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The Milepost 2008, edited by Kris Valencia

2008 marks both the 50th anniversary of Alaska's statehood and the 60th edition of the king of highway guides. The Milepost 2008, edited by Kris Valencia, is the road trip bible for anyone intending to drive to Alaska or through the four Canadian provinces along the way from the northwestern United States. The Milepost provides mile-by-mile descriptions of the roads and scenic attractions, making it ideal for all travelers to this spectacular region. Megan Edwards found the 2007 guide to be especially helpful when she visited Anchorage late last year and when she was planning her trip down to Seward.

I have been reading and reviewing these annual guides for several years and the astonishing thing to me is that although the total page count stays roughly the same, the editorial group behind this guide manages to add several pages of new content each year. Flipping between the 2007 and 2008 editions, I was struck by the many new photographs appear in the 2008 volume. I don't know what the exact count is, but there are well over 500 color photos and 100 maps. I did notice that they have added one more "Basic Itinerary" to the line-up. Route 4 covers a loop through Campbell, Cassiar and along the Yellowhead Highways. As in past years, there are three "special feature" topics, one on the availability of highway lodges, a series of articles on statehood celebrations and a very funny article by Ken Coates who owns up to being the number one "thief" of the famous milepost signs along the Alaska Highway.

Each year, The Milepost's field editors drive all sections of the roadways described in the book and provide current information about road conditions. This year, thirty major routes are profiled and itineraries for sixty side trips are provided. The field editors also seek out new and out-of-the-way discoveries of the sort that make road trips so memorable. Every traveler to the far north ought to read the first forty-seven pages of The Milepost, because the detailed information provided there covers just about every topic needed for planning a road trip to Alaska and the Canadian provinces. Included are excellent overviews about vehicle preparation, insurance issues, road conditions, mosquitoes, bear and other wildlife viewing, time zones, sled dog tours, and just about everything else you ever wanted to know.

One of the best things about The Milepost -- and an excellent reason to buy the latest version -- is that it includes detailed updates about changes in the roadways each year. Alerts printed in red provide information about truck lanes, caribou crossings, improved sections of highway, and changes made since last year. A very cool addition to this year's book is a section at the front that outlines four itineraries. Each route is a loop covering some of the most spectacular parts of Alaska and the Alaskan Highway. I recommend purchasing this year's guide for these itineraries alone. They are outstanding.

The Milepost 2008 has expanded coverage of ferry and ocean cruising options for the Inside Passage, as well as expanded information about the Alaska Railroad's "GoldStar" service. These special trains are equipped with glass-roofed viewing areas that offer riders an elegant platform from which to enjoy stunning Alaskan scenery. The "Crossing the Border" section should be required reading for any traveler intending to explore the region.

One of the places described in The Milepost that I would love to visit is the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Wrangell, which covers 13.2 million acres, is the largest national park in the United States. It features nine of the 16 highest peaks in the country, a 300-foot waterfall, and two canyons that are said to exceed the size and scale of Yosemite Valley.

The Milepost 2008 -- once again -- paints an enchanting description of America's last frontier as it provides all the real-world information necessary to make an Alaskan road trip dream come true.

Mark Sedenquist
4/11/08


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