My prep/cruise to 30 days in the Alaskan bush.

[gen2600]

Well, this is the start. I leave for Alaska in 17 days. I'll be leaving after work on the 31st, spending the night in Seattle so I can hit the border relatively early then rolling up to Fairbanks Alaska.

I've been prep'ing this truck for a little while, Safari springs, OME shocks, wheels/tires, roof rack and a "Solid Rock Offroad" bumper (soon to arrive)...

I also now have the entire bottom end and top end of the engine rebuild complete.

My plans before I go are:

*Build boxes down the sides of the rear area of the truck to help live out of.
*Outfit this crazy Swedish medicine box to go up ontop of the rack.
*Pack.
*Make some drapes since I'll be sleeping in the truck.
*Setup a CB antenna.
*Paint new bumper.
*Buy a new wheel/tire as a spare for my cool new bumper.

If you like, here is the plot of my land and my plans for the roads I'm going to build while up there (if I am super industrious I'll get both road phases done and cut out a pad for my cabin). Ed is one of my best friends, Cody is my brother and their future cabin sites are marked on my land (10 acres).

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=...0111e19de94f814d0&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=k&z=16&om=1

...anyway, I'll use this thread to post updates on my preps and once on the road if I get the chance, I'll post a wee blog. I'm taking my nice camera so, I won't be able to post pix right away (who knows how much internet time I'll have). Upon my return you can bet there will be a ton of pix and I'm actually going to do a video blog of the whole trip too.

This makes my 10th drive up to and back from Alaska.

 

[Ducks]

That is awesome! Cool map. Looks like great terrain. When did you buy the property? Do you have cooking facilities set up or are you bringing propane?

I'm planning on driving up to Alaska next summer. How long does it take you? Look forward to the trip report. Sorry for the barrage of questions. Good luck.

Chad

 

[gen2600]

That is awesome! Cool map. Looks like great terrain. When did you buy the property?

I'm planning on driving up to Alaska next summer. How long does it take you? Look forward to the trip report.

Thanx Chad! I bought the property about 1.5 years ago. I actually just happen to be randomly looking and saw it for sale (and nothing in that area ever comes up for sale) so pounced on it. I was pretty sure from the maps I had at the time that I had hunted that very land and once I got there I realized I had . Odd.

As for travel time/distance etc I am looking at around 2,443 miles total. Realistically it takes 38 hours of drive time. If you are lazy and check out stuff along the way (read fish) you can hit 42 hours. I usually don't push myself and hit the 38-40 hour mark over 4 days.

 

[Ducks]

How do you do your cooking? Do use propane for such a long time out?

 

[gen2600]

How do you do your cooking? Do use propane for such a long time out?

I do the same thing my mom used to do when she was out for a long time in the forest service:

...that little $30 guy has been around forever and still works perfect. I'm boiling water before my friends with their fancy mountain hardware badasses . It uses "gaz" and you can get containers that are about 3x the one you see there. I pump and filter all my own drinking water with this:

...which is the MSR Sweetwater microfilter. I've pumped water where the water was so dirty that there was dead animals only about 20 feet away and it was all I had. I'm still here to talk about it

 

[Ducks]

I really like the MSR SweetWater. The First Need Purifier is crap. I use a WhisperLite when I'm backpacking.

 

[MountainCruiser62]

gaz stove never fails, i backpack with the same one my dad used when he was my age.

interested in seeing the progress, keep it up.

 

[Mark W]

As for travel time/distance etc I am looking at around 2,443 miles total. Realistically it takes 38 hours of drive time. If you are lazy and check out stuff along the way (read fish) you can hit 42 hours. I usually don't push myself and hit the 38-40 hour mark over 4 days.

Yep, the best I've done from the Portland area was two and a half days total. Catching a little sleep in the rig and not really pushing myself to fatigue. I was in a Saab 9000 though and not a Cruiser. The limiting factor was keeping the speed down to safe and occasionally legal levels.

