An adventure through the largest state in the United States.
Alaska is the largest state in the United States. It has an area almost twice the size of Venezuela but only a little over 720,000 inhabitants. Of those, nearly one in two lives in or around Anchorage. The rest of the state is practically unpopulated. As a consequence, there is no dense hotel network in Alaska. Therefore, nothing better than traveling by motorhome to exploit this immense lonely space.
Alaska is a friendly state for campers. Everywhere there are camping sites with electricity and water along the main roads. Anyone who prefers free camping can also do this in most regions of the state. As long as one respects nature, almost anything is allowed in Alaska, unless one finds the motorhome in a national park.
“Alaska is just unique,” says John Grizz, a former soldier from the hot state of Georgia. “Uncle Sam sent me here and I’ve stayed. The scenery is fantastic but the best part is the people. They are the heart of Alaska.” Grizz has lived in many different places, including Germany, but he wouldn’t trade Alaska for anywhere else: “Never in my life!”
Grizz likes to tell foreign tourists which places they should visit and where they can best camp. “Forget the campsites and choose the shore of a lake!”. There are nearly 3,200 named lakes in Alaska and more than three million that are only numbered on official maps. In summer it is not easy to camp for the night in Alaska. The region is so far north that even at midnight it is as clear as day.
Free camping around Mount McKinley, now called Denali again, is not entirely easy. The highest mountain in North America is the main tourist destination in Alaska. Even so, the place is not overrun with tourists even during the short summer. Denali, as the Indians call this mountain, means “the mighty one.”
Most of the time it is hidden behind thick clouds. “The mountain is so big that it makes its own time,” says Gregory Sanoski of the K2 pilots’ association, whose red planes constantly fly tourists up the mountain. Although this tour costs a whopping $300 to $500, his plane is almost always full.
“I do it almost every day but I still haven’t had enough of this,” Sanoski says of the Denali. “However, the mountain is capricious. One in three tourists cannot see it because the clouds stick to it, almost always enveloping it majestically. To the left there is sun, to the right there is sun, but the mountain is hidden” .
Those who fly with Sanoski can even enjoy a stopover on a glacier. “In the whole world, this only exists here and in New Zealand,” says the pilot proudly as he turns the ship to the left. At a speed of only 80 kilometers per hour, the plane slides down the valley and finally lands on the glacier.
One is in the middle of a valley that is always covered in snow, flanked by mountains several thousand meters high. The snow underfoot is hundreds of years old, and overhead is Denali. However, the mount is not visible. It is shrouded in clouds, of course.
A little over 200 kilometers to the north, a four or five hour drive in the heavy motorhome, is Fairbanks. Alaska’s second largest city is home to the Museum of the North, a sort of Alaskan national museum. Seal skins and sledges of the indigenous population tell a story of many centuries. In addition, objects of daily use are exposed that describe life in the extreme north of the United States.
Near Fairbanks is the North Pole. In the small town of North Pole supposedly lives Santa Claus. The most famous Christmas post office in the United States answers 450,000 letters from children each year. Christmas is celebrated throughout the year in this town.
Nenana is located exactly halfway between Denali and Fairbanks. Fewer than 400 people live at the confluence of the Tanana and Nenana rivers, but the town still has a railway museum and plenty of Indian culture. With its wooden houses, Nenana has a sleepy charm.
Winter is long in Alaska. Consequently, it is not always easy to camp in this region. The motorhomes are not well insulated and even in July it can be cold inside at night. Most campsites offer electricity. For $20 to $40 per car, this service often also includes a hot shower and water supply.
Much cheaper are state campsites, but usually there are only latrines there. Of course, these campsites also offer breathtaking panoramic views, as in all of Alaska, and totally free.
When to go: The tourist season in Alaska is short and runs from May to early September. Of course, winter also offers a unique experience, but during this time of year many tourist attractions are closed. In addition, due to the proximity to the North Pole, during almost the whole day it is night.
Accommodation: Rental cars in the United States are cheap, but motorhomes are not. It is practically impossible to get a car for less than 150 dollars (about 132 euros) a day. Some campsites charge five dollars, but in most cases the prices go up to 20 or 30 dollars. Free camping is allowed almost everywhere but is strictly prohibited in national parks.
