FJRoldrider

The weather has turned. Summer is over. Time to take care of the maintenance that I've been putting off for the sake of riding.

I found a post on a FJR forum that a guy from Ft. Worth, Texas had placed, explaining how he intended to ride from Ft. Worth to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska and put his foot in the Arctic ocean. I emailed him about this quest and as a result, he will meet me here in Idaho (a few days after he leaves on the 15th of June) and we'll continue north through Canada and northwest into Alaska. Once in AL, we'll continue north to Fairbanks and get on the Dalton Hy. and ride 454 miles up to the Arctic ocean, turn around and come back. We plan on camping a couple of nights then spend the next night in a motel for a shower and sanity check throughout the journey.

This will indeed be the trip of a lifetime. I'm going to mount a car tire on the rear of my FJR and figure on replacing the front tire halfway during the trip.

There are just the two of us going so far. If any of you guys would like to join in, please contact me. This won't be an Iron Butt ride, we'll probably do 400- 500 miles per day. But it will be one hell of a long ride and encounter some of the most fabulous scenery in the Northern hemisphere. I plan on taking loads of pictures to document the trip and providing a lengthy trip report. You are welcome to join us.

Happy trails,
-Paul

Vegasrider

Look forward to your trip report. Alaska is on my list, but I may hold off the trip until I get the new Ducati Multistrada. I heard the dangers of camping are the bears. I'll probably take the ferry for part of the way to AK when I decide to go.

Adventure rider forum has some great threads about Alaska too.

Bluesrider1

I made the ride to Inuvik, NWT many years ago (early '80's) with some mates. It was truly an adventure, especially on the bikes in those days.
We left out of Minneapolis, MN, about the same time, planning on being to the Arctic Circle by June 21, and 24 hours of daylight is freakin' awesome!

Have fun!!!!

LckyTylr

I'm sure that the two of you have this full mapped out and are aware of this, but be sure to research where fuel stops are throughout the Canadian portion of your adventure. I did the trip several years ago with a U-Haul and I remember pulling up to a gas station at 23:00, thinking I was going to fill up and drive through the night while my Dad slept, but the gas station was closed and the pumps didn't accept credit/debit cards . . . . so there we sat.

ALSO, the One-And-ONLY gas station between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay is spaced at a Maximum distance for many 4-wheeled vehicles. The gas was almost $6.00/gal when I was there in 2004, I'd hate to see what it is now. Soooo, extra fuel is a MUST on this portion of the ride.

Oh yeah, be VERY careful going up over the pass on your way to Prudhoe, those Semi drivers are F'ing CRAZY and they REALLY don't care if they splat you on their bumper, you are just one more bump in the road to them.

Have Fun!!! I wish I could join along, that's a fun route. You will never forget it. :-)

FJRoldrider

"ALSO, the One-And-ONLY gas station between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay is spaced at a Maximum distance for many 4-wheeled vehicles. The gas was almost $6.00/gal when I was there in 2004, I'd hate to see what it is now. Soooo, extra fuel is a MUST on this portion of the ride. "


Thanks for the tips. Plans are just at a beginning stage, at this point. There are 240 miles between Coldfoot and Deadhorse with absolutely zero services. FJR's have a 6 1/2 gallon tank that at 50 mph should make the 240 miles with no problem. I may carry a small gas can just in case.

The Canada leg is also a maybe. Vegas Rider gave me a good idea about the Alaska State Ferry's that run from Washington state to Juneau, AK. that might be a good way to go.

Right now I'm in a fact finding mode to get ready for this trip 10 months from now.

Gem STate ST

Here is a bunch of threads from people that have done this ride http://www.advrider.com/forums/searc...rchid=20091099

alfalfa

It will probably be one of the most incredible trips you've ever taken. Grew up in Alaska, but riding back up there in 2009, with the ride friends and family, was beyond description. But, I tried and wrote about it here:

http://www.adventuresportrider.com/f...read.php?t=915


My brother lives in Boise (SpudNick) and can tell you more if you have questions. I rode a KTM 950, with an unknown to met at the time fuel range. As it turns out, I could make it from Coldfoot to Prudhoe on one tank of gas (about 250 miles). But, I carried an extra gallon and actually had to use it at the top of Atigun Pass, coming back south. Never figured out why, except that maybe we were going faster on the way back to Coldfoot.

North of Atigun reminded me of Mongolia and had its own sparse beauty. On ADV there is a fellow who goes by the name of ALcanRider. His photo series on the Dalton has to be seen.


Good luck on your trip. Hope to read about it next year

FJRoldrider

The Canada leg is also a maybe. Vegas Rider gave me a good idea about the Alaska State Ferry's that run from Washington state to Juneau, AK. that might be a good way to go.

I checked into the State ferry system. From Bellingham, WA., to Juneau, AK. is $757 for my bike and myself, one way. Think I'll get some bear spray and ride through Canada after all.

Vegasrider

Why would you go to Juneau? If the Arctic Circle or the Dalton Hwy is your goal, this is going out of the way and you're just stuck in an out of the way island.

Check out the the ferry from Prince Rupert to Haines. It's a 24 hour ferry ride though the inside passage, you can significantly reduce the cost of the ferry by camping out on the deck of the ferry versus securing a cabin. You would be able to bybass a lot of the roads in Canada, minmizing potential hazards plus giving you a welcome break on your ride.

I have to dig up the link where I got all this information, but I remembered it was from the AV rider forum.

alfalfa

dont miss Canada. lots of good sights. hit Icefields Parkway and Hyder

FJRoldrider

Check out the the ferry from Prince Rupert to Haines. It's a 24 hour ferry ride though the inside passage, you can significantly reduce the cost of the ferry by camping out on the deck of the ferry versus securing a cabin. You would be able to bybass a lot of the roads in Canada, minmizing potential hazards plus giving you a welcome break on your ride.

That $757 price is the price for camping on deck. Staterooms are an extra charge.

MtnPwnd

What an EPIC ride that would be! I can only imagine the adventure and comraderie you'll forge! I hope and pray that you have a safe trip and I have to say I'm mighty jealous. I would LOVE to take a trip like that. It will be stunning to say the absolute least.

FJRoldrider

Talk about Epic, the guy I'm joining up with is riding up from Ft. Worth, Texas. It's 1351 miles from there to here, and 2571 miles from here to Fairbanks. The ride I'm making is 1351 miles (one way) easier than his. I'm glad we started planning this trip 10 months ahead so I can save up enough money to pay for all the stuff I've got to buy to ready the bike for a trip of this magnitude.

Happy Trails,
-Paul

Gem STate ST

Paul, I have a compressor you can borrow and an assortment of soft luggage.Stop by to see if any of it will work.

FJRoldrider

Thanks Bill! I carry a compressor with me at all times, but would like to take a look at the soft luggage. I'll try to see you this weekend.

-Paul