June 6, 2008
Some Post-Ride Thoughts, Factoids, and Recommendations in No Particular Order:
We took exactly 1,674 digital photographs on this journey. I have tried to describe our travels to the best of my ability given the time constraints available; still, if I showed you each and every photograph and described every event, observation and feeling in detail, you will only have barely sampled the Alaska experience. It is something that you have to experience for yourself.
Interestingly, the number of motorcycles encountered on the Alaskan Highway between the official start at Dawson Creek, and the official end, Delta Junction, far exceeded the number of cars, trucks, motor homes and fifth wheel trailers put together. Apparently, either the excessively high gas prices have forced travelers to a more economical form of transportation, or like us, the Alaska-bound traveler who has shunned the cruise line experience for the open road, believes that the best way to absorb the total Alaskan experience is on the seat of a motorcycle. I couldn’t agree more.
There were for the most part only two makes of motorcycles encountered on the Alaskan Highway, full-dress (Electra Glide, Road Glide and Road King) Harley Davidson’s and BMW’s, mostly the R1200 GS and earlier enduro-types. There was also a smattering of Kawasaki KLR’s.
Surprisingly, we were amazed by the number of bicyclists riding the 1,500 mile long Alaskan Highway. There were sunscreen and Deet soaked couples on tandem bikes, individuals riding in small groups, lone riders, and an inordinate number of college-age lone females. I would not recommend this route for lone female riders. This country is just too remote and fraught with hazards to be riding a bicycle alone. The locals tell me that the bears really appreciate the lone bicycle riders. They consider them "Meals on Wheels."
If planning to stay in hotels or motels along the way, I recommend securing a reservation at your intended destination by no later than 1800 hours (6:00 PM) each day. Although much we have read indicates that getting a room is not a problem, we found that each town and city in Alaska oftentimes has events scheduled through out the summer months, wherein the limited number of hotel rooms quickly fills up. The weekend we were in Anchorage, the largest city, nearly every room was booked. So, plan ahead and get a bed.
If you are contemplating this, or a similar ride, talk to someone who has done it before. It will pay dividends and save you time, money and grief. If you don’t know anyone who has ridden the Alaska Highway, you are welcome to contact me at: jevander@sbcglobal.net.
Make or use an established check list for things to bring on your trip. You don’t want to get a thousand miles from home only to find you left your camera at home. I’ve provided my check list at the end of this post that worked well for us. Feel free to use it, add to it, or delete things as needed.
Make a tentative but flexible plan before you leave for where you want to go, and what you want to see and do. We averaged riding about 350 miles per day and still had time to see a lot of interesting sights.
Don’t plan an Alaskan adventure ride without purchasing a copy of the “Milepost,” book available on line at http://www.themilepost.com/ or at http://www.amazon.com/. It describes various routes to Alaska from the lower 48, mile by mile, including tourist attractions, hotels, campgrounds, and the availability of gas. We used copies of the included “Milepost” maps, which I laminated against the weather. They were dead-on accurate and very detailed.
Speaking of gas, we carried extra gas, but never had to use it. Gas stations are pretty evenly spaced along the Alaskan Highway, about every 90 miles to 150 miles, or so, some more frequently. However, not all stations carry premium gas. Be prepared to use 87 octane, or add octane booster, not readily available en route.
If you are a new, inexperienced or less experienced rider, and not intimately familiar with your motorcycle and its handling characteristics, including how it handles in the rain, I strongly recommend that you do not attempt this ride. The chances of you getting injured and/or your motorcycle getting wrecked are very good. The good news is that you probably won't get lost as long as you stay on the paved roads, there are not that many.
Even as experienced riders we were initially intimidated by the frequent gravel breaks in the highways, some miles long and others only a few yards across. Oftentimes, we slowed to 20 mph to cross them. After doing this for a couple of weeks, I don’t know if it was a case of “familiarity breeds contempt,” or we just got used to them, but on the return trip we were blasting through the gravel breaks at 60 mph. My rationalization was that the faster I went the better my two gyro stabilizers (wheels) steadied my ride in the gravel, probably faulty thinking, but whatever the reason, it turned out alright. Just be careful.
A word about mosquitoes, the "Alaska State Bird," I’m somewhat allergic to mosquito bites and they stick with me for a week to ten days, itching miserably all the time. So, to say that I was concerned about having to deal with the miserable little creatures for three weeks is an understatement.
Some Post-Ride Thoughts, Factoids, and Recommendations in No Particular Order:
We took exactly 1,674 digital photographs on this journey. I have tried to describe our travels to the best of my ability given the time constraints available; still, if I showed you each and every photograph and described every event, observation and feeling in detail, you will only have barely sampled the Alaska experience. It is something that you have to experience for yourself.
