"First to Alaska"....circa 1946

Really pretty amazing stuff here. A 1946 Harley, no major mechanical problems, 65mpg and apparently one set of tires!
Sounds like the ultimate Alcan attacking tool right there, even by today's standards.

Wonder if Corbin makes a seat for it?

Great Story. Makes me feel a little ashamed because I nixed my Alaska part of my adventure for the moment, on my 2012 trip, because I was setting out on a brand new Italian model that needed the bugs worked out and there wasn't a dealer to be seen up there.
But, on a better note, the bugs are worked out and I hope to complete the trip this year with Alaska.

Thanks for sharing the story!

http://www.fold3.com/image/#ann=1112040135

That is great story about a great rider. That's what being a biker is all about. Perseverance over any problem found on your road. The trip is the fun not the destination.

You will remember every minute of the trip that had tons of problems and trails. The one that went well in good weather no troubles you forget everything except you went.

Cheers Tipper Ride on in our collective memories. Ian - VeloRush

Thanks for bringing this report back up, Mark. Very interesting to read it again. It's amazing how we've become so afraid of real adventure these days.Those guys could take care of themselves. I guess the ' Mommy state' has taken over. Oh, and congrats on being a new Grandaddy you old man.

Thanks for sharing!

ttt Good story. Thanks for sharing.

Glad I got to experience the Alcan for what it was back in the mid '70's.

Looking forward to meeting more ADV brethren who are venturing up again this year.

Good luck and have fun, Mark H.

That was an awesome read. I'm absolutely amazed that he couldn't carry his .45 thru Canada even in 1946. I had no idea. Wolves and bears abound and he had a fire and a hatchet! Cool story of a cool guy!

Great story. Thanks for posting.

Thanks for sharing this story, i did my Alaska trip last summer 11.129 mi.rnd trip in 22 days,camping too,was awesome.

Bumping it just because I felt it needed to be...great stuff!

Thank you so much for this story. I love to hear about how things were in the old days. We tend to pat ourselves on the back for doing something that 50 yrs ago took a different level of bravery. There are still people who brave real odds but unfortunately there is just not that many places that offer real challenges, like he faced.

Again, thank you

Very cool story, thanks for posting, enjoyed it greatly.

These men coming back from ww2 had no fear...nothing seemed to phase those guys. Kinda like Dave Barr, riding a harley RTW....and AMF built harley, no less

I wonder if he remembered to stop and pick up his 1911?

The WLA is my dream bike.

Sweet, much more cool than we SPS{Air Force} and MPs had in Vietnam....we had to drive those damn, turn the corner, roll them over{on yourself} Willys Jeeps....:eek1