Prudhoe bay trip
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JK Super Freak
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,000
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From: Sneads Ferry NC
Yes, I made the trip once a long time ago........in the middle of the winter...!!! 
It was from the Kenai here and was I believe around 1,100 miles to Prudhoe. We drove straight through onlly stopping for a couple short naps. It was sub zero all the way. You didn't say when you plan on making the trip. The earlier the better after break-up when the bugs aren't as bad.
It's up to you if you want to take a gun. I know somebody said don't worry about it but if it was me I'd bring one. Brown bear/grizzlys as well as blackies are known to tear the hell outta vehicles and airplanes if they smell food....and of course that food they smell may be you. If you like to fish there's great fishing up there. Especially if you get back in off the road a little ways. You cross all kinds of rivers and streams (nothing without bridges so no "crossings" so to speak) that are loaded with grayling and dolly varden trout/arctic char. Not to mention a lot of the shallow ponds/lakes that have pike in them. So again if you do fish and get off the road a ways, it would be nice to have a gun. You can't legally shoot next to the pipeline....unless of course you are about to be eaten.
The road is kept in real good shape because oilfield semis have to drive it all year. But I would have a good set of tires.....it's a lot of gravel. The semis hall ass and they tend to take up more than their share of the road so be on guard all the time.
Don't really know what else to say. If you have more questions let us know....
It was from the Kenai here and was I believe around 1,100 miles to Prudhoe. We drove straight through onlly stopping for a couple short naps. It was sub zero all the way. You didn't say when you plan on making the trip. The earlier the better after break-up when the bugs aren't as bad. It's up to you if you want to take a gun. I know somebody said don't worry about it but if it was me I'd bring one. Brown bear/grizzlys as well as blackies are known to tear the hell outta vehicles and airplanes if they smell food....and of course that food they smell may be you. If you like to fish there's great fishing up there. Especially if you get back in off the road a little ways. You cross all kinds of rivers and streams (nothing without bridges so no "crossings" so to speak) that are loaded with grayling and dolly varden trout/arctic char. Not to mention a lot of the shallow ponds/lakes that have pike in them. So again if you do fish and get off the road a ways, it would be nice to have a gun. You can't legally shoot next to the pipeline....unless of course you are about to be eaten.
The road is kept in real good shape because oilfield semis have to drive it all year. But I would have a good set of tires.....it's a lot of gravel. The semis hall ass and they tend to take up more than their share of the road so be on guard all the time.
Don't really know what else to say. If you have more questions let us know....
thank you all for your time and info
JK Newbie
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Alaska
I drove the haul road in '05, winter, spring and summer. I highly recommend a spare tire in the non-winter months because the marble shot rock can tear through the sidewall like paper. When approaching oncoming traffic, slow down and pull over a little. (I heard that's the rule of thumb for sharing that road with semi's) A CB radio might be a good idea since cell phone coverage is sketchy once you're north of Fox.
Always good to pack extra food and drinks. The food at Coldfoot is hit or miss... Have DEET with you in the warmer months. Bring a camera too.
Always good to pack extra food and drinks. The food at Coldfoot is hit or miss... Have DEET with you in the warmer months. Bring a camera too.
JK Newbie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Fairbanks, Alaska
im in prudhoe bay right now, i work up here, two weeks on two weeks off, its around 50 degrees today which is hot for us up here now considering, it fifty-sixty below all winter.
i live in Fairbanks so when you come through get a hold of me if you need a tour guide or a place to work on your jeep or even a place to crash. Like everyone has said dont forget a spare tire and some extra gas, u can buy gas up here in prudhoe at NANA Oil field services. And make sure you camera is handy, there is a herd of caribou about 1/2 mile away frome me right now along with several brown bears in the area. anyhow blah blah blah, hope you have a good trip.
i live in Fairbanks so when you come through get a hold of me if you need a tour guide or a place to work on your jeep or even a place to crash. Like everyone has said dont forget a spare tire and some extra gas, u can buy gas up here in prudhoe at NANA Oil field services. And make sure you camera is handy, there is a herd of caribou about 1/2 mile away frome me right now along with several brown bears in the area. anyhow blah blah blah, hope you have a good trip.
JK Jedi
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,813
Likes: 0
From: Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Hey...what ever happened to you? Did you decide not to make the trip...???