July 16 – The Denali Highway

Last night we camped at Paxson Lake BLM Campground. We woke with high expectations to experience the Denali Highway. At one point the Denali Highway was the only way via vehicle to get to Denali National Park, but at some point, it was mostly forgotten when the Parks Highway from Anchorage to Fairbanks was completed. The Denali Highway is an East West two lane mostly gravel and stone and oil road that wanders through remote territory roughly 130 miles long.

We expected to complete the drive in one or two days enjoying the views (mostly rain and fog). Once we hit the Parks Highway we’d continue north to Fairbanks. About 80 miles from the eastern starting point and about 50 miles from the end point we lost an entire whee.l. It dropped off with the axel dragging on the ground. We were extremely fortunate that we were going through some potholes and moving at 5 to 10 mph. Nobody was hurt plus we were only 2 miles from a Roadhouse which consisted of a bar, gas, and a closed lodge. Seven of the first ten cars/trucks to pass by stopped and offered to help. I accepted a ride to the Roadhouse where the key resource they have is Internet! 

As I was waiting to contact a tow truck one of the owners went and picked up Marsha leaving the truck and camper on the roadside. As I write this it’s 6:30 pm and we are now both back at the truck and trailer waiting for the tow truck to arrive from Cantwell, fifty miles away. He expects to arrive between 7 and 7:30. We will be towed to an RV Campground in Cantwell then we’ll need to determine if there is a place to repair the axel. We expect to be without our travel trailer for an extended period. I’ll write more once we have a better idea.

The tow truck arrived at 7:04 and we were off loaded and in a campground in Cantwell. We jacked up the one side of the Airstream so we are somewhat level. Tonight we rest and tomorrow we start calling around to repair places north or south of us. Fairbanks is 150 north and Wasilla is 165 south. Hopefully, parts and the availability of someone to work on the trailer will happen. We’ll see.

In the meantime, we are in good spirits and look at this as just another part of our adventure.

Loaded onto the flatbed truck