Riding to Alaska - July 1 - 27, 2013
Mitch Mitchell and I held our second ride planning meeting yesterday. The first one was so long ago that this one feels like the actual kickoff activity for the ride. Now the whole project is beginning to feel real and my excitement is starting to build.
A ride of this length and into this kind of remote territory requires lots of planning. And it's also a good idea to learn from others' experience. Mitch and I agreed that we want to consult experts on the matter and we're starting with Dr. Gregory W. Frazier who has written a book titled Alaska by Motorcycle. He's ridden to Alaska more than a dozen times, including all the way to Prudhoe Bay (Deadhorse, AK). Because Dr. Frazier's book is a bit outdated, we will also be referring to other well-known guides, such as The Mile Post.
Our plan is to ride to Fairbanks and then north on the Dalton Highway (aka Prudhoe Bay Haul Highway) with photos at the Arctic Circle sign, illustrated on the cover of Dr. Frazier's book. (Refer to the illustration, right.) We then have to ride another 50 miles or so to get gas at Coldfoot and then turn around.
Our goal is to complete the ride in four weeks with four days in reserve. That is, I will plan to be traveling though July 31, but we will target July 27 as our return date.
I will describe the details of our planning over the next four and a half months and blog from the road in July--where possible.
Keep the shiny side up!
The Long Rider
Michael A. Uhl
Reader Comments (2)
I am leaving ohio on the 29th of june with a destination of homer ak . Hopefully i will see you somewhere on the road . Its going to be a great trip !!!
Turns out my friend Mitch cannot get the needed four weeks off to go to Alaska. I'm going to settle for two separate rides, one to Maine and perhaps Nova Scotia (June - July) , and the other somewhere out west, hopefully Montana and Glacier National Park in August.