Alaska in 2012

We're in the planning stage of a solo safari to Alaska leaving in May, 2012. Mandatory stops along the way will be Lincoln, NE, Littleton, CO, Salt Lake City, UT and the Banff/Lake Louise area. Consequently, we'll probably not reach Dawson Creek until late June/early July.

Any guidance/suggestions from someone having made a recent trip will be appreciated. Things such as identifying paved roads, roads to avoid and touring tips will be thankfully received and considered.

We want to see this great state but prefer to not experience damage while doing so.

Thanks in advance.

Don't even start without a copy of the Milepost.
This will be your bible for the whole trip,
Try to take the Cassiare road one way & Al-Can the other.

We'll be getting the 2012 edition of the Milepost as soon as it is available, without fail.

Bob:

Keep us posted on your plans.  This is on our bucket list............

DJM

You bet, Dave.

We frequently camp in the general vicinity of Banff and I have one big suggestion for you.  If you can make advance reservations, set up your base of operations for the Banff/Lake Louise area at the Mt. Kidd RV Camp Ground in the Kananaskis Country area.  This is a beautiful wooded campground on the bank of  a river at the foot of Mt. Kidd, which usually has a little snow on top.  It is spectacularly beautiful in this area.  You would be about 30 miles from Banff and due south.  Why stay there?  Because Banff and Lake Louise are huge tourist traps and always crowded, while Kananaskis Country is much less crowded.  Just a tip based on our personal preferences.  By the way, when we went up last fall on August 29th crossing the last big pass (9400 feet) we actually drove through a lovely light snowfall coating all the trees with snow. 

Jerry

Thanks Jerry. All suggestions are appreciated.

Since I just looked closer at your route, I noticed that a couple of places we really enjoyed are on the route between Lincoln and Salt Lake City.  At Sidney, NE, you might want to consider camping at the Cabela's store.  The store is great, has a nice small restaurant, and a very nice attached full hookup campground.  If you're too lazy to walk over to the store, they'll run you over in a golf cart.  You might find some goodies at the store you've just gotta have, too.  A little north of the route in Gering,NE, is the Robidoux Campground, which is owned and run by the city of Gering.  It is spacious, nicely landscaped, and really well maintained.  Oh, by the way, it has glorius views of Scotts Bluff National Monument from your campsite and Chimney Rock is just down the road.  There's also a couple of neat museums in the vicinity. 

Jerry

Thanks Jerry.

We did Chimney Rock and Scott's Bluff last year but did not stay at the campgrounds. Good possibility we will next year.
We prefer highway and byways rather than Interstates and the Mormon and Oregon Trails suit us just fine.

Bob:

How are your plans coming on this?

We are considering this for 2013..

DJM

Well Dave, we are reconsidering the Alaska trip. My brother, who lives in Littleton, CO has Esophogial Cancer and we don't want to get too far from him then.
Might have to put the Alaska trip off til 2013.