Two Bob's Ohio to Prudhoe 2016 - Ram/Hawk, Husky, and Wing.
- Thread starter DYNOBOB
- Start date
Fri Aug 26. Beavercreek, YK to Fairbanks. 326 miles.
Just up the road from Beavercreek was our first stop this morning and a major trip milestone, the Alaska border. 3953 miles since leaving home six days ago.
Skies are clearing and the forecast is dry to Fairbanks.
Those experienced in Alaska motorcycle travel will tell you "follow the weather". Indeed, yesterday we had to make a major route decision in Whitehorse. My original plan was to take the Klondike Hwy north to Dawson City and the Top of the World Hwy. This would have added 2-3 days to arriving at Fairbanks. However, the part of this trip that has me the most nervous is the 1000 mile run from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay and back. I've been watching the weather for Prudhoe for the last week and Sat/Sun look beautiful with highs in the mid-50s F. Monday forward calls for low 40's and overcast/rain. This is exactly why I've had the hammer down to this point in the trip, we'll arrive Fairbanks tonight and catch that good weather on the Dalton tomorrow. Forward ho...
Just before you get to Fairbanks is the town of North Pole, AK. As we entered I noticed an auto glass shop advertising "we fix your panes". A quick U-turn, and 45 minutes later they had cut me a proper piece of plexi, given me a roll of doublestick tape, and the camper window was good as new. Thank you Santa...
Tonight we're staying with old friends just outside of Fairbanks. We'll leave the trailer and Goldwing here for a few days while we run the Dalton. She had dinner waiting when we arrived and most of it was from her outstanding garden. You'll notice the 8ft high fence to keep the moose out, and the raised beds because the ground is always frozen a few feet down. These are not problems you have in OH.
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Just up the road from Beavercreek was our first stop this morning and a major trip milestone, the Alaska border. 3953 miles since leaving home six days ago.
Skies are clearing and the forecast is dry to Fairbanks.
Those experienced in Alaska motorcycle travel will tell you "follow the weather". Indeed, yesterday we had to make a major route decision in Whitehorse. My original plan was to take the Klondike Hwy north to Dawson City and the Top of the World Hwy. This would have added 2-3 days to arriving at Fairbanks. However, the part of this trip that has me the most nervous is the 1000 mile run from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay and back. I've been watching the weather for Prudhoe for the last week and Sat/Sun look beautiful with highs in the mid-50s F. Monday forward calls for low 40's and overcast/rain. This is exactly why I've had the hammer down to this point in the trip, we'll arrive Fairbanks tonight and catch that good weather on the Dalton tomorrow. Forward ho...
Just before you get to Fairbanks is the town of North Pole, AK. As we entered I noticed an auto glass shop advertising "we fix your panes". A quick U-turn, and 45 minutes later they had cut me a proper piece of plexi, given me a roll of doublestick tape, and the camper window was good as new. Thank you Santa...
Tonight we're staying with old friends just outside of Fairbanks. We'll leave the trailer and Goldwing here for a few days while we run the Dalton. She had dinner waiting when we arrived and most of it was from her outstanding garden. You'll notice the 8ft high fence to keep the moose out, and the raised beds because the ground is always frozen a few feet down. These are not problems you have in OH
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molanginaeda
Observer
Beautiful. I will be planning a trip to Alaska in the future. Thanks for the write up.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
yes, i stay in Mason, we go to Ceasar creek forest thru Lebanon,hope i will meet you some day,i am also planning trip to Utah,Colorado next month.
wanderer-rrorc
Explorer
Absolutely FANTASTIC trip!!!!
Thanks for sharing and inspiring us to get out there!!
Thanks for sharing and inspiring us to get out there!!
Sat Aug 27. Fairbanks to Galbraith Lakes. 370 miles.
Without a doubt, this is the segment of the trip that has me the most nervous. 1000 miles thru wilderness to Prudhoe Bay and back with no towns and only two small outposts with fuel. A catastrophic mechanical or tire failure up here likely means a very expensive tow bill (thousands) and multiple days to resolve. Beyond that, you hear horror stories of flying rocks from semis, broken windshields, broken headlights, tire eating holes in the road, cement like mud covering your vehicle, dense clouds of mosquitoes, alien abductions, etc. When you mention you're riding the Dalton to most 49th State residents they look at you like you're an alien, why would you even want to ride up there? If you're reading this though, you know why. Without a doubt, this is my favorite day of the trip!
