Looks like you had sunny weather - makes it a pretty nice trip, doesn't it? Your second photo - taken from about Mile 90.2. That seems to be a popular spot, as I believe there must be two or three others in this thread taken from around that same area. That's where you get back onto pavement north of the Yukon River, and everyone must stop there and breath a sigh of relief. Nice photos, give us some more.
There's no set amount, and some years all they will do is apply chip seal to a few miles of the gravel, and the following year it is potholed and worse than the gravel. The stretch around Mile 20 was done in '04 and '05. The good stuff from Mile 37 to 49.5 was done in '07 and '08, and the last 22 miles north of Coldfoot was done in '09 and '10. Prior to '04 the Elliott Hwy was still gravel from the edge of the Fairbanks-North Star Borough (about Mile 30) to the beginning of the Haul Road, so that was a nice change, having that paved. Some nice, tight twisties along there to enjoy. Get yourself a Smugmug account and upload your photos to that. Makes it real easy to display them in forums, and it helps support this site.
Okay, a few more from my collection. Some of these might have been posted already since my memory ain't what it used to be. And besides, that, my memory ain't what it used to be. Although other riders reported seeing them every year, it wasn't until my seventh or eighth trip to Deadhorse that I finally saw some muskox along the road - This is part of the "dreaded" Haul Road too. Along the Jim River, just north of Pump 5. Sometimes you have no choice but to get off the road - Conditions change constantly. For miles you may be kicking up mud - And a few miles later it turns to dust - Then you get to Atigun Pass, and find that it's snowing - Even when it's wet and muddy, it draws you on - And you can't help but take a little of it home with you But even in the worst weather, the beauty is still there to be enjoyed -
I too love your pics, brings back great memories! Also thanks for the smugmug tip. Hopefully will be back in 2012 to get a few more shots of my own. Really want to make D2D part of the trip.
they wrote a song about Alcan Rider. its called "Pusher Man", cause he is like a pusher and his pics and state are the drugs. I know. i grew up in alaska, been to beautiful places there (about 98% of the state) and was still totally and absolutely blown away by the Haul Road. damn you, pusher man!
Planning for 2012. I've taken the road north from Fairbanks (in a car) up to the first pipeline pull-off and 'information kiosk', but no further. Where does the Dalton start? How far north of Fairbanks? I assume that is Mile Zero from which positions are measured. What is the Milepost for the Arctic Circle? And the Atigun Pass? I know the AlCan has a 'milepost book' for services, etc. Has anyone put together a short text file of the mileposts of the major spots (passes, rivers, etc) along the Dalton? Thanks, -ceej
That's about 7-8 miles out on the Steese Hwy. About mile 73 on the Elliott Hwy Figure roughly 80 miles from the intersection of the Richardson, Airport Way, and Steese Expressway Correct 115 244.5 That is also in the Milepost, as are most other northern highways. You can also get somewhat of an idea of what might be in store from photos I've taken along the way, separated into 10 mile sections, here: Haul Road
Fantastic pictures guys, thanks for sharing them. :eek1 they really give a good impression of how steep and long those hills are
Wow, you must have known all the milepost by heart. Here's one at the Yukon River restaurant and motel. I rode the BMW; my partner rode the DRZ400SM.
I mean...look here, why not build it straight, fer chrissakes someone tell me, it is driving me berserk.
Expansion and contraction as it heats and cools. You would be amazed how much a pipe will grow as it heats up in the sun during the day. And it will damn sure contract at the temps that pipeline sees. Lewis (EX-Piper)