Interestingly, the number of motorcycles encountered on the Alaskan Highway between the official start at Dawson Creek, and the official end, Delta Junction, far exceeded the number of cars, trucks, motor homes and fifth wheel trailers put together. Apparently, either the excessively high gas prices have forced travelers to a more economical form of transportation, or like us, the Alaska-bound traveler who has shunned the cruise line experience for the open road, believes that the best way to absorb the total Alaskan experience is on the seat of a motorcycle. I couldn’t agree more.
There were for the most part only two makes of motorcycles encountered on the Alaskan Highway, full-dress (Electra Glide, Road Glide and Road King) Harley Davidson’s and BMW’s, mostly the R1200 GS and earlier enduro-types. There was also a smattering of Kawasaki KLR’s.
Surprisingly, we were amazed by the number of bicyclists riding the 1,500 mile long Alaskan Highway. There were sunscreen and Deet soaked couples on tandem bikes, individuals riding in small groups, lone riders, and an inordinate number of college-age lone females. I would not recommend this route for lone female riders. This country is just too remote and fraught with hazards to be riding a bicycle alone. The locals tell me that the bears really appreciate the lone bicycle riders. They consider them "Meals on Wheels."
If planning to stay in hotels or motels along the way, I recommend securing a reservation at your intended destination by no later than 1800 hours (6:00 PM) each day. Although much we have read indicates that getting a room is not a problem, we found that each town and city in Alaska oftentimes has events scheduled through out the summer months, wherein the limited number of hotel rooms quickly fills up. The weekend we were in Anchorage, the largest city, nearly every room was booked. So, plan ahead and get a bed.
If you are contemplating this, or a similar ride, talk to someone who has done it before. It will pay dividends and save you time, money and grief. If you don’t know anyone who has ridden the Alaska Highway, you are welcome to contact me at: jevander@sbcglobal.net.
Make or use an established check list for things to bring on your trip. You don’t want to get a thousand miles from home only to find you left your camera at home. I’ve provided my check list at the end of this post that worked well for us. Feel free to use it, add to it, or delete things as needed.
Make a tentative but flexible plan before you leave for where you want to go, and what you want to see and do. We averaged riding about 350 miles per day and still had time to see a lot of interesting sights.
Don’t plan an Alaskan adventure ride without purchasing a copy of the “Milepost,” book available on line at http://www.themilepost.com/ or at http://www.amazon.com/. It describes various routes to Alaska from the lower 48, mile by mile, including tourist attractions, hotels, campgrounds, and the availability of gas. We used copies of the included “Milepost” maps, which I laminated against the weather. They were dead-on accurate and very detailed.
Speaking of gas, we carried extra gas, but never had to use it. Gas stations are pretty evenly spaced along the Alaskan Highway, about every 90 miles to 150 miles, or so, some more frequently. However, not all stations carry premium gas. Be prepared to use 87 octane, or add octane booster, not readily available en route.
If you are a new, inexperienced or less experienced rider, and not intimately familiar with your motorcycle and its handling characteristics, including how it handles in the rain, I strongly recommend that you do not attempt this ride. The chances of you getting injured and/or your motorcycle getting wrecked are very good. The good news is that you probably won't get lost as long as you stay on the paved roads, there are not that many.
Even as experienced riders we were initially intimidated by the frequent gravel breaks in the highways, some miles long and others only a few yards across. Oftentimes, we slowed to 20 mph to cross them. After doing this for a couple of weeks, I don’t know if it was a case of “familiarity breeds contempt,” or we just got used to them, but on the return trip we were blasting through the gravel breaks at 60 mph. My rationalization was that the faster I went the better my two gyro stabilizers (wheels) steadied my ride in the gravel, probably faulty thinking, but whatever the reason, it turned out alright. Just be careful.
A word about mosquitoes, the "Alaska State Bird," I’m somewhat allergic to mosquito bites and they stick with me for a week to ten days, itching miserably all the time. So, to say that I was concerned about having to deal with the miserable little creatures for three weeks is an understatement.
My solution was simple and involved a month’s preparation. Thirty days before leaving Southern California for Alaska, I began taking Vitamin “B” Complex and un-odorized Garlic capsules, twice a day. It must have been effective because although we were swarmed by mosquitoes on several occasions, particularly during road construction stops in the forested areas, I was not bothered by them. I did get a couple of bites over the course of the trip, but they only itched for about twenty minutes and went away. Only once in Haines Junction did I get nailed pretty good on the forehead, right where my helmet rubs, but it disappeared after about two days. I think they sampled my blood, but didn’t like the taste and chose not to continue filling me with their venomous anti-coagulant. It’s not very scientific, but it worked for me; it may work for you.
