Comments on: Driving The “Haul Road” (Officially the Dalton Hwy) http://susanstevenson.com/blog/2009/06/the-haul-road/ The thoughts and photography of Susan L Stevenson Fri, 18 May 2012 00:36:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Susan Stevenson http://susanstevenson.com/blog/2009/06/the-haul-road/#comment-9128 Susan Stevenson Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:07:13 +0000 http://susanstevenson.com/blog/?p=114#comment-9128 August can be a good time of the year to see auroras (mid-late August) as we do have darkness then. It would be later in the evening/mid morning since the darkness doesn't come till 11pm or so, but there's definitely a chance. Your birthday celebration sounds awesome! We love Grand Canyon and have also been to Northern CA to see the redwoods. You're going to have such a good time! If you have any further questions about travel in Alaska, don't hesitate to email me directly. Susan August can be a good time of the year to see auroras (mid-late August) as we do have darkness then. It would be later in the evening/mid morning since the darkness doesn’t come till 11pm or so, but there’s definitely a chance.

Your birthday celebration sounds awesome! We love Grand Canyon and have also been to Northern CA to see the redwoods. You’re going to have such a good time!

If you have any further questions about travel in Alaska, don’t hesitate to email me directly.

Susan

]]> By: TRACY http://susanstevenson.com/blog/2009/06/the-haul-road/#comment-9124 TRACY Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:26:39 +0000 http://susanstevenson.com/blog/?p=114#comment-9124 Hi Susan, Thanks for the insite, I enjoyed reading your experience to Deadhorse and the "top of the world". It is my 50th B-Day next year August and hubby and I are going to Grand Canyon, Portland/North Cali redwood trees and then Alaska...I want to drive the Seaward route and ran into your Haul Road journey. I was wondering if you are able to see any auroras up there in August? Does it get dark if even for a few hours at that time of the year? I live in Florida but we love to travel, thanks again for your web site, it was fun to read your journey. Hi Susan,

Thanks for the insite, I enjoyed reading your experience to Deadhorse and the “top of the world”. It is my 50th B-Day next year August and hubby and I are going to Grand Canyon, Portland/North Cali redwood trees and then Alaska…I want to drive the Seaward route and ran into your Haul Road journey. I was wondering if you are able to see any auroras up there in August? Does it get dark if even for a few hours at that time of the year?

I live in Florida but we love to travel, thanks again for your web site, it was fun to read your journey.

]]> By: Susan Stevenson http://susanstevenson.com/blog/2009/06/the-haul-road/#comment-8611 Susan Stevenson Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:47:10 +0000 http://susanstevenson.com/blog/?p=114#comment-8611 Hi Doug, In my opinion, the road isn't too bad to the Arctic Circle, as long as you drive carefully and watch out for big trucks and flying rocks. It's a long day though... about 200 miles to the circle from Fairbanks, and with the gravel portions of the road, it's pretty slow going. Estimates put the trip at 4-5 hours one way. The road is paved from Fairbanks to the start of the Dalton Hwy (about 85 miles) Then it's gravel for another 80 or so miles until I believe mile 90 on the Dalton. If you plan you trip for a weekend, as opposed to during the week, the trucks aren't as numerous which makes the drive a little less stressful. In many places the road is fairly narrow and these rigs can take up the entire road, so you need to pull over onto the shoulder (if there is one) and let them pass. I don't want to encourage you to violate the terms of your rental car contract, because if you break down or sustain damage to the car, you're going to be facing quite a huge damage fee. There could be an option for you though. We have a local Rent-a-Wreck company here (615 12th Avenue, (907) 452-1606) and I think they may allow you to drive their vehicle on the Dalton. Perhaps you could rent a car for a day to make the trip? Good luck! Hi Doug,

In my opinion, the road isn’t too bad to the Arctic Circle, as long as you drive carefully and watch out for big trucks and flying rocks. It’s a long day though… about 200 miles to the circle from Fairbanks, and with the gravel portions of the road, it’s pretty slow going. Estimates put the trip at 4-5 hours one way. The road is paved from Fairbanks to the start of the Dalton Hwy (about 85 miles) Then it’s gravel for another 80 or so miles until I believe mile 90 on the Dalton. If you plan you trip for a weekend, as opposed to during the week, the trucks aren’t as numerous which makes the drive a little less stressful. In many places the road is fairly narrow and these rigs can take up the entire road, so you need to pull over onto the shoulder (if there is one) and let them pass.

I don’t want to encourage you to violate the terms of your rental car contract, because if you break down or sustain damage to the car, you’re going to be facing quite a huge damage fee.

There could be an option for you though. We have a local Rent-a-Wreck company here (615 12th Avenue, (907) 452-1606) and I think they may allow you to drive their vehicle on the Dalton. Perhaps you could rent a car for a day to make the trip?

Good luck!

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