campalaska
Girdwood, Alaska
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Joined: 05/09/2008
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30 - 50 MILES! LAME!!!!! lol just kidding. sounds fun.
- 1999 GMC Sierra 2500 Extended Cab 6.5FT Bed
- Firestone Ride-Rite Airbags.
- 1999 Adventurer 810ws
- Yamaha ef1000i
- 2 Costco Volt Batteries
- Soon To Add 80+ Watts Solar, Solar Boost 2000E, Xantrex TrueCharge RV XADC 60 Amp, TriMetric 2020 Battery Monitor
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garyhaupt
Kitimat, BC, Canada, Mile '0' of Alaska HiWay #37
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Joined: 11/21/2003
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rv2go...morning....no, I dunno about Rupert. Sorry. Here in Kitimat so many people want to take pix that they won't let you in unless you have garbage. SOooooo...scurry around, load up a couple plastic bags, hide the camera and off we go.
And yes..it's really ugly and just not quite...right? But..they are there and if you want some cool pix..away you go.
Gary Haupt
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aksnowman
Eagle River Alaska
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Joined: 01/28/2006
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I would look in the other direction for the Idatrod, wasilla or willow. The restart is suppose to be in Wasilla but if the snow is bad, which it has been over the past few year, then it is at Willow.
As for the road to Homer, yes it is passable with care but I think I would fly to save time. If it snows or if there is an accident, you can be stuck for hours waiting to get by.
AK Snowman
Eagle River AK
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big dave
Soldotna, Alaska, USA
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Joined: 12/15/2001
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The drive through the mountains along the Kenai river is beautiful in winter, and you can watch the eagles fishing in the river. We drive it a lot, you just need to watch the weather. I would recomend a 4WD rent car, you may not need it but it's nice to have if you do.
We usually check road conditions here.
http://511.alaska.gov/routeSelect.asp
* This post was
edited 10/01/08 11:58am by big dave *
Dave & Rose C
90 Safari Ivory 34' DP
04 Saturn VUE V6
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bee_46
Jarrettsville, Md
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Joined: 02/03/2005
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Thanks for all the input. We may just fly since car rental, expecially of a 4WD, will be much more than the airfare. We would then just rent a car for a couple of days in Anchorage. Having driven the curves along Turnagain Arm more than once I'm not sure taking a chance then is worth it if locals have trouble. We would probably be driving at night as well. We might also plan to be in Wasilla (or Willow) for the official start of the Iditarod rather then the ceremonial start.
Loggenrock: Might just come up to New Hampshire one winter to see your races. You are right it is a lot closer.
Bobbie
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jlawless
north america
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Joined: 07/23/2007
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The road is generally passable and people drive it all the time in winter. However, you will just have to check the weather when you arrive. My one winter living along Turnagain Arm I got stuck in Anchorage once due to an Avalanche and once their was a pure whiteout blizzard I had to drive in. So no one can answer for sure about the time you are going but the odds are with you that it would be fine. Make sure your rental has good winter tires.
"Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform."
Mark Twain
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alaskan-rver
Anchorage, AK
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Joined: 09/25/2005
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I don't think it will be as hard to find a hotel room for Iditarod weekend as you are thinking. To accommodate the thousands upon thousands of tourists (most of whom are on cruises), there are plenty of hotel rooms in Anchorage. While we get some out-of-state visitors for Iditarod, it's no where near the volume we get in the summer.
For the ceremonial start of the race, you'll have people packed 3-4 deep for several blocks right at the starting line and the staging areas...otherwise, they spread out quickly. As others have suggested, if you're really into the Iditarod, consider also going up to the actual start the following day, which, depending on snow covers, is usually held at now world-famous Wasilla, Willow, or even Fairbanks if the snow is lousy in southcentral Alaska.
If you're planning on coming up, be sure to consider the Fur Rondy, which is a series of cabin-fever-reducing events in the weeks prior to the start of the Iditarod. One of the highlights, either to watch or participate in, is the running of the reindeer...think of the running of the bulls in Pamplona, but with funnier costumes, more vodka, and far fewer injuries! I did it last year, and survived--all you have to be able to do is jog 2-3 blocks and have a good sense of humor.
As far as visiting Homer at that time of year, you shouldn't have much problem on the roads. Sure, a snowstorm might necessitate some flexibility in your plans, but then again, the same weather will also impact the puddle-jumper planes they fly between Anchorage and Homer. If you do opt to fly down, I'd still consider renting a car while in Homer, as many businesses out on the spit are seasonal and will probably be closed in March.
For that matter, you'd probably want a car in Anchorage, too, particularly in the winter. The good news is that rentals are a lot cheaper than they are during the summer peak season.
Also, that time in winter can be prime aurora viewing season...and your odds of seeing it increase the further north you head.
* This post was
edited 10/02/08 10:28am by alaskan-rver *
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bee_46
Jarrettsville, Md
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Joined: 02/03/2005
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Alaskan-rver:
Thanks for the additional information about hotel availabity and the Fur Rondy. I'm not sure we can spring for the extra time in Alaska this winter after our 3 month trip there this past summer, but Fur Rondy sure sounds like a lot of fun. I am hoping to maybe get a glimpse of an aurora. On a very rare occasion we see them in Maryland, but you have to be very lucky to see one if they get that far south. The last time was five or six years ago and I missed them.
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sirdrakejr
Las Vegas, Nevada
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Joined: 11/18/2001
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For those who can't go but want to look, here ya go:
Alaska web cams
Frank
RV.net blog
For those of you looking for expert advice, here ya go!
Frank
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