I made it from Oklahoma City to Palmer once in 89 hours total in a mini-truck. But I was hallucinating from fatigue when I got here.

Mark...

 

[gen2600]

Yep, the best I've done from the Portland area was two and a half days total. Catching a little sleep in the rig and not really pushing myself to fatigue. I was in a Saab 9000 though and not a Cruiser. The limiting factor was keeping the speed down to safe and occasionally legal levels.

I made it from Oklahoma City to Palmer once in 89 hours total in a mini-truck. But I was hallucinating from fatigue when I got here.

Mark...

Good hell, that's terrible! I drove from Detroit to Portland in 32 hours straight (hauling ass) and started to see things. After I had some rest I actually felt pretty freaked out that I had done that. Dumb. Now, I take things a bit more slowly .

Travis

 

[SOCALFJ]

Great thread! Keep us updated on your trip.. looks like a good time!

 

[gen2600]

Great thread! Keep us updated on your trip.. looks like a good time!

Thanx! Here is my current prep list:

Equipment needed for work:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Chainsaw(s) - bringing one, might buy a husky up there.
2. Polaski (probably at moms).
3. Rope.
4. Chain.
5. Axe.

Living requirements/needs:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Toilet Paper.
2. Water jug.
3. Gaz fuel for stove.
4. Headlamp, small flashlight, 5d mag light.
5. Tarp.
6. Line/rope.
7. Door mat.
8. Tent poles.
9. Backpack tent.
10. Cold weather sleeping bag.
11. Memory foam pillow.
12. Additional blankets.
13. Laptop for journal.
14. Rifle/bullets/Gunlock.
15. Ultralight and princess thermarests.
16. Candle lantern (with citronella candles).
17. At least three caribeaners.
18. Binocs!

Preparations:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. PAINT BUMPER!
2. Build boxes in the back.
3. Prep rifle forms for 45/70 for Canada.
4. Clean Sweden box.
5. Map bag.
6. Make mount for CB.
7. CB Antenna?
8. Camera mount for video cam.
9. Tie battery down.
10. Screen door for window (antibug!).
11. Get .41 to Kari.

NEED TO BUY (Total= $249):
^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Wood. ($100)
2. Paintbrush. ($4)
3. Hinges. ($15)
4. Semi-heavy chain for stumps. (?)
5. 2x Spark boxes. ($40)
6. More straps from homedepot. ($20)
7. Batteries (tripple A). ($15)
8. MiniDV tapes. ($15)
9. Bullets. ($20)
10. Spare belts. ($20)
11. Gaz light. ($20)
12. New battery. ($120)

 

[Ducks]

No Jungle Juice (99.8% DEET)? I guess it depends on where you are at. I'm usually in the swamps. What hunting is open at that time?

 

[gen2600]

No Jungle Juice (99.8% DEET)? I guess it depends on where you are at. I'm usually in the swamps. What hunting is open at that time?

I'll be close enough to the swamps to run into some skeeters, usually in sept they are dyin down. Depends year to year but they aren't to bad. Usually sept is when the first flakes fall too.

Don't know what hunting is open during that time, the 45-70 is my bear gun and makes for a good protection rifle and the .41 is my revolver. I don't take any chances out there when I'm alone - especially when I saw SO MUCH (two separate) black bear sign and at least 9 separate moose sign on the property last ear.

 

[Tofudebeest]

The Whisperlite Internationale is a great stove too, and can use so many different fuels I wonder if it will burn piss. I still use my ~1992 PUR Scout (discontinued, like all PUR camping purfiers, ???), but would buy the Sweetwater if I needed to replace the PUR.

I'm jealous!

 

[gen2600]

The Whisperlite Internationale is a great stove too, and can use so many different fuels I wonder if it will burn piss. I still use my ~1992 PUR Scout (discontinued, like all PUR camping purfiers, ???), but would buy the Sweetwater if I needed to replace the PUR.

I'm jealous!

Hahah, I have quite a few buddies with the whisperlites... They love em.

