Kyle is finally back in Alaska, hooray!

This is the second time in 12 months that Kyle has made the ALCAN (Alaska-Canada highway) drive, and we thought we’d put together a little checklist for anyone else who is planning the drive through Canada to reach Alaska. Last March Kyle drove entirely on the ALCAN, while this time he took a different route for a part of the trip along the Stewart-Cassiar highway. This shaved about 3 hours from his drive, though it was a bit more dangerous for driving. Just check out this rolled and abandoned semi he saw! I wonder if someone will come back for it in summer?

Our original plan was to have us all drive together in Spring, but since it’s still fully winter Kyle took Ronan and did the trip himself. We didn’t really want to make a million potty stops for pregnant me and the toddler. With just the dog, he was able to make the trip in about 4 days, with a total of 47 hours driving. That’s a bit longer than the actual ALCAN because it starts at Mile 0 in Dawson’s Creek, CA and ends in Delta Junction, AK. Since Kyle was coming from Washington, there was extra drive time and mileage involved. This was not a leisure trip, but a get from Point A to Point B trip, so there were a lot of long stretches of driving. Even with all the music he listened to, he was also able to get through 2 1/2 Harry Potter books (Amazon) on audio tape!

First things first, because he expected rough and snowy roads, Kyle took a bunch of emergency gear with him.

Some examples of the gear he took include:

• Road flares
• Air pump for tires
• Cold weather outer wear (jacket, snow pants, etc)
• A propane stove and propane
• A cold weather sleeping bag
• Food and water rations
• Two sets of tire chains (front and back)
• Spare tire
• Car jack and tire iron
• Car battery jumper
• Toiletries (it can be a long way between bathrooms!)

He also had a pre-trip car checklist to make sure our Subaru would make it. Though the road is paved and plowed all winter long, a 4WD vehicle is recommended this time of year. It’s not hard to slide right off the road and get stuck in a snowbank. Our car hadn’t been driven the last few months, so we needed to make sure everything was in good order before driving 2,500 miles!

Pre-trip Car Checklist

• Oil change
• Transmission fluid check
• Coolant check
• Tire pressure and tread check
• Lug tightness check (and get the broken one fixed!)
• Battery check
• Wiper fluid check
• Heater check

Road conditions for this trip were a bit worse than what they had been in March 2018. January is much colder and was slicker driving. March also had way more animal sightings as well. The traffic was similar on both trips, in that unless you are near a town there is almost no one on the road. I suspect there would be a lot more people driving this trip in summer. We’re thinking of doing it again in a few years as a camping trip on our way to visit family.

A few other safety tips:

• Check the weather before traveling. Kyle delayed his trip a few days due to snow storms this time.
• Watch for orange flags/markers along the roads. These will usually be marking potholes in the pavement.
• For car trouble in Canada, call CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) for assistance. They cover AAA members traveling through Canada.
• Check to make sure you have international data on your cell phone plan.
• Be aware there are large gaps in cell coverage along the highway.
• Bring a paper map (and know how to read it!) or something like The Milepost 2021 (Amazon), just in case.

But what about crossing the border?

Canada is our friendly neighbor country to the north (east for Alaskans) and driving to Alaska from the lower 48 means going through Canada. The Alaskan-Canadian Highway was actually built during the height of WWII to connect Alaska with the rest of the contiguous US states. Alaska was thought to be a potential target at this time and quick troop movement was seen as necessary for the war effort.

Because this drive requires crossing a border, there are a few things it is necessary to know:

1.  A passport, passport equivalent such as NEXUS card, or Enhanced driver’s license (available for residents from certain northern states) is needed for US citizens to enter Canada. Citizens from other countries may have other requirements, such as needing an eTA.
2. Children being driven across the border should have a passport and other legal documentation, including birth certificate, custody papers, and consent forms for traveling abroad (if traveling with one parent).
3. At the border crossing, declare any food, plant or animal products with you. Answer all questions truthfully. Canada does not allow certain products to cross the border and may confiscate items. Fireworks, ammunition and firearms require certain permits, so make sure what you are planning to bring with you is in compliance with Canadian laws.
4. When traveling with pets, dogs and cats older than 3 months must have vet records with them pertaining to rabies vaccinations. The vaccination is usually good for 1-3 years and will have the expiration date on the vet form. Don’t lose this form, it’s needed for reentry into the United states too!

For more information on crossing into Canada, the Canadian Border Security Agency has a helpful checklist here.

One thing to be careful of is that Canada will disallow certain visitors via “Criminal Inadmissibility” based on arrest and conviction records, including for things such as DUIs. It is possible to still travel through Canada with a record. This is done by applying for a Temporary Residency Permit (for a single trip), or filing for and being granted Criminal Rehabilitation, which resolves the inadmissibility. More can be found on Canada’s criminal inadmissibility here.

Also, if you’ve ever had any trouble crossing the border, be aware they will stop and search you every time! About 15 years ago Kyle forgot about brass knuckles in the center console and they still bring it up when he’s being checked 😆

Make sure to follow all laws and regulations while in Canada, especially if you are planning to drive back along the same route!

Certain areas will have different regulations. For example, British Columbia has requirements for winter tires or chains Oct. 1st – March 31st. Drivers can be turned away at the border, or fined. BC will also impound cars for 7 days, first offence, for excessive speed or careless driving. Be sure to watch mph vs km/h speed limits!

And, weather traveling the ALCAN for a move or part of a family vacation, be sure to enjoy the magnificent scenery!