Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 07:52:09 -0700
Reply-To: Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Anchorage Trip
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Thought I'd post this response from my niece's husband, about a pending trip
I'm planning on to Anchorage from Salt Lake. He did this trip about 2 months
ago.
Bob Stevens
'87 Westy Syncro
"Passion Fruit"
First off, let me say that it is a positively
wonderful way to travel. You will be following almost
the exact route that the cruise ships follow. Granted
the amenities aren't quite as nice, but... The
people are always wonderful. You will meet several
like-minded people who are equally excited about the
adventure that they are on and who are equally
awe-struck by the experience. There are 3 passages
that go through open water, but other than that the
'inside passage' is just that - a protected waterway
that is frequently so smooth that you can see your
reflection on it.
843 dollars sounds like a winter rate that would
include one car and one passenger. In the summer
expect to spend another 150 - 250 dollars for the
passenger (you). That is not including a room. The
temperature - even in the winter are not normally
below 30 degrees. Where I am going with this is that
I normally camp on the back of the ferry, in my tent
or stake out one of the patio chairs and set up my
sleeping bag on it. Caution - secure tent very very
well - it gets windy. Get on the ferry at the
absolute soonest possible time, or all of the tent
spots and patio chairs will be gone. You can also
sleep inside the cabin on the floor, on one of the
smallish couches, or in a recliner. again, first come
first serve. Or, book a room, but they are a little
expensive.
I recommend getting an open ended ticket or creating
one. Make stops of one or two days each in the
following towns: Ketchikan (1 day), Sitka (a must -
great fishing whale watching etc) 2 days, Juneau 2
days, Skagway 1 or 2 days, then drive North from
Skagway. i know that you can drive North from Haines
and save about 60 miles but Skagway is a town not to
miss, and that portion of the drive is absolutely
beautiful. Do yourself a favor and make those stops
as a minimum. If you like Sea kayaking, camping, etc
then spend longer at Sitka and consider adding
Wrangell and Petersberg to your list. Make sure you
take a flight on a float plane (beaver or otter) at
least once on your trip up - I would recommend
Ketchikan for that. From Skagway plan on a 2 day trip
to Anchorage, unless you drive in to Valdez and spend
a couple of days. If you take the Valdez option you
can then take a short ferry ride to Whittier and drive
1 hour to anchorage.
Oh yeah - the short of it is that the ferry ride is a
'must.' Ferry up, then drive back. It is well worth
it.
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