Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Made it to AK.!

I started out 8 nights ago from the desert East of San Diego, cut into Nevada, up through the other usual suspects until crossing the canadian boarder at Sweetgrass MT. From there to Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Watson Lake, Whitehorse, Tok, and then that amazing drive down to Anchorage.

Too many great scenes to list and I also had to tap the brakes for deer, buffalo, goats, moose, sheep, elk, and black bear (and not just a few.!)
Just an Amazing adventure.!!!

Only hitch came as I pulled in for gas in MT. As I tried to turn the wheel, I lost power steering and heard a "pop" under the hood. Got out and lifted the hood to see I had thrown the water pump pulley off the spline. I called 3 shops locally. One didn't answer, the second was busy for days, the 3rd was 200 yards down the road and couldn't get a part for their current customer... AAA gave me a tow, and within an hour I was back on the road.! Amazing.!

I'll be having dinner with my new boss tomorrow night and am currently moving my stuff in my new place here in Anch.


I'm so grateful.

Welcome back!

Keep us posted. Photos if you have them.

DF

Pictures ?

Nice!

Thankfully they will have only been one good looking Scott in Alaska.

Nice!!!
Whole lotta cool road to run down!

The ‘88 F150 got ‘er done!

WAY TO GO!
Congratulations
Your determination and tenacity paid off again.
Been fun following you.

Thank you Sir. I appreciate the welcome.!

Steelie, Agreed. And I must look rather funny wandering around here with this big chitt eatin grin on my face

As for pictures, I took some. But I will say that only the eyes, in person, could ever give the scenes justice.. if one could ever set themselves up for the journey from Fort Nelson to Anchorage, it would be an incredible investment for the good of your soul.

U


She did.!!!

I'll be needing to rebuild the front end, brakes, and a fuel sending unit/pump... But I got the dust knocked off 'er.

Keep driving ...your getting close to Alaska..just hang in there !

OR.. you drove to far... right on through it. LOL.

CONGRATS!!! I'm going to start working on resume stuff in the next month or so hoping hard for next spring!

Congrats!

Glad you were able to make the move and have work lined up. Good things happen to good people.

I know what you guys are saying. But don't give up on the city, we need to do some reclaiming here.

Thank you so much for the welcome, and kind words.

"WE"? That was fast!

Settle in. You just might make it.

change your DL asap to establish residency. You need a year to not be an illegal alien! HA!

Welcome to the greatest state in the union!

About time! Glad to see the truck made it. I second what Ironbender mentioned, get your DL switched asap.

change your DL asap to establish residency. You need a year to not be an illegal alien! HA!

[/quote]

I'll hit up the DMV tomorrow.. otherwise I'll put in for my work visa.

Agreed.!
And thank you, Sir.

Be there before they open. Otherwise bring a good book. A thick one!

"And I must look rather funny wandering around here with this big chitt eatin grin on my face grin"

Same thing happened to me, back in '69, after a year up here, then 6 weeks back Outside.

I knew then I was HOME. Lasted a couple weeks, I think. Rictus.

Just had to make that trip and failed to make it in early... place was packed beyond words and I still got in and out in under an hour which shocked me... they more than doubled the number of stations from the last time I was there.

Thanks for the wise advice.

Worst days for the DMV are beginning of the month and Mondays. Last time I was there I got there around 2pm mid week and didn't wait more than 15 minutes before my number was called.

You can do quite a bit online with the DMV which really cuts down on the traffic.

Welcome!

Give a shout if you need help with anything.

cwh2,

Thank you for the warm welcome and kind offer of help, if needed.



Paul,

The DMV flowed like a brook. I had to fill out 2 forms. Before I got the second form 1/2 done they called me in and got the process underway. I never stopped moving once started and was out of there quickly. It was actually a rather pleasant experience...all in all.

Now that's something few have experienced!

Next solstice, you will be a resident! Congrats and great timing!

I know. Right.!?!?!


And that's never gone as smoothly anywhere else I've had to do business with DMV.

Ya Know Ironbender,
It was you who said, "Why don't you just drive it.." in reference to my thoughts on shipping up my truck. I've got to say that you're suggestion in the form of that question was really the catalyst for me to make that amazing drive up. I appreciate you having spoken up about it. One of, if not the, greatest land trek adventures of my life.! Thank you.

Oh chit! I'm glad you had no trouble!!!

Actually, I've made the drive quite a number of times and will agree that it's always a good time.

Until it isn't...

So far, so good. I always suffer a little 'breakdown paranoia'.

Especially on the other thread about sat phones and the Cassiar.

Far as dmv's I head to the one in eagle river, if I want to go sight seeing I drive to the Palmer one. But I never go to the one off Spenard screw that place.

Well, I got things settled here at the DMV in Anchorage, but if you're looking for a ride along, I'd be happy to make the run with ya.

I live in wasilla so going to the one in Palmer is way out of my way considering where I live at in wasilla. So
the eagle river one is the most convienent one for me.

Wonder if Delta will have one or if I"m going to have to drive to Fairbanks or such...

https://www.dmv.org/ak-alaska/dmv-office-finder.php

Fairbanks it is...

LOL. Maybe I should just swap my license in October since I should be back in the spring... LOL. Would save me a trip. Would have to say I"m on vacation though for a the winter months before coming back.

