Haines to Anchorage - is it driveable in January?
ericsson
My cousin is going to work in Anchorage on Jan 28, 2002. She said she was
going to take the ferry to Haines, and then drive to Anchorage, but didn't
know the road conditions.
I thought the Alaska Marine Hwy could take a person and car to Seward, but
didn't see it on the web site.
Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Craig
BD (Dave) Thompson
"ericsson" <eric...@ridgenet.net> wrote in message
news:wldV7.2374$B61.1...@news1.rsm1.occa.home.com...
I wouldn't dare post this on any of the RV groups for the pounding I'd get.
I drove from Haines to Anchorage in mid winter with a Suburban and a 20 foot
travel trailer. We lived in Ketchikan and I was transferred to Los
Anchorage. I had chains for both the truck and the trailer. The only
problem we had was rain on New Year's Day at Glenallen. Discretion being
the better part of valor, we spent the night at the Lodge there.
If she is new to Alaska, tell her she MUST, repeat MUST carry survival gear
to include an arctic sleeping bag, arctic clothing, gloves and boots.
Additionally a small stove, water and food should be carried. The car
should have snow tires and a good set of well fitting chains. Additionally,
all hoses and belts should be new. Severe cold weather can stress those
components to failure if the least bit weak. If the car does not have a
block heater, she should expect to leave the car running if she stops over
night.
The loneliest stretch will be between Haines, AK and Haines Junction, YT.
Make sure she checks road conditions before leaving Haines. Check again in
Haines Junction and frequently from there on.
Having driven the road more than 10 times during winter, we've experienced
everything from sunshine and freeway smoothness to -60F to ground blizzards
to snow falling at what seems like feet per hour. If she's going to do it,
be prepared for any eventuality.
--
Dave
Stuck in Lost Wages
Conrad Muller
wrote:
Cross-Gulf Route
From June through September, the M/V Kennicott makes once-a-month
trips from Juneau to Valdez and Seward, with "whistle stops" in
Yakutat. This is the trip of a lifetime for those who like comfortable
adventure.
The above is right off of the Marine Highway Web site. Sorry, no
Seward trips in the winter.
If your cousin is not adept at arctic survival, I would not do the
trip alone, if at all. The road is usually not too bad for someone
used to winter driving, but there are a lot of miles between places
where you could get help if you had a problem.
I would suggest selling the car and flying. There are cars for sale in
Anchorage at prices similar to what you would pay in most parts of the
lower 48.
Conrad
BD (Dave) Thompson
news:snowshoe-231...@162-pm3.hom.alaska.net...
> In article <u2arvkq...@corp.supernews.com>, "BD \(Dave\) Thompson"
>
> An emergency trick: if your fan belt breaks at sub-zero temps, cut a leg
> out of a pair of pantyhose and tie it *tightly* around the pulleys. It'll
keep
> your alternator going until you can get another fan belt or get somewhere
> where you can put your *spare* on. (I always keep an old pantyhose leg
> in my glovebox, for just that reason. It saved my butt once at -35F.)
>
> I've lived in Alaska since '91 fulltime and I wouldn't dream of travelling
> alone when it's colder than -30F. Too many things can break/go wrong/
> leave me afoot. It's a *long* ways between roadhouses in the winter up
> here and there just isn't that much traffic, when waiting for help.
>
> How far is the Haines, AK to Haines Jct., YT leg?? I've never turned
> right at that junction. Between Tok and Whitehorse is pretty lonesome,
> in bad weather.
>
> Jan
Yes, the panty hose trick is a good one. I didn't think of it being a guy
and all.
I agree about the cold. Those who have never seen the strange things that
happen to machinery at very low temperatures would be amazed. I snapped a
door hinge on the back of the Suburban at - 60F by slamming the door too
hard.
The distance from Haines to Haines Junction is about 150 miles. While not
far as northern distances go, there are absolutely no services or habitation
between the Canadian Customs Station and the Junction. Crossing one pass,
it can be a lonely road.
--
Dave
Eric Holeman
BD \(Dave\) Thompson <bdtho...@lvcm.com> wrote:
>The distance from Haines to Haines Junction is about 150 miles. While not
>far as northern distances go, there are absolutely no services or habitation
>between the Canadian Customs Station and the Junction. Crossing one pass,
>it can be a lonely road.
I drove it once in June. When you cross the pass, you'll see a series of
six foot poles on either side of the road. Supposedly those are so the
snowplows can find the road. I don't remember seeing more than six cars
passing me the whole way. It's a lonely road.
--
Eric Holeman eholatenteractcom Chicago Illinois USA
"Wake up, everybody."--K. Gamble & L. Huff
stupid_idiot
did see an arctic lynx crossing the hiway about 30 miles after the Haines
Junction turn.
This is not my link...but, a decent rendition.
http://www.asij.ac.jp/elementary/projects/3-s/webgame/ryand/title.htm
Like everyone has posted....not a good trip solo...like climbing the West
Buttress route on Denali...if weather is good and your health is
good...probably not that big of deal...but, weather, your vehicle and any
other occurrences of MURPHY'S LAW would actually cause death or some
emergency situation putting other people's lives at risk.
