Preparations

5/22/17 As many have advised me, a trip of this length and distance requires a lot of planning and forethought  in many different aspects. In each of these separate lists are essential. There is the truck, the emergency equipment, the camper and its systems,  the camping gear, the consumables, and the route planning.  Not new to the camper and its demands on the truck,  there was a base of knowledge to work with.

The truck is a 2016 Chevy Colorado 2.8 Duramax turbo charged diesel. This truck has been an improvement over the replaced Tacoma in that it has enormous engine torque (369 foot pounds) that equates to power. The fuel economy is 30% better and there is more space for gear with the added bench in place of the rear seats. The 'platform' (the truck bed) had to have support. Added to the original or replaced were: ride height adjusted shocks (Bilstein 5100), robust metal skid plates to protect the engine and transfer case, air lift suspension bags to level the load side to side, an 'add-a-leaf' added to the spring pack for the increased load, and a sway bar (Hellwig) to help cornering with the added weight. Lastly and most important E rated (10 ply) truck tires and spare to handle the added weight as well protect against sidewall blowouts.

The 2011 Eagle FourWheel pop up camper was bought new. Since, there have been a number of modifications. Yakima tracks on the roof for canoes and support for the 160 watt solar panel (a additional 90 watt portable panel is stored in the added box under the cab-over), initially a portable Engel fridge was replaced with a permanent Isotherm 65 refrigerator. An aluminum 'V' wind foil to help with milage, Brophy scissor steps, added cabinets, Blue Sea Charging relay connected to the three batteries, four 30 pound lift assists to help raising the roof, and many small amenities to make the camper our own.

Off road, "dispersed camping", requires a self-sufficiency in a number of ways but most importantly is having what is needed to extract oneself from getting stuck on the 'road less traveled'. Having two 'sand mats, essentially heavy duty four foot long traction plates to put under tires when your wheels have dug you into a hole, a three ton platform jack/jack stand to raise the truck, a heavy-duty compressor to refill 'aired down' or flat tire, a quality puncture repair kit, tow strap and chain, a good assortment of tools for mechanical and electrical problems, CB radio, emergency medical kit, spares of numerous vital truck and camper parts, 3 two gallon roto-pax diesel cans (mounted on the roof),  and a number of sensible doodads that make all repairs less difficult. This all may seem too much to deal with but once learned and done it does not detract from the experience but actually heightens the feeling of self reliance, confidence knowing you can go where it is quiet and peaceful, away from it all and not have to worry about safety. Knowing how most everything you depend on works is empowering.  It is worth it.

Lists. Where would I be without them? Over the last year I have made many and one that has been evolving for years is the camping equipment list. Actually there are a number of them each distinct. The backpack camping trip list, the canoe camping list, the motorcycle camping list and the camper equipment list; sometimes there is a combination as well. This particular trip is somewhat unique as there are a few legs of it that differ but in general it is a long trip with parts that will have us very far into the boonies. On one leg we will have the need to have diesel fuel dropped ahead for us as the truck, even with a 21 gallon tank, six gallons on the roof and approximately 20-22 mpg, we will be going into areas that are past our total range. Folks who live on a boat know how it is to refine the list by need and space to store it logically.

Food. So much of life surrounds it. When traveling it is in itself an activity. It is not a grab a meal. Thought to what would make you happy and healthy but not be a burden. Having a glass jar to throw away after a meal is both  not being "weight conscious" but also unsafe to have trash with smell to attract opportunistic feeders. A dry bear box storing sealed food as well as a solar powered refrigerator to keep beer cans cold (essential) make the trip a vacation not a forced march. Pre-planning a couple weeks of meals for two and packing it prudently takes time to hone the 'what works' list.

Our plan has been to get to Alaska and it is so far away. It has taken a couple years to think about it and a whole year to plan. The logistics had a couple obvious givens. The truck camper has got to get there and we have time restrictions on each of us, e.g. Luann must teach right up to the day before the only ferry sets sail from Bellingham, Washington. The plan came down to me driving the truck camper, departing a week ahead, so that I could have the truck serviced in Washington before Luann arrived. Luann flies to Seattle, Washington the day before the ferry and we stay the night with her friends she taught with in Brazil who now live outside Seattle. The next morning we board, with our truck camper, the ferry from Bellingham, sailing for 5 days to Whittier, Alaska. From there our first stop will be visiting my nephew Mike in Seward and Homer. Thereafter ..... touring the backroads of Alaska eventually crossing on into The Yukon on the Top of the World 'highway'. Winding our way south then east on the dirt 'Campbell Highway', 368 miles of gravel to Watson Lake. From this road we will be taking retracing side trips hundreds of miles on side roads: Chicken, Eagle, Nahanni road up to the Northwest Territories. From there on the Cassiar Highway south to British Columbia and Alberta eventually into the States of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming. At that point depending on time we either both travel east to Buckland, Massachusetts or I do and Luann flies so as to have time to prepare for school. That's in the nutshell.

The time for departure is coming. This is the first blog attempt for us so a learning as well. In it we hope to post photos and maps as well as a diary of our travels. This way when we are in a place to be able to communicate we will post. I guess it will be as a trip wherein we will be testing the depth of the water with both feet. As ole Abe said: "In the end, it's not the years in your life, but the life in your years."