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PAUL SOUZA
Trad climber
Central Valley, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 5, 2016 - 10:54am PT
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I'll be riding up to Alaska from California starting May 28th on a 2 month moto road trip to ride the infamous Dalton Highway to Prudhoe Bay. I've gotten a lot of info from the adventure riding forums, but there aren't many hikers/climbers on there.
I've been reading BASE104's posts about grizzlies and with other stuff I've read, I'm frankly skeerd of running into one since I plan to hike some trails in DNP and Mt. Healy. I suppose I can just tail some other hikers to decrease my chances of being mauled...lol.
I plan to be in AK for about 2 weeks, Fairbanks > Prudhoe Bay > Anchorage > Homer > then to Banff and the Bugs on my way to Key West, FL. Yes, riding the whole way.
Any words of wisdom out there?
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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YER GUNNA....
Need more bugspray than you have used in your last two lifetimes. AT least.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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bump for an amazing trip.
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PAUL SOUZA
Trad climber
Central Valley, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - May 5, 2016 - 02:16pm PT
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Haha...yeah, I've heard that the skeeter should be designated as the state bird.
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crankster
Trad climber
No. Tahoe
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Gore Tex, obviously. And DEET...won't be bad everywhere, but I've been there in late-June and they can be really a problem. A head net would be a good idea. Get up in the air if you can...Denali, for sure.
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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Need more bugspray than you have used in your last two lifetimes. AT least. LOL
Get a mosquito netting hat
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SammyHammy
Social climber
Anti-
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When are you going to be in Prudhoe Bay? I work up there most of the time, and I grew up in Lemoore, so it would be cool to meet up and talk shop. You are aware that you can't take your bike all the way to Beaufort Sea, right? You have to make extra arrangements if you wanna get through the BP checkpoint and get to the ocean. None the less, it sounds like a cool ride.
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neverwas
Mountain climber
ak
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Just let the bears know you're there and you'll be fine.
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climbingcoastie
Ice climber
Sacramento, CA
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Pick up a book called "The Milepost" if you haven't already!
I drove the AlCan for the sixth time last week and the roads were the best i've ever seen. Mostly paved and only 45 km of continuous gravel just before Beaver Creek, but the paved road after that was pretty beat up with frost heaves.
Liard Hot Springs are a must stop between Watson Lake and Fort Nelson.
I'd highly recommend turning south in Haines Junction (after eating at Frostie's) on your way back. Drive to Haines and catch the 30 min ferry to Skagway. Spend a little bit of time in Skagway, possibly ride the White Pass Railroad, then ride north back to the AlCan and continue your trip. Skagway is the only "tourist trap" town I've ever enjoyed visiting!
Most people don't realize it but Canada considers a DUI a felony, so if you have one in your past they won't let you in. That had screwed up a lot of peoples plans last minute.
If your interested in hiking around the Wasilla area or need a room/shower let me know.
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PAUL SOUZA
Trad climber
Central Valley, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - May 6, 2016 - 08:25am PT
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When are you going to be in Prudhoe Bay? I work up there most of the time, and I grew up in Lemoore, so it would be cool to meet up and talk shop. You are aware that you can't take your bike all the way to Beaufort Sea, right? You have to make extra arrangements if you wanna get through the BP checkpoint and get to the ocean. None the less, it sounds like a cool ride.
Hi Sammy,
Yes, I meant to say Deadhorse. I did research and found the bus service that takes tourists through PB to the waterfront.
I'll shoot you a message when I get near. I plan to be in Fairbanks on June 6th, then be on the Dalton June 7-10.
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tolman_paul
Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
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Bear maulings are extremely rare, yes they occur every year but they are typically related to doing something stupid in bear country.
Honestly I think your greatest danger is riding the haul road on a motorcycle. I've driven most of the haul road for work and even a 3/4 ton truck, seems like a small vehicle compared to the big rigs. Some sections of road are very rough and large rocks can get stuck between the dual tires of the big rigs and get launched out at the most in opportune times. A friend had a soft ball sized rock launched through his windshield nearly taking his head off. It's not like all the gravel is nicely screened and some areas have very sharp shards of rock the get pulled up whenever the graders blade the road.
Never know what you might see up there.
