Back Roads Western USA

Submitted: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 13:14

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Member - John Baas (WA)

Hi all, I'm thinking of scoping out an extended backroads trip from Mexico to Canada running west of the Rockies.

Can anyone advise on a good USA 4WD site that I could get some advice from pls?

Cheers.

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Reply By: Gone Bush (WA) - Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 13:40

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 13:40

Sorry I can't help with the website John, but I can certainly suggest some "must see" places.

Hearst Castle
Yosemite National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Custers Battlefield (the MOST inspirational place I've ever visited).

cheers, have a great time.

I'm glad I ain't too scared to be lazy
- Augustus McCrae (Lonesome Dove)

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Follow Up By: Member - John Baas (WA) - Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 16:59

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 16:59

Cheers Stephen.

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Follow Up By: rocco2010 - Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 17:45

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 17:45

Gidday

It is great to hear of somebody has been to Custer's battlefield. It has been on my to do list for years and when I mention it to people their eyes usually glaze over.

I got into the Indian side of the story years ago when i saw Little Big Man starring Dustin Hoffman as Jack Crabbe, the only white man to survive Custer's last stand (because he was on the Indian side), Very funny film and great book by Thomas Berger ... since then I have read a few more serious books about Custer and the West in general, helped by some great documentaries seen on SBS (The West, 1000 Nations).

The American west is a great story. I"ll keep Custer on my list.

Cheers

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Follow Up By: Gone Bush (WA) - Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 18:08

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 18:08

I encourage your visit.

Especially satisfying was sitting on the verandah of the Visitors' Centre, looking over the battlefield down to the Little Big Horn river while one of the Park Rangers recounted the story in some detail.

This is an interesting website:

The First People

Black Elk's narrative has a chapter about the battle at Little Big Horn.

I'm glad I ain't too scared to be lazy
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Reply By: Mick O - Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 14:17

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 14:17

When will you be there John? The GDEC crew will be out and about northern Canada and Alaska in mid 2012.

Send an MM to International members Scott and Gaby. They may well be able to advise.

Cheers Mick

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Follow Up By: Member - John Baas (WA) - Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 17:00

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 17:00

Thanks for that Mick; probably 2012 if it is do-able budget-wise. Thanks for the tip.

Cheers.

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Reply By: Old Dave - Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 14:24

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 14:24

Hi John

I found this site goodhttp://www.autotoursusa.com/en/

regards Dave

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Follow Up By: Member - John Baas (WA) - Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 17:01

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 17:01

Excellent Dave, thanks.

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Reply By: Member - DickyBeach - Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 15:46

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 15:46

John,

You could try Road Trip America, and an interesting book on back roads is "Blue Highways" written by a native American, William Least Heat-Moon.

Admittedly it was written in 1978 so a lot may have changed since then but it is, nonetheless, a good read.

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Follow Up By: Member - John Baas (WA) - Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 17:02

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 17:02

Thanks DB.

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Reply By: Member - Witchdoctor - Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 16:42

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 16:42

John,

Have a look at this site, great bunch of people with loads of info.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/

Cheers
David

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Follow Up By: Member - John Baas (WA) - Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 17:03

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 17:03

That looks good David, thanks.

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Reply By: snoopyone - Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 17:54

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 17:54

Just read a Bill Bryson book on smalltown USA and he said that Custers last stand was the most uninspiring place he visited in the state its in.

However he seems singularly unimpressed about lots of places.

Maybe tongue in cheek but sometimes I wonder why he goes anywhere.

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Reply By: peterll - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 02:08

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 02:08

Hi John,

I'm an expat who lives in Calgary, Canada. I have been up and down the US coast a few times and back home to here . I often take friends who come over on the trip up to Dawson on the Yukon ( a round of golf on the Top of the Word golf course is fun as well as short stops at Chicken and Eagle) and over to Fairbanks and back down into BC (British Columbia)

Just a a real rough guidline.. Calgary to Dawson , couple of days there then over to Fairbanks and wander down through BC and back to Calgary can be done comfortably in about 10 days.

RV parks / motels etc are reasonably cheap.

If you come in August expect to encounter the 40 ft tandem axel Rv driven by an 80 year old heading back south from Alaska. They do not require any other licence than a car licence. $500k worth of vehicle and doubtful drivers. It can be fun on the major roads and nightmare on back roads when you encounter those guys.

Dont even think about coming in February-March. Driving the ice road might sound fun but I assure you it is "interesting" to say the least.

Oregon, Washington are very pretty with the forests and tall trees etc. Some good camp grounds with excellent guides in some places. And yes, there are some unsealed backroads but nothing like that found in outback Australia.

By the time you think of hitting the road prices will obviously be different to now for petrol (gas). Here it is currently gone through the roof at $1.25 a litre.

And as Mick O has suggested a couple of the people who tour Oz with him are also out and about over here.

If I can help please let me know.

Peterll

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Follow Up By: peterll - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 02:12

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 02:12

I should have read your post better.

DO NOT think of driving in Mexico Especially central to western/northern areas. Please read travel warnings put out by DFAT and Canada / US authorities.

If you like the thought of crossing Mexico off your bucket list then fly to the bigger resorts and even then check them out well.

Just my two cents worth.

Peterll

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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 18:56

Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 18:56

Hi Peter,

I have been asked to post a note requesting some info for a New Zealand friend, his email is nzrees@yahoo.com. He is chasing some info on the Ice Road and is jkeen to have a chat to you, if youo dont mind emailing him.

Regards and thanx