Texas to Alaska Expedition Thread

[DrDubzz]

Hopefully without the extra weight!!!! You truck looks way full and ass heavy...LOL

Oh no doubt, but it still did fantastic. The whole rear storage tray would be unnecessary if we weren't moving. Removing that alone makes this a better trip. But I think the 4runner has earned some new shocks. Hopefully in a few months I can install some bilsteins. I plan to explore Alaska as much as possible over the next three years.

 

[Bay33saw]

Oh no doubt, but it still did fantastic. The whole rear storage tray would be unnecessary if we weren't moving. Removing that alone makes this a better trip. But I think the 4runner has earned some new shocks. Hopefully in a few months I can install some bilsteins. I plan to explore Alaska as much as possible over the next three years.

Good for you Tim your truck deserves it and so do you, keep posting the pictures...I'd love to see some winter ones in the future

 

[DrDubzz]

OBtw, I've averaged over 20 MPG this whole trip, and about 21.2 today from Whitehorse to Tok. It's been amazing really.
Also, the pro-series rack has done great, made the rear suspension a tad mushy, but I should have done the air bags
I ended up with the skybox pro 18 and never could tell it was up there. It held a ton of stuff, and has been rock solid the whole time. I'm very pleased with it.
I went back and ready OP, so I wanted to address own questions. Maybe it'll help someone else down the road.
Last edit for now, quick phone picture after making to Alaska. I'll have more once I have time to get all of my Nikon pictures.

 

[DrDubzz]

Made it to the new house on tuesday evening. We have wifi now. I'm going to try to get a trip log done with pictures and basic narrative this weekend for the forum. I'll start editing video soon, but that is going to take a little while

 

[alaskaman]

Way Fun. Glad you enjoyed the drive. Only one in the world I won't ever say no to. Meat market on Eagle River has home made sausage, Fred Meyer has ammo but heck you probably know allo'that by now....

Enjoy!!!:cheers:

 

[DrDubzz]

Way Fun. Glad you enjoyed the drive. Only one in the world I won't ever say no to. Meat market on Eagle River has home made sausage, Fred Meyer has ammo but heck you probably know allo'that by now....

Enjoy!!!:cheers:

I haven't actually made to the Fred Meyer yet but I'm happy to know they have ammo. I like Eagle River quite a bit so far, though I wish there was a Wendy's here. The Jalapeno's Mexican place was pretty good, Mexican is my wife's favorite food so at least one box is checked.

As for the drive, I could drive a route from Smithers to Destruction Bay and back on a regular basis and be a happy camper. That was my favorite portion of the trip other than arriving at our house. The trip was a blast, but with two kiddos, it was time to get out of the car. Though it took a couple days for our two year old to stop asking to 'go somewhere' when we hadn't loaded up by 10 am

I just got my VW back today, after a month in the runner it feels quite weird to be so low to the ground again, but I'm happy to have it back for sure

 

[Bay33saw]

I haven't actually made to the Fred Meyer yet but I'm happy to know they have ammo. I like Eagle River quite a bit so far, though I wish there was a Wendy's here. The Jalapeno's Mexican place was pretty good, Mexican is my wife's favorite food so at least one box is checked.

As for the drive, I could drive a route from Smithers to Destruction Bay and back on a regular basis and be a happy camper. That was my favorite portion of the trip other than arriving at our house. The trip was a blast, but with two kiddos, it was time to get out of the car. Though it took a couple days for our two year old to stop asking to 'go somewhere' when we hadn't loaded up by 10 am

I just got my VW back today, after a month in the runner it feels quite weird to be so low to the ground again, but I'm happy to have it back for sure

Can't wait to see the pictures Tim, congratulations and enjoy the weather

 

[alaskaman]

When I came down it was -72 in Destruction Bay January 2011. Quite a difference. Happy Trails. :clap2:

 

[shaftymcgee7]

congrats on making it up here, lived here my whole life and love the summers, you sure picked THE summer to come up here was hitting 90's in anchorage just the other week and havent seen a summer this nice in years. welcome to AK

 

[DrDubzz]

I haven't forgotten about this, I just haven't had enough time yet.

 

[Bay33saw]

I haven't forgotten about this, I just haven't had enough time yet.

op2:

 

[DrDubzz]

I'm a mega failure at this thread. Update is being worked on right now. Will do a few installments over the next day or so. First I need to summarize the trip, so that will come first.

 

[DrDubzz]

A fairly brief summary of our drive up. I can always try to dig up more pictures if there are any 'requests' to see certain parts of the drive. I'm a tad more organized with the pictures since our arrival and have done a few cool hikes trips so far.

