alaska
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 199
From: Vancouver BC
alaska
hoping to do a trip to alaska from vancouver bc this summer. prol take a couple of weeks sometime between the begining of aug to early sept. like to ride up and take the ferry home. any must reads? i have the milepost..... any must do roads, towns, bars? is this a good time of year to go? all advice apreciated 
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From:
RE: alaska
You're living my dream, I have been planning a similar trip when I retire. Here are a few web links that may assist you. Of course you know, plan your trip and routes wisely, have extra MC necessities and essentials.
Some of the links are to personal blogs and diaries and reading material. Good luck have fun.
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/thadalaska/index.html
http://www.bluepoof.com/motorcycles/trips/alaska/
http://fairbanks-alaska.com/alaska-trip-diary.htm
http://www.whitehorsepress.com/produ...oducts_id=1174
http://www.pashnit.com/30days/30-9.htm
Some of the links are to personal blogs and diaries and reading material. Good luck have fun.
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/thadalaska/index.html
http://www.bluepoof.com/motorcycles/trips/alaska/
http://fairbanks-alaska.com/alaska-trip-diary.htm
http://www.whitehorsepress.com/produ...oducts_id=1174
http://www.pashnit.com/30days/30-9.htm
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 420
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
RE: alaska
Been a few years since I've been there (not sure what it is like now); but, I always had a good time at Chilkoot Charlies, http://www.koots.com, in Anchorage.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 681
Likes: 0
From: Red&Black World
RE: alaska
Chilkoot charlies is fun Go up stairs. There is a Hooters there too.
I have drove it my my pick up a couple times. That road can be nasty. Watch out for the Land trains (big trucks) They haul butt on the gravel roads. Look out for Moose in the road. Dont say I wont be traveling at night because at some point you will. And it will be almost daylight, but them shadows will be there hiding animals andfrost heaves. Look out for the Snow Birds Going North and south in august. Have the camera ready. Stay at Toad River Lodge, just to say you stayed there. You will understand after you are there.
I have drove it my my pick up a couple times. That road can be nasty. Watch out for the Land trains (big trucks) They haul butt on the gravel roads. Look out for Moose in the road. Dont say I wont be traveling at night because at some point you will. And it will be almost daylight, but them shadows will be there hiding animals andfrost heaves. Look out for the Snow Birds Going North and south in august. Have the camera ready. Stay at Toad River Lodge, just to say you stayed there. You will understand after you are there.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From:
RE: alaska
I was going to do the Alaska trip this year afterthe 105thin milwaulkee in August. Then I talk to a guy that has been there six times, August is one of the rainy months recomended June or July. Also watch out for sink holes on the roadfrom the warming tempatures. Moose-Bear-Dear are problems. Many good books on amason .com. Check the web for Alaska Travel, they will send you all sorts of info.
RIDE ON !!!
RIDE ON !!!
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Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From:
RE: alaska
+1 for Toad River. Awesome trip. Done it twice with my camper. Rain gear, tire repair kit. Watch for rough roads and gravel. Aug was a great month last time I was up. If you have to make a choice stay south Seward ect...
ps animals on roadways at night.
ps animals on roadways at night.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: The Frozen North - Hastings Michigan
RE: alaska
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
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
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,360
Likes: 3
From: Naalehu, Hawaii
RE: alaska
Sorry to say Hooters in Anchorage closed recently. Koots is still open, Brown Bear down on Turnagain Arm is a frequent stop. Bear in mind later in the summer is usually more rainy. You should consider summer solstice, end of June early July time frame. Harley0711 from this forum came up and road all three highways last year. He'd have info for you. The Milepost is the only book I usually tell people to get, it covers Canada too.
Arvid
Arvid