Customer Reviews

Trip Planner for Alaska, Yukon Territory, British Columbia, Alberta & Northwest Territories Spring 2000-Spring 2001 (Milepost, 52nd Ed)

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As a lifelong Alaskan, I know that this guidebook is famous up north for its comprehensive and very detailed mile-by-mile coverage. My family always carried one on caming trips and to give to relatives who visited. We still buy a new edition each year, as the editors are scrupulous in updating the constantly changing conditions of Alaska. No other guidebook comes close to replicating the sheer volume of information for travelers to Alaska, particularly those who are traveling by car or motorhome. NO ONE should drive to Alaska without this book. I have used the Milepost for car trips between Alaska and college in the Lower 48 a total of seven times in the past five years, and there is absolutely NO WAY I would have made these trips if I hadn't had the Milepost along with me. I just bought the 2001 edition for my latest trip back home in May. Aside from all of the recreational and historical information that is so important to leisure travelers, this book lists nearly all of the services along the way, so someone like me, who just wants to go home, can plan her trip down to the stops for gas. That kind of peace of mind is invaluable on such a long drive, where services can be few and far between. Take this book and enjoy your trip!

Originally a logbook about the Alaska-Canada Highway, this book has grown over the years to be a comprehensive guidebook on Alaska, NW Canada, and the Alcan Highway. It's useful no matter what your style of visiting Alaska. I like the guide even though I haven't driven the (marathon) Alcan Highway (I've used airlines, ferrys, trains, and other public transportation). I read other guides in preparation, but this is the only one I bring with me during the trip.

This book is packed with detail about not only what to see, but important mudane details about gas stations, lodging, stores, and ferry schedules for each locality.

Wait until March to get the current edition of Milepost, if you don't need it right away.

I lived in Alaska for 17 years and now live in the Lower 48. Although I've made the trip both ways a dozen times or so, I still pick up a new copy for every trip. It tells me what to expect along the way, even down to the tenth of a mile. This is VERY important for remote highways. For instance, one year a forest fire wiped out several roadhouses, increasing the distance between gas stations. Without my Milepost, I wouldn't have known!

I live here, and find this book to be nice to have around. I purchase one every couple of years. Recreation activities for me usually involve a lot of driving, often in remote and infrequently traveled areas. The Milepost is an indispensable guide to construction, frost heaves, and other road conditions. When you are barreling down a narrow, winding road with a trailer in tow, it's nice to not have surprises. For the visitor to Alaska, this book provides detailed information on sites to see, lodging, fuel stations, etc. If you plan to drive to or around Alaska, this book is a must have. Even if you don't plan a visit, the book makes a nice memento. It is interesting to compare the new issue to the older ones and see the changes over time. Yes, even in Alaska, progress marches on. Enjoy, and have a safe trip.

This guidebook has provided the Alaska traveler with all of the support (lodging, gas stations, dining, vehicle repairs, medical, etc.) and sight-seeing information needed to have a safe, comfortable and informative journey. It details this information on mile-by-mile basis which allows the traveler to know the joys and potential hazards of the trip. It also provides this same detail for all of the major roads that lead to and from the Alaska Highway and throughout Alaska. Also a necessary reference for the traveler who flys to Alaska and rents a car in Anchorage or Fairbanks. It also provides history and trivia of many of the little towns in the Alaska Wilderness. I get this book every time I had to Alaska. Alaska adventurers should also consider getting the book, Discovering Denali if they are going to explore Denali National Park.

The Milepost provides the Alaska and Yukon bound drivers with all of the support (lodging, gas stations, dining, vehicle repairs, medical, etc.) and sight-seeing information needed to have a safe, comfortable and informative journey. It details this information on mile-by-mile basis which allows the traveler to know the joys and potential hazards of the trip. It also provides this same detail for all of the major roads that lead to and from the Alaska Highway - within NW Canada and throughout Alaska. Also a necessary reference for the traveler who flys to Alaska and rents a car in Anchorage or Fairbanks. It also provides history and trivia of many of the little towns in the Alaska Wilderness. Alaska adventurers should also consider getting the book, Discovering Denali if they are going to explore Denali National Park.

If you buy only one book before venturing to Alaska, buy the Milepost. For the budget traveller who is driving the Alaska highway or sailing on the Alaska Marine Highway, the book is absolutely essential. It gives detailed information about lodgings, ferry schedules, attractions, history and any other information the traveller needs including the location of gas stations on remote highways (very important if the nearest station is 90 miles away). It is updated yearly so the information is always current. The only problem with the Milepost is that it is phone book sized so it is not very portable. In fact, when I backpacked on the marine highway, I bought two copies of the milepost -- one to disassemble so I could take the relevant pages with me and one that I used to plan the trip and to enjoy reading when I returned home. If I travel to Alaska again, this is the only book I will buy.

To go to the exotic and wild and unusual world that is ALASKA you need two books, `MilePost' and `Looking for Alaska' by Peter Jenkins.

In order to get the fullness of ALASKA you must know where to drive, how far it is to the next gas station, what B&B to stay at that has cinnamon buns as big as the `moon' BUT you should also have a sense of the soul of ALASKA. The MilePost offers the practical and Looking For Alaska, Peter Jenkins'newest book offers you a glimpse of the soul and spirit of this astounding place that you need to see and touch and hear.

I cannot tell you how sad it is when one goes to a place so unusal as Alaska and misses the soul of the place and just stays in the practical.

It would be like going to New Orleans or Washington, DC or Navajo country and just having the roads to drive and the places to eat but not any understanding of the WHY, the WHO, the heart.

So take both of these fine books and you will have a richer journey for being well prepared.

This was our first trip on the Alaska Highway and the Milepost was a great help, not only did it give a complete description of road conditions, but it helped pass the time as we drove. Reading about the historicial happenings was great. I would recommend to anyone taking this trip to purchase the Milepost and enjoy a wonderful trip.

I read other reviews that said you could find the same or better info from local info centers. Maybe the same, but not better and not all in one spot. The Milepost is useful because you can see what is coming BEFORE you get there, not after... when you locate a tourist center and hope it is open. Very accurate from scenic overlooks, food & fuel, even construction locations. A good value especially buying well below Alaska local list from Amazon.

We just came back from 2000 miles of RVing in Alaska and were very pleased with the Milepost. I just wish we had bought it from Amazon ahead of time!

Don't think twice, buy it before you go! Of course, if you aren't driving and just sitting on a tour bus spend your money on the Lonely Planet guide instead.