At the club meeting where we discussed planning for Alaska Kevin handed out a sheet of paper with some of his thoughts about going to Alaska. He sent me the Word document and I have copied it below. Thanks, Kevin!
Jerry
"I ride because it frees my mind from the tyranny of petty things."
Things to know before departing for Alaska
By Kevin Churchill, Feb 2020
How long does it take? Deadhorse (via Calgary & Edmonton) is at least 4600 miles from Houston. My suggested route would add 700 miles or more. A safe number is 12,000 miles round trip. Unless this is a multiday Ironbutt ride for you this trip is going to take 4-5 weeks. If you are 60 years old you will likely not make the trip again. Take your time. Enjoy. You probably won’t be back.
Caution: If you are going with somebody who only has two weeks vacation, your adventure could be considerably less enjoyable than you hope. Discuss and agree on a duration.
Travel Mates: The ideal travel mate is one that rides at the same daily mileage pace, shares the same view on camping vs motels, has minimal diet preferences etc. and that you have ridden extended distances with BEFORE your Alaskan adventure. Larger groups increase schedule and compatibility risk. Going solo has many advantages. Don’t be afraid to tackle the trip alone. You’ll meet more people.
The Bike: Any decent bike will make the trip. It does not have to be a dual-sport machine. BMW is the most common brand but Yamaha Tenere and other machines are increasingly common. You don’t need a 1200cc machine. Anything 650cc and above has enough power. There is a very responsive dealer BMW dealer in Fairbanks that replaced Chuck’s final drive in 5 days or so.
Tires: Dan at Adventure cycle works (http://advcycleworks.com) will change tires at any time of day. When Chuck Jones and I made this trip we paid him for the tires. They were on his rack when we got there. Alaska residents get a large shipping subsidy. Having him order the tires was cheaper than doing it ourselves and paying the shipping to Fairbanks. He is quicker and cheaper than the local BMW dealer.
The Route: The Alaska highway itself is relatively boring. The final section between Tok and Delta Junction (108 Miles) rates as one of the 10 most boring roads in the world. A much more scenic route to Alaska is via Vancouver then Hwy 99 to Hwy 97 to Meziadin Junction then Cassiar Hwy to the Alaska Hwy just North of Watson Lake (Home of the sign forest).
This route also takes you very close to Hyder AK. From Hyder (great bear watching spot) it is a 1 hour (or less) ride up a gravel road to Salmon Glacier. One of the largest remaining glaciers in North America.
Mosquitos: These are everywhere. If you are going to camp you must have a mosquito head net. Don’t leave home without your 100% Deet. Anything else will be near useless.
Camping: You will be dressing and undressing inside your tent. Make sure it is big enough to do this. I use a Big Agnes three-man model with doors on each side. It’s big enough for my gear and me. I use a Big Agnes down sleeping bag rated to 15 degrees. My bag has a sleeve to accommodate a 3” inflatable pad.
Other useful stuff:
Anchorage has a very large (and busy) REI store. You can get or replace any camping supplies or gear there.
The local tourist businesses make ALL their money in the summer months which is why things seem to cost so much up there. They are open long hours.
Interesting places and things to do
Bear Claw Motorcycle campground near Tok AK. Meet other adventure riders from everywhere.
Chicken AK. This is a quaint summertime place between Dawson City, Yukon and Tok AK. The road between Dawson City and Tok goes over the spectacular ‘Top Of The World Highway’.
Dawson City, Yukon. A very tidy and interesting town. Home of the “Dust to Dawson” rally on June 21 every year. Have your group picture taken at midnight (in daylight) on the main street. Visit the museum there to get a feel for the gold rush days.
Visit the cabin (free) of Robert Service only a short distance from the museum to hear recitals of his work. My favorite is “The Cremation of Sam Mcgee”.
Ferry from Valdez to Whittier: See icebergs and fjords on a 4-hour trip. Then ride through the 2.5-mile long tunnel (between the railway tracks) on the way to Anchorage.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks rents dorm rooms in the summer for very reasonable rates.
The Museum of the North just down the street from the university dorms.
Make your trip memorable for something other than the miles.
Kevin Churchill
February 1, 2020