If you want to catch a huge salmon, the [tag-tec]Kenai River[/tag-tec] is a good bet. It is accessible and loaded with monsters although it can be a bit crowded by Alaska standards. If you go, be sure not to neglect the town of [tag-tec]Homer Alaska[/tag-tec] a little further down the peninsula. You will never find a more scenic and fun location. Here is a video about a 47 pounder and its not the only one in this river by a long shot.
“Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker” is a famous phrase. When traveling to Alaska it could be restated “The Alcan is dandy but Alaska Air will get you there”. The point is that driving to Alaska is a major commitment. From almost anyplace in the lower 48 we are talking about days, and probably many days, to get there by road. Alaska Air will get you there in a matter of hours.
As a frame of reference I recall one trip that I took under some time constraints. I always work best under a deadline but this was a bit over the edge. Traveling with two other friends we left the Lower Peninsula of Michigan on a Monday morning. We soon got into a rotation. Each of us drove for one tank of gas at a time. Only with a fill up came the rotation. The driver became the sleeper, the sleeper became shotgun and shotgun became the driver. Shotgun was responsible for keeping the driver awake. A rolled up newspaper was the tool of choice. A tank of gas later it was time to rotate again. This system worked fine. There was no time for meals at a table and the restroom had to take less time than it takes to fill the tank. All meals were in the car with one well-deserved exception.
The result was virtual nonstop driving in our race to meet the deadline. Late Thursday morning we rolled in to our destination, Fairbanks at last. 72 hours of pedal to the metal roadtrip.
As an efficient way to get to Alaska this leaves something to be desired.
Having said that the trip can also be the highlight of the trip if time is not a consideration. You will travel through some of the most beautiful and scenic country on earth. What many people don’t consider though is that there is also a whole lot of not so spectacular country. Sorry Saskatchewan but the fifth or sixth hour of cornfields gets a little monotonous.
Getting there is a major factor in the success of your trip to Alaska. It takes some research and thought. Later posts will zero in on some of the options available and there are some fantastic ones.
