NJ To Alaska In My YARIS

[bronsin]

Im in th3 process of driving to Alaska in my Yaris. The picture shows how and what Im carrying. In no particular order is: a box for clothes. a box for food and food related things like hot plate and stove, a box for personel effects, a cooler, a water jug, a folding chair, two spare tires, a floor bicycle pump (for flats on the Dalton Highway) paper towels and windexto keep the windows clear for the mindblowing scenery, and a spare bottle of winshield washer fluid. And there is more! I also got a tent, sleeping bad and jumbo delux monster sleeping pad in there.

But I forgot my pillow.


I am in St Cloud Minnesota 1400 miles into the trip.

[PETERPOOP]

wow.

[fnkngrv]

I think that you will have the title for longest haul. I drove from the top of Maine to central Alabama last fall and also from Minnesota to Maine when I bought the car back in 06. You should be enjoying not having to fill up too often!

[bronsin]

It was like this in central Montana today:

[wanako]

my God... there's nothing out there. I'm surprised there's even roads.

[PETERPOOP]

That's beautiful. I wish I could do what you are doing!

[R2D2]

+1!!!

[silver_echo]

the last time that i got pulled over, was in montana, on a road like that... amazing how much your speed will creep up on that type of road... oops...

[2009BBPliftback]

Sounds like an amazing adventure you should snap some pics of the car and that amazing scenery. No posting while driving:biggrin:

[malibuguy]

i'm moving to montana

wow

[puetato89]

looks like we have a new drag strip with a roller coaster ending lol, looks gorgeous! and btw this takes guts

[Zaphod]

Oh man, I'm on my way to Montana tomorrow. That's some pretty scenery.

I can't wait ...

[bronsin]

Wait move to BC. Mindblowing scenery there.

[yarisugi]

Is that Listerine?
Glad you got good hygeine. :)

Breathtaking views!

[Idahotom]

Great pics, real high quality too! And, you still have the best part coming up, think IMAX movie, you ain't seen nothing yet!

[fluke_boy]

Please keep posting pics of your drive/trip along the way. As for the pillow you forgot - just buy one from somewhere along your trip. Good luck and safe driving.

[rningonfumes]

Good luck Big Guy! Definitely Keep us updated!

[DebbyM46227]

Beautiful pics! Have a safe trip! BTW I was wondering if your butt is sore yet? I don't think I could do a road trip in a Yaris. A few weeks ago my rear was sore from driving only 200 miles.

[bronsin]

Beautiful pics! Have a safe trip! BTW I was wondering if your butt is sore yet? I don't think I could do a road trip in a Yaris. A few weeks ago my rear was sore from driving only 200 miles.

It is Day 7 and i am in the Yukon. There are almosy 5000 miles on the ODo since I left. Thats an avg of 700 miles a day.

I am very comphy in my Yaris!

PS getting 44-46 mpg at 60-65 mph too!

Sorry cant do pic today Im using a motels computer and cant download them from my camera.

Maybe tomorrow?

[Kal-El]

Nothing like a long road trip! :thumbup:

The Yaris is the perfect car for it too.

I did MA to TN and back last year, had a great time. At 6'1", I was totally comfortable too.

[LA Yaris]

^+1

[dmfang]

wow! that's an impressive drive. The pics are beautiful - keep us posted!

[bronsin]

More Pictures. Im in Fairbanks.

[Kal-El]

Great pics! :w00t:

[MickZEL]

Looks like Russia

[WeeYari]

I need me a couple of these guys to deal with some rabbits.

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42547&stc=1&d=1309094691

[bronsin]

Looks like Russia


Its northern Alaska. Close.

[MadMax]

Wow, you're on an adventure of a lifetime!

I'm heading up to Anchorage in a few weeks, but we're only flying up for a week. I know the scenery won't be as nice as what you are experiencing!

Be safe and continue to send updates with pics!

Cheers! M2

[bronsin]

Now in Carmacks Yukon 6300 on the ODO so far.

[mazilla]

Wow, you're on an adventure of a lifetime!

