Crossing North America in a JK: My move to Alaska

Be careful driving! Looks like your having a scenic trip! Casper should warm up quick this time of year. Good luck! :thumb:
 
Hey!!!

Wanted to get you all caught up on our travels! :crazyeyes:

The trip so far is going great. We did have the crack in the windshield which you all saw the pic. We got it fixed Tuesday April 2nd.
However, they created another crack that is now slowly making its way across the windshield. Luckily they are replacing it once we get to Anchorage. Whew!!!
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We left Casper Wyoming this morning praying that the interstate didn't re close. So grateful my husband was driving. We wouldn't have made it 10 miles. I was born and raised in Texas and we never.... ever.... have weather like that! If it ices/snows at all everything closes down and we all stay home! :)
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See what I mean?!?!? some scary stuff!

Thankfully, the roads started clearing up once we got into Montana, and I was able to relax some :sFun_hot:

First place we stopped was the Battlefield of Little Bighorn
Only stayed for a second but here are a couple pics we got.

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We came along this little place in Billings and were a little conflicted.
Should we Gamble? or eat?

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McDonald's won out. :D

Billings Montana had a spectacular view Chairokey sent that pic earlier. We decided to turn in for the night here in Great Falls Montana. I'll post those pics below. Only traveled 500 miles but with the weather I don't think we did half bad. :D Tomorrow we'll be in Canada woooot!!! Pushing form Dawson's Creek. We'll keep you posted! Having so much fun!

Until next time friends!
 
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Keeps getting more expensive.. Motel 6 started off around $45 dollars in Colorado. Went up to 65 in Wyoming, and then 75 in Montana. Then in Alberta we had the 84 rat hole. Today we're up to 115 dollars in Yukon but at least it's nicer.. Looks like my grandmas room :p

2 burger combos costed me 27 dollars (i dont think it was beef, and only included "meat" and the bun.. ) and a half a tank of gas is 50..
 
OverlanderJK said:
Your going to have to learn to drive in the snow if your going to live in Alaska. :cheesy:
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I wanted to give an update on this comment lol..

Yesterday it began snowing and I contemplated pulling over until it stopped, but it was only about 9 am. And also I thought about what you said.. I gotta learn some time.. Lol. And learn I did!

I'm not sure if anyone here has ever driven the Alaskan highway, but I could never have fathomed how remote it is. In the moderate snow, we filled up at what would be our last chance to wait out the weather. We hit the road and the storm went from moderate to bad, and then from bad to worse, and then from worse to white out! Everything was white, and the only way I could see the road is because it was higher than the ditches, but ruts ran together with previous snow plow drifts and made it a mind game while dealing with the snow. I could try and follow the bumps on the shoulder of the road, but there were 3 sets. One on each side and then 1 in the middle. The snow was so bad I couldn't tell which I was on!! I couldn't see vehicles coming to me until it was almost too late. But aside from the occasional sign, I had to use other cars to gauge where I was on the road. I thought about pulling over but didn't know where. Traffic was coming and I didn't want to get buried up to my lights and then cause a serious accident. Really felt like there was no right move so I slowly kept truckin on.. I just kept on hoping to find a rest area.

I'm not sure how much time passed but it felt like an eternity.. The snow started to let up in time for us to see that we were coming up on the first curved mountain road climb of the Alaskan highway. While I think it's a MIRACLE the blizzard let up for this hill, we weren't out of the woods yet. A dump truck had spun and was pretty much teetering off the edge. Trucks were lined up the hill putting chains on their tires. I was behind one of those really tall Mercedes vans and a VW Jetta. When the dump truck was eventually freed we were able to move. Mind you this road was covered in snow and ice, was over 100 feet up and NO GUARD RAILS!! When the van tried to go he started to slide backwards and spin. I was pretty terrified but was so far out of my element that I couldn't do anything to help. Safe to say I was scared for my life. Especially seeing this van slide towards me (slowly). I was able to make my way around. But the. The same happened with the Jetta. How these 2 wheel drive street vehicles made it this far ill never know.. But after almost getting hit by the Jetta, the driver calmly told me to pass as I was being forced to get hit or reverse down the hill. Reluctantly I went around him. I hated doing so and wish I was more mentally prepared so I could help, but I wasn't. I was more worried about getting my wife off that hill.

After a while I looked back and didn't see the van anymore. I pray that I just got too far around the curve to see them and not the alternative.. Miraculously when I got to the top of the hill, the clouds broke, the sky turned blue, and the pavement was CLEAR!!! I feel like it was some kind of test! It was smooth sailing from there.

I've checked the forecast and I'm clear the next couple of days. Which allows me enough time to make it to anchorage.

Oh, and an update on the Jetta. 4 hours later in windy mountain roads, this old man blew by me at about 70mph LOL. Glad he made it out alright..

In closing I'd like to give a shout out to Jeep, Goodyear, and whoever it was on this forum that talked me into getting Duratracs. In the midst of all this craziness, I never even thought about the road being slick. I was able to focus on making it through the snow and up the hill. I didn't even think about it until I was in the clear! So a jeep and duratracs in the snow? That's a damn good combo!!

So ya.. I'm learning :D
 
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When its snowing and you can't see the end of your hood you just need to go faster. :D

I grew up in the snow and don't miss it. 175" a year was more then I ever want to see again. :eek:
 
Chairokey said:
I wanted to give an update on this comment lol..

So ya.. I'm learning :D
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Thanks for the update. What no pics? Just kidding. Glad you made it out safe. To think in about a year's time you will look back and laugh at this because your winter driving skills will be better than most. :thumb:

Safe travels the rest of the way.
 
When it's snowing and icey take your time, don't get in a hurry to get anywhere:) stay safe your almost there.


If you don't push the limits how do you find them??
 
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