Pennsylvania to Alaska
#11
Don I bought the $30.00 gas can that fits in the corner of Your saddle bag. Then I got scared and stopped at Wal Mart in Dawson Creek ( The start of the Alcan) and Bought a Canadian Gallon Jug. (1 1/4 gals). It fit in the bag but was only $6.00. Also Canadian jugs don't have that silly spring loaded filler spout! Remember Gas Is Very Expensive there. It was about $1.39 a liter. You Bike will take 16 to 20. 86 Octane at best.
I often jumped to the front of the construction line. I also Pulled over and let them pass as I couldn't keep up. The road was too rough. Ruts and mud slow me down big time. I also had a Japanese tourist in an f350 with a 40' camper fifth wheel on My A**. I then waited until at least 1/4 mile back due to the rooster tail of Dust I couldn't see through. These can go on for 30 miles. They are writing the mile post for 2017 now. Next spring they will be working on different places.
The front of the Bags took a beating from road dirt. The rest was Mud and Bugs in every nook and crevise.
$ 45.00 for Coors Light.....Ouch!!! While in the states, If You Think You will probably stay in that state, Stop at the first welcome ctr. They have discount coupons for hotels and tell You what Exit to get off. On the Alcan You have no options. There are no exits. You can't get lost. If a sign says " Camp" It is a very dumpy Barracks style hotel for the Oil Miners or Construction Workers.
I often jumped to the front of the construction line. I also Pulled over and let them pass as I couldn't keep up. The road was too rough. Ruts and mud slow me down big time. I also had a Japanese tourist in an f350 with a 40' camper fifth wheel on My A**. I then waited until at least 1/4 mile back due to the rooster tail of Dust I couldn't see through. These can go on for 30 miles. They are writing the mile post for 2017 now. Next spring they will be working on different places.
The front of the Bags took a beating from road dirt. The rest was Mud and Bugs in every nook and crevise.
$ 45.00 for Coors Light.....Ouch!!! While in the states, If You Think You will probably stay in that state, Stop at the first welcome ctr. They have discount coupons for hotels and tell You what Exit to get off. On the Alcan You have no options. There are no exits. You can't get lost. If a sign says " Camp" It is a very dumpy Barracks style hotel for the Oil Miners or Construction Workers.
#13
Left June 30th from Baltimore, on July 3rd I T-Boned a deer in Manitoba, totaling my bike & trailer. My suggestion to you is to pay for travelers Medical Insurance. As a US Citizen you don't have coverage in Canada. You must pay in cash for medical services at time of treatment. Also Meat Wagon fee is about $520 US. All of which you have to pay. They will not bill your insurance company. Ask me how I know! Anyway, I'm planning on rescheduling my trip to the Arctic Circle in about 3 years. If you want any GPX files and itinerary I have a bunch I can send you. Email me at krab (at) bjbark (dot) com.
Regards,
Ben
Regards,
Ben
#14
Don I bought the $30.00 gas can that fits in the corner of Your saddle bag. Then I got scared and stopped at Wal Mart in Dawson Creek ( The start of the Alcan) and Bought a Canadian Gallon Jug. (1 1/4 gals). It fit in the bag but was only $6.00. Also Canadian jugs don't have that silly spring loaded filler spout! Remember Gas Is Very Expensive there. It was about $1.39 a liter. You Bike will take 16 to 20. 86 Octane at best.
I often jumped to the front of the construction line. I also Pulled over and let them pass as I couldn't keep up. The road was too rough. Ruts and mud slow me down big time. I also had a Japanese tourist in an f350 with a 40' camper fifth wheel on My A**. I then waited until at least 1/4 mile back due to the rooster tail of Dust I couldn't see through. These can go on for 30 miles. They are writing the mile post for 2017 now. Next spring they will be working on different places.
The front of the Bags took a beating from road dirt. The rest was Mud and Bugs in every nook and crevise.
$ 45.00 for Coors Light.....Ouch!!! While in the states, If You Think You will probably stay in that state, Stop at the first welcome ctr. They have discount coupons for hotels and tell You what Exit to get off. On the Alcan You have no options. There are no exits. You can't get lost. If a sign says " Camp" It is a very dumpy Barracks style hotel for the Oil Miners or Construction Workers.
I often jumped to the front of the construction line. I also Pulled over and let them pass as I couldn't keep up. The road was too rough. Ruts and mud slow me down big time. I also had a Japanese tourist in an f350 with a 40' camper fifth wheel on My A**. I then waited until at least 1/4 mile back due to the rooster tail of Dust I couldn't see through. These can go on for 30 miles. They are writing the mile post for 2017 now. Next spring they will be working on different places.
The front of the Bags took a beating from road dirt. The rest was Mud and Bugs in every nook and crevise.
$ 45.00 for Coors Light.....Ouch!!! While in the states, If You Think You will probably stay in that state, Stop at the first welcome ctr. They have discount coupons for hotels and tell You what Exit to get off. On the Alcan You have no options. There are no exits. You can't get lost. If a sign says " Camp" It is a very dumpy Barracks style hotel for the Oil Miners or Construction Workers.
pics look great. I have been down to Key West twice on my bike. Looking forward to taking my picture next to that sign as well.