I'm heading up to Anchorage in a few weeks, but we're only flying up for a week. I know the scenery won't be as nice as what you are experiencing!

Be safe and continue to send updates with pics!

Cheers! M2


That's the awesome part, it is as nice. In Alaska if it's not paved or has a building on it it's probably forest. This applies to the city as well.


OP..stay on your toes for moose, in a Yaris you'll likely be killed if you hit one at speed. Their long legs put them at the right height to come right in through your windshield.


Seeing you pics is making me long to go back up. What is your destination point in AK?

[Hershey]

Thanks for the great pics . See any U.F.O.s yet ? Alaska is known for those . :eek:

[bronsin]

near ft nelson bc.

many bears and buffalo today

[fluke_boy]

Wow. Grizzlys.

[aucorium]

wow , thanks for sharing , thats quite a trip !!

[TOLMACH]

It is Day 7 and i am in the Yukon. There are almosy 5000 miles on the ODo since I left. Thats an avg of 700 miles a day.

I am very comphy in my Yaris!

PS getting 44-46 mpg at 60-65 mph too!

Sorry cant do pic today Im using a motels computer and cant download them from my camera.

Maybe tomorrow?

Nice fuel efficiency. Your yaris is automatic transmission, right?

[bronsin]

Yes auto

80 mph = 32-34 mpg

60 mph = 42-44 mpg


Im happy!

[TOLMACH]

thanks

[bronsin]

Pictures are from a helicopter ride over Canmore BC.The Canadian Rockies.

[LA Yaris]

^Vary Nice !

[cruz-gsr]

^+1

that trip looks awesome

[SilverBack]

Amazing journey!

[bronsin]

I am back at home in NJ.

1200 mile 20 hour non stop drive from St Paul MN on the last leg.

What a good way to get the bugs off the front end?

Take your time and think about it. I cant wash it until ALL my friends see it.

[bronsin]

more pics

[rapev-8]

good job, i wish i could do that :)

[bronsin]

Oh.

My suggestion to people thinking of doing this trip.

Take the front passenger and rear seats out and build a level platorm so you can sleep in the car. It should be possible. Accomodations are few and far between and EXPENSIVE. Like $100+ a night IF you can find them. Self contained is the way to go...

[Hershey]

Good to see all went well for you and your YARIS . Thanks for the great pictures .

[bronsin]

Thanks. And after I go throught all the pictures and edit them I'll probably post some more...

[ryota]

I am back at home in NJ.

1200 mile 20 hour non stop drive from St Paul MN on the last leg.

What a good way to get the bugs off the front end?

Take your time and think about it. I cant wash it until ALL my friends see it.




It looks like you got something black all over the top of your car! What an awesome trip and great pictures. I love the Yaris for road trips!!!

[fluke_boy]

What a dirrrrrty, dirrrty little car. lol

$100 per night for a bed?! Yikes!! WTF!! But if you elect to sleep inside your car what about a grizzly nosing around outside your car? Where can you pull over that's safe? Why the hell are they charging so much for a room up there? That IS a bummer.

[bronsin]

What a dirrrrrty, dirrrty little car. lol

$100 per night for a bed?! Yikes!! WTF!! But if you elect to sleep inside your car what about a grizzly nosing around outside your car? Where can you pull over that's safe? Why the hell are they charging so much for a room up there? That IS a bummer.

In Alaska the going rate is nearly $200 a night. Everybody stays in their RV on the side if the road. But then they have to buy gas! Alaska is $4 a gallon. But northern Canada is $7 a gallon!

My advice is sleep in the outhouses on the side of the road. There are few people around. They are cast concrete painted brown. Bear proof. If you find a new one its clean inside. Also big enough for a sleeping bag and pad.

[mazilla]

What a dirrrrrty, dirrrty little car. lol

$100 per night for a bed?! Yikes!! WTF!! But if you elect to sleep inside your car what about a grizzly nosing around outside your car? Where can you pull over that's safe? Why the hell are they charging so much for a room up there? That IS a bummer.


