What an amazing experience, and doing it in your Merc. Awesome!
Scott
Scott
2025 Trip to Alaska, advice welcome
- Thread starter Sam_Julier
- Start date
Thompson Pass down to Valdez. Considered to be the most beautiful stretch of road in Alaska.
Columbia Glacier
Lots of hump back whales, orcas, sea lions, Dall’s porpoises, sea otters and bald eagles.
There’s nothing like a bald eagle soaring overhead. Ever better on Memorial Day.
The boat is powered by two MAN 1,200 hp V8 diesels. Note the Delvac 1 ESP 5W-40 pails.
Each MAN engine requires 16 gallons every 400 hours.
Lots of hump back whales, orcas, sea lions, Dall’s porpoises, sea otters and bald eagles.
There’s nothing like a bald eagle soaring overhead. Ever better on Memorial Day.
The boat is powered by two MAN 1,200 hp V8 diesels. Note the Delvac 1 ESP 5W-40 pails.
Each MAN engine requires 16 gallons every 400 hours.
Surprised it's not Chevron. We cover a ton of marine stuff.
By who?
I've been there before
Valdez to Kennecott via the McCathy Road. The road is mostly gravel. We drove it at 25 mph.
Root Glacier and the Kennicott Glacier Lodge
Destruction Bay, Yukon to Haines, Alaska.
The last long driving day of our trip. Jennifer and I are a little glum.
The last long driving day of our trip. Jennifer and I are a little glum.
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Sam, great pictures and thanks for posting. Question, what’s been the biggest surprise on your journey?
Scott
Scott
The magnitude and scale. For two New Englanders it’s like the back side of the moon.
We’ve never experienced anything like this trip.
Sam
Haines Alaska
Haines to Bellingham on the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry, MV Columbia
Cruising along at 17 knots. The MV Columbia is powered by:
Two Wartzila 7000hp inline 6 cylinder which drive a single geared, variable pitch propeller.
Three Cat 6 cylinder generators. Two run continuously. One for standby.
397 gallons of diesel fuel per hour
Two Wartzila 7000hp inline 6 cylinder which drive a single geared, variable pitch propeller.
Three Cat 6 cylinder generators. Two run continuously. One for standby.
397 gallons of diesel fuel per hour
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End of trip thoughts and stats:
It’s hard to capture our last 7 weeks together on the road. Alaska, British Columbia and Yukon are unlike anything I have ever experienced. Epically beautiful. Expansive as I’ve never seen anywhere, yet. The interior is incredibly dry and dusty. Haines, Sitka and Skagway are rainforests. Friendly, helpful people everywhere.
I highly recommend.
Stats:
8,871 miles in the 1992 diesel W124. The car ran flawlessly.
$1,072 spent on diesel fuel. Virtually every town had diesel fuel. Highest price was Seattle at $5.19. Lowest $2.90 in OK.
3 1/2 day ferry (with car) from Haines to Bellingham
Car is on a trailer from Seattle to home.
No flat tires.
One oil and filter change.
We never needed the 4 snow tires.
The internet worked well everyplace we stayed.
Everyplace we stayed was spotlessly clean.
In general the food was very good to excellent.
The craft beer selection is truly astonishing.
It’s hard to capture our last 7 weeks together on the road. Alaska, British Columbia and Yukon are unlike anything I have ever experienced. Epically beautiful. Expansive as I’ve never seen anywhere, yet. The interior is incredibly dry and dusty. Haines, Sitka and Skagway are rainforests. Friendly, helpful people everywhere.
I highly recommend.
Stats:
8,871 miles in the 1992 diesel W124. The car ran flawlessly.
$1,072 spent on diesel fuel. Virtually every town had diesel fuel. Highest price was Seattle at $5.19. Lowest $2.90 in OK.
3 1/2 day ferry (with car) from Haines to Bellingham
Car is on a trailer from Seattle to home.
No flat tires.
One oil and filter change.
We never needed the 4 snow tires.
The internet worked well everyplace we stayed.
Everyplace we stayed was spotlessly clean.
In general the food was very good to excellent.
The craft beer selection is truly astonishing.
JHZR2
Staff member
Great update. I’ve been to some austere places and more and more they aren’t as austere as they once were.
I guess you overpacked with things like snow tires, but if you didn’t have them, you’d need them!
The w124 diesel runs like a sewing machine and just goes smooth and reasonably quiet. Good stuff.
Now the check of how many rock chips to repair!
Great trip. I’d love to do the same!
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