First, several pictures of the Texas to California leg. We went from San Antonio to Muleshoe, stayed with friends, then went up to I-40 a little east of ABQ and headed west. Stayed the second night in Flagstaff (not sure where those pictures are at the moment) and then made it to my Grandparent's in Huntington Beach for a couple nights.

Lots of this for the first two days





Descending into San Bernadino


Happy day, we made it to my grandparent's


The boys, their trains, and their great grandparents. We made it there around 3-4 pm so there was lots of play time


Heading out Saturday morning, I was not about to attempt SoCal traffic on a weekday morning, knowing I had to get as far as Redding. Also, my grandpa was being a ham and making goofy faces for most of the pictures he was aware of


About to crest the summit of the Tejon Pass, 4Runner just motored on up with zero issues


Next day, Redding to Seattle:
Impromptu stop... Robby, the elder of the kids decided to vomit everywhere. A combo of windy mountain roads and looking down at a cartoon on the iPad probably didn't help

My wife tending to the boy while I snapped pictures

She'd be thrilled to know I posted a picture of her making this expression, lol


Back on the road, I think that's Mt. Shasta(?)


I took a lot of pictures between redding and seattle, but they aren't in the folder I'm pulling from right now, I'll try to find them for later

Arrival at my brother's house in Issaquah...

The dogs saying hi, mine's the low-slung version


My brother and my younger son feeding "Bacardi" the parrot


Ok, that's the first US leg. I have loads more pictures, but not available at the moment. Next post will be Canada.

 

[DrDubzz]

The only rainy day of the entire trip was the day we drove from Issaquah to Kamloops, which is a shame because it was utterly beautiful from what we could see.

Border crossing, pretty easy transaction, but I had to surrender my hollow point ammo, I missed that part of regs when I read them over. It's a shame really, I could have given them to someone before crossing. Oh well, here's the crossing we did at Abbotsford, BC





Next day:
Just north of Kamloops


Kamloops Lake


I will look for the rest of the pictures from these days, but I have nothing on this computer of the next day or so. We went from Kamloops to Smithers, and then to Dease Lake. We saw a few black bears on the way, I'll try to find those pictures too.

Anyway, here are a few I do have.

My wife looking good with a bag of trash in front of Dease Lake


farther along the Cassiar hwy


Cassiar Mountain Jade Store - tons of Jade is mined in the area, we didn't stop though. My wife dislikes knick knacks


A little farther up 37


Remnants of a recent forest fire (2010 iirc)


At the northern terminus of 37


On the way to Whitehorse, did I mentioned, yet, that the Yukon was gorgeous??





We stayed that night at the Yukon Inn in Whitehorse, this was the first night (maybe the second) where the super long daylight hours started to mess with me. I wanted to go out and be active at 2300 but there was nothing to do other than go to McDonalds, so I forced myself to go to sleep.

Back to the pictures, these are from the next day driving from Whitehorse to Tok.

Stopped and ate lunch here. Cool little town, the bison brat cheesy wrap thing I had was incredible. Really gorgeous views. I'd love to come back through and go to Haines itself one day.

 

[DrDubzz]

A river in the Yukon, the white river I believe



Lake Kluane and the town right after, Destruction Bay. By town, I mean the two buildings I posted pictures of, but it's a super cool name




This little gem (that we drove past) was about 30 minutes from the border

I hope he has some protection on the front of that Porsche...

The border!



Ok, more to come. The 4Runner and I have been up to quite a bit since arriving. I will post more in the next few days.

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

This is super awesome.

 

[Socco]

I hope you crossed back into Washington via the Peach Arch Crossing. Its quite a picturesque location. The Sumas/Abbotsford one is hella ugly!

 

[alaskaman]

Thanks. Nice to know what it looks like without snow!

 

[DrDubzz]

I hope you crossed back into Washington via the Peach Arch Crossing. Its quite a picturesque location. The Sumas/Abbotsford one is hella ugly!

I won't drive back through Washington for a few more years. But I will try to utilize that way when the time comes :thanks:

 

[Jim82]

Ok, more to come. The 4Runner and I have been up to quite a bit since arriving. I will post more in the next few days.

Outstanding pictures. Thanks for sharing. I plan to do a similar trip next year, late summer. Though, I'll be leaving from Seattle area. I have been considering taking the Ferry from Bellingham in to Ketchikan then drive up Alaska (if possible) that way.

I'll look in to the specific of such a venture early next year. Turns out the ferry is about 515.00 one way; 540 with my dog. I initially thought about this, because I do want my handgun and my shotgun and not have to deal with Canada border people. Though, I go up to Whistler at least once a season and I've never had troubles entering Canada, I have never wanted to bring my dog or firearms.

Your pictures of the Yukon might make it worth while.
Glad you, your boys and the wife made it safely.

Can't wait to see more pictures.