That's what guns are for. :thumbsup:

[malibuguy]

i would absolutely love to do this one day...i actually been planning to do so before i bought the yaris...i was planning on doing it in my old '06 xB...

this is wonderful motivation to really go do this in a year or two

[bronsin]

Some more pictures now that Im at work again.

[bronsin]

Is that Listerine?
Glad you got good hygeine. :)

Breathtaking views!

You got it. I left it in my last motel room though.

[Thirty-Nine]

Amazing stuff. You should be given a medal for doing the trip in a Yaris!

[bronsin]

It was a no brainer. 40mpg = a reprieve from high gas prices. Although I spent 10-12 hours a day driving (and have a bad back) I was always comfortable.

Finally I was always able to rely on the Yaris to work and perform whatever was asked of it. It was money in the bank.

[digitalrain]

Wow what an awesome roadie trip!! You should have done some filming for a commercial or something. Those pics from the copter are cool. Did you just pay a guide to take you up on a tour?? I'd love to be up there for a little tour of the Rockies. THX for taking the time to post this cool trip!

[Revsson]

Hey, there's a post trip thought:
He could have mounted an HD camera(s) and taken video of the trip for some future commercial purpose (Toyota promotion or tourism ad or political ad).
That would have paid for the trip. :wink:

Nice going bronsin! :clap:
Looking forward to hearing more about the experience such as total cost,
gas mileage, upsides and downsides, etc.

Welcome back :coolpics:

[bronsin]

Hey, there's a post trip thought:
He could have mounted an HD camera(s) and taken video of the trip for some future commercial purpose (Toyota promotion or tourism ad or political ad).
That would have paid for the trip. :wink:

Nice going bronsin! :clap:
Looking forward to hearing more about the experience such as total cost,
gas mileage, upsides and downsides, etc.

Welcome back :coolpics:

Thats been done so often theres prolly no commercial prospect.

Now...if the travler could arrange to vid his being eaten by bears now THAT might find ready buyers!

[bronsin]

Total cost: $3100 for 16 days = $193/day (thats almost all gas and motel)

Gas in US: $3.59-$3.80/gallon

Gas in Canada: $1.13-$1.69/liter (Canadian $ which cost $1.05-$1.10 US)

Gas cost in Canada@$1.69/liter = $6.31/gallon Canadian + 65 cents for exchange rate = $6.96 American

Gas usage/day @ 80 mph @ 34 mpg for 700 miles = ~20 gallons (typical of US travel on freeway)

Gas usage/day @ 65 mph @ 44mpg for 600 miles = ~13 gallons (typical of Canadian travel on 2 lane highway)

Motel room, US: $33-$50/night

Motel room, Canada: $75-$120/night

Motel room, Fairbanks AK: $179-$200/night

Can of spam $5

Can of beans (large) $1.50

upside - awesome experience

downside - $$$$!

Everybody says "You could have flown and rented a car for less!" It would NOT have been the same and I doubt it would have been much less.

airline ticket NJ to Fairbanks, round trip, $750 (?)

car rental, two weeks, (in AK) $500

gas for car, 2000 miles @ 25 mpg (good luck renting a Yaris in AK!) = 80 gallons @ $4 gallon = $320

motel, two weeks, AK, ($179 X 13) ~ $2100

[henry33]

WOW what a scenery love it ;)

[fluke_boy]

1 can of spam and 1 can of large beans - too funny.

[bentjazz]

Love all the great pictures. Thanks for posting....

[bronsin]

The dead moose...

[fluke_boy]

Ouch. What about the vehicle that collided with said moose?

[bronsin]

I did not see that: I just came upon the dead animal. While i was stopped taking pictures, an elderly couple drove up. They saw only the back of the yaris and thought I had hit the moose! They had looks of horror on their faces because a collision with a moose is usually fatal.

But I gave them two thumbs up and they saw for themselves there was no dammage to my car and drove off.

[DMZ]

Epic thread. Thanks for posting it bronsin.

I wonder if I can get my wife to go with me to Yukon Territory, Kluane National Park?