"Eric Holeman" <eh...@enteract.com> wrote in message
news:a07rvd$50q$1...@bob.news.rcn.net...
JJK
and won't do the drive by herself in the summer. You are not specific
about your cousin. Is she suicidal ? or an x-navy seal ?
Point being she might make it and she might not ..... totally
dependent on God and the weather.
The ferry is expensive and Haines to Anchorage is 750 miles. Your
cousin likely could sell her vehicle, go via air and buy a new
car/truck/suv in Los Anchorage and come out financially ahead.
If she's doing it for adventure, tell her to climb Denali when she
gets to AK. At least, people would know if she needed help. On the
Haines Hwy. She might not be found until early summer when the snow
melts.
On Sun, 23 Dec 2001 04:47:24 GMT, "ericsson" <eric...@ridgenet.net>
wrote:
>Hello,
Murray Lundberg
by at lesat dozens of vehicles every day of the year. It's a similar
trek to the Whitehorse-Skagway road, whch I drive pretty much every
week, and I've driven to Haines in the winter many times. All she
needs to do is check the weather report before heading across, stop
and ask at the US Customs if it's questionable, and don't plan on
driving in the middle of the night. Comparing it to climbing Denali or
any other kind of expedition is just plain ridiculous.
Murray
ExploreNorth
http://www.explorenorth.com
Conrad Muller
Lundberg) wrote:
>Come on folks - let's get serious here. The Haines Highway is driven
>by at least dozens of vehicles every day of the year.
Every time there is a bad storm in the midwest, people die because
their car went off the road and no one found them for a day or two.
Often the people are within what we would consider walking distance of
help.
Those people, and others like them, would be talking a big risk to
drive the highway.
No one has suggested the road can't be driven, just that you should be
prepared. Even better would be to have some experience with the
conditions you might find.
I can think of lots of places a person could have gotten winter
driving experience, but most people don't live and drive in those
areas.
The cost of driving including motels, meals, etc. would make driving
more expensive than flying. And believe it or not, there are plenty of
cars for sale in every price range in Alaska.
I have a friend (female) who brought a case of tampons with her to
Juneau when she moved here to work, because she was afraid she
wouldn't be able to buy tampons in Alaska.
Most people from outside still do not know what to expect. 125 miles
between gas stations is just not part of their universe.
Conrad
Floyd Davidson
It is actually a pretty good comparison.
Like climbing Denaly, it is not a technically challenging drive
under normal circumstance, and just about anybody can do it.
The problem is that in January circumstances are not always
"normal", and at times it can challenge even the most
experienced people.
Sending a person with no arctic experience on such a trip all
alone in January is abject stupidity.
--
Floyd L. Davidson <http://www.ptialaska.net/~floyd>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) fl...@barrow.com
BD (Dave) Thompson
"Floyd Davidson" <fl...@ptialaska.net> wrote in message
news:87g05yn...@barrow.com...
Agreed. From the YT Road Department.
"Considering the severity of winter storms, maintenance of the highway was
and still is a challenge by any mans measure. With extremely high wind chill
factors coupled with drifting snow and poor visibility, the winding route
can be unforgiving. Its maintenance is shared by AK Department of
Transportation and Canadian Territorial camps at Mule Creek (75 mi.),
Blanchard River (94 mi.) and Haines Junction. During the sixties and early
seventies a radio check system operated which carefully monitored each
passing vehicle."
For the current driving forecast, see
http://pajk.arh.noaa.gov/products/JNUTVLHNS.html for information.
Kevin Stall
I had a friend who almost went over the edge years ago when he drove that
stretch. He said that if he hadn't gotten lucky he would have been in
serious trouble because while he was stuck, no one went passed for over 6
hours.
"JJK" <j.ku...@ptialaska.net> wrote in message
news:3c28a2b9...@news.ptialaska.net...
Murray Lundberg
really live in Florida, or you never leave the house in the winter. I
suggest that you get out and see some country - the Haines Highway in
January is a fabulous drive. I am totally amazed that none of you can
figure out how to ask for a weather report before you head out. Yes,
the pass can be unforgiving if you head out into a heavy snowstorm or
a ground blizzard - but in any other kind of weather, you're across
the "bad" part of the pass in half an hour.
Murray
ExploreNorth
http://www.explorenorth.com
Scott Ruby
"Murray Lundberg" <webm...@explorenorth.com> wrote in message
news:2e08c02f.01122...@posting.google.com...
Murray,
Most of the folks that have posted here do live in Alaska. They have
seen many people come up from down south totally unprepared. They have seen
people come up who "just had to get there" and probably aren't up to sitting
around in Haines a couple of days until the weather clears. Most of these
folks have cold weather gear in thier car, and have actually used it.