On weather and clothes, it will rain during the summer in British Columbia, the Yukon Territory, and Alaska, more so in August and July than June, according to the statistics, but pretty much every afternoon. That’s why it is so lush and green. We did some research and opted for “Tourmaster ” (http://www.tourmaster.com/) insulated, armored and waterproof “Transitions II” textile jackets and “Caliber” textile pants, purchased from Helmet House in Calabassas, Southern California (http://www.helmethouse.com/). Lane used his Harley-Davidson FXRG textile, not leather, jacket and pants with good results. Leave your leather gear at home. When it gets cold, you will get cold. When it gets wet, you will be miserable. You will also need waterproof, not water resistant, boots and gloves. Even after riding for hours in the rain, we never got wet.
We thought long and hard about bringing our lightweight Harley-Davidson rain suits and elected to bring them in addition to our waterproof riding suits. It turned out to be a good decision. We wore them in the rain when it was not cold. It reached into the 80’s in Fairbanks, too warm for heavy riding suits. We also wore the rain suit jackets in town on land excursions from the ferry.
Let’s talk about underwear, no not the black shear lace variety. What does that have to do with riding motorcycles? Everything, if you want to be comfortable and avoid what I like to call “Red Monkey Butt,” or a case of the squirms after eight to ten hours in the saddle. We opted for “LD Comfort” motorcycle riding underwear. They are similar to bicycle riding shorts but without the chamois liner under the private parts. The advantage is that they don’t have seams between your pelvis bones and the motorcycle seat to chafe you and they wash out and dry overnight. You can check them out at: http://www.ldcomfort.com/. They run about $45.00 per pair, but I will not take a long ride without them.
Here's a few thoughts on communication devices. Bike-to-bike communications is not a necessity, but a very good option. It gives one the ability to advise other riders of points of interest, wild animals, road hazards, and necessary food, gas, and comfort breaks. Cellular phone and 911 service is available across many areas of Alaska, especially in the major cities and towns, not so much in British Columbia or the Yukon Territory. We carried a rented satellite telephone on our journey but never had occasion to use it.
Here's my "memory flogger" Alaska Ride Check List:
1. A one or two-man backpacking tent, rain fly, and stakes
2. Axe or hammer.
3. Plastic ground cover for tent
4. 25’– 50’ of light nylon rope or cord
5. Sleeping bag and inflatable pillow
6. Waterproof all-weather riding jacket
7. Waterproof all-weather riding pants
8. Neck gator
9. Heated electric vest
10. Waterproof riding boots
11. Waterproof riding gloves
12. Extra leather riding gloves
13. Rain suit jacket and pants
14. Light-weight riding jacket
15. Extra shoes or hiking boots
16. Binoculars
17. Long-distance riding underwear or bike shorts
18. Insect repellent
19. Ear plugs
20. Sun Glasses and/or Goggles
21. Clear glasses and/or goggles (night riding)
22. Flashlight(s) and extra batteries
23. Full-face or flip-up motorcycle helmet
24. Sunscreen (SPF 30 or above recommended)
25. Bandanas and/or head wraps
26. First-aid kit
27. Motorcycle tools
28. Extra spark plugs
29. Motorcycle tow strap
30. Kick stand base for soft ground
31. Tubeless tire repair kit and inflation bottle
32. Camera and film or PC Cards, batteries or charger
33. Small folding tri-pod for group picture
34. Personal Clothes for at least five days
35. Large motorcycle luggage bag(s) with rain cover(s)
36. Wide brimmed hat or baseball cap
37. Plastic shower shoes or flip-flops
38. Cell phone and 12 volt & AC charging cords
39. Shaving kit and personal toiletries & backpacking towel
40. Extra motorcycle key
41. Water bottle(s)
42. Ratchet type motorcycle tie downs (minimum 2), & nylon strap soft ties for ferry
43. Miscellaneous bungee cords and/or cargo net(s)
44. Windshield & bike cleaner, small M/C duster, and small towel(s)
45. Small folding camp stool or chair
46. Credit card(s) & cash
47. Any daily medications
48. Western United States, Western Canada, and State of Alaska road maps
49. Current motorcycle registration
50. Proof of insurance and letter from M/C insurer for Canadian Customs
51. Motorcycle cover
52. O.C. Bear Spray
53. A sturdy folding knife
54. One 30 oz. or two 20 oz. MSR fuel bottles
55. Wooden matches in a waterproof container.
56. Extra zip-lock and plastic bags
57. Carabineers for securing things to self and luggage
58. Gas siphon pump and hose
59. A strong sense of adventure, boldness, camaraderie, and curiosity
60. Friends to share the experience
This list is by no means comprehensive, in any particular order of importance, or tailored to any individual. It is only intended to be a list of items that may be considered essential and/or optional for successful cross-country motorcycle touring to Alaska. Your individual needs may vary.
I hope you find this information helpful.
