Hey folks, just a few questions I can't find answers to in other threads about Alaska.
-Where does the Highway actually turn to gravel from asphalt?? (Around which town...)
-What is the rough length of the drive from let's say maybe Banff or somewhere in that region up to Faribanks or Anchorage in kilometers/miles??
-What is the longest distance between fuel stations?? (How much extra would it be recommended to bring? I have a 22-liter V-Strom.)
-What temperature does it drop down to at night roughly in June?? (How big of a sleeping bag do I need...)
-How long would you give for the whole trip to see all that has to be seen, once on the highway north from Banff region?? I'm not in too much of a rush but just curious of a time-frame.

Also, I want to get some good tires for the road north. I'll probably buy them in the States, and send them to whatever town on the route north where it starts tuning to dirt, hence why I need to know where it starts. Does anyone recommend a good way to send a set of tires up from Vancouver/Victoria to whatever town near where the muck starts??

And if anyone else has any more tips they feel I should know it would be appreciated!

See some of ye for a or two on the road north this summer!
+ + =

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We're here for a good time, not a long time...
Mini-on-Tour

I may be reading this wrong ?

1. Dempster highway Canada

Dawson creek to inuvik ? mostly dirt once you are of the main highway.

2.Dalton highway Alaska

Fairbanks to Dead horse/ Prudhole bay.. turns to dirt about 50miles out of fairbanks.

CLOTHING......

Prepare for winter as even in june it can snowrain/ or even get very cold. Also buy some bear spray as it is a must in my books....

Hope this little helps...

Do both if you have the time and watch out for the trucks and wildlife

Tyres- just buy em in Alaska rather than sending up from Canada

22L tank should be fine as several gas stations up there.

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Mike


www.singapore-scotland.blogspot.com
www.argentina-alaska.blogspot.com
My little Vid: India/Pakistan

BMW R1150GS
Suzuki DR650 SE: Ride it like ya stole it. Oh, somebody just did...

[QUOTE=MikeS;285982]Tyres- just buy em in Alaska rather than sending up from Canada

Why buy in Alaska? Won't I need them on the road up to Alaska long before I get there??

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We're here for a good time, not a long time...
Mini-on-Tour

If you're on the main route up, its all tarmac until after Fairbanks and even then, its a decent gravel road so Tourances would be fine although if its wet, the road to Prudhoe is a little bit slippy. I did it on very worn out TKC80s with very little tread left with no problems. I didn't find any of the roads up there anything like South America so something like Tourance is fine for most riding but all depends what riding you're doing before Alaska though.

Alaska pictures by ya-honza - Photobucket



[QUOTE=IronArse;286038]

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Mike


www.singapore-scotland.blogspot.com
www.argentina-alaska.blogspot.com
My little Vid: India/Pakistan

BMW R1150GS
Suzuki DR650 SE: Ride it like ya stole it. Oh, somebody just did...

Great, cheers Mike. I've been looking at my maps the last few days, the roads are listed as paved, but I've been thinking there is no f##king way that it's actually all paved all the way to Anchorage or Fairbanks. Just didn't believe it. Not too hard to believe at all but I've just come from South America where you take what the maps say with a pinch of salt.
That makes things a bit simpler for me now alright, don't have to worry about tires 'til I get up there.
Cheers for the help, pics are great too man!

Mick

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We're here for a good time, not a long time...
Mini-on-Tour

I have taken the Alaska Highway a couple of times 2-up on my BMW R100R
and it is officially paved all the way to Fairbanks.
Every year they repave sections, it's on going all summer.
You will find sections 10 -20 miles long that are being torn up but they are not that bad to ride.
You will see Goldwings, Harleys, KLR's and even BMW GS's and motorhomes lots of motorhomes.

"You will see....motorhomes lots of motorhomes. "

Nominated for first prize in the 2010 extreme understatement contest.

Sounds a lot like Norway in the summer months too.

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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman

We went up last year in mid May to early July on our Goldwing Trike, the road is mainly paved but can be very rough at times (we blew a top fork leg 'O' ring - not the seal) and you can never tell where the roadworks are going to be, how far they extend and and how bad the road becomes, you pays your money etc. The longest stretch for gas was out of Fort Nelson where there was a sign that said 'next fuel 270 km' and it was true ! The worst section of road was from Burwash Landing up to the Alaska border, they put little red flags out to tell you where the frost heaves are and in places all we could see was red flags, no exageration and this is the paved bit ! Just go slow and ride over them it's smoother, there's no point in hurrying. We didn't camp but I don't believe the temp gets too low for camping in summer, just take some decent gear. Get on to the Alaska Riders Website, they're extremely helpful. Go, it can be hard work, you meet some great people and it's a great adventure, you will not regret it. Check out our website for photo's.

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Graham & Elaine

GL1800 Motor Trike 2+2, one here, one there.

http://www.mayflowermcc.co.uk/butlers/

I would get the TKC's in Alaska too. When we went up the Dalton Hwy in 2008, we did our tire change in Fairbanks at the Harley Outpost . They handle all brands of bikes. Just call ahead and make tire reservations.

Also, show up early the day you want the tire change done. It's first-come-first-serve. Even with reservation, i.e. pre-paid tires

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Thomas

"Hey, ...I'm just ridin' shotgun"

Actually the Dalton is ~40% paved now.
It's spelled "Prudhoe"

Charlie

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Unimog U500 w/Unicat

Really, is bear spray a must?? Really??

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We're here for a good time, not a long time...
Mini-on-Tour

Never saw anything other than black bears at a distance but guess it's always a possibility that you might see one up close. Heard loads of bear stories about them coming into camp sites and morons feeding them hot dogs etc so it does happen.

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Mike


www.singapore-scotland.blogspot.com
www.argentina-alaska.blogspot.com
My little Vid: India/Pakistan

BMW R1150GS
Suzuki DR650 SE: Ride it like ya stole it. Oh, somebody just did...

It is actually tough to get decent pictures of those furry critters. When they hear you coming, they usually take off into the woods.







When camping, stick to the basic rules:
-any cooking away from the tent (30m/100ft)
-put any food items (incl. toothpaste, chewing gum, candy) in a duffel bag along with any clothing you were wearing during cooking and pull it up in a tree away from the tent site, before going to sleep.
-make some noise if you suspect a bear near by, so you don't surprise (scare) them



Granted, I stayed on the bike with the engine runing when I took this picture...

I would be comfortable not having any "bear spray" on me out camping in Alaska/Canada. Humans are not really on their menue. Common sense and awareness should keep the risk to become lunch or dinner to a minimum.

During my two Alaska/Canada trips I was most scared of buffalo and moose. It's hard to predict what they do, i.e. charge at you, especially with young-ens around.





I'll be heading out on my third Alaska/Canada trip in June.

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Thomas

"Hey, ...I'm just ridin' shotgun"