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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 5, 2016 - 09:35am PT
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I know there are some Alaska folks on this site, so I figured I'd ask. Tinkering with the notion of taking the wife and kids up there for a week or so around Labor Day before school starts. The typical Seward Peninsula and then RV to Denali type trip. However, I've heard that August/Sept. can be kind of rainy up there (as compared to June and July). I know weather is fickle, and I don't mind some wet weather, but I'm not really psyched to go that far camp/hike for a week in the rain. Thoughts?
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Fossil climber
Trad climber
Atlin, B. C.
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Ordinarily the end of August/early September are prime times in terms of color. the tundra turns into a Persian carpet. It's stunning if you hit it right. Denali is at its best then.
You'll just have to take a chance on weather. I've driven up from northern BC several times just to see the color, going up to Dawson and across the Top of the World Highway, then into Denali on the Denali "Highway". I've had good luck over the years.
I lived in Denali for 5 years, but still can't get enough of that autumn tundra.
However, that's hunting season too. As you drive Alaska roads you'll be stunned at the hordes of pickups pulling trailers full of quads and enough armament to take over Syria, and enough people wearing camo to keep Cabella's in business for years.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Fossill, you left out the best reason to go in late Aug - the skeeters are on their last legs,
if not actually gone in some places in some years! WOOT! YMMV
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Weather in south central Alaska was never particularly predictable. There used to be some "trends"
Not anymore. Winter is generally colder than Summer..hmm..but not always.
I would say maybe 20% chance of a full week of mostly rain and a 95%+ chance of some rain.
That is a truly beautiful time of year as Fossil mentioned.
Rain in Southcentral tends to be drizzly vs downpour.
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - May 5, 2016 - 10:31am PT
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Terrific. Thanks guys. I had a feeling about the mosquitos, but didn't think I'd get any fall colors that early. Worth some rain for that alone.
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AKDOG
Mountain climber
Anchorage, AK
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Fall weather in Alaska is a crap shoot, most likely get some rain and possibly some termination dust up on the peaks, but great colors and the summer crowds are gone. Still need to watch out for bears
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cyndiebransford
climber
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
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I think this is one of the best times of year to travel in Alaska. The temps will be cooling down and as was mentioned the mosquitoes will be mostly gone. Some chance of snow at higher elevations, but not a snow dump. Plus all the Alaskan kids are back in school. It is hunting time so be careful if you go in the back country.
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - May 5, 2016 - 01:12pm PT
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Thanks Cyndie. Question about the hunting thing. My youngest is only 5, so we'll mostly be sticking to stuff that's pretty close to the road. Not an issue in Denali of course, but we might hike up toward the Exit Glacier, and other accessible trails between Seward and Anchorage. Any place in particular we need to worry about? I've got a place in the Southern Sierra, and I don't take the kids out hiking much in the fall just for that reason.
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cyndiebransford
climber
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
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Hunting won't be a problem at Exit Glacier. That is a great hike with kids. Lots of hunters in the Denali area, not inside the park boundaries but on public lands all around that area, off the paved roads. If you are coming out to Homer stop in Cooper Landing and hike the Russian River Falls trail out of the Russian River campground, another kid friendly hike. Seward, Homer and Denali pretty much close up shop after Labor Day, not as many tourist amenities. If you plan on going on a glacier cruise I highly recommend going out of Whittier. The water is calmer so less chance of sea sickness. You might want to check out the Northern Lights Two for One Coupon book that is sold here. Google it and see if it is worth buying. I hope you have a wonderful trip.
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Fossil climber
Trad climber
Atlin, B. C.
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If you have time and funds and the weather is perfect and the air not bumpy, do a charter flight around Denali. Just simply awesome. Absolutely worth it.
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - May 5, 2016 - 08:28pm PT
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Was planning on both a cruise and a Denali flight, weather permitting. Going to try to do the Ruth Glacier landing. Closest I'll get to Mt. Huntington, Moose's Tooth, etc., at this stage in my life. Thanks much for the suggestions.
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F
climber
away from the ground
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Hatcher Pass climbing is perfect in August. No bugs. Warm days, cool nights, berries are in. That is if you want to do some climbing and not just driving around in an RV burning gas where everybody else congregates.
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tolman_paul
Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
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Any time it's too warm to snow it could be raining ;)
The weather varies so much year to year and day to day that I've completely given up on trying to figure out what "typical" weather is. August can be tee shirt weather or monsoon weather and that can be a t-shirt one day and full on rain gear the next. I'd say the past ~8 years that time of year likely half the days will be nice and half will have some rain which will mostly be intermittent drizzle.
The fall colors in Denali are amazing, but plenty of colors around Anchorage on down to Seward, Kenai and Homer.
Schools in AK start in mid August so you won't be contending with the locals mid-week.
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Brian in SLC
Social climber
Salt Lake City, UT
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Silvers might be running....!
Early fall is a great time up there.
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - May 6, 2016 - 01:18pm PT
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Paul, terrific photos.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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They charge a lot extra for the Ruth Glacier landing. Not worth it IMHO.
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| Messages 1 - 17 of total 17 in this topic |
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