[bronsin]

Geez from OR thats ~2000 miles or about 4 days away.

Not a problem!

[DMZ]

Geez from OR thats ~2000 miles or about 4 days away.

Not a problem!

Round trip, ~100 gallons of gas. I have the 2004 edition of Milepost. Hmmm.

[bronsin]

Round trip, ~100 gallons of gas. I have the 2004 edition of Milepost. Hmmm.

If you take the Yaris more like ~50 gallons.

Although in northern Canada be ready for $6-7 a gallon gas.

And you would get to drive the Cassiar Highway an added bonus.

[bronsin]

This is bronsin.

[fluke_boy]

Too awesome. You're at the Arctic Circle and you're wearing sandals, shorts and a t-shirt. Plus I've read somewhere that no trees grow beyond said Circle. I see trees in that picture.

[bronsin]

Yeah they definately got it wrong about the trees. Theres plenty of them. But at some point you will hit the tundra and there wont be any trees s there.

[nemelek]

Great road trip. Thinking of pulling the trailer to Alaska. Save on motels, however, at 12 mpg the cost of fuel would off set that.

[bronsin]

Self containment is a big thing given the cost and frequency of motels. Pull over spots are full of trailers/rv s everynight.

The 42-46 mpg I averaged in Canada was great in dealing with the $6-7 gallon gasoline. My suggestion? Remove the passanger and rear seat and make a sleeping area where they were. For one person that would be the ideal mileage beater and self contained arrangement.

[fatlard]

Congrats on the trip! Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience! I am glad that you were safe the whole trip.

[solarVitz]

Wow that is an awesome road trip. It kinda remind me when i moved from San Diego to NYC back in 95 on my 90 Civic 4door. I only drove it for 3 days though coz i dont have enough time to go sight seeing and i need to be at my new job. Hopefully when i do have a vacation I will do a another roadtrip to NYC on my yaris this time.

Thanks for sharing those wonderful pics. You sir is the Man. :thumbsup:

[MadMax]

Just got back from a week in Anchorage, it was very nice there but I only saw a handful of Yarii. Not sure I could live there, but it's a great place to visit!

Cheers! M2

[digitalrain]

Bronsin, where did you take the helicopter tour? Can you provide any info on where it is? How much it cost? How long the ride was for? That looks like a great way to see the Rockies!!!!

[auxmike]

Wow, you are a BRAVE man to do that ALONE!
No flats? No mechanical problems?:iono:
I would suggest an oil change, new air filter and cabin filter ASAP!

[bronsin]

Bronsin, where did you take the helicopter tour? Can you provide any info on where it is? How much it cost? How long the ride was for? That looks like a great way to see the Rockies!!!!


It was in Canmore Brittish Columbia. West of Calgary. Just drive into the town of Canmore and ask "Where are the helicopter rides?"

The ride was 25 minutes long and cost $230 with tax.

I forget the name of the business but it is a first class very professional establishment.

[bronsin]

Wow, you are a BRAVE man to do that ALONE!
No flats? No mechanical problems?:iono:
I would suggest an oil change, new air filter and cabin filter ASAP!

No flats no mechanical problems. I changed my oil in the parking lot of the Walmart in Fairbanks. Also checked the airfilter and it was OK> Problemwas, when I put the aircleaner back together I didnt get the wires to the Mass Afirflow Sensor back in place The cable got badly stretched. As I left the parking lot the engine would not go above idle and the CEL came on. I must have pulled the contacts in the connector apart. I quickly found the problem, re routed the wires corrctly, and all was well.

But there were a bad few minutes where I was 5200 miles from home with an engine that wasnt working!

[digitalrain]

Big thank you Bronsin for the posting your trip! It's inspired me to try a mini version to the Rockies. Gotta try the heli tour in Canmore I hope the end of Sept.

Also I hope to return to Banff to see Gordon Lightfoot at the Eric Harvie Theatre November 26, 2011 at the Banff Art Centre, best venue to ever see a concert at 'cept for maybe Massey Hall.

