North to Alaska 2019 - Once there were Twenty now there are SIX

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Cricket, this will be a paved road adventure, save for those adventurous souls that might choose to ride their FJR from Dawson City, YT to Chicken, AK. Having been across that road, as long as it is dry I see no problem. If wet, i wouldn't attempt it on an FJR.

 
Ok. While I do want a second ride in the garage, maybe this isn't the trip to go out and get one for. Thanks for the insight!

Getting to Alaska will be enough of an adventure!

 
The proposed route is very close to a reverse of what Diana and I ran in 2009.

A 10 year anniversary return trip is very interesting.

Chris

 
This thread has already been an education, now I know where Tok and Tuk are ................... they are not close
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Canadian FJR

 
I spent an hour on this last weekend. I just wanted to take a 30,000 foot view of the map, and kind of see what the mileages and schedule might look like. I need a month to do this the way I want to. Certainly no less than 3 weeks.

Now I've got a year or so to think about how I can pull that off at work.

 
I wish we could, but I can't make SFO. My wife has booked us a cruise during that time, and seeing as though the poor woman has put up with my **** for 30 years, the very least I can do is put up with a cruise for a poorly timed week. Somehow, I believe I will manage.

 
John, It sounds real interesting. It takes me three days to get to Spearfish (and three back home). How many days do you think it will be leaving your house until you return? Vacation time is limited, but available. -Steve

 
It is definitely a trip I want to do but with maybe two other riders, not a herd. While large groups are fun at an FJR gathering, I couldn't possibly imagine coordinating (or participating) in a ride like that with more than 3 or 4 riders. Maybe with a staggered start over a few days with designated meet up in one or two places...? Sort of an informal rolling rally with multiple venues.
I'd treat it more like the IBR. Except we set the start and end points for each day. Everyone figures out their pace, rides with others. You get to the daily end point when you get there.

I like the idea of meeting in NW Montana. That's the "rally" starting point. Everyone get there and we'll make the trip. Ending up in Seattle would be fantastic.

 
It is definitely a trip I want to do but with maybe two other riders, not a herd. While large groups are fun at an FJR gathering, I couldn't possibly imagine coordinating (or participating) in a ride like that with more than 3 or 4 riders. Maybe with a staggered start over a few days with designated meet up in one or two places...? Sort of an informal rolling rally with multiple venues.
I'd treat it more like the IBR. Except we set the start and end points for each day. Everyone figures out their pace, rides with others. You get to the daily end point when you get there.

I like the idea of meeting in NW Montana. That's the "rally" starting point. Everyone get there and we'll make the trip. Ending up in Seattle would be fantastic.

 
John, It sounds real interesting. It takes me three days to get to Spearfish (and three back home). How many days do you think it will be leaving your house until you return? Vacation time is limited, but available. -Steve
This is what I'm thinking as a Route - Two Parts

Spearfish to Haines AK via Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage, Homer, Whittier, Valdez (by ferry), Tok, Haines Jct, Haines AK

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Spearfish,+SD/Eureka,+MT/Banff,+AB,+Canada/Fairbanks,+AK/Anchorage,+AK/Homer,+AK/Whittier,+AK/Valdez,+Alaska/Haines,+Alaska+99827/@54.6755069,-127.8469518,4z/data=!4m29!4m28!1m2!1m1!1s0x533298585baba5ef:0xe8dded619c5da0aa!1m2!1m1!1s0x5365ca5fcf875e79:0xc1b0cc9eef9d80f0!1m2!1m1!1s0x5370ca45910c4afd:0xcaafaebedaac9463!1m2!1m1!1s0x5132454f67fd65a9:0xb3d805e009fef73a!1m2!1m1!1s0x56c8917604b33f41:0x257dba5aa78468e3!1m2!1m1!1s0x56c12deea7865acf:0x1f2e94ed71e773bb!1m2!1m1!1s0x56b81ad99e929553:0xf6d71b0f8e5d2ee2!1m2!1m1!1s0x56b644030f1a7539:0x1f54b4edc991a14f!1m2!1m1!1s0x54001f972851b98d:0xb4f19a60eafd118e!3e0

(4,600 miles at least 11 days with no days off the bike or days specifically allotted to sightseeing)

Haines AK to Skagway (by Ferry), Skagway to Hyder AK to Prince George BC to Kelowna BC to Creston BC to Missoula MT to Spearfish via US 12 vice I-90

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Haines,+AK/Skagway,+AK/Stewart,+BC,+Canada/Hyder,+AK/Prince+George,+BC,+Canada/Kelowna,+BC,+Canada/Rock+Creek,+BC,+Canada/Creston,+BC,+Canada/Missoula,+MT/Spearfish,+SD/@52.4930064,-119.6593586,4z/data=!4m32!4m31!1m2!1m1!1s0x54001f972851b98d:0xb4f19a60eafd118e!1m2!1m1!1s0x56aaa92500de9141:0x5e251777323a536a!1m2!1m1!1s0x540bce0b0b39da2b:0x66ea3dc732d8ce46!1m2!1m1!1s0x540bd186e33733f7:0x25548d29885a70c!1m2!1m1!1s0x538898f7ef590fe9:0x50135152a7b3050!1m2!1m1!1s0x537d8cb6e3c730b3:0x4ef8e53ddab4c4f7!1m2!1m1!1s0x5482ae05717f7c15:0x1d314af777dd62fd!1m2!1m1!1s0x536362e1a612a08d:0x7507ab6f561787c6!1m2!1m1!1s0x535dcc2a50f367cb:0xe9e31277ca94802e!1m2!1m1!1s0x533298585baba5ef:0xe8dded619c5da0aa!3e0

approx 2750 miles 7-8 days without any days off the bike or days for sightseeing.

