Spring arrives at Denali National Park

The National Park Service has begun its annual chore of reopening the road into Denali National Park and Preserve beyond park headquarters. As of today, March 25, 2011, park visitors can drive as far as the Savage River Campground (Mile 12.7).

The NPS reminds visitors to expect to encounter snow and ice on shaded sections of the park road until overnight temperatures remain above freezing. Motorists are also advised to be alert for National Park Service personnel steaming culverts along the side of the road, and for heavy equipment being used in the road opening operations.

Weather conditions can change rapidly at this time of the year, and the road may open and close several times. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead for updated road and weather information. The number for park information is (907) 683-9532 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

If you're interested in following the progress of the Denali road crew as they plow westward along the 92-mile park road to Kantishna, timely updates and a photo gallery are posted on the park website at www.nps.gov/dena/spring-road-opening.htm.

Brush up on bear safety for your family's peace of mind

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."-- John Muir

The famed naturist will get no argument from us. The human urge to commune with nature is as powerful and instinctive as the will to live. The trick is to do both, together. And, to be ready to receive more than you seek in the wild.

As visitors to Alaska we want to see it all, spectacular views of a wilderness found in few other places on Earth, and to share time and space with wildlife in its natural environment. And while RVs are perfectly safe places to sleep nobody travels that far to appreciate all that natural splendor strictly through a windshield.

How safe is camping and hiking in bear country? The Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation begins addressing the question with a rather blunt response: Nothing will guarantee your safety in bear country, but knowledge of bears and proper behavior greatly reduce your risk. In its excellent and lengthy online bear primer the state Department of Natural Resources offers advice that could be critical to your family's well-being and sense of security when exploring Alaska. If you want to read it, here it is.

On the other hand, you'll find much of the same information in this delightful video produced by Backpacker Magazine. It's an especially good way to educate kids old enough to have a sense of perspective on the subject.

RV families create lifetime memories panning for gold

Gold mining is not just a part of Alaska’s historic past it's still a popular and important commercial and recreational activity in many areas of the state. There are few family adventures more exciting and memorable than Mom, Dad and the kids, side-by-side, swirling icy Alaskan creek water in pans and discovering flecks or even small nuggets of gold.

Recreational gold panning and prospecting are permitted, with some restrictions, on most public lands in Alaska. On private lands or mining claims, owner’s permission is required.

RV visitors can join organized prospecting tours or, if you're a bit more adventurous, you can set your gps for places like the old mining camp called Chicken, established in 1886, current permanent population about 18. Chicken has little to offer outside of a rugged Alaskan experience and the opportunity to let your family pan for gold off the beaten track. (The track really is beaten, by the way. Alaska Route 5, the Taylor Highway, is not maintained between October and March. Generally, though, it's a decent road in the spring and summer.)

There's an RV park in Chicken with 30 electric hookups offering 20 and 30 amp service, limited but free WiFi and plenty of free dry camping ($10 tank dump fee extra.) The RV park also boasts the only flush toilets in all of Chicken.

If Chicken is a bit out of the way in your itinerary you can find many gold panning and mining opportunities in Alaska. It is not easy to determine where on public lands recreational gold mining is permitted. If you are unsure of the status of a particular area you can check online with the federal Bureau of Land Management.

 
How Chicken, Alaska, got its name, according to Wikipedia: "Chicken was settled by gold miners in the late 1800s and in 1902 the local post office was established requiring a community name. Due to the prevalence of (a chicken-like Arctic bird called the) ptarmigan in the area that name was suggested as the official name for the new community. However, the spelling could not be agreed on and Chicken was used to avoid embarrassment."

Filmmaker John Holod to spotlight Alaska travel at RV shows

Filmmaker John Holod will appear in RV seminars across the USA this Spring showing segments from his documentary and RV Adventure travel films including those about RVing in Alaska. Holod is an internationally recognized cinematographer who has presented his films to audiences across North America. He regularly appears at RV shows.

He will present three seminars at each show on these subjects:
Alaska RV Adventure by Highway & Ferry
Rocky Mountain RV Adventure: New Mexico to the Canadian Rockies
East Coast RV Adventure: Maine to Key West

His upcoming appears include:
The Cleveland RV & Camper Show Mar. 4-6th
Columbus RV Super Show Mar. 11-13th
Green Country RV & Outdoor Show Tulsa OK Mar. 25-27th
Nashville RV & Boat Super Show April 1-3

For more information about Holod, visit this website.

Camp hosting in Alaska popular with some RVers

For many RVers, visiting Alaska is a dream come true. For many, after touring a bit, the idea of settling in for while is appealing. One way to do that is to become a volunteer camp host in an Alaska State Park.

Hosts, most of them volunteers, welcome campers, acquaint them with park facilities and regulations, answer questions on local and statewide attractions, and help them plan their trips. Hosts help the park rangers with the day-to-day operation and maintenance of campgrounds; this includes litter pickup, light janitorial maintenance and repairs. Special park projects can be designed based on a host's skills and interests.

All hosts must have enthusiasm for working with the public, a willingness to learn about Alaska, and the desire to accept new challenges. Most of them live in their own RV at a special campsite. Because campground hosts are the "ambassadors" for Alaska State Parks, their "residence" must be neat and well‑maintained.

Campground hosts stay free in an Alaska State Park campground and have free use of all facilities. Each host or host couple is trained by the ranger staff and receives a volunteer uniform. A subsistence payment of from $100 to $500 a month is sometimes available for longer commitments.

The camping season in Alaska is generally from mid May through mid September. Some campgrounds are open year round or have extended seasons. Hosts are requested to volunteer 30 to 40 hours per week for at least four to six weeks. Learn more.