By the time I had the bikes/truck/trailer sorted Sat morning, we got away much later than I wanted to (11am). Knowing the distance faced the next couple days this was frustrating, I also forgot my throttle rocker on the Wing and box of spare Husky parts. Grrrr... Gotta put that out of your mind though - remind yourself of where you are - and be thankful for the stunning conditions. Get ready for a lot of pics... 90% of our Dalton pics were taken northbound. For a couple reasons there were very few taken southbound.
So north we go... and very quickly you spot the pipeline/reason this road exists.
Approaching the Yukon River
Gas is over $5/gal anywhere on the Dalton. If you have at least 260 mile fuel range you can skip this stop and hit Coldfoot. Or...you can "never pass up a gas up".
Finger Mountain area
Nearing Coldfoot
Without a doubt, this is the segment of the trip that has me the most nervous. 1000 miles thru wilderness to Prudhoe Bay and back with no towns and only two small outposts with fuel. A catastrophic mechanical or tire failure up here likely means a very expensive tow bill (thousands) and multiple days to resolve. Beyond that, you hear horror stories of flying rocks from semis, broken windshields, broken headlights, tire eating holes in the road, cement like mud covering your vehicle, dense clouds of mosquitoes, alien abductions, etc. When you mention you're riding the Dalton to most 49th State residents they look at you like you're an alien, why would you even want to ride up there? If you're reading this though, you know why. Without a doubt, this is my favorite day of the trip!
By the time I had the bikes/truck/trailer sorted Sat morning, we got away much later than I wanted to (11am). Knowing the distance faced the next couple days this was frustrating, I also forgot my throttle rocker on the Wing and box of spare Husky parts. Grrrr... Gotta put that out of your mind though - remind yourself of where you are - and be thankful for the stunning conditions. Get ready for a lot of pics... 90% of our Dalton pics were taken northbound. For a couple reasons there were very few taken southbound.
So north we go... and very quickly you spot the pipeline/reason this road exists.
Approaching the Yukon River
Gas is over $5/gal anywhere on the Dalton. If you have at least 260 mile fuel range you can skip this stop and hit Coldfoot. Or...you can "never pass up a gas up".
Finger Mountain area
Nearing Coldfoot
This is Coldfoot. There are about 4 buildings and seemed to be about 10 people working at the complex. The restaurant serves pretty good food and showers are $14. Tomorrow we'll find out how much tire repairs are...
Just north of Coldfoot you're getting into the Brooks Range. Why would anyone want to drive this road...?
Shortly before the climb to Atigun Pass the road returns to gravel. If you've been confused by the pavement, roughly 50 miles on either side of Coldfoot is nicely paved. It's a nice break from the gravel and is especially welcome on the return from Prudhoe.
The climb to Atigun.
Looking back south from the pass.
The north side of Atigun - if you squint you can see me in the lower right.
The truck gives scale to the immensity of the view here. They were shot at 45mm which is how your eyes see it standing here.
Taken from where the truck was in the last shot.
Dad in the distance.
Just north of Coldfoot you're getting into the Brooks Range. Why would anyone want to drive this road...?
Shortly before the climb to Atigun Pass the road returns to gravel. If you've been confused by the pavement, roughly 50 miles on either side of Coldfoot is nicely paved. It's a nice break from the gravel and is especially welcome on the return from Prudhoe.
The climb to Atigun.
Looking back south from the pass.
The north side of Atigun - if you squint you can see me in the lower right.
The truck gives scale to the immensity of the view here. They were shot at 45mm which is how your eyes see it standing here.
Taken from where the truck was in the last shot.
Dad in the distance.
On the north side of the Brooks Range now, looking back south at Galbraith Lakes.
Now approaching 8pm, we pull over a little ways up the road to make some dinner. After eating, we decide this is where we'll camp for the evening. One thing we've been doing every night after dinner is watching a dvd on the laptop. Tonight we watch the final episode of "Long Way Around" where they're traveling thru Alaska. It's beyond surreal to be camped on the North Slope tundra...
A couple critters (caribou?) have met their demise 100ft from the truck, that's something to keep in mind if you have to leave the camper in the dark. (Where is my pee bottle..?)
370 miles covered today with lots of picture stops so I'm happy. 130 miles left to Prudhoe.
.
Now approaching 8pm, we pull over a little ways up the road to make some dinner. After eating, we decide this is where we'll camp for the evening. One thing we've been doing every night after dinner is watching a dvd on the laptop. Tonight we watch the final episode of "Long Way Around" where they're traveling thru Alaska. It's beyond surreal to be camped on the North Slope tundra...
A couple critters (caribou?) have met their demise 100ft from the truck, that's something to keep in mind if you have to leave the camper in the dark. (Where is my pee bottle..?)
370 miles covered today with lots of picture stops so I'm happy. 130 miles left to Prudhoe.
.