alaska
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City, UT
RE: alaska
We are leaving June 14 and hope to be somewhere close to Fairbanks on the 21st for the Summer Solstice. After a lot of research, June seems to be the driest month and July the warmest. Both have tons of mosquitos and road construction, so what do you do?? The one thing I'm forcing everyone to do on this trip is the "Sourtoe." It's a drink at the Downtown Hotel in Dawson City, Yukon that has a dried & salted human toe in it. You can read all about it here: http://www.sourtoecocktailclub.com/cert.html
We are taking the ferry from Haines to Prince Rupert, BC on June 26th. We booked it about a week ago. That line only runs once every 5-6 days. Hopefully we get there on time!! Check out the schedules here: http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/index.html
We are taking the ferry from Haines to Prince Rupert, BC on June 26th. We booked it about a week ago. That line only runs once every 5-6 days. Hopefully we get there on time!! Check out the schedules here: http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/index.html
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 199
From: Vancouver BC
RE: alaska
ya it sounds like late june into july is the best time to go weather wise, tho sounds like ya never know what your gonna run into lol. mesquitos sound like they've thined out by august.... cant leave till aug 1st at the earliest so i'm hoppin for an early aug departure and i guess i better get on that ferry reservation!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,360
Likes: 3
From: Naalehu, Hawaii
RE: alaska
I've seen misquitos mentioned more than once. clickhereMisquitos don't like Deet, Ben's has 100 percent Deet. If you don't get it before you arrive, you can find it just about anywhere once you get here. I used to carry it in the pouch on my backrest until the cap came loose and it ate a hole in the Vinyl.Avoid the spray bottle andkeep it in an upright position. 1.25 ounce bottlewill last you for years.
Arvid
Arvid
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City, UT
RE: alaska
The woman I spoke with on the phone reservation line was very nice. She said that right now, you can most likely reserve any boat that you want. She said that by the end of May, many boats are near capacity, with no cabins available. However, camping space on the deck is first-come first-serve. I would start looking now. The hardest part is trying to figure out what boat to take, as they only sail every few days (or in one case, once a month!). The June 26th boat was a little late for us, but i'm sure we'll find stuff to do up there for a few days!
PS - Don't forget to bring some tie-downs for your bike while on the ferry. They are not provided. It was suggested that I bring 3. Two for the left side, one for the right (bike on kickstand, in gear).
PS - Don't forget to bring some tie-downs for your bike while on the ferry. They are not provided. It was suggested that I bring 3. Two for the left side, one for the right (bike on kickstand, in gear).
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 24
From: Greenfield, WI
RE: alaska
That's my dream when I retire also. I don't get enough vacation time from my employer (2 weeks) to make the trip worth taking from Milwaukee so will have to wait.
Enjoy your trip and be safe.
Enjoy your trip and be safe.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 199
From: Vancouver BC
RE: alaska
so my options for the ferry home are:
Whittier to Juneau[/align]Depart Whittier August 27th at 7pm. Arrive Juneau August 29th at 9:30am.[/align]Depart Juneau September 2nd at 6:30am. Arrive Bellingham September 5th at 8am.....4 day layover in Juneau.....[/align][/align]
Whittier to Prince Rupert[/align]Depart Whittier August 27th at 7am. Arrive Prince Rupert August 30th at 4:45am....leaves me a long ride home....[/align][/align]
Haines to Bellingham
Depart Haines August 4th at 7:15pm. Arrive Bellingham August 8th at 8am[/align]Depart Haines August 11th at 7:15pm. Arrive Bellingham August 15th at 8am[/align]Depart Haines August 18th at 6:15pm. Arrive Bellingham August22nd at 8am.[/align]Depart Haines August 25th at 8:15pm. Arrive Bellingham August 29th at 8am.......[/align][/align]haines to bellingham looks like it's my best bet with the most options, haines is only 775 miles from anchorage which is kinda where i was thinkin of ending up....[/align][/align]don't like making plans around a ferry trip but i guess it is what it is.....[/align][/align][/align]