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neverwas
Mountain climber
ak
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A CB radio is great to have on the Dalton Hwy, e.g., to ask a trucker if you can go around or let them know you're doing it, hear from the pilot car, keep up with what's going on on the road, etc.
.
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Kalimon
Social climber
Ridgway, CO
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Perhaps bear spray is something to consider . . . hiking in Grizz territory can be unnerving to say the least.
The mosquitoes are much worse in the interior regions, the coastal not so bad.
As for AK in June, the five summers I spent in Cordova were usually rainy; A region known for precipitation.
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nah000
climber
no/w/here
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i'm going to second or third the comments about motorcycling, not bears being your biggest risk...
denali national park has one of the best bear education programs for backpackers [and it was mandatory in 2006] that i've seen anywhere and the fact that there has only been one death due to griz mauling there in the history of the park is testament to the effectiveness of their program. this isn't to say that you won't feel more afraid backpacking with tons of griz [activity] surrounding you, than you will riding your moto, it's just to say that realistically that's where the danger lies.
that said, as far as the dalton, we drove it in a 2wd s10 through to deadhorse in 2006, so all things are doable...
we went in august and the mosquitos tried to eat us alive... especially anytime we camped beside a nice pretty lake... :)
finally, your ass is going to be sore... because the one thing you're going to learn real fast is that northern canada and alaska stretch on for much further than one thinks looking at a map...
have fun, you're going to have an awesome time!!
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chick_on_ice
Trad climber
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You're in for a treat going up the Dalton! I worked two summers in Coldfoot and one winter up in Deadhorse.
I did my fair amount of hitchhiking up there both in winter:
And in the summer with mostly truckers going up and down the Haul Road:
Below photo was taken in June. Notice how I'm essentially wearing a full-body bug net suit. I recommend the same.
If you're going later in the season up north onto the tundra (say august), then you don't need a bug net because bug season will have passed. You can see that I got away with long sleeves and rolled up pants for over two weeks on a backpacking trip below:
However, I HAVE seen my fair share of bears up there, and unlike the other fear-mongering peeps that don't have personal experience, I'll tell you that as long as you have bear spray and make enough noise, the bears up north won't bother you. That's because they're hunted and therefore scared of humans. (obviously barring you scaring one by accident, then all bets are off).
Let me know if you want any more details about the Haul Road from Fairbanks up and back to Prudhoe. I've spent over a year up there total, so know my way around.
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rick sumner
Trad climber
reno, nevada/ wasilla alaska
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High bug season for sure.
Probably one of your biggest dangers, save being eaten alive from bugs, are the truckers on the Dalton passing you at high speed and leaving you sight less in a cloud of dust.
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PAUL SOUZA
Trad climber
Central Valley, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - May 8, 2016 - 08:57am PT
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Thanks for the advice everyone!
finally, your ass is going to be sore... because the one thing you're going to learn real fast is that northern canada and alaska stretch on for much further than one thinks looking at a map...
I've invested in all new suspension and a new custom made seat. ;)
However, I HAVE seen my fair share of bears up there, and unlike the other fear-mongering peeps that don't have personal experience, I'll tell you that as long as you have bear spray and make enough noise, the bears up north won't bother you. That's because they're hunted and therefore scared of humans. (obviously barring you scaring one by accident, then all bets are off).
Good to know!
Probably one of your biggest dangers, save being eaten alive from bugs, are the truckers on the Dalton passing you at high speed and leaving you sight less in a cloud of dust.
I've exhaustively been reading everything I can on the adventure riding forums about the Dalton.
Anyone know of any good hikes in Denali NP or elsewhere?
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SammyHammy
Social climber
Anti-
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May 11, 2016 - 08:28am PT
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Paul,
I was really hoping I'd get to meet you and check out your bike - I've been thinking about getting a dual sport for a couple of years now. Unfortunately, I'll be off Slope in early June so I'll just have to wait for you to grace us with an awesome trip report!
The snow is rapidly melting up here in Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay and hopefully the sea ice will be broken up in another month by the time you get here.
The North Slope and the Greater Prudhoe Bay Oilfield is an incredibly unscenic part of the world, but your road trip sounds absolutely badass!! Have fun and enjoy the ride!
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