Wait till you guys see my next trip, gunna see how close I can get to the southern tip of Chile either next year or the following.

 

[Ducks]

I was looking over your preparations and just had some random questions. What are the details on the Swedish medicine box? How did you find out about it and why did you go with it?

How are you mounting the CB? I think I saw a picture of PismoJim's CB mounted to the roof. Thought that was kind of interesting.

And I'm always interested in people's designs for the boxes in the back. Not trying to jump the gun just mentioning some things I would like to see when you get to it.

And one more question. How do you like the lift and tires for the areas you have gone in Alaska? Good traction, enough lift? I still haven't decided what direction I going as far as modifying my cruiser - 2.5" lift or SOA or linked suspension . . . Although the 2.5" lift is what I can currently afford and probably all I need for most of the things I want to do but an SOA or linked suspension would get me to anywhere I might want to go. Anyways, enough rambling, thanks for the info.

Chad

 

[gen2600]

I was looking over your preparations and just had some random questions. What are the details on the Swedish medicine box? How did you find out about it and why did you go with it?

It's really strange, I'll start posting pictures this weekend and I'll take a couple of the box. Buddy of mine just "got" 5 of them at this old pharma type job he used to work at and has just been moving with them without ever having done anything with them except trade them for favors... I helped him move and he gave me two (I gave one to my room mate). They are about 4' square and probably 16" tall with air/water seals. Pretty burly too, figure it'd go perfect up on the trucks roof rack right next to my rocket box (I use the rocket box for the trucks fluids, belts etc).

How are you mounting the CB? I think I saw a picture of PismoJim's CB mounted to the roof. Thought that was kind of interesting.

Gunna have to hold off on answering that till the bumper gets here, I think it was either shipped yesterday or today and then I'll get it painted and mounted and will mount the CB antenna most likely off of it and have the whip attached to the roof rack too.

And I'm always interested in people's designs for the boxes in the back. Not trying to jump the gun just mentioning some things I would like to see when you get to it.

No worries, I'm a pic whore so I'll be posting pictures for certain! Hopefully going to get the boxes and bed knocked out this weekend.

And one more question. How do you like the lift and tires for the areas you have gone in Alaska? Good traction, enough lift? I still haven't decided what direction I going as far as modifying my cruiser - 2.5" lift or SOA or linked suspension . . . Although the 2.5" lift is what I can currently afford and probably all I need for most of the things I want to do but an SOA or linked suspension would get me to anywhere I might want to go. Anyways, enough rambling, thanks for the info.

Well, this will be the first time I've had this rig up in Alaska but after I had the wheels/tires/springs/shocks etc done I did roll out with the local FJ Cruiser guys on a cruise before I pretty much blew my head in half and it was SURPRISINGLY awesome. I mean, I loved my cruiser beforehand but after going on that run I really realized how much more capable it was. I'm not going for an extreme rock crawler but wanted a good solid safari style rig and this is totally that. I have no plans to go SOA.

 

[knorrena]

Bring a pack of diaper wipes. Sounds kinda sick, but after 4 days of no shower these things can make you feel human again.

 

[gen2600]

Bring a pack of diaper wipes. Sounds kinda sick, but after 4 days of no shower these things can make you feel human again.

Good call!!!

 

[gen2600]

Here is what I'm thinking for my antenna setup (won't know for sure till the bumper gets here)...

Came to a shade over $50 from http://www.walcottcb.com:

Firestik - MU8R18 - 2-Piece 18ft "EZ-Install" Single Coax Firestik - MU8R18 - 2-Piece 18ft "EZ-Install" Single Coax
• Clear Silicone Sealer - None
• Coax Grommets - None
• Coax Seal - None

Firestik K4R FireRing Stud Mount

Firestik - SS3H - Stainless Steel Spring

Firestik Firefly 4 Foot Flexable Antenna Firestik Firefly 4 Foot Flexable Antenna
• Books - None
• Meters -None
• Quick Disconnect - None


I already had the radio:
http://midlandradio.com/comersus/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=3108