If this thread were just about driving from Haines up and we were talking
about seasoned north country traveler, you comments would be different. (of
course in that case there would probably not be a thread). What people are
trying to let the person know is that this trip should not be taken lightly,
if at all given their circumstances.
For somebody that may never have experienced 0 degrees, -30 (not uncommon)
can make the entire road the "bad" part not just the top of the pass.
Scott
Dennis P. Harris
webm...@explorenorth.com (Murray Lundberg) wrote:
> Either all of you posting on this thread who claim to be Alaskans
> really live in Florida, or you never leave the house in the winter. I
> suggest that you get out and see some country - the Haines Highway in
> January is a fabulous drive. I am totally amazed that none of you can
> figure out how to ask for a weather report before you head out.
Murray, this has been a recurring thread in this group about this
time every winter. Someone, usually a military person being
transferred to Anchorage or Fairbanks, will post a query about
driving the Alcan or the Haines Cutoff in January or February.
You forget as a Canadian, where there always is winter weather
this time of year, that there are many folks in the US who grew
up in the sunbelt and have never seen more winter than an ice
storm or a couple of inches of snow that lasted for a day or two.
These are the ones we worry about, because we've seen 'em get
into trouble.
Hey, at least the OP had enough sense to ask! There are several
times every year when one of these folks just takes off and
drives up, no snow tires, no real winter clothing, no emergency
stuff, not even a copy of "The Milepost", and in many cases,
absolutely no winter driving experience. Some make it through
OK, a few end up as statistics.
The Haines cutoff can indeed be a wonderful drive, but if you're
a military person with orders that you have to be at Elmendorf by
a certain date, you will be tempted to go ahead and drive the
pass in marginal conditions, especially if you don't have winter
driving experience.
So my advice to the original poster is that IF THIS IS A MILTARY
OR GOVERNMENT MOVE where they pay your moving expenses, drive to
Seattle, put your car on a container ship, and fly to Anchorage.
Once you drive in real winter weather, you'll appreciate why I
recommend doing this.
If you MUST drive for some reason, allow the time & money to
spend up to a week in Haines waiting for good weather, not just
in the pass, but in the border-Northway-Tok area, where temps can
drop to below -60 degF in January & February.
If you insist on driving then, you need, as others have said,
arctic camping gear and clothing in the vehicle, including a -40
degF sleeping bag, as well as shovels, flares, jumper cables, and
a good towing strap. You also need extra gas cans, and the car
should have studded snow tires on all 4 wheels. It needs to be
in excellent condition, with no mechanical or heater problems.
Highway conditions and weather can be checked at
http://www.gov.yk.ca/depts/cts/highways/report.html for Yukon
reports, and
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwdplng/planresc/road_cond.html for
Alaska reports.
If you don't have snow tires, my recommendation is to purchase
them in Bellingham, and have 'em mounted and studded there. If
you can't get them studded in B'ham, you can get them studded in
Haines for sure.
Folks who advise sunbelters that winter driving up here is no
problem need to remember that many of those folks have probably
never driven where the temps are below freezing for more than a
few hours, and understand that most of them have never heard of
winterizing a car, much less for the temps at Northway in
January.
Oh, and BTW, did anyone notice that White Pass was closed
Christmas Eve due to blowing snow, heavy snowfall, and avalanche
danger, and is still closed?
bookburn
"Murray Lundberg" <webm...@explorenorth.com> wrote in message
news:2e08c02f.01122...@posting.google.com...
My idea of Alaska sight seeing in winter is not in a car but on
skis with a backpack. Hell yes, see the Northern Lights, howl
with the wolves, and no pesky bears or mosquitoes to contend
with.
But those "fabulous drives" get a bit tedious after a while. I
think most Alaskans, after driving the Alcan a couple times,
would rather fly than mess with it, even in good weather. Now, I
have towed a travel trailer with a 3/4 ton pickup from Anchorage
to Juneau in December with temps as low as -35 and relished the
experience. I saw lots of game, including caribou and maybe the
only lynx I have ever seen in the wild, and it was beautiful
driving at night with the highway looking like new and no
traffic.
But I met a woman in Anchorage who was interested in buying my
trailer because she lost hers driving up the Alcan in late
summer. Just had it slide off the highway and turn over;
totaled, she said. She was a single mom with two young kids and
no insurance.
I, myself, drove my station wagon off the highway about 20 miles
into the YT one late November, when the snow buildup in the
median caught my left front wheel at about 40 MPH and in
over-correcting I caught the right front wheel in the berm at the
edge and shot off in the air to land about 20' off the road and
8' down into deep snow. It was dark, snowing, about -30, and the
car was not visible. Snow jammed into the engine, stalling it
out. After crawling out a window and climbing back to the
highway, I had a warm parka, but light pants and shoes, and I
lucked out when someone came by and stopped for me before I got
too cold. So I think a bad combination of things can make winter
driving harrowing for the un-prepared, and people in their cars
have a false sense of security that is really pretty thin.
bookburn