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          It seems like it took forever to get this revised but it has more pages, pictures, ideas, suggestions, and best of all, maps at the beginning of each chapter, so you can see specifically where you are going in that map.

          My last trip to Alaska was in the fall of 2007 but I have updated the information via the Internet to 2009. I have used stories from all five trips but I have dated them so you are aware. Some of the towns have grown and I think Anchorage has gotten much bigger with more traffic and people but basically when you get beyond Anchorage and Fairbanks and Whitehorse, the places haven’t changed that much.

          The areas where the roads are good, they basically have always been good but a lot of them still have a roller-coaster type surface that requires you definitely drive “according to conditions.” If you “hotdog” it through Canada and Alaska, I can almost guarantee you will have problems. If you drive with a certain  amount of common sense, you will probably not have any major problems. Can’t totally promise you because you can break something on the roads in the Lower 48 as well. It’s the luck of the draw!

          I have been up there in spring, summer, and fall plus early enough and late enough to experience some of their winter weather. Actually, I’d love to go up for a couple of weeks during the winter but I probably won’t do that.

          Yes, fuel is expensive but it isn’t any different than any other trip these days, take your time, enjoy each place and the people. While the tours and special trips on boats or planes are expensive, there is plenty to enjoy just driving or hiking. One of the  new activities in this edition is about riding a Segway. I wasn’t sure I could do it but it wasn’t that hard and I loved it.

            At any rate, if you are planning a terrific trip to Alaska and I hope you are, take either edition of my AK books with you as incentive to try new activities and or routes.  Above all, drink in all that is around you and enjoy!