Alaska 2010

[Lano]

Awesome. So, tell what you would do different if you were to go again? What did you learn from your experience?

I had planned all along to ride to Inuvik. I regret that greatly. The ST was a great bike for what I rode. If I do it again, I will take a bike that I will feel comfortable with to ride the gravel to Inuvik.

Fishing. The Kenai River experience soured me on it. I took a light spinning outfit with me and fished smaller waters in Alaska and B.C. Had fun with it, but not the fishing experience I had anticipated.

Rain/cool weather. Don't be afraid of it. Be prepared. I had no heated gear, I did not need it. I had a very good set of light insulated underwear, good pants and shirts. I wore an Olympia AST jacket and a pair of Darien overpants. Never got wet. Pants: I bought three pair of Duluth Trading Co. firehose pants for this trip. Fantastic! They have an extra gusset in the crotch area. Most comfortable pants I have ever worn period. Pockets galore.

Home sickness: I had never been away from my wife this long before. I had to fight this greatly.

Distance: If you go by yourself, you will be by yourself a lot. This doesn't bother me at all. It might others if not prepared for it.

Sleeping bag: I had read a report of a guy getting cold in a 0-degree bag. I bought a -20 degree Wiggys bag just for this trip. Several times, I had to zip it open to not get too hot. I will add, that after being up north I liked to have died when I got back to the heat of Nebraska, Kansas, Texas. I slept on top of the bag then.

Stuff: What do you really need. I thought I had it down pat. Really, I had one bag too many. Next time, only one bag on the bike not the two you see. I had a lot of stuff. What I wore for the day plus two extra pair of pants/shirts, Wool socks, Flat kit/air compressor, good tool kit(really heavy), tent, sleeping bag, pillow (yes pillow), light spinning rod/reel for fishing, a couple of good books, ball cap and sweater for when off the bike, shower/shaving kit, light towel, and various small things flashlights,etc. It is imperative that any bag be waterproof.

Biggest mistake I made: Switching bikes the night before the ride. This was a planned 4-5 week trip. It would have taken that long on the KLR going to Inuvik. The ST is comfortable and so easy to make miles with. I put just shy of 10,000 miles on it in 17 days. I would like to add that from my experience, you can do this on any bike you own. There is so much to see, you can't do it all in one trip anyway.

Calcium chloride: They put this stuff on the gravel roads to keep the dust down. Get it off your bike as soon as possible. If not, it will become one with the bike!

 

[Lano]

Wow! Definitely not boring. My friends and girlfriend look at me like I should be committed when I tell them I want to ride to New Mexico for 3-4 days.

More, please.

If they are not "riders", they will never understand. Motorcycles are fun. Many own them, but few really, really ride them. This is old, I know, but the most fun for me is the ride. I urge you to do it. I started out with two/three day trips. It will help you decide if it's really what you want to do. God help you if it is!

 

[Lano]

Well it's an excellent first attempt. Thanks for posting it. I live vicariously through reports like this. I had a friend and his wife who were on a month-long trip during the same period. They were two-up on a red V-Strom 650.

Tim, that Vstrom you are sitting on would be a good bike for the trip. There might be one in my future if I decide to do this again. I love reading trip reports also. Some of them are "fluff" but a lot of them contain some really good tips and advice.

We all can't ride to Alaska for one reason or another. I couldn't till I was 60 years old. There are some awful good rides that don't take as much time or resources. I've done several of those.

Thank you for your kind words. Bob

 

[Valker]

Lano, great RR, thanks. my first trip up there was a five week deal (I got into school teaching so I could have my summers free) and my second was about two weeks as a friend in deteriorating health wanted to do that trip before it got 'too late', but he couldn't trust it alone. He passed away the next year and talked about that trip up until his last hospitalization! I was in my late 20s the first time and 30 for the second. I took Gold Wings both times. Back then, the road wasn't open to Deadhorse. The one to Inuvik was, but the horror stories from folks who had done it that year made me stay off it. I'd love to do that trip on a built KLR the next time and spend another month doing it.
Wow-thanks again. You got me thinking.

 

[StarSapphire]

Great report and fantastic tips!

 

[RTScott]

Thank you sir for adding fuel to my desire to get up there...August 2012 can't get here quick enough!!

 

[one Wolf]

Nice. Thanks for sharing with us..

 

[humanrace]

Quote Lano "To not drag this out,"

Please do!!! I don't think you'll get any complaints if this post goes 25 pages.

 

[BeemerlessBob]

Quote Lano "To not drag this out,"

Please do!!! I don't think you'll get any complaints if this post goes 25 pages.

What he said.

 

[lonestarrider]

I have read many detailed reports of riders's who have ridden to AK, I have to say Lano yours was one of the best. I can only dream of taking such a trip for now, but one day I'll get it done. Thanks for your report!

 

[Lano]

I would like to make something clear. I am just like you guys saying "I wish I could make this trip". It was always money or time that prevented me from doing it. Hard to go to Alaska when the kids need new tennie shoes. Here's how I did it.

My company shut our plant down. After 30 years I took early retirement. Now I had the time.

Finances(or money to us working people): The wife and I talked it over.

I got some severance pay when they shut the plant down. It was now or never. The wife fully supported me on this.

Equipment: I already owned the bikes and most of the gear. I accumulated most of the gear over the years. Afterall, I am fairly frugul. The only things I bought specifically for the trip were the tent and sleeping bag and new firehose pants.

Timing: Well, the stars finally aligned for me. I just happened to be 60 when
they did.

Regrets: Not a one. I grabbed the chance when it appeared. Keep an eye out for yours!