Whittier to Juneau[/align]Depart Whittier August 27th at 7pm. Arrive Juneau August 29th at 9:30am.[/align]Depart Juneau September 2nd at 6:30am. Arrive Bellingham September 5th at 8am.....4 day layover in Juneau.....[/align][/align]
Whittier to Prince Rupert[/align]Depart Whittier August 27th at 7am. Arrive Prince Rupert August 30th at 4:45am....leaves me a long ride home....[/align][/align]
Haines to Bellingham
Depart Haines August 4th at 7:15pm. Arrive Bellingham August 8th at 8am[/align]Depart Haines August 11th at 7:15pm. Arrive Bellingham August 15th at 8am[/align]Depart Haines August 18th at 6:15pm. Arrive Bellingham August22nd at 8am.[/align]Depart Haines August 25th at 8:15pm. Arrive Bellingham August 29th at 8am.......[/align][/align]haines to bellingham looks like it's my best bet with the most options, haines is only 775 miles from anchorage which is kinda where i was thinkin of ending up....[/align][/align]don't like making plans around a ferry trip but i guess it is what it is.....[/align][/align][/align]
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 0
From: Greenwood, IN
RE: alaska
ORIGINAL: jake dog
My wife & I rode up there from Michigan last July. July would be your best month to go, it would be your dryest, and warmest.
Get a copy of Alaska Milepost magizine, and plot your trip using it as a guide.
Keep in mind the Harley dealers, or any motorcycle repair places for that matter,are far and few between. Start your trip on a new set of tires, if you don't, you will wish you had. Lots of pot holes in the Alaskin Highway, if it rains, they fill with water and you can't see them till you hit them. The Alcan is mostly crushed rock, eats up tires in a hurry, andthe dust is bad if it's dry, if it's wet, very muddy. Speaking of dust andmud, it is almost impossable to wash that stuff off, so your bike will stay gray for a long time.
Most of the gas stationsalong the waythere have only regular gas,anda large precentageof that will have ethanal in it. You WILL get crappy gas milage.
Most of the bridges are steel grate and rough, andvery slippery when wet, use caution.
Watch for animals in, or crossing the road, you never know when one will jump out to get you.Came real close to getting a bear that way up there. Speaking of bears ... don't stop too close totake a picture of one, they can run a lot faster than you think.
All in all, we really enjoyed the ride up and back. We didn't take the ferry back, we would have had to book passage almost a year ahead, so if that is your plan, check into it NOW.
The ride there was very scenic, would love to do it again somtime.
Oh, one more thing, do stop at the HOT Springs on your way up and take a dip, it's real relaxing.
Jake Dog
My wife & I rode up there from Michigan last July. July would be your best month to go, it would be your dryest, and warmest.
Get a copy of Alaska Milepost magizine, and plot your trip using it as a guide.
Keep in mind the Harley dealers, or any motorcycle repair places for that matter,are far and few between. Start your trip on a new set of tires, if you don't, you will wish you had. Lots of pot holes in the Alaskin Highway, if it rains, they fill with water and you can't see them till you hit them. The Alcan is mostly crushed rock, eats up tires in a hurry, andthe dust is bad if it's dry, if it's wet, very muddy. Speaking of dust andmud, it is almost impossable to wash that stuff off, so your bike will stay gray for a long time.
Most of the gas stationsalong the waythere have only regular gas,anda large precentageof that will have ethanal in it. You WILL get crappy gas milage.
Most of the bridges are steel grate and rough, andvery slippery when wet, use caution.
Watch for animals in, or crossing the road, you never know when one will jump out to get you.Came real close to getting a bear that way up there. Speaking of bears ... don't stop too close totake a picture of one, they can run a lot faster than you think.
All in all, we really enjoyed the ride up and back. We didn't take the ferry back, we would have had to book passage almost a year ahead, so if that is your plan, check into it NOW.
The ride there was very scenic, would love to do it again somtime.
Oh, one more thing, do stop at the HOT Springs on your way up and take a dip, it's real relaxing.
Jake Dog
JD
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post