Left June 30th from Baltimore, on July 3rd I T-Boned a deer in Manitoba, totaling my bike & trailer. My suggestion to you is to pay for travelers Medical Insurance. As a US Citizen you don't have coverage in Canada. You must pay in cash for medical services at time of treatment. Also Meat Wagon fee is about $520 US. All of which you have to pay. They will not bill your insurance company. Ask me how I know! Anyway, I'm planning on rescheduling my trip to the Arctic Circle in about 3 years. If you want any GPX files and itinerary I have a bunch I can send you. Email me at krab (at) bjbark (dot) com.
Regards,
Ben
Regards,
Ben
Don
#15
Regards,
Ben
#16
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Sandy Eggo's North County
Posts: 14,595
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2,952 Posts
#17
I went in June, it is supposed to have less rain, But it rained. Did not make motel reservations on way up. But did quite a bit of the way back. Ended up sleeping in the parking lot of a Walmart in Whitehorse, cause a cruise ship was in town, and every motel was booked for 100s of miles.
You are going to have to ride on gravel and mud. The gravel up there is hard packed. Look out for signs warning of bumps, or dust warnings
I wish I would have brought a light pair of long johns. I only brought a heavy pair. Should have brought both.
Becareful driven at night and getting gas, especially in Canada. Canada is not modern. Hard to find pay at the pump. You forget how late it is, because of the light.
Most days were 500 miles.
BC37, Cassiar hwy, is most remote road I have ever been on.
You are going to have to ride on gravel and mud. The gravel up there is hard packed. Look out for signs warning of bumps, or dust warnings
I wish I would have brought a light pair of long johns. I only brought a heavy pair. Should have brought both.
Becareful driven at night and getting gas, especially in Canada. Canada is not modern. Hard to find pay at the pump. You forget how late it is, because of the light.
Most days were 500 miles.
BC37, Cassiar hwy, is most remote road I have ever been on.
#18
For some general info for riding to/from Alaska via various routes, try www.akrider.com
The link did not work for me
I went in June, it is supposed to have less rain, But it rained. Did not make motel reservations on way up. But did quite a bit of the way back. Ended up sleeping in the parking lot of a Walmart in Whitehorse, cause a cruise ship was in town, and every motel was booked for 100s of miles.
You are going to have to ride on gravel and mud. The gravel up there is hard packed. Look out for signs warning of bumps, or dust warnings
I wish I would have brought a light pair of long johns. I only brought a heavy pair. Should have brought both.
Becareful driven at night and getting gas, especially in Canada. Canada is not modern. Hard to find pay at the pump. You forget how late it is, because of the light.
Most days were 500 miles.
BC37, Cassiar hwy, is most remote road I have ever been on.
You are going to have to ride on gravel and mud. The gravel up there is hard packed. Look out for signs warning of bumps, or dust warnings
I wish I would have brought a light pair of long johns. I only brought a heavy pair. Should have brought both.
Becareful driven at night and getting gas, especially in Canada. Canada is not modern. Hard to find pay at the pump. You forget how late it is, because of the light.
Most days were 500 miles.
BC37, Cassiar hwy, is most remote road I have ever been on.
on our trip to nova scotia I can relate to canada not being modernized is some places
thanks again for the advice everyone has mentioned
#19
Typically it wasn't hard to get a room. The last room available was only around 3 or 4 pm, having rode around 400 miles. Ended up going 200 or more, and sleeping on the ground.
Way back we made reservations about every 500 until we got close to transcanda 1.
Not sure if the Milepost has been mentioned. Great read. Get the most up to date copy, because it will have road conditions and constructions, not that, that is a guarantee. Some people brought it along so they could use the ads for motels and such.
#20
I have 5 gallon tank, and gassed up at the next place after 75 miles. Most stuff is about 100 miles apart.
People will say I can go 175 miles, why gas up. Because it is not uncommon to have to go another 100 miles.
Places close down too, or may not be open for the season yet. Until you pump gas, don't count on it.
I topped at place near Yukon River on way to Arctic Circle, that was supposed to have gas. Sat and had a pop. Turns out they had no gas, 5 miles to next place, closed at 9pm in 10 minutes, on gravel roads. They were closed. I had to bang and bang on door, going around back. Next place was 160 miles. I would have had to sleep in the parking lot of a very remote gas station.
Cassiar Highway is 160 miles between gas stations. Though I have heard there is place with gas in Hope. But places come and go.
People will say I can go 175 miles, why gas up. Because it is not uncommon to have to go another 100 miles.
Places close down too, or may not be open for the season yet. Until you pump gas, don't count on it.
I topped at place near Yukon River on way to Arctic Circle, that was supposed to have gas. Sat and had a pop. Turns out they had no gas, 5 miles to next place, closed at 9pm in 10 minutes, on gravel roads. They were closed. I had to bang and bang on door, going around back. Next place was 160 miles. I would have had to sleep in the parking lot of a very remote gas station.
Cassiar Highway is 160 miles between gas stations. Though I have heard there is place with gas in Hope. But places come and go.