Trek to Alaska’s Capital Daunting for Lawmakers : Juneau: Getting there by way of air and ferry holds Arctic chills and thrills for those who attempt it.

The annual commute for Alaska legislators who insist on driving to the state capital is an Arctic wilderness adventure, two or three days of travel in subzero temperatures over icy, twisting roads.

“I feel fortunate every time I make it down here,” said state Rep. Ron Larson of Palmer. “You never know what could happen. You could drive into a ditch, you could get caught in snow in one of the passes.”

Juneau, on the rugged coast of southeastern Alaska, is accessible only by plane or the state ferry.

Upstate lawmakers who wanted to have their cars during the annual 121-day legislative session in January had to drive the Alaska Highway into Canada’s southwestern Yukon. From there, they took the Haines Highway south through the northwestern tip of British Columbia to Haines, Alaska, to catch a ferry for the five-hour sail to Juneau.

The drive from Anchorage, the state’s largest city, is nearly 800 miles.

Juneau’s isolation has been an issue in attempts to move the capital to the Anchorage area. An initiative petition to move the capital to Wasilla, northeast of Anchorage, was submitted to state elections officials earlier this month.

Capital-move bills also are pending, but legislative leaders say they would rather avoid the issue this session and leave it to voters to decide through a ballot measure.

State Rep. Bill Hudson of Juneau says that even if the capital were moved north, it would still be relatively far from many Alaskans. And it would not be worth the economic havoc it would cause Juneau, where nearly 15% of the residents are state employees, he said.

January is perhaps the worst month for driving Alaska’s roads. Daylight lasts only five or six hours, and temperatures in Alaska’s interior and the Yukon can dip to 60 below.

Services are few and far between on the two-lane highways. A breakdown can prove fatal if a motorist is unprepared for the cold.

Most lawmakers spend the night in remote Destruction Bay, Yukon, after an all-day drive from Anchorage or Fairbanks. They often travel in convoys for safety.

State Rep. Mark Hanley of Anchorage and two legislative aides traveled in a three-car convoy. Despite the ice and snow, they drove a steady 70 m.p.h.

“It’s crazy,” Hanley said. “These trips become an annual race to get to Destruction Bay before night. We’re going 70 in the dark and snow. I mean, even on a four-lane highway in the daytime I don’t go 70 miles an hour.”

But there’s a reason for hurrying to Destruction Bay. The only place to eat and sleep is the Talbot Arms roadhouse, and the kitchen closes at 9 p.m.

There’s camaraderie and fun along the way.

“It’s a nice vacation for three days,” said state Rep. Terry Martin of Anchorage. “You’re away from everything.”

Lawmakers and aides swap road stories: Repairs at 40 below. Missing a crucial cutoff. Scraping ice from the windshield--on the inside. Cars in a convoy blindly following the lead vehicle off the road.

For some lawmakers, the road from Destruction Bay through the Wrangell-St. Elias Pass to Haines is worth the dangers just for the scenery.

“Just the most beautiful four hours of driving you could imagine,” said state Rep. Cynthia Toohey of Anchorage.

For those who don’t share her opinion, flying into Juneau in winter is no treat, either.

Bev Long, a state Senate aide, tried to fly to Juneau earlier this month and ended up going to Seattle, back to Anchorage and then to Sitka before her plane could land in Juneau.