Looks to me like at least a three-week trip from Spearfish and maybe a few days longer to allow for some off bike/sightseeing days. I did 8,000 on my KLR in three weeks but had a little time off the bike, one day in Whitehorse, one day in Dawson City and no time for sightseeing. The scenery warrants more.

Depending upon the size of the group, accommodations in some places could be tight. Tent Campers will be okay, but beds for Credit Card Campers might be scarce in a few places. Lots of daylight to ride in during June. Gas was never an issue, the food was never an issue, except if you try to eat every sticky bunn along the way you'll need a new rear shock/spring before the trip is over.

My plan is to parse the route into "bite-sized" pieces and make arrangements for blocks of rooms reservable by individuals well in advance. (waiting till June 2018 to do this as many Reservation Systems only look one year ahead).

 
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So looking at the Google Map, almost two years in advance, this is what I see for me.

Day One - Spearfish to Helena MT 8 h 36 min (529 miles)

Day Two - Helena to Radium Hot Springs BC 7 h 20 min (419 miles)

Day Three - Radium Hot Springs to Grand Cache AB 6h 54 min (354 Miles) allows for a few hours of sightseeing at Lake Louise, Icefields Parkway etc.

Day Four - Grand Cache AB to Fort Nelson BC (gain one hour) 8h 17 min (478 miles)

Day Five - Forty Nelson BC to Watson Lake YT Stopping at Liard River Hot Springs for a soak 6h 50 min (319 miles)

Day Six - Watson Lake to Whitehorse YT Short day to allow for Sight Seeing in Whitehorse 5h 11 min (272 Miles)

Day Seven - Day Off in Whitehorse or a real short day to Tok AK

Day Eight - Whitehorse to Fairbanks Long Day 10h 32 Min (588 Miles) Dual Sport or Brave FJR Folks might consider alternate Route from Whitehorse to Dawson City, (330 Miles all paved) then to Tok via Top of the World Highway and Chicken AK 185 Miles almost all gravel

I'd recommend an overnight in Dawson City if you choose this route.

I'd ride my FJR over the TOTW on street tires if it was dry, not if it was raining or had been raining the day before.

Day Nine - Fairbanks to Denali National Park

Day Ten - at Denali https://www.princesslodges.com/excursions/denali-kantishna-experience/ This is but an example - do some googling

Day Eleven - Denali to Anchorage 4h 15 min (250 miles)

Day Twelve - Anchorage to Homer 4h 15 min (221 Miles) lots of scenery along the way

Day Thirteen - Homer to Valdez via Ferry from Whittier to Valdez 3h 15 min 188 miles Homer to Whittier

(Ferry Runs from Whittier to Valdez Monday Wednesday and Friday in 2017 leaving Whittier at 1330 - 1:30 PM)

Day Fourteen - Valdez to Haines Junction YT 10 h ) min (544 Miles) a Long day, but aside from Destruction Bay, not many other good places to stop.

Day Fifteen - Haines Junction, YT to Haines AK 3h 0 min (150 of the most beautiful and spectacular miles you will ever ride in your life)

Then you have to decide if you want to take the Ferry to Skagway that night or stay in Haines for the evening?

The last Ferry to Skagway runs at about 1800 (6:30 pm) this year on week days, only runs once or twice on Weekends. Haines is a quiet peaceful town, Skagway is Cruise Ship Central!

I'm planning on staying in Haines at the https://www.hotelhalsingland.com/ The place is fantastic and the Dining Room was unbelievably good.

There are a few dive bars in town and one can walk or crawl back to one's room. I'll take the first ferry in the morning. JSNS

Day Sixteen - Haines to Watson Lake or Junction 37 (the start of the Cassiar Highway) 8h 15 min (339 Miles) to Watson Lake Junction 37 is about 20 miles less but is more expensive and has fewer options. Watson Lake is the home of the Signpost Forrest has many Motels and Restaurants

Day Seventeen - Watson Lake to Hyder AK. 9h 45 min (410 miles) Probably stay in Stewart BC at King Edward Hotel.

Day Eighteen - Morning in Hyder looking at the Grizzly Bears and Glaciers - Then onto Vanderhoof BC. 7h 45 min 375 miles

Day Nineteen - Vanderhoof BC to Kelowna BC 8h 30 min 480 miles

Day Twenty - Day off the Bike or optional Day Ride to Nakusp, Revelstoke, Vernon and back to Kelowna 8h 00min (339 Miles)

Day Twenty-One - Kelowna to Missoula MT 9h 15 min (500 miles)

Day Twenty-Two - Missoula to Spearfish 9h 13 min (621 Miles) It won't take me this long!

 
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