Alaska 2022

[NWIP]

Carmacks-Dawson City (220 mi)

Bonanza Gold RV Park is typical for the area and basic with full hookups and some 50a sites. Lots of seasonal workers in the area and they use the park for temporary housing.
T-Mobile-zero
AT&T-fair
Verizon-unknown
Park WiFi is intermittent as they are installing fiber in the area.

Road the last 100 miles is under construction, raising the road and installing new larger culverts, so travel was slow.

Lot’s to do in Dawson City; a visit to Diamond Tooth Gertie’s, Dredge #4 which was built 1912-13 and a ride to top of Dome for pictures.

 

[FLSteve]

@NWIP ... I just saw these posted on FB. Looks like your coach and license plate. Are you guys ok?????

FLSteve

 

[Neal]

I'm sure @NWIP will reply when he can. I have been in touch with him. He and Lisa are okay, the coach has been towed out safely and they are continuing on the journey. Stay tuned for the update when they can, they are obviously very busy with the situation and getting things settled back down.

 

[FLSteve]

Thanks for the quick update @Neal. I feel better now knowing this.

FLSteve

 

[Neal]

Let's respect their situation and not comment further on this thread or speculate until Bill shares the story.

 

[NWIP]

Let me first say I appreciate and understand everyone’s concern for our safety, yes we got out safely without a bruise except maybe my ego

Once off Top of the World Highway you cross into Alaska. Road to the border is wide with soft shoulder’s but easily passable with opposing traffic including fuel trucks and other support vehicles for mining in the area. Once across the border the next 13 miles is freshly (2019) paved road and then you come to the junction of AK-5 which is the Taylor Highway. Heading south takes you to Chicken and on to Tok, AK. Going north goes to Eagle and it is not recommended for RVs or large vehicles.

We travelled the Taylor Highway south toward Chicken as we had done back in 2019. Road is gravel and narrows with areas of soft shoulders and distance to Chicken is approximately 29 miles. We were 12 miles outside of Chicken and had opposing vehicles approaching, in an area of soft shoulder to the right. Although I was at least 3 feet from edge of the graded gravel it started giving way and the coach started sliding to the right as we traveled at 10-15 mph. This picture shows end result and the open driver’s window is how we got safely out.

We were in an area of Alaska with no cell service for another 80 miles however we were traveling with friends with a Satellite phone. This happened on Thursday and ultimately were able to arrange for 2 wreckers to recovery the coach on Friday evening. Lots of daylight and she was upright at 11pm. Amazing only damage was cosmetic from the recovery and we drove the coach to Chicken that night.

Can I recommend taking this route, NO. Will I take it again, no my success rate is only 50%.
We are planning on continuing our trip and will post progress as time permits.

 

[Neemer]

I’m so glad things turned out as they did. Enjoy the rest of your trip.

 

[AuntieDodo]

Happy to hear you are safe and sound without too much damage.

Shake it off and continue to enjoy your trip.

Satellite phone sure was a good thing to have on board.

 

[B & J T]

Great thread and information, thanks for posting and glad everything turned out okay after that sidestep. Someday we hope to make this trek.

 

[J&JD]

God love ya NWIP’s, keep on truckin!