My first big trip

I'm curious of your plans to drive up to Alaska. I live in GA. and was hoping to take a similar trip, and be in Washington early June.

First, my apologies to Emy...I did not mean to take a diversion from your original post..just felt a sort of comradery and wanted to wish you the best and get any pointers as a result of your trip. I hope it is wonderful!

To Kiwi - I'm open to hearing what your plans are. You can contact me directly at joshuabrock@mac.com. You can also IM me under AIM using that name or if you have a Mac, use iChat and find me that way OR I also can be found as joshuabrock1971 on AIM as well.

Just so you know, I'm pretty set on trying to make the trip on my own (really kind of a pride/independence thing) but I'd certainly like to hear what you have in mind.

Look forward to hearing from you.


Joshua

Yes you should try and see as much as you can. If you are intending to sitesee, allow for about 300 miles per day. If you spend a couple of hours anywhere once or twice a day you will not be able to make quick time. Be sure and see the Pioneer Automobile Museum at Murdo. The Corn Palace is great. In the tourist season, the gym floor is converted to a pretty good souvenir shop. If you don't see Badlands National Park, shame on you! It is great. Also Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Mt Rainier NP are a must. Badlands and MT Rainier are so intense, they are a religious experience. The site of Mt Rainier towering over Seattle is something truly to behold. Good luck, be careful. Take good care of your car. As the boy scouts say,"Be Prepared."

No no..I'm glad you posted here. I was hoping to hear from someone that had similar plans or had made the trip already. I am getting so ridiculously excited. I worry a little bit about my "preparedness". Having never made a trip like this I'm not certain I've got everything covered. Especially now that my departure date is approaching I know I HAVE to take my car in to be looked at and make sure I've got the nec. car "stuffs"..road flares, jumpre cables, etc...saftey stuff that I haven't ever thought about carrying. What are your plans anyway? and when did you say you're leaveing. I understand the independance thing you mentioned...that's what this trip is all about! My bst to you..and I look forwrd to hearing from you again.

You might want to get the Alaska Milepost before you leave. It'll tell you everything you need to know about AK roads.

I go to school in NE and it sometimes makes me wonder...what else is out there and what could I be seeing? Well, my curiosity got the best of me and I've decided to head to the mountains in Colorado for 3 or 4 days and just roam. This actually will be my first time seeing mountains. But see, I'm the type of guy who thinks central Nebraska is pretty, anytime of year! So you can see how overwhelming this might be for me. Since I really just decided on this and I'm leaving in 3 days, I'd really love some suggestions as to some cool spots in Colorado or even into Wyoming. I'm packing light, with plenty of film. This could be the first of a great lifetime of roadtrips. Thanks for taking interest enough to read down this far...Wish me luck

I have always enjoyed driving thru much of Nebraska -- Miles are easy (except in a blizzard) and folks are friendly.

It is hard not to be overwhelmed by the Continental Divide -- spend some time in the SW section of Colorado -- great vistas, exciting roads and spring wildflowers are coming!

Mark

Kwest -

Thanks so much for the post. Oddly enough the Alaska part is going to be the more familiar part for me. My uncle and I drove through a large part of it when I was there 8 years ago. He has sent me each year a copy of the Milepost...I thank you so much for email!

Any thoughts on WA, OR or British Columbia and the Yukon? Will be leaving the US via Washington on the Ferry (I hope!) and meandering up that way, visiting a friend in Whitehorse, then off to Alaska. Any other trip thoughts are much appreciated. Thanks again! - Joshua

Emy -

I'm sorry...I haven't been following the posts the last week or so...did I miss you, did you leave yet? If not, I'd love to chat with you one last time before you head out (little things you came across as far as expenses, traveling through Canada, whatever!!).

I'm knee deep trying to put this all together. There's SO MUCH I want to see. I made a list of all the National Parks and Wilderness areas (haven't even looked at the state ones, etc) and I had like 48! ;-) Think I need to cut that down just a bit. I got my Eagle pass for the parks...the cost in gas alone, depending on the route taken, for my gas chugging Durango is like $800! Man o man!

Kiwi and I are still working on the nuances to see if she'll be going with me or venturing out on her own. It's a difficult choice...yes the independence but to also be able to share that with someone who appreciates it for what it is, a trip of a lifetime most likely - that's hard to pass up to. Either way, it will work out!

Hope to hear from you soon!! You can either post here or email me at one of the addresses I'd left above. Thanks!!!!

Grand Coulee Dam: biggest dam in the US (I think?)...at least one of the biggest concrete structures ever, rivaling in sheer mass Hoover Dam. They do a great laser light show at night on the dam face. The scenery leading into this area is quite interesting where you will get to see coulees.

Great Falls: on the way to Grand Coulee Dam. One of the biggest waterfalls in history that archeology has uncovered. Was created at the end of one of the ice ages when the great inland sea broke through the ice and scourged Idaho and Washington in the process.

North Cascades Highway: breath-taking sites that take you through the interesting Methow Valley with lots of hiking opportunities and the western-themed town of Winthrop is a fun stop.

These are spots in Washington that you can easily see while driving to Bellingham to catch the ferry to Alaska.

If you skip the North Cascades Highway (and I wouldn't if it's open...closed due to snow much of the year) then you will likely take Snoqualmie Pass on I-90. This skirts the northern part of Mt. Rainier NP. A worthy stop as well.

Other Washington highlights: Mt. St. Helens (not to be missed!), Olympic National Park, the San Juan Islands, the beaches along the northern coast around Kalaloch, Lake Ozette, and the Makah Indian Reservation.

Hope this gives you some fun ideas.