc) have a heck of time with the paper work and imposed restrictions - and the restrictions are very very tight! Where you are going - you may see an occasional prospector or trapper licensed for "wilderness carry" .... but they are in the minority and jump through hoops for the permits.

If your are transporting long arms - this can be arranged for specific purposes BUT DO NOT mention anything about "self-defense" in any discussion - nor do you really want to engage in the ubiquitous "bear defence" discussion. There are areas - "National Parks" - where all firearms are prohibited and the bears are allowed to eat you if they wish - accept that :eek: - Prudence will dictate what you do to avoid an unpleasant encounter (very rare) - and the law (if they get involved) will dictate if you did the right thing or not. Canada is EXACTLY like the US - with our fair share of tree huggers and eco extremists - which isn't necessarily bad I guess...cause there is some magnificent scenery and country to protect and preserve ...(but personally - I like to hunt!)

Looking forward to your pictures!!!
 
No offense, but it sounds nothing like the part of the US Im from. My location states Im from Colorado, but Im a Texan born and raised and I am moving back as soon as I can. The only gun law I know of in Texas that really applies to me is the right to bear arms. Period. Added to that, I look forward to Newfoundland, but I'll warn you it'll be hard to beat the hospitality Im used to in Texas. Anybody get the feeling I love Texas?

Anyways, i'd love to get into politics, but Im not going on this trip to spread the word about responsible gun ownership. So, I think I will just make it easy on myself and give them a fishing rod to examine instead of my assortment of guns.

I'll be spending my weekend catching up with the plethora of info you guys have given me and start doing more research on how I am going to get from Alaska, south and across Canada.

Thank you guys so much for this info. As this trip develops I will definitely take from all the ideas given here.
 
No offense, but it sounds nothing like the part of the US Im from
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:D absolutely none taken ... and you are very right .. Canada is nothing like most of the US as it relates to the foolish gun laws we have up here! When I said "EXACTLY" .. I should have made that caveat. As you probably know - outside of the big (its all relative - our big is like your medium) cities ... the people though are pretty similar - it would be hard to distinguish between a person from northern Montana and one from southern Alberta. The folks in rural New England are second cousins to those in the Maritimes. In Southern Ontario at the border towns Windsor/Detroit; Buffalo/Niagara/Welland etc ... folks live in one country and work in the other - both ways. And it is a good time to come visit when the Canadian dollar is trdaing at 80 cents US (course it was better when it was 65 cents)

BTW - even if you were inclined to - you won't need to preach the value of responsible gun ownership in Canada. Outside of the cities ... you'd be preaching to the already converted!!:D
 
For canada, i use ibycus, it is free and can be uploaded on garmin GPS. simply google ibycus.

I also use Metro Guide Canada 4, it is a old routing map software (now city navigator being used mostly), but with Metro guide and can guide you throught very old logging road! make thing fun. But basicly on my GPS i have, Metro Guide Canada4, City Navigator and Ibycus.
 
Hey there Blue Phoenix! I have a couple of suggestions for you concerning your trip.
1. The National Geographic TOPO! is Excellent! And Yes, you can purchase it at REI. There are many features that allow you to insert icons and photos of the area you're in, as well as write as if in a journal. It is a great tool to supplement a hand written journal or slide show presentation.
2. GPS: IMO Garmin has a better support network of users and software for their products. I have a Magellan, and I can't ever seem to find what I'm looking for in terms of software or other users information.
3. Destinations along the Way: You REALLY need to stop at Liard Hot Springs in BC. http://www.britishcolumbia.com/hotsprings/?id=18 It's on the way, but blink and you'll miss it! It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been! I've driven the ALCAN 3 times from Michigan and Back, and trust me-It's well worth it!!!
4. Guns and hunting: I don't know when you plan on being here, but Dall Sheep season is mid-late August, as is Caribou season Depending on which Game Management Unit you hunt. Moose season is Sept. 10th to the 20th for many GMU's, of course this also depends on where you hunt, but for general firearm (rifle) season this is the case around South Central Alaska. You should really look here Alaska Hunting and Trapping Regulations, Alaska Department of Fish and Game for Complete info. and if you have questions contact Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game. But, you'll also run into issues with meat preservation if you do this yourself. You must also know that if you hunt sheep, goat, brown/grizzly bear you MUST hire a guide!!! It's the law. You can hunt black bear, Moose on your own, and I really wouldn't advise hunting moose on your own if you've never done it. Adult bull moose can easily weight 1,200-1,600lbs! Gotta know what you're doin'! You probably won't run into any Sitka Deer (Blacktail) on your trip here unless you visit South Eastern Coastal areas or Kodiak/Afognak Islands. Another consideration for hunting is cost. Here is the link for Hunting and Fishing licenses and prices: http://www.admin.adfg.state.ak.us/license/prices.html. You can also purchase these on-line before you come if you so desire.