If you're riding down the freeway this song wokrs pretty good.
Carefree Highway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa9XVvMtBVk&feature=fvsr
peace bro

[SKurj]

Thanks for posting!

I've done Toronto to the west coast a couple of times on the bike, and would love to do Alaska. Your trip inspires me to consider doing it in the car first, not sure how I would feel after spending time up there though on the 17's with the tokico blues and tein springs though... Perhaps an idea to put the steelies on instead for a trip like that. (would help the mileage too)

I'm pencilling that in for next year...

[Kal-El]

Wow, you are a BRAVE man to do that ALONE!
No flats? No mechanical problems?:iono:
I would suggest an oil change, new air filter and cabin filter ASAP!

C'mon, this is the Yaris we're talking about...

:wink:

[bronsin]

This picture was taken in Carmacks...Yukon i believe. Its my American Yaris nect to a Canadian ECHO. Being both black I thought they were identical. But it looks like the one they made for Canada used parts from a different bin or something...

Forgot all about it. Cant believe I didnt post it before.

[digitalrain]

Bronsin, I think the Echo would be a 1st gen Yaris. I`m not sure if the Echo was sold in Stateside or not.
I don`t think they could give them away when the price of gas was so low back then. Now it`s just a smarter way to go.

[bronsin]

Do you know what year the ECHO in the picture is?

To me it looks like a cross between the old ECHO sold in the States from 00-05 and a Yaris.

Like the assembly lines got mixed up!

The headlites on the Yaris are too large and look weird.

They are just right on the ECHO.

[Kal-El]

Yeah, that's a first generation Yaris (Vitz). Called the Echo for Canada. The US got the sedan version only, also called the Echo.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/2003-2005_Toyota_Echo_%28NCP10R%29_3-door_hatchback_%282010-12-28%29.jpg/800px-2003-2005_Toyota_Echo_%28NCP10R%29_3-door_hatchback_%282010-12-28%29.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/2004_Toyota_Echo_%28NCP12R%29_sedan_01.jpg/800px-2004_Toyota_Echo_%28NCP12R%29_sedan_01.jpg

Echo sedan for the US..

http://www.shop1auto.com.au/Images%20vehicles/Toyota/Echo_sedan.jpg

[auxmike]

I wish we would have gotten the old Echo hatchback, the sedan is way boring....

[bronsin]

Some more pictures.

[bronsin]

bump

[bentjazz]

Love all the great pics. Gives me renewed confidence in my Yaris.
How much mileage do you now have on your Yaris, bronsin?

[bronsin]

~28,000. Next month will be three years since I bought the car.

During the trips there were times when I didnt see another car for hours. There werent a lot of other people on the road period. It was great driving the Yaris I didnt worry a bit about having a problem!

About 1500 miles after I got back the waterpump started leaking!:bonk::bonk:

[bentjazz]

Didn't see another car for hours? Must have been wonderful. It's my goal in life to move somewhere with lots of open space and a low population density.
Out of all the places you went, do you have a favorite?

[Chuck G]

That area's my favorite!
Here's a great link with some cool cams.
http://www.canmorealberta.com/webcams/main-street

[J_Lynn]

That is so crazy!! What a BEAUTIFUL trip!!!

And you only have 28k on your Yaris after 3 years?! You don't drive much .... like, at all .... my 2010 has 55k on it already LOL

[The Limo]

70% of Canadians live within 160 Km (100 miles) of the U.S. border, so once you are passed that (except in a few places) the population starts to thin out quickly. Then it is just pristine wilderness up to the North Pole.
Roy

[bronsin]

Didn't see another car for hours? Must have been wonderful. It's my goal in life to move somewhere with lots of open space and a low population density.
Out of all the places you went, do you have a favorite?

Yes most definately. Get a Rand Mcnally Road Atlas and look just to the west of Calgary. There is a thin grey line of a road labeled Route 40. It says "closed in winter". It runs into Route 93 which itself runs between Jasper and Banff. Spectacular scenery along this road.

Alas low density populated areas have their own stressfull things about them. People there want nothing more than life in the big city. People in the big city want life in the boonies.