 

[Valker]

I have read many detailed reports of riders's who have ridden to AK, I have to say Lano yours was one of the best. I can only dream of taking such a trip for now, but one day I'll get it done. Thanks for your report!

James, this one will get another go by me. It's not bad, and with your ability to ride far, it can be done in a relatively short period of time. I once went to Hyder just to eat a burger. I left Steamboat Springs on a Sunday morning about 10:00 and was back in Lewiston Idaho that Friday at noon. There was a rally on each end of that trip was the reason for the quickness. That only averaged 725 miles a day. That left plenty of time for sightseeing, photos, and visiting. Camped out every night.
PS-Caleb has the Spirit back and riding. Turned out to be the stator.

 

[lonestarrider]

James, this one will get another go by me. It's not bad, and with your ability to ride far, it can be done in a relatively short period of time. I once went to Hyder just to eat a burger. I left Steamboat Springs on a Sunday morning about 10:00 and was back in Lewiston Idaho that Friday at noon. There was a rally on each end of that trip was the reason for the quickness. That only averaged 725 miles a day. That left plenty of time for sightseeing, photos, and visiting. Camped out every night.
PS-Caleb has the Spirit back and riding. Turned out to be the stator.

If and when my stars align. I will make this trip via Key West and Prudhoe Bay from Amarillo for a 10 n 10 ride.
I was hoping that wasn't the problem for Caleb's bike but rather something a little easier to fix and not as expensive. Now that the old Spirit is repaired I bet he'll get another 90K plus miles on it before the bike needs another one. Also I found that new set of rear brake pads for the bike. I can run over to Pampa sometime and drop them off.

 

[Valker]

If and when my stars align. I will make this trip via Key West and Prudhoe Bay from Amarillo for a 10 n 10 ride.
I was hoping that wasn't the problem for Caleb's bike but rather something a little easier to fix and not as expensive. Now that the old Spirit is repaired I bet he'll get another 90K plus miles on it before the bike needs another one. Also I found that new set of rear brake pads for the bike. I can run over to Pampa sometime and drop them off.

That would be great about the pads. I get to Amarillo regularly also...I teach next weekend at the College.
Very easy to make LONG miles up there in the summer... 20-22 hours of light per day.


Lano, so sorry for this slight hijack. Just to preserve the Alaska part-here is a friend's Alaska trip story.
http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2004/10/23/alaska2004index.html
He went on his Valkyrie, so I've thought about it again since he went. Your report has just made the fire flare!!!!

 

[Lano]

I uploaded some more pictures to Flickr to show. Pembina River

Dawson Creek

Great Place to camp

Imagine riding and seeing this mile after mile

 

[Lano]

I'm sorry, but this gets addictive. I am so proud to share.

The infamous Destruction Bay where I broke my helmet. Road was really bad for the next 100 miles. Wind really howled here.

Fuel stop in Teslin. Local Indian tribe runs it.

Tok, Alaska. I only saw it in the rain, both entering and exiting Alaska

I would buy postcards and fill them out at night. Stop and send them when I could. Later found out the grandkids would beg their parents to go check the mail.

 

[Lano]

It was like riding on top of the world here.

Between Glennallen and Anchorage. Melting snow has to go somewhere.

Modern, it has electricity!

The Moose River is behind the tent, The Kenai would be to the left.

"Looking out my back door"

Can you imagine living here?

You would see these strange critters ever now and then

 

[CarlD1965]

Enjoyable Ride Report, gave me a few more ideas to conrtomplate.

I am headed to Alaska from Austin, Tx in June 2011

Carl

 

[humanrace]

I've changed my background 3 times in the last 3 days. All 3 from this report.

 

[tshelfer]

I'm loving this. Keep the pictures coming. Sooner or later, I'm going to be encouraged to venture beyond Waxahatchie in my riding.

 

[Petrodog]

Lano,
Thanks for a great ride report. I made that trip in 2009 and it brought back fond memories. I'm ready to do it again.
Try the Halibut fishing in Homer if you go back.

 

[hardybaker]

And while you're in Homer, take the ferry over to Seldovia, AK. It's my favorite city in AK. The beauty is STUNING. The only two ways there is by boat or plane. Remote, and quaint. HB

 

[Lano]

And while you're in Homer, take the ferry over to Seldovia, AK. It's my favorite city in AK. The beauty is STUNING. The only two ways there is by boat or plane. Remote, and quaint. HB

I knew about the Halibut fishing in Homer. I thought about it. I decided to go riding instead. I had a blast just being the sightseeing tourist. You always have to regret something so you can go back.

 

[hardybaker]

Lano, great report. Thanks. "You always have to regret something (you didn't see or do) so you can go back." I know exactly what you mean. I'm trying to talk myself into pulling my toy hauler up there, with all my toys in it, and staying several months next Summer. Riding, kayaking and fishing. My wife was born in Anchorage, I met her on the slope, and we know AK. fairly well. I already told her about my intended trip. (to include her in parts). Sure, I can fly back home a time or two, but I don't know if I want to be gone from home that long. It sounds funny, but I love what I (we) have here. Decisions, decisions. Hardy

 

[Lano]

Hardy

No, it does not sound strange. I felt the same way. This was the longest I had ever been away from my wife. I missed her greatly. This was the homesickness I talked about.

We have a little hobby farm here. She also babysits a couple of our grandchildren. It fell on her to keep everything going. She was a trooper. She even bought the winter hay and had it hauled in!

I said when I rode back to Tok, I had a decision to make. I headed down towards the Cassiar with the above thoughts in my mind. I found that once I was slowly making my way home, the homesickness got better. I was headed home.

I make no claims to be the "Gnarly adventurer". I just did something I had always wanted to do. Now, I will never regret it.



Bob