Get a copy of The Alaska Roadside Angler @ The Alaska Roadside Angler Guide It's a great guide and tells you locations to fish along with the seasons and species of fish runs.

Anyway, I hope this helps. If you need or want anymore info. let me know. I'm here in Anchorage, and have been here for 5 years, hunting, fishing, sea kayaking, and other stuff! So, I know some things, some people, and some great places to eat and catch some live music!!! And I'm a fellow Army Veteran so, if you want to drop by to chat, need contacts for mechanics here, specifics on ideas or where to go, or whatever, let me know and I'll do my best to help you out!
 
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An afterthought:
If you're not carrying a gun and you go into the backcountry it's a good idea to carry Bear Spray! You can purchase it here in Anchorage at REI, The Sportsman's Warehouse, Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer, and many, many other locations!

I would also suggest picking up a copy of The Milepost to help you plan your trip, there's a lot of touristy stuff in there but it's pretty much THE guide for driving the ALCAN and other bisecting highways.
The MILEPOST: Alaska Travel Guide and Trip Planner - Home IT has travel Links for Camping • Fishing & Hunting • Road Reporter • Weather/When to go, Exchange Rates • Road Conditions • Crossing the Border and gas price links.

Which reminds me: GasBuddy.com - Find Low Gas Prices in the USA and Canada is an excellent resource for planning your trip through the U.S. and Canada. You can look up gas prices by State, Province, City, zip. Personally, I think it's pretty cool, and use it to find cheap gas here in Anchorage.
 
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It sounds to me like you're trying to see the better part of North America in a couple weeks. Maybe cut back on the distance and take a little more time to explore. That said, this summer I'm hoping to drive from Vancouver to Prudhoe Bay and back in two weeks.

If you're planning on winching in the North, keep in mind there aren't many big trees everywhere, so winching may be difficult for a 6000+lbs truck. Maybe get one of those "Pull Pall" land anchors. It does get very muddy in the summer. Maybe also go for a skinnier tire for better grip. Also, get some windshield protection- 3M makes a film that you put on the glass that protects it against gravel. I was up there last summer and 9/10 cars that weren't new with nubs on the tire had cracked windshields, took about 2 months for my cousins windshield to crack and she considered herself lucky (and she barely did any highway miles during that time).
 
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AJP- You dont have to explain to me about Canadians and their guns. I know y'all (if I may say) love them as much as anyone.

Eleblanc- Tu parle francais, non? Was that your 40 that was showcased in a winter edition of 4WDToyotaOwner? That was a great looking rig. I think Ibycus is going to be very useful up there. I would have never found it without you guys. I'll look into the Metro Guide as well.

DYNMC1- Garmin is definitetly at the top of my choices for GPS units, the only reason I may go the Lowrance way is because the GPS won't be leaving the vehicle (I already have a hand held etrex) and I would like to have the bigger screen. I am still working on finding out what kinks I may run into though with compatibility.
As for hunting, I am well aware that 1, guided hunts are the only way to go if I choose to do so and 2, that Moose are very aggressive animals. My major in college was Evolutionary Biology with prime focus on bears and other large predators. I love 'em! But I also know how dangerous and unpredictable they can be.
I think I am going to just fish anyways as it will less of a hassle crossing into Canada and shipping the meat.

As I was searching for fishing places last night, I noticed that prices to fly on a bush plane are crazy expensive and for the most part to more than two people. Looking at a map of Alaska, I didn't see any forest access roads or too many public roads that go West of Anchorage. I'm going to do a more thorough search this weekend, but what am I missing?

Matt16- The plan for this trip is there is no plan. "Don't take the trip, let the trip take you", something I read in one of the issues of Overland Journal, is sort of the motto I am going by on this trip. The trip could take a month or two months, I don't know and I am not really constrained either.
As for winching, I mentioned in the first post about bringing a Pull-Pal. I know a winch will only be as good as my Pull-Pal in certain areas.

I feel lazy for letting you guys do all of the planning for this trip. I guess its sort of developing into an expedition of sorts now. Thank you guys all for the advice and information. Hopefully this weekend I can sit down and hash out a "plan" of sorts and put it in graphic form to give the eyes a rest for this thread.
 
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