On weather and clothes, it will rain during the summer in British Columbia, the Yukon Territory, and Alaska, more so in August and July than June, according to the statistics, but pretty much every afternoon. That’s why it is so lush and green. We did some research and opted for “Tourmaster ” (http://www.tourmaster.com/) insulated, armored and waterproof “Transitions II” textile jackets and “Caliber” textile pants, purchased from Helmet House in Calabassas, Southern California (http://www.helmethouse.com/). Lane used his Harley-Davidson FXRG textile, not leather, jacket and pants with good results. Leave your leather gear at home. When it gets cold, you will get cold. When it gets wet, you will be miserable. You will also need waterproof, not water resistant, boots and gloves. Even after riding for hours in the rain, we never got wet.
We thought long and hard about bringing our lightweight Harley-Davidson rain suits and elected to bring them in addition to our waterproof riding suits. It turned out to be a good decision. We wore them in the rain when it was not cold. It reached into the 80’s in Fairbanks, too warm for heavy riding suits. We also wore the rain suit jackets in town on land excursions from the ferry.
Let’s talk about underwear, no not the black shear lace variety. What does that have to do with riding motorcycles? Everything, if you want to be comfortable and avoid what I like to call “Red Monkey Butt,” or a case of the squirms after eight to ten hours in the saddle. We opted for “LD Comfort” motorcycle riding underwear. They are similar to bicycle riding shorts but without the chamois liner under the private parts. The advantage is that they don’t have seams between your pelvis bones and the motorcycle seat to chafe you and they wash out and dry overnight. You can check them out at: http://www.ldcomfort.com/. They run about $45.00 per pair, but I will not take a long ride without them.
Here's a few thoughts on communication devices. Bike-to-bike communications is not a necessity, but a very good option. It gives one the ability to advise other riders of points of interest, wild animals, road hazards, and necessary food, gas, and comfort breaks. Cellular phone and 911 service is available across many areas of Alaska, especially in the major cities and towns, not so much in British Columbia or the Yukon Territory. We carried a rented satellite telephone on our journey but never had occasion to use it.
Here's my "memory flogger" Alaska Ride Check List:
1. A one or two-man backpacking tent, rain fly, and stakes
2. Axe or hammer.
3. Plastic ground cover for tent
4. 25’– 50’ of light nylon rope or cord
5. Sleeping bag and inflatable pillow
6. Waterproof all-weather riding jacket
7. Waterproof all-weather riding pants
8. Neck gator
9. Heated electric vest
10. Waterproof riding boots
11. Waterproof riding gloves
12. Extra leather riding gloves
13. Rain suit jacket and pants
14. Light-weight riding jacket
15. Extra shoes or hiking boots
16. Binoculars
17. Long-distance riding underwear or bike shorts
18. Insect repellent
19. Ear plugs
20. Sun Glasses and/or Goggles
21. Clear glasses and/or goggles (night riding)
22. Flashlight(s) and extra batteries
23. Full-face or flip-up motorcycle helmet
24. Sunscreen (SPF 30 or above recommended)
25. Bandanas and/or head wraps
26. First-aid kit
27. Motorcycle tools
28. Extra spark plugs
29. Motorcycle tow strap
30. Kick stand base for soft ground
31. Tubeless tire repair kit and inflation bottle
32. Camera and film or PC Cards, batteries or charger
33. Small folding tri-pod for group picture
34. Personal Clothes for at least five days
35. Large motorcycle luggage bag(s) with rain cover(s)
36. Wide brimmed hat or baseball cap
37. Plastic shower shoes or flip-flops
38. Cell phone and 12 volt & AC charging cords
39. Shaving kit and personal toiletries & backpacking towel
40. Extra motorcycle key
41. Water bottle(s)
42. Ratchet type motorcycle tie downs (minimum 2), & nylon strap soft ties for ferry
43. Miscellaneous bungee cords and/or cargo net(s)
44. Windshield & bike cleaner, small M/C duster, and small towel(s)
45. Small folding camp stool or chair
46. Credit card(s) & cash
47. Any daily medications
48. Western United States, Western Canada, and State of Alaska road maps
49. Current motorcycle registration
50. Proof of insurance and letter from M/C insurer for Canadian Customs
51. Motorcycle cover
52. O.C. Bear Spray
53. A sturdy folding knife
54. One 30 oz. or two 20 oz. MSR fuel bottles
55. Wooden matches in a waterproof container.
56. Extra zip-lock and plastic bags
57. Carabineers for securing things to self and luggage
58. Gas siphon pump and hose
59. A strong sense of adventure, boldness, camaraderie, and curiosity
60. Friends to share the experience
This list is by no means comprehensive, in any particular order of importance, or tailored to any individual. It is only intended to be a list of items that may be considered essential and/or optional for successful cross-country motorcycle touring to Alaska. Your individual needs may vary.
I hope you find this information helpful.
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