My folks are thinking about driving the Alcan highway this summer. They drove it in 1972 and it was all gravel, then. I've heard that it is all paved now. In 72 they drove a 72 F-250 4x4 (it's mine now) , and they are wanting to drive it in their Mercury Gran Marquis this time. They are in their 70s and in good health. I am wanting your input as to the conditions, gas prices, motels, etc. If you've driven it in the past year or if you live near by I'd appreciate your advice. Thanks

 

I haven't driven it, but I saw a special on the history channel the other night and they said it was over 90% paved and had been shortened over the years by nearly one hundred miles. Hope this helps.

 

Previous thread on this subject.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...=alcan+highway

 

Don't worry about it. It's highly traveled during the summer. Mostly by RV's. Almost any vehicle can make it without trouble. (my brother drove up from Texas in a 99 Camaro last February.) No probs at all. I hear there are lots of potholes in the summer, but that's about it. I've never been down it, so I can't speculate on hotel prices, etc. However, the Canadian dollar is worth somewhat less than the American dollar if that helps. You didn't say where they were driving from. Tell them to have a good trip!

Jon

 

I've been up and back twice in Five years.
I'ts OK for the Grand Merc.

There's plenty of road construction up in the Yukon, as always.

Paved????? Paved???? Just what the heck does that word really mean?

Macadam is as close to pavement at it gets up there in the Yukon.
The Section east of Beaver Creek will always be just the way it is now.

The Earth quake from last fall really broke up a lot of the roads near Tok Alaska. There's gonna be some major delays in that area this summer.

There's no reason for your folks to worry. Tell em' to go and have fun.

Gas prices are going to be thier worst problem.

NO HITCHIKERS! You cant repeat that enough. Dont even let a crowd of them get around your car.

 

My Grandpa worked on the Alkan highway durring WW2. He was too old to go to war, so he went to work there instead.
He was a sign painter and sort of an artist, anyhow he wrote a poem about the highway, and the north country, and illistrated it and printed copies, and sent them to all his friends that he met up there!
It is kind of a family heirloom now, he gave me a really cool map of the Northwest Territories, from when he was up there too.
I need to go drive the highway some time to see what he loved about it so much! But it is a long way from NE.
Greg58

 

From what I have read, I would NOT do THAT drive in anything BUT a 4x4. (And be prepared to buy a new windshield as well.) And i would suggest that they buy/rent a Satalite phone.

 

It seems that a lot of bigger trucks and tourists dont use the Alcan the whole way anymore. They turn west at Prince George and go 300 miles on the good Highway 16 (Yellowhead Hwy) to Kitwanga and then head north to the Yukon border from there. Supposedly the road is better and quicker that way. If you decide to do it that way keep driving 45 miles further to Terrace and pop in and say hi
Then go another 100 miles west to Prince Rupert and the Pacific ocean. The drive between Terrace and Prince Rupert is beautiful. Lots of tourists take the ferry from Prince Rupert up to Alaska through the inside passage. Cruise ships also stop in PR.
If you go north at Kitwanga to head to the Yukon border take a short side trip into Stewart and Hyder Alaksa. I think Hyder is the southernmost place in Alaska. Stewart is just across the line on the Canadian side. The movie Insomnia was filmed in Stewart last year I think. Other movies have been filmed there too because of the amazing glaciers that they can pass off as being Alaskan.
Also just north of Terrace in the Nass Valley is one of Canada's youngest lava flows. Its around 300 years old. The road goes right through the middle of it for about 15 miles. It looks sorta like a lunar landscape.
Just south of Terrace there is a natural hotspring that has been developed into a resort...ok not a great resort but the hotsprings is neat
I guess I could also mention the fishing around here. Major big salmon in the Skeen river. As far as I know we still have a couple records for salmon size.
Oh and the Kermode bear (pronounced kerr mo dee). We are the only place in the world that has them. Basically it is a white Black Bear but not an albino. They can sometimes be spotted at the garbage dump.
If it seems like I am kinda fond of the area I live in you're right....I love the scenery around here.

 

I spent a couple days in Terrace, back in 82, with a work mate.
You are correct about Terrace being a nice place. I liked it too.

That Hiway (the Cassier) is not as developed as the normal easterly (Prince George/Alcan) road. However there are more Trout fising lakes along the Cassier.

The Cassier is far more scenic than the Prince George/alcan but it does not have the services and there are some pretty rough stretches of road. Some big jumps, down off the pavment, then back up onto the pavment, which can take a year off your car's undercarriage, and a lifetime off your heart!

And 'NAWWWW' to the 4X4, and losing the windshields.
I've been up and down both hiways many many times since 72, and the only windshield I ever lost was in 72. I've never seen the time when a 4X4 was necessary.

One trip, we ran into fresh gravel. Miles and miles of it. Two really wierd things happend in that gravel.
The upper gravel deflector on the Rear shocks was Flattend. Hammerd flat with all the gravel the wheels kicked up.
And the electric Fifth wheel brakes failed, when the gravel hammered all the wires apart at the connectors above the trailer axles.
One time we were stopped by a forest fire on the Cassier. We were stuck on the road for two days. Slept in the car. Big Big long line of Vehicles waiting to get by that one.

My 82 Escort was low slung, but I had no trouble at all in 82.

Travel early in the Morning to see the wildlife. Late into the evening as well.
Tell your folks to be on the road by the last week in May, for the best sightseeing, and the first couple weeks in june for the best fishing in Alaska.

I'm planning to go back up in June of this year. Gas prices willing.

 

Apparently about 90% of the Hwy37 N (Cassiar) is paved now.
And Terrace has changed some in the last 20 years. We're even getting a new Wal-mart here.
woohoo eh?
lol