ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure - 2012

[cvette98pacecar]

Jim, That sound like fun. I think the Black hills Corvette show is going on the week you are leaving.
Have a safe and fun trip.

[jimmy b.]

Wow this sounds like its gonna be a GREAT trip, have a good time.

I know I don't have to tell ya about all the essentials you need but I would
like to suggest putting your jack and lug wrench in a place easily accessible.

I learned a long time ago on a trip from Texas to Jersey, Its a long story and
I'll tell ya when I see ya at Carlisle...jimmy

[Jagdpanzer]

Jim,
Wishing Lindy, you and your Klondike rigged Corvette a wonderful and safe trip. I hear some of the passes along the way can be very challenging

[Alberta_ZR1]

It sounds like an amazing trip! I'm definitely envious.

I worked all over northern Alberta and north-western BC. On your map, is the towns highlighted the areas that you are staying at? If so, I'd recommend staying in Edmonton as oppose to Whitecourt. Whitecourt is kind of a industry town, a little rough and nothing to see really.

If you stay in Edmonton, I'd recommend checking out the West Edmonton Mall. It is kind of over-rated to some, but I always find it kind of neat to see a full size hockey arena, massive in-door waterslide park, and amusement park completed with a roller coaster all packed into a mall.

Depending on the time of day that you are traveling west of Dawson Creek, be cautious of moose. Generally it is only a concern in the dawn/dusk/night hours, but that area west through to Fox Creek is unofficially called "moose alley". Also, just be cautious of all of the tractor trailer units on the toad. There is lots of logging and oilfield trucks up there.

The temperatures through the mountains is good. August is generally among the hottest months of the year, so I'd expect to see highs ranging from 70-80F and lows in and around 44-55F. I can't speak to the weather in Alaska, but I'm sure you've already googled their average temps for the month of August.

If you're staying over in Dawson and/or Fort Nelson, just be a little picky on the hotel you select. There is a lot of industry work up there and some of the hotels cater to the oil rig crews and other similar folks which means they may not clean up after them as well. Personally, when I go to Dawson, I stay at either the Best Western or Pomeroy. Just upgrade to their King suites so you know you're in a room that management would have normally stayed in. In Ft. Nelson, I always stayed at the Lakeview Inns and Suites.

When you're driving to Dawson, make sure you get a picture of the Z with the worlds largest beaver in Beaverlodge...

As for highways, I can't speak to the ones in Alaska, but I've been north of Fort Nelson many times and I personally found the highways to be better than some of the commuter highways around Calgary. Good grade pavement, not many ruts...just some frost heaving here and there.

Last but not least, when you're making the trek from Jasper to Calgary, have the camera ready. There is usually a ton of wildlife. For example, it isn't uncommon to see a herd of mountain goats chilling on the side of the road and they're not afraid of people...probably even see the odd beer hanging out too.

Have a great trip!!!

Tyler


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[QB93Z]

Thanks for all of the suggestions and comments!

Thank you Tyler for your descriptions of NW Canada. I had already put Edmonton Mall on my To See list and we have an array of photographic equipment ready for all the wildlife. I am planning on driving down the Bow Lake Parkway to get to Banff. Is that a good enough road to drive the ZR-1? (After an adventure in Nova Scotia, Lyndi's tolerance for gravel is low.)

Jim

[A26B]

Our very best wishes to you and Lyndi for a most enjoyable trip. I admire your devotion to the ZR-1 and this trip will surely rank high in the anals of ZR-1 history. Looking forward to your trip reports & photos.

[Alberta_ZR1]

The parkway should be fine. A friend of mine ran his GSXR from Jasper to Banff on that road at an easy 130kph. So should be no worries at all. Let me know if you have any other questions. If you want, PM me and I can give you my number in case you run into any trouble while you're in Alberta.

Tyler

Originally Posted by QB93Z

Thanks for all of the suggestions and comments!

Thank you Tyler for your descriptions of NW Canada. I had already put Edmonton Mall on my To See list and we have an array of photographic equipment ready for all the wildlife. I am planning on driving down the Bow Lake Parkway to get to Banff. Is that a good enough road to drive the ZR-1? (After an adventure in Nova Scotia, Lyndi's tolerance for gravel is low.)

Jim

[mike100]

Just the short drive around Fort McMurray when I worked there a couple years back was enough to convince me to never drive a nice car through the upper part of Canada.

You might want to budget for a new windshield- maybe even a paint job.

[gbmidyear66]

Originally Posted by cward

I have driven one way or the other from Texas to Alaska 15 times. Never in a ZR-1. I drove the 4200 miles from Luling, TX to Glennallen, Ak in 5 days last May 2011 in my VW TDI. The first time I drove it in a 1959 Chevy pickup in 1969 when the Alaska Hiway had 900 miles of gravel. The hiway is paved now and flats are less of a problem. You absolutely need the MilePost magazine if you do not have it already. Last year and probably this year the streach from Haines Junction to the Alaska border is very rough. Also on your return trip, the Cassiar Hiway is rough too. But you will see a lot of game on the Cassiar. I saw at least 5 bears on that streach last year. I ran an RV campground (Tolsona Wilderness Campground) last summer. Returned via the Cassiar about the middle of August. It was freezing at night in the higher elevations. I slept in the car but that would be a little harder in the Z. If you have any questions please email me at curtis.ward@gmail.com. You might want to stop and see Al in Edmonton. I can't emphasize enough that you need The MilePost.

Curtis

Curtis is bang on re Cassiar Hwy - awesome advanture. I drove it about a dozen years back on trip up to Dawson city, bears, coyotes, animals galore - and got a least one flat that I can recall -the rocks on the road surface are like shards of glass.

Getting high octane gas might be a challenge in some places up there - maybe bring some octane booster. Some great opportunities to fish up there. Camped at a couple of places where I caught dinner from the campsite.

Sounds like a great trip

[QB93Z]

T-5 days and counting down. We are getting really excited about this trip. I have done more planning for this trip than some of the Submarine Strategic Deterrent Patrols I made.

Thanks Tyler and Curtis for the contact info, I will keep it handy.

Thanks for all of your suggestions. Hey Phil, do you have the cell phone number of that Sherpa crew in case I need them?

I just got the Z back after a four wheel alignment. With the new suspension pieces and sway bar bushings, the car rides better than ever.

A friend of Lyndi's just told us to be sure to strap a couple of spare tires to the trunk lid, so I better go figure out how to do that.

Jim