Jeff, just take a scenic drive down to Valdez, and hit the DMV there. One person, and one little counter: very little waiting.

To the OP 358, welcome to Alaska!

Jeff

There is one in Glennallen also.

Many more miles to Glennallen, but far more decades into the furture...

Many more miles to Glennallen, but far more decades into the furture...

GA is a very interesting town for sure, many moons ago I thought about moving there after I retired. But I came to my senses.

Welcome!!!

AKPENDUDE,

Thank you. I indeed appreciate the "Welcome" and have felt most welcomed here.

Congratulations !!!!

As a kid we looked forward to driving through to listen to "Unshackled" on the radio. Radio had very little coverage in the 60s.

Good for you Scott! Glad things are coming together for you.

Timothy Gregory stirring young minds and old alike around the world... That's pretty cool Art, a special memory of special times indeed.

Made our first trip from Fairbanks to Texas in 1956 in March. An uneventful trip in a 1954 Chev station wagon. We moved back to Texas again in 1980 in a borrowed old motor home. Had a flat on an inside dual in Dawson, lost a fanbelt close to Teslin. Had an extra, but broke the bolt off in the housing taking it out. Put the belt on and McIvered a spruce to wedge the belt tight. Found a shop in Teslin that would fix it, but was told not to come into the shop until it was finished. An old grouch. Had to find a used alternator housing as he couldn't get the broken bolt drilled out. I was worried about the price, but he asked for $25. I happily gave him $50. Actually not a bad trip in the ancient Travco that drove sideways down the road.
I hope you enjoy it half as much as we. We should not have moved back!

Aww Man, thanks. It's great to hear from you. I hope all is well with you and yours.!

358, how was the highway.. I drove it in 75.. Thinking the wife and I might take the travel trailer next spring and head that way... I am sure it is much improved...

The Highway is in great condition.

However, and I guess this goes without saying, ya gotta keep a good watch on the road, shoulder, and peripherals...
What I mean is, I had dozens of buffalo, 29-31 elk (Not exactly sure, but I was trying to count), 9 ewe and lambs, 2 goats, 1 deer, and 11 black bears all either on the road or "just" off it.

Oh yes, forgot the 5 moose (one cow with her calf standing on the shoulder, cute little guy he was)

I'd HIGHLY recommend it.!



One other thing if you come around this time of year, you'll have the sunshine ALL night so visability is excellent,bring your sunglasses.

Thanks!!!! Enjoy!! Spent 2 mths. in Alaska when I was a young man... Loved it, but missed the varmint shooting in the west.. Have a great life there...

We have varmints... not your typical sized varmints, be we have them.
They generally start at red fox and go up in size from there.

For some reason I just now noticed you have changed your post ID to ALASKA. NICE. VERY NICE. Congrats again.

Lol.!

Yup, I had "Almost Alaska" for weeks, then when I got here I could finally say, "Alaska."

Good eye.!

Feels good doesn't it? Now you have 3 things to do before you become a "true" alaskan.

I have one left

You need to have sex with a grizzly?

Yep! Not going to comment on what I had to shoot....

Isn't that how the joke goes?

Welcome to Alaska! Sounds like you had a great road trip (less the power steering issue).

That’s the way I always heard it!

Haha, I thought so! I have been over the yukon, does that count at least a little?

Okay Hank,

Besides doin the bear, what are the other 2 requirements.?

Many, many thanks.
Even the power steering/water pump issue was a good experience.

Damn - another Anchorite.... .

I hate tourist/fishing driving season here on the Kenai... friggen road was a madhouse today.
Road Whales everywhere. I should have taken mine to town, just to fit in.... . Got cut off to the squealing tires part by a Minnie Winnie lane changer (no signal) with Florida plates. And I was driving my nothing-to-lose junker!

Saw two other such ahead of me ... No paint touched, tho I did see an after-the-fact what appeared to be a near head-on (side panels crushed on motor home and car, pointed opposite directions- just missed it by a minute or 3) yesterday when I was going down to retrieve my set-net personal use gear off the Kasilof muckflats.

And the traffic is waxing....

Some people have questioned my practice of concentrating entirely on driving while driving, sans ANY cell phone use, and often radio/conversation?

Welcome to Alaska, .358 - I didn't mean you.

Well, maybe.

I'd invite you to drop in down here, but I'm shortly leaving the state for a couple months to places less crowded on the road system. Like, Montana.

Might help if we had more than one road up here.....

Las,

I've always appreciated your posts. I watched and read of your son's travels up here weeks ago, and from that thread I mapped out where, and where not, to buy gas.

The riff-raff on the road is an issue, I concurr. I had thought that there should be a toll at the boarder into Alaska that would be paid by non residents as they entered the state. I feel the same about there being a non resident sales tax for the same reasons.

Yes, I am in Anchorage, we'll my body is. My heart is in the bush. One step at a time, I say. I have a good job serving a company here with my carpentry skills, and I have a humble but comfortable little apartment in the lower level of a nice duplex (no black out curtains needed). It'll do for now.... I mean, after all, I'm in ALASKA.!!!

That's the atitude!

Hey, my garage is still under construction.....

More precisely I think you are CLOSE to Alaska . LOL. Dang close

Closer than you!

I wish you the best! My wife and I are considering Alaska when I get out of school (Nursing) in a couple of years! We will both be RNs and some friends that have worked there say they need RNs bad and the pay is good.