I guess we need a little of each?

[bronsin]

That is so crazy!! What a BEAUTIFUL trip!!!

And you only have 28k on your Yaris after 3 years?! You don't drive much .... like, at all .... my 2010 has 55k on it already LOL

I have only ~3000 miles on the Yaris since I got back in July. I just drive 6.5 miles to work and ditto back. About half the time Im riding my motorcycle, seen below.

This summer if all goes well I will be riding the motorcycle to AK and back.

[bronsin]

That area's my favorite!
Here's a great link with some cool cams.
http://www.canmorealberta.com/webcams/main-street

In Canmore there is a helicopter business which offer spectacular rides around the mountains. $239 for a 25 minute trip that will blow your mind.

[bronsin]

bump!

[nookandcrannycar]

bump!

Glad you did! I love Canmore...first place I stayed in Alberta. Used it as a springboard for 1 day trip to Lake Louise and 2 day trips (IIRC) to Banff....also to other nearby locally known points of interest, and also the town itself. Didn't get to do the helicopter ride though! When I left, I wanted to go next to Jasper but had to wait (a week? can't remember) to get a campground reservation. Spent the interim going to Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton.... then to Jasper. While in Jasper, took a day trip to the Columbia Icefield/Athabasca Glacier.

[bronsin]

Awesome place! Hope to return someday.

Next time take the helicopter ride in Canmore!

[nookandcrannycar]

Awesome place! Hope to return someday.

Likewise


Next time take the helicopter ride in Canmore!

Will Do!

[yougojay]

Never get tired of this thread when it comes around, the photos are awesome.
Bronsin, The photos make nice wallpaper, they are fantastic. Hope you feel better after the accident soon. Don't like knowing you're in pain. Really appreciate the photos, they are so beautiful. :thumbsup:

[bronsin]

Glad you like "em.

Dont worry Im not in any pain. I just have to avoid being in any pain.

[nookandcrannycar]

Never get tired of this thread when it comes around, the photos are awesome.
Bronsin, The photos make nice wallpaper, they are fantastic. Hope you feel better after the accident soon. Don't like knowing you're in pain. Really appreciate the photos, they are so beautiful. :thumbsup:

+1 ^^^^^ Ditto :thumbsup:.

[nookandcrannycar]

:laugh: ^^ posted at the same time (welll...you must have been a second ahead).

[yougojay]

Glad you like "em.

Dont worry Im not in any pain. I just have to avoid being in any pain.
Very Good...:thumbup:

[yougojay]

:laugh: ^^ posted at the same time (well...you must have clicked a second earlier).
The wonders of the internet never cease to amaze me...!:laughabove:

[MUSKOKA800]

Glad to see some other Yaris drivers unafraid to leave city limits. Drive it!

[X92Festy]

Holy Moly.......I thought my trip was long, but mama! Thats some serious driving.
My trip was over 4600 miles/yeah forty six hundred, all by my lonesome. Drove from Portland, Oregon to International Falls, Mn to see all my siblings and family. Never burned a drop of oil....car has only 57k on it......no issues with heat although it reached 106 degrees coming through eastern WA.....It was very comfortable and I'm 6' 2" at 215 lbs. MPGs were awesome....ranged from 36-43 and my speed range was usually 70-75mph. Great cars, just one thing: Cruise control is a beautiful thing. I don't have it, but would have loved it at times. Can you say LEG CRAMP!......but like anything, just adjust to it and you're fine.
And I was inspired by the guy that has over 500,000 miles on his Yaris.....dang thats some serious stuff. Most of his maintenance was at or around 400k......nuff said.

Go YARIS!

[bronsin]

CT Scott has a cruise control mod that cost me $10 in parts for my 2009. Check it out!

Cramps are caused by not drinking enough water. I always keep a bottle in the door pocket and fill it up in the bathroom every gas stop.

Yes 500,000 miles is impressive but doesnt mean us 3ooo milers a year are going to get it with so few problems. You have to drive like 400 